# Butterflies in the stomach?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-the-stomach/104496>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 19, 2002, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-the-stomach/104496 "2002-04-19T12:14:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nova1021](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f05b48/32.png) [@Nova1021](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nova1021)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-the-stomach/104496/1 "2002-04-19T12:14:19Z")

</div>

What causes this all too familiar feeling when we’re nervous? Some chemical? What? Why?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-the-stomach/104496/2 "2002-04-19T12:53:22Z")

</div>

Whether it is a pleasure response, momentary surprise or really deep upset or fear, I get butterflies sometimes. I always thought it was adrenaline in my bloodstream.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-the-stomach/104496/3 "2002-04-19T15:28:24Z")

</div>

I always thought it was _butterflies_. 😕

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-the-stomach/104496/4 "2002-04-19T16:45:11Z")

</div>

I always thought it is an adrenaline rush. I thought this because to me it feels very similar to how I feel _after_ a crisis.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-the-stomach/104496/5 "2002-04-19T17:41:08Z")

</div>

[Here’s one answer…](http://www.frostburg.edu/dept/psyc/bristow/386/newarticle.htm)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nova1021](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f05b48/32.png) [@Nova1021](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nova1021)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-the-stomach/104496/6 "2002-04-19T19:18:52Z")

</div>

Hey cool, my gut has a brain! Weird. Well, i wish it wouldn’t do the butterflies thing, it gets on my nerves. Get it? Nerves?

Oh i give up… lol 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nova1021](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f05b48/32.png) [@Nova1021](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nova1021)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-the-stomach/104496/7 "2002-04-19T19:18:52Z")

</div>

Hey cool, my gut has a brain! Weird. Well, i wish it wouldn’t do the butterflies thing, it gets on my nerves. Get it? Nerves?

Oh i give up… lol 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2002, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/butterflies-in-the-stomach/104496/8 "2002-04-19T22:15:17Z")

</div>

You must’ve been of two minds when you posted that.

😃 😃