Nervousness Explained

Nervousness is often seen as a negative reaction that makes our bodies uncomfortable. Why do we get nervous though? What biological process does our body experience when nervous? How do nerves relate to anxiety?

Before attempting to reduce nervousness, it is best to understand what is going on in our brains and bodies first.

How does nervousness occur?

When a stressor is present, our brain sends a signal from the pituitary gland to the kidneys, where the adrenal glands are present. This releases adrenaline into our bodies.

The adrenaline signals our Fight or Flight response. Depending on the perceived level of threat, there are different degrees within the Fight or Flight response that may not lead strictly to fighting back or avoiding the situation completely.

Our bodies experience the same biological response to any level of threat, but more harmful stressors affect the body at a higher degree.

Whether you are nervous about your first day of class at a new school or nervous about a lion running straight at you, your body will experience the same response to nervousness. You probably feel more comfortable facing a new school than you do a wild beast though!

One scenario may signal to your body that you should be bold and push through while a more severe scenario may signal to your body that you should avoid the situation completely.

Is nervousness the same thing as anxiety?

Nervousness is not to be confused with anxiety.

When you’re nervous, your body may signal that you are experiencing several of the same symptoms that result from anxiety–increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, and quick breathing. However, nerves are a natural, temporary response to a stressor that will resolve when there is no longer a stressor.

If you are minutes away from singing your first solo in front of a large audience, chances are, you feel nervous! This feeling will generally pass by the time you finish your performance.

Anxiety is a long-term psychiatric disorder that can be triggered by various factors. It is difficult to understand the full complexity of anxiety, but it can even be caused by an underlying medical condition, such as:

Heart disease
Diabetes
Thyroid problems
Respiratory disorders
Drug misuse or withdrawal
Alcohol or medication withdrawal
Irritable bowel syndrome
Rare tumors

Even when anxiety has a root cause, it can be triggered at any moment, regardless of whether or not a stressor is present. It can also be much more difficult to relieve anxiety than occasional nervousness.

How do our bodies react when we get nervous?

Just as nerves are activated from different stressors, our bodies can react to nervousness with a wide range of symptoms. These may include heart palpitations, sweating, yawning, or even depersonalization.

Generally, depersonalization only occurs in more serious cases of nervousness that lead to panic attacks and is not involved in occasional, less severe stressors. Periodic nervousness should not affect the body long-term like anxiety can.

How do we overcome nervousness?

Being nervous may feel different for everybody, but there are options for taking control over those feelings.

Mental imagery is one tactic that is shown to reduce nerves. If you are about to play in an important basketball game, you can role play basketball practice in your mind. This reminds your brain that you already know what you’re doing, and you’re prepared for this moment!

Similarly, you can imagine a future moment of winning the basketball game with your team. This can excite your brain and allow you to feel more confident in what you’re about to do. With practice, these tactics can help to overcome even the slightest amount of nervousness!