When you have a crush, your brain releases dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter that creates feelings of pleasure and reward, which can overwhelm your ability to think clearly.
Attraction can trigger the release of norepinephrine, increasing your heart rate and blood pressure, leading to physical symptoms such as sweaty palms and butterflies in your stomach.
The physiological response to nervousness around someone attractive is tied to the activation of the limbic system, the part of your brain responsible for emotions, which can lead to an instinctual fight-or-flight response.
People often express attraction through involuntary physical signs like blushing or fidgeting, as these reactions are linked to the body’s sympathetic nervous system in response to stress and excitement.
The idea of "freezing up" when attracted to someone may be linked to social anxiety, where the fear of being judged can inhibit one’s ability to engage in social interactions.
A study from the journal "Psychological Science" suggests that people tend to perceive others with whom they have a biological similarity as more attractive, potentially influencing whom you feel nervous around.
The freezing response is often coupled with an increased production of cortisol, the stress hormone, which can impair decision-making and exacerbate feelings of nervousness.
Scientists have noted that the anticipation of social interactions, particularly with attractive individuals, can lead to increased uncertainty, which may alter your behavior and cause you to "freeze."
Attraction can lead to changes in serotonin levels; when serotonin levels are low, it is associated with feelings of depression and anxiety, adding to the difficulty of interacting with someone you like.
Neurotransmitters interact in complex ways during attraction, meaning that when excitement increases due to the presence of an attractive person, it may simultaneously dampen your