How to Not Be Embarrassed Around Your Crush If He Knows You Like Him

One of your greatest fears has been realized: your crush found out that you like him. You might have been blindsided by his reaction, especially if you weren't the one doing the telling, and now those warm, fuzzy feelings are underlined by the embarrassment of knowing that he knows. You can't take it back or undo the damage, but you can overcome your self-consciousness if you taking a clear, calm assessment of the reality of the situation.

You may have been terrified that your crush would discover how you feel, but now that it's actually happened, you're forced to admit that the world has continued spinning. When faced with feelings of anxiety, you should check your fears against the likely outcomes, clinical psychologist Melanie Greenberg writes in "The Six Best Ways to Decrease Your Anxiety" for Psychology Today. Remind yourself that your crush probably is not going to chase you around and taunt you the next time you see him.

You can't expect your next interaction with your crush not to be awkward, but that is all the more reason to get it over with. Awkward interactions are an inescapable part of the human experience, and the only way to get past this phase with your crush is to go directly through it. Take it slow as you work up to the level of interaction you're used to, whether that's a smile as you pass in the hall or weekly movie nights.

Trying to guess exactly what others think of you is a huge waste of time, says Therese Borchard, Psych Central associate editor, in the PBS article "10 Real Ways to Overcome Embarrassment." You could feel embarrassed because you're worried about what you think your crush might think about you. This is an impossible task. Give up trying to read his mind and focus on enjoying the time you spend with your crush instead.

You've been hearing that you should "be yourself" since before you could walk, and it applies here too. Of course, it is much easier said than done, but making what could be a good impression and avoiding embarrassment is far less important than being happy with your own actions. Having and divulging romantic feelings for another person should not be considered cause for shame or embarrassment. If your crush feels differently, it may be time to rethink your emotional investment in him.