Why Do We Get that “Butterflies in the Stomach” Feeling?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is This Butterflies in the Stomach Sensation?How Science Explains the Butterfly FeelingDo Butterflies in the Stomach Mean Love?Can Butterflies in the Stomach Be a Bad Thing?Managing Butterflies in the Stomach

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is This Butterflies in the Stomach Sensation?

How Science Explains the Butterfly Feeling

Do Butterflies in the Stomach Mean Love?

Can Butterflies in the Stomach Be a Bad Thing?

Managing Butterflies in the Stomach

Most of us have had those fluttering feelings we commonly call “butterflies in the stomach”—the feeling we get when we’re nervous or excited about something. It’s a common phenomenon for people everywhere.This article will discuss what it is, the science behind what is happening, if butterflies are truly a sign of love, the negative aspects of this feeling, and how to manage that butterflies in the stomach feeling.What Is This Butterflies in the Stomach Sensation?If you notice, butterflies usually occur when we are nervous,anxious, or excited. For example, maybe you had the jitters and got that “butterflies” in your stomach feeling before you were scheduled to give a big presentation to your team.Or if you’re dating, maybe you experienced butterflies in your stomach when someone attractive approached you or when they knocked on your door before you went out on your first date. In those cases, you were likely excited.How Science Explains the Butterfly FeelingScientists trace this sensation to a few things. The first is a chemical that is released calleddopamine, 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.Norepinephrineis both a hormone and neurotransmitter. As a neurotransmitter, it works as a chemical messenger between your nerve cells. Norepinephrine is released during times of stress or fear when the “fight or flight” response kicks in.Similarly, it’s released during those romantic moments of attraction or arousal. While nervousness and arousal might seem like entirely different things, in both cases our bodies are in an excited, almost primitive state. Research has in fact shown that romantic love shares many characteristics with mammalian attraction.The third way science explains the phenomenon we call butterflies in the stomach has to do with thegut-brain axis. If you have a gut feeling, butterflies in your stomach or gastrointestinal nervousness or stress, you’re receiving intelligence, but it’s coming from your gut area.In effect, you’re experiencing the gut and brain’s remarkable connection. According toJohns Hopkins Medicine, what is nicknamed our second brain or gut brain, is located in our digestive system. The digestive system even has its own nervous system called our enteric nervous system (ENS).So, that attraction, excitement, nervousness, anxiety or stress creates undulations in your gut. Our body’s sophisticated nervous system is communicating with us. In everyday language, we call what we’re experiencing in this case, butterflies in the stomach.Do Butterflies in the Stomach Mean Love?When people describe the signs oflove at first sight, they sometimes describe an instant attraction or knowing. They may also talk about experiencing butterflies in their stomach, stomach distress or aeuphoricfeeling.Research from a study showed that hormonal changes happen when people fall in love, but those changes were transient.The cortisol levels rose significantly amongst those who had recently fallen in love compared with those who had not. Women in love showed higher testosterone levels while men in love showed lower levels of FSH and testosterone. But when tested 12 and 24 months later, their hormones reverted to normal levels.It’s important to note that those flutters are therefore not signaling to you that this is everlasting love. Usually temporary, these flutters are signaling to you that you are nervous or thrilled about the situation. Love is built over time based on caring, respect and intimacy. It’s when you deeply bond with someone else and your relationship can go the distance.If you’re confused about your romantic feelings for someone, take thisquiz. It may help you see that you may very well be experiencing signs of attraction, infatuation orlustrather than love.Can Butterflies in the Stomach Be a Bad Thing?Having butterflies or gut-level signals can be a good thing. For example, it’s nice to be excited about a romantic prospect and feel that gentle flip-flop in our tummies. If our gut warns us to avoid a certain person, we should trust what it’s saying. Our gut has valuable information that it’s communicating to help us avoid danger.Sometimes gut sensations and what people may erroneously call butterflies in the stomach signal a gastrointestinal disorder. Nausea, persistent abdominal pain and extreme discomfort in the gut area can occur after an upsetting emotional situation or be traced to a physical cause. Whatever the source, it’s wise to seek medical attention about this.We now know that our emotional state affects our physical state and vice versa. If you’re sensing fear, constantly ruminating, or have severeanxietyover a long period of time, you’re advised to seek professional help. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to a poor quality of life.According to one study, stresses from our thoughts and emotions after upsetting situations do indeed affect us.The bidirectional interaction between the brain and gut affects functional gut diseases like IBS. Dysregulation of the system is implicated in the origination and continuation of several stress-sensitive disorders.Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.Managing Butterflies in the StomachBased on the mind-gut intimate relationship, it’s understandable that people diagnosed with anxiety disorders and/or mood disorders have a high rate of IBS symptoms. In research, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other psychological interactions were effective for those suffering from IBS.We Tried 100+ Therapy Services and Apps—And These Are the 8 Best for Online CBTLet’s say it’s the first time you’re doing public speaking or going on a date after many years of not dating. Maybe your pulse has quickened, you’re hyperventilating a bit, you’re weak in the knees and the butterflies in the pit of your stomach are doing somersaults. No need to worry as that’s a pretty normal reaction to have.Here are ways tomanage the stressand respond before it gets the better of you. Some things you can do in the moment to calm yourself and some suggestions you might want to develop a practice around:Practice breathing exercisesUseguided visualizationfor relaxationRelax your muscles from head to toeLearn mindfulness meditationParticipate innature therapyHaving butterflies in your stomach lets you know you’re excited or stressed about something. Most of the time it’s nothing to worry about. Often temporary, it will likely pass. But if you constantly have this sensation, you’re advised to get treatment. You might be experiencing some kind of panic, stress or anxiety disorder.

