Anyone else afraid of getting butterflies?

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I ♥ glazed donuts

I don't mean the nervous feeling when you're with them, I mean the feeling you get, even when you're comfy and at home thinking about them. It's supposed to be warm and great, but feels scary!

Yes, when I am alone the feeling is like just before you go over the top on a rollercoaster - complete dread and feeling sick and wishing it would be normal again. It makes me feel weak and woeful.

Yeah, poor us. We can't even enjoy "butterflies" XD

I miss that feeling from aeroplanes, though. I'm not sure if the planes rise and sink more smoothly now or if I just got used to flying, but I rarely feel it at all any more. Possibly precisely because I'm expecting it.

Oh, THAT feeling. Wow, I love that feeling. . I used to say that "It makes my tummy fun" XD When I was little. IT's not exactly the same as infatuation butterflies, I think.

True, but it's similar.

Definitely.

I like butterflies almost as much as I like bunnies.

Im not sure but I dont think I have had butterflies before - what feelings does it trigger

I think people may be experiencing this because they put too much emphasis on achieving some rapport in the social interaction and feel self consious about themselves
[like you dont want to waste an opportunity] - I guess deep breathing would help, you might feel weak and without much control but so long as you are yourself and
are friendly, smile and try to get on well with the other person it doesnt matter about butterflies. I used to act in front of lots of people so I quickly had to learn to not be shy and knowing about acting helped.

It is a part of the 'fight or flight' response, the body is getting ready either to act or run away

it consists of

A threat is perceived

The autonomic nervous system automatically puts body on alert.

The adrenal cortex automatically releases stress hormones.

The heart automatically beats harder and more rapidly.

Breathing automatically becomes more rapid.

Thyroid gland automatically stimulates the metabolism.

Larger muscles automatically receive more oxygenated blood.

The important thing to take away is that the fight or flight response is an automatic response.

the body diverts the blood away from the stomach and diverts it to your muscles in your legs and arms so your ready to run if need be.

I found a way - not the best - to deal with it when I was younger. I'd get absolutely hammered, then load up on caffeine. The combo - and it took effort to sustain it, but it worked - made me calm, alert, and charmingly eccentric (the which is often pleasing to the ladies) as opposed to terrified and ready to bolt out the door.

Don't know if I'd recommend it as a long-term strategy, but as a tactic for certain situations, a little "social lubricant" (thank you, W.P. Mayhew) can often work wonders.