Butterflies in the stomach are a sensation of fluttering or trembling in the stomach that occurs in situations of anxiety, excitement, or eager anticipation, such as before an important date or a job interview.
Although the sensation can be a little strange and sometimes unpleasant, it is mostly a natural physiological response supported by scientific explanations.
This sensation illustrates the connection between the brain and our stomach.
This connection has received much attention recently due to a series of updated studies indicating that not only is the brain important for the stomach, but the opposite is also true, and that a healthy gut is essential for a healthy brain.
In fact, science today refers to two brains: the first brain, located in the skull, and the second brain, located in the stomach.
The gut is the only organ in the body with its own independent nervous system.
It can perform basic functions without instruction from the brain and communicates with the brain regularly in what is called the “gut-brain axis.”
Evidence for this connection was demonstrated already in the 1950s by Dr. Thomas Elmy, a gastroenterologist who conducted an experiment on one of his students.
He used a sigmoidoscope (a hollow tube with a light and lens at the end) to look inside the volunteer’s colon.
During the examination, the researchers provided the participant with false results and told him there was a risk of cancer.
At that moment, they observed the colon begin to change color and contract.
After revealing the trick and the volunteer realized the test was normal, his colon immediately relaxed and returned to its regular state.
This experiment paved the way for understanding the complex and two-way relationship between body and mind between the brain in the skull and the brain in the stomach.
Every person can experience butterflies in the stomach differently,
sometimes accompanied by symptoms typical of anxiety, such as increased heart rate, trembling, feeling nervous, sweating in the hands, dizziness, shortness of breath, and more.
Butterflies in the stomach, if they appear in moderation, can give us an opportunity to focus on something positive, since excitement, and even moderate anxiety, allow us to prepare well for a challenge, for example a job interview, and gather our strength to face the task successfully.
The evolutionary explanation for the phenomenon originates in the “fight or flight” response, an ancient survival mechanism of the body preparing us to face the challenge (fight) or flee to safety (flight).
When we are in a dangerous situation, the autonomic nervous system prepares us for this response and signals the release of the hormone adrenaline.
This is a remarkable hormone capable of producing opposite actions in the body widening blood vessels in the heart and lungs (to supply oxygen to the muscles) on one hand, and narrowing blood vessels in the gut so that less blood reaches the stomach, because in a moment of danger there is no time to invest energy in digestion.
This is exactly why it is difficult to eat when we are anxious or very excited.
The body knows that the stomach will not be able to handle digestion well in this state.
This is also why in some people significant excitement may cause nausea or even vomiting.
It is a temporary change, and after the body calms down, the strange feeling passes and appetite returns.
The physiological changes during “fight or flight” are also related to falling in love.
These changes are meant to help us survive stressful and life-threatening situations, but when the source is falling in love, they allow us to focus all our attention on the person in front of us and use all our energy to impress them.
Anxiety and excitement can be similar, which is why people sometimes associate the feeling of butterflies with romantic feelings toward a new person, and understand the connection between falling in love and anxiety.
Some experts believe that the absence of butterflies in a new relationship may be a warning sign that you are with the wrong person.
However, according to Dr. Daniel J. Amen, psychiatrist, brain scientist and author of the book Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, the sensation of butterflies during falling in love does not indicate eternal love.
It is usually a response to sexual desire or temporary affection.
According to him, falling in love (or more precisely: lust) activates the same centers in the brain, causing an immediate physiological response: increased heart rate, cold and sweaty hands, and the stomach “doing flips.”
The more aware you are of your emotional state, the more you can regulate the stomach’s reaction.
The next time you feel your intestines starting to twist before an important meeting or exam, remember it is your second brain responding to your emotional state at that moment.
The more aware you are of that emotional state and allow it space for expression, the more you can regulate the stomach’s response and use it to your advantage.
Ultimately, similar to any relationship, sometimes the brain and stomach just need to learn to communicate with each other.
Butterflies in the stomach can be calmed using relaxation techniques.
What should you do if butterflies hit you at an inconvenient moment? Do not worry.
There are many ways to trick your stomach into returning to normal.
Different strategies for calming, such as breathing exercises, walking in nature, meditation, and more, will also calm the excited stomach.
If butterflies in the stomach persist for a long time and cause extreme discomfort, consult a doctor.
They may indicate a serious emotional condition or a digestive system disorder, which may be accompanied by additional symptoms such as weight changes, nausea, vomiting, and persistent abdominal pain.
In these cases, it is recommended to consult a treating physician for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.