This article will discuss what it is, the science behind what is happening, if butterflies are truly a sign of love, the negative aspects of this feeling, and how to manage that butterflies in the stomach feeling.

If you notice, butterflies usually occur when we are nervous,anxious, or excited. For example, maybe you had the jitters and got that “butterflies” in your stomach feeling before you were scheduled to give a big presentation to your team.

Or if you’re dating, maybe you experienced butterflies in your stomach when someone attractive approached you or when they knocked on your door before you went out on your first date. In those cases, you were likely excited.

Scientists trace this sensation to a few things. The first is a chemical that is released calleddopamine, 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.Norepinephrineis both a hormone and neurotransmitter. As a neurotransmitter, it works as a chemical messenger between your nerve cells. Norepinephrine is released during times of stress or fear when the “fight or flight” response kicks in.

Similarly, it’s released during those romantic moments of attraction or arousal. While nervousness and arousal might seem like entirely different things, in both cases our bodies are in an excited, almost primitive state. Research has in fact shown that romantic love shares many characteristics with mammalian attraction.

The third way science explains the phenomenon we call butterflies in the stomach has to do with thegut-brain axis. If you have a gut feeling, butterflies in your stomach or gastrointestinal nervousness or stress, you’re receiving intelligence, but it’s coming from your gut area.

In effect, you’re experiencing the gut and brain’s remarkable connection. According toJohns Hopkins Medicine, what is nicknamed our second brain or gut brain, is located in our digestive system. The digestive system even has its own nervous system called our enteric nervous system (ENS).

So, that attraction, excitement, nervousness, anxiety or stress creates undulations in your gut. Our body’s sophisticated nervous system is communicating with us. In everyday language, we call what we’re experiencing in this case, butterflies in the stomach.

Do Butterflies in the Stomach Mean Love?

When people describe the signs oflove at first sight, they sometimes describe an instant attraction or knowing. They may also talk about experiencing butterflies in their stomach, stomach distress or aeuphoricfeeling.

Research from a study showed that hormonal changes happen when people fall in love, but those changes were transient.The cortisol levels rose significantly amongst those who had recently fallen in love compared with those who had not. Women in love showed higher testosterone levels while men in love showed lower levels of FSH and testosterone. But when tested 12 and 24 months later, their hormones reverted to normal levels.

It’s important to note that those flutters are therefore not signaling to you that this is everlasting love. Usually temporary, these flutters are signaling to you that you are nervous or thrilled about the situation. Love is built over time based on caring, respect and intimacy. It’s when you deeply bond with someone else and your relationship can go the distance.

If you’re confused about your romantic feelings for someone, take thisquiz. It may help you see that you may very well be experiencing signs of attraction, infatuation orlustrather than love.

Having butterflies or gut-level signals can be a good thing. For example, it’s nice to be excited about a romantic prospect and feel that gentle flip-flop in our tummies. If our gut warns us to avoid a certain person, we should trust what it’s saying. Our gut has valuable information that it’s communicating to help us avoid danger.

