For the last 10 years blushing has been part of my daily life and it has been nothing short of debilitating. This condition has taken a significant toll on my mental health, undermining my confidence and well-being…until now. Note that what I am sharing is my personal experience and that I am not a healthcare professional.

TL;DR Give Lithium Orotate a try!

My Symptoms & Behavior

My symptoms were a fight-or-flight response from adrenaline (norepinephrine) kicking in every time a group of people would look at me (e.g. in a meeting). Before going into a meeting I would already be nervous and stressed. Since I was already on edge, when presenting I would sometimes lose my train of thought and panic internally which made things worse and the end result was a warm glowing red face – an experience I can still vividly feel and absolutely hate.

Why would I be embarrassed for no apparent reason? It didn’t make sense. Many self-help articles online suggest simply not caring but how does one do that? As time went on, things became worse and I developed erythrophobia or fear of blushing.

I could never be myself at work and a typical day would entailed:

  • Avoiding presentations 
  • Minimal and short eye contact
  • Not saying my opinion and avoiding confrontations
  • Using tactics that would minimizing exposure such as dimming the lights in meeting rooms, reducing the room temperature or getting everybody to look at the screen in the front
  • I also tried wearing less clothing and chugging a glass of icy water before meetings

Does any of this sound familiar? I’ve tried many supplements but in the end only the following two substances ended up actually working for me and still do so to this day!

Lithium

Studies have shown that lithium limits the amount of norepinephrine that the body can process, which decreases the severity of the anxiety symptoms caused by the body’s fear (aka fight-or-flight) response.

  • Added to the World Health Organization’s list of nutritionally essential trace elements
  • Present in our diet and sometimes water
  • Helps balance mood

Lithium Orotate Benefits

Lithium Orotate is a supplement consisting of lithium and orotic acid (a naturally occurring body compound). The orotate compound effectively delivers lithium in its bioactive state, promoting its absorption by the body.

  • Generally considered safe and cost-effective
  • Helps balance mood
  • Can be micro-dosed at 1 or 5mg
    • I personally started with 5mg/day and then later increased it to 10mg/day (5mg in the morning and evening)

Shop Lithium Orotate

Propranolol

Propranolol is a beta blocker. It works by blocking the effects of stress hormones, such as adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) on beta receptors in the heart, lungs and other tissue.

Since it isn’t available over-the-counter and I am not a healthcare professional, speak to your doctor to see if this medication is for you.

Pros:

  • Affordable (see GoodRx)
  • Non-addictive

Cons:

  • Takes 30 – 60 mins to work. If you have an important presentation you can take it beforehand but you won’t be able to rely on it for last minute meetings and social interactions
  • I wouldn’t exactly say this is a con but Propranolol only addresses the physical symptoms (you’ll still be stressed mentally)

FAQ

Which Lithium Orotate do you take?

I take the one by Swanson.

Do you take any other supplements?

Yes, I take Doctor’s Best Magnesium Glycinate for its calming effects and to improve my sleep. I also take Kyolic Aged Garlic as it is effective in reducing blood pressure.

How do I know if Lithium Orotate will work for me?

I cannot make any promises, but if your symptoms are the same as mine were, then it’s possible Lithium Orotate may work for you.

How soon did you notice a difference?

I noticed a difference after 3-4 weeks of 5mg/day in the morning but suggest trying it for 4-6 weeks if you aren’t experiencing side effects.

How do you feel now? What have you been able to do?

I still get warm and still have ‘blushing trauma’ but I haven’t blushed during group talks and presentations. The mental stress remains but removing the physical aspects already feels an amazing first step of my healing journey. I plan on focusing on my mental health next.

How do I know Lithium Orotate is safe?

Lithium has a bad rep due to historically being used at much higher doses (300+mg) and as Lithium Carbonate to treat mood disorders. Lithium Orotate is taken at much lower doses. In fact there has only been one document case of toxicity after a women took 18x 120mg (2,160mg) tablets. Consult with your healthcare professional for more information.

When should I NOT take Lithium Orotate?

Don’t take Lithium Orotate if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or allergic to it. NSAIDs can also increase Lithium levels in your blood. Read more about it here. When in doubt work with a healthcare professional.

Did you stop blushing with Lithium Orotate? Please comment below, I’d love to hear from you.

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