Q: What is the biology behind the butterflies sensation people get when they’re excited about dating someone new?
Falling in love can be a whirlwind experience, from the awkward pauses during a first dinner as you scramble for what to say next, to the electricity of a flirtatious joke, to the whooshing of butterflies in the stomach when things really start to click.
Feeling butterflies — a sudden, giddy roiling in the pit of the gut — happens to everyone and can occur in high-pressure situations: falling in love, walking into a job interview or waiting your turn at karaoke.
Here’s what experts say is behind that famous fluttering sensation.
The gut-brain connection
The brain and the gut are in constant communication via an intricate network of nerve fibers called the vagus nerve. This information superhighway, as it’s often called, runs between the brain and the abdomen and is the reason our thoughts affect our guts so uniquely. Recall from high school biology that it took merely the thought of food for Pavlov’s dog to begin salivating.
The gut, which is sometimes called the “second brain” because it contains more than 100 million nerve cells that send and receive messages to and from the brain, can dramatically affect our thoughts, too, said Laurie Keefer, a professor of psychiatry and medicine in the division of gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
“The bacteria in our gut have the ability to signal the emotional centers in our brain,” Dr. Keefer said. “They can affect how anxious we are, how depressed we are and even our resilience — how adaptable we are to change.”
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Stress or anxiety: When you're feeling stressed or anxious, your body sometimes reacts to help you cope. This reaction can lead to the fluttering feeling of butterflies in your stomach. Excitement or expectation: Sometimes, exciting or new experiences can cause this fluttering sensation.
The first is a chemical that is released called dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical. Dopamine helps us feel happy during pleasurable activities, like when you're flirting or having sex. The surge of norepinephrine in your central nervous system also contributes to feeling butterflies.
Well according to dating coach Lauren Zoeller, it's not always so clear-cut. Sharing the dating advice in a TikTok video, the relationship expert said it's perfectly normal to feel butterflies ahead of your first or second date.
Feeling butterflies — a sudden, giddy roiling in the pit of the gut — happens to everyone and can occur in high-pressure situations: falling in love, walking into a job interview or waiting your turn at karaoke. Here's what experts say is behind that famous fluttering sensation.
iStock/LumiNola. Have you ever looked at someone you were strongly attracted to, only to find yourself with a light, tingly feeling in your abdominal area? This can be a common symptom of love. It often occurs because being in love with someone may also come with nervousness and stress.
It wasn't butterflies you were feeling; it was fear and anxiety telling you that you'd better do what they want, or else… Having butterflies can be a signs of red flags when your nervous system responds to protect yourself. The butterflies sensation can be a sign that you sense a threat or a fearful situation.
Adult folks in your average new relationship can expect those early-days butterflies to be flitting about in their tummies for about 3-6 weeks, assuming they are spending a lot of that time in each other's company.
Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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