“As soon as I heard his voice, I had butterflies in my stomach”. There are many lines or sentences like this in Romance Novels and movies. It’s often used on a positive note, to insinuate that a person is in love with, or has a crush on another person.

But what are “butterflies in the stomach”? Does everyone get butterflies in the stomach? What causes butterflies in the stomach? What do you do when you experience butterflies in the stomach? This article will answer all these questions.

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What Are Butterflies In The Stomach?

“Butterflies in the stomach” refers to the tingling feeling we sometimes get in our stomachs when we are anxious or excited. This phenomenon occurs when blood flow to certain organs is reduced. This happens just the way we have a fluttery feeling in one arm when we have a dead arm due to reduced blood flow to that arm. In the case of “butterflies in the stomach,” it usually occurs when the blood flow to the intestines is reduced, causing a tingling feeling.

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What Causes Butterflies In The Stomach?

“Butterflies in the stomach” are caused by the release of the adrenaline hormone also known as the “fight or flight” hormone. This is the hormone released into our bloodstream when we are faced with danger, causing anxiety or excitement. So, the “Butterflies in the stomach” feeling usually happens when we are faced with a situation that makes us feel nervous, excited, or in danger. We experience this feeling when we are in love because falling in love with someone exposes us to an exciting venture that could make us nervous.

Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels| Adrenaline Sometimes Makes You Feel Dizzy

Does Everyone Get Butterflies In The Stomach?

Since it is caused by the “Fight or flight” hormone which reduces blood flow to the intestines and releases glucose to the body, we all get this feeling but at differing levels. Some people may experience it in the form of a headache, and some may experience it as dizziness. It depends largely on the environment. If we are in an environment where we feel unsafe, we could experience the “butterfly in the stomach” feeling. People with Social Anxiety Disorder tend to experience it a lot.

What Do You Do When You Experience Butterflies In The Stomach?

The best thing to do when you experience “butterflies in the stomach” is to be calm. When your body is convinced you are no longer in fight or flight mode, it will reverse the effects of Adrenaline and your body will feel normal again.