Butterflies in the stomach
Encyclopedia
Butterflies in the stomach is a phenomenon characterized by the physical sensation of a "fluttery" feeling in the stomach
. This sensation can be a physical sensation related to the body's fight or flight response or it can be an ineffable experience related to the psychology of love
or nervousness
and excitement.
Some believe that this is caused by the release of adrenaline when one is nervous, which pulls blood away from the stomach and sends it to the muscle
s. This reduced blood flow, in turn, causes the stomach to temporarily shut down, and is possibly the reason for reduced appetite during love sickness
.
It is common for one to feel butterflies in the stomach when in the early stages of a relationship. It can be caused by nervousness and fear of the unknown. Butterflies in the stomach are often seen as a positive and harmless sign of subconscious feelings for romantic interest and are caused by the release of mood-altering endorphins. They are especially frequent in teenage romances. Many adults who have experienced multiple relationships themselves tend to experience this feeling more frequently at the time of an important life event. Sometimes just sitting back, relaxing and taking deep breaths can help to relieve the feeling.
Stomach
The stomach is a muscular, hollow, dilated part of the alimentary canal which functions as an important organ of the digestive tract in some animals, including vertebrates, echinoderms, insects , and molluscs. It is involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication .The stomach is...
. This sensation can be a physical sensation related to the body's fight or flight response or it can be an ineffable experience related to the psychology of love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
or nervousness
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
and excitement.
Some believe that this is caused by the release of adrenaline when one is nervous, which pulls blood away from the stomach and sends it to the muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
s. This reduced blood flow, in turn, causes the stomach to temporarily shut down, and is possibly the reason for reduced appetite during love sickness
Love sickness
Being lovestruck is a non-medical term used to describe mental and physical symptoms associated with falling in love: 'love-struck. It means to be hit by love...you are hit in your heart by the emotion of love'....
.
Condition as a psychological response
Butterflies in the stomach is most often experienced prior to important events, related to nervousness and can be experienced in situations of impending danger.It is common for one to feel butterflies in the stomach when in the early stages of a relationship. It can be caused by nervousness and fear of the unknown. Butterflies in the stomach are often seen as a positive and harmless sign of subconscious feelings for romantic interest and are caused by the release of mood-altering endorphins. They are especially frequent in teenage romances. Many adults who have experienced multiple relationships themselves tend to experience this feeling more frequently at the time of an important life event. Sometimes just sitting back, relaxing and taking deep breaths can help to relieve the feeling.