Sometimes gut sensations and what people may erroneously call butterflies in the stomach signal a gastrointestinal disorder. Nausea, persistent abdominal pain and extreme discomfort in the gut area can occur after an upsetting emotional situation or be traced to a physical cause. Whatever the source, it’s wise to seek medical attention about this.

We now know that our emotional state affects our physical state and vice versa. If you’re sensing fear, constantly ruminating, or have severeanxietyover a long period of time, you’re advised to seek professional help. If left untreated, these conditions can lead to a poor quality of life.

According to one study, stresses from our thoughts and emotions after upsetting situations do indeed affect us.The bidirectional interaction between the brain and gut affects functional gut diseases like IBS. Dysregulation of the system is implicated in the origination and continuation of several stress-sensitive disorders.

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Get Help Now

We’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Based on the mind-gut intimate relationship, it’s understandable that people diagnosed with anxiety disorders and/or mood disorders have a high rate of IBS symptoms. In research, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other psychological interactions were effective for those suffering from IBS.

We Tried 100+ Therapy Services and Apps—And These Are the 8 Best for Online CBT

Let’s say it’s the first time you’re doing public speaking or going on a date after many years of not dating. Maybe your pulse has quickened, you’re hyperventilating a bit, you’re weak in the knees and the butterflies in the pit of your stomach are doing somersaults. No need to worry as that’s a pretty normal reaction to have.

Here are ways tomanage the stressand respond before it gets the better of you. Some things you can do in the moment to calm yourself and some suggestions you might want to develop a practice around:

Having butterflies in your stomach lets you know you’re excited or stressed about something. Most of the time it’s nothing to worry about. Often temporary, it will likely pass. But if you constantly have this sensation, you’re advised to get treatment. You might be experiencing some kind of panic, stress or anxiety disorder.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fisher HE, Aron A, Brown LL.Romantic love: a mammalian brain system for mate choice. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2006 Dec 29;361(1476):2173-86. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2006.1938Marazziti D, Canale D.Hormonal changes when falling in love.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2004;29(7):931-936. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2003.08.006Taché Y, Million M.Role of Corticotropin-releasing Factor Signaling in Stress-related Alterations of Colonic Motility and Hyperalgesia.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;21(1):8-24. doi:10.5056/jnm14162Radziwon CD, Lackner JM.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for IBS: How Useful, How Often, and How Does It Work?.Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;19(10):49. Published 2017 Aug 17. doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0590-9

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fisher HE, Aron A, Brown LL.Romantic love: a mammalian brain system for mate choice. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2006 Dec 29;361(1476):2173-86. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2006.1938Marazziti D, Canale D.Hormonal changes when falling in love.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2004;29(7):931-936. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2003.08.006Taché Y, Million M.Role of Corticotropin-releasing Factor Signaling in Stress-related Alterations of Colonic Motility and Hyperalgesia.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;21(1):8-24. doi:10.5056/jnm14162Radziwon CD, Lackner JM.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for IBS: How Useful, How Often, and How Does It Work?.Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;19(10):49. Published 2017 Aug 17. doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0590-9

Fisher HE, Aron A, Brown LL.Romantic love: a mammalian brain system for mate choice. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2006 Dec 29;361(1476):2173-86. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2006.1938Marazziti D, Canale D.Hormonal changes when falling in love.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2004;29(7):931-936. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2003.08.006Taché Y, Million M.Role of Corticotropin-releasing Factor Signaling in Stress-related Alterations of Colonic Motility and Hyperalgesia.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;21(1):8-24. doi:10.5056/jnm14162Radziwon CD, Lackner JM.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for IBS: How Useful, How Often, and How Does It Work?.Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;19(10):49. Published 2017 Aug 17. doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0590-9

Fisher HE, Aron A, Brown LL.Romantic love: a mammalian brain system for mate choice. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2006 Dec 29;361(1476):2173-86. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2006.1938

Marazziti D, Canale D.Hormonal changes when falling in love.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2004;29(7):931-936. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2003.08.006

Taché Y, Million M.Role of Corticotropin-releasing Factor Signaling in Stress-related Alterations of Colonic Motility and Hyperalgesia.J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2015;21(1):8-24. doi:10.5056/jnm14162

Radziwon CD, Lackner JM.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for IBS: How Useful, How Often, and How Does It Work?.Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2017;19(10):49. Published 2017 Aug 17. doi:10.1007/s11894-017-0590-9

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