You know that feeling you get when you go out on a new date? It is the result of a primitive system
When we are starting a new relationship or getting to know someone better, it is common to feel “butterflies in the stomach”. It’s that curious feeling of butterflies in the stomach, a mixture of anticipation and excitement.
“The stomach is also known as our second brain,” he explains Shana Wajntraub , psychologist and neuroscientist. “In situations of intense emotion, this tingling sensation usually occurs.”
This effect is quite evident when we are in love or in other situations, for example in front of an audience that we find difficult when we have to present a presentation of great impact. “It’s a mixture of intense joy with the anxiety that the new can cause and excessive fear, in the second example,” she explains.
These strong emotions release various hormones, which can lead to rapid heartbeat, sweating, dilated pupils, panting and, of course, the famous “butterflies in the stomach”.
THE BUTTERFLIES IN THE STOMACH AND THE LAYING OF FIGHT OR FLIGHT
Yes, that’s exactly what you read above: the two are related. The fight or flight posture is a natural response of the organism to imminent danger.
This answer is as old as the human being himself: our ancestors already used this mechanism in the face of the dangers of primitive life – for example, a saber-toothed tiger or a lion.
While running away from lions and tigers is not common nowadays, the mechanism remains: when faced with a seemingly dangerous situation (for example, when you receive that email from your boss saying you “need to talk”), the body increases the release of adrenaline and cortisol and sends blood from the body to the limbs such as arms and legs, well away from the digestive system.
This is an essential point in the explanation of “butterflies in the stomach”. After all, with the blood away from the region, the blood vessels in the digestive system constrict and the decreased blood flow to the area generates this curious sensation.
Okay, but when you’re in love, you almost never get scared or want to run away, right? Almost that.
Our primitive organism does not know how to differentiate the two things very well, even if, consciously, it is clear to us that a second meeting is something positive.
However, considering that reproduction is also a primitive requirement for the maintenance of the species, it can be considered an emergency – and the possibility of this happening (for example from a new encounter with the same person) generates the entire cycle of ” fight or flight “which causes the same symptoms.
That is, what differentiates one situation from another is the interpretation we make of it. In the examples above, “butterflies in the stomach” are bad because they demonstrate the fear we feel of a conversation with the boss (which could lead to a firing). On the other hand, they are good when they represent the excitement of a new love story, that is, observing the body’s responses and re-signifying these sensations is not only possible, but valid!
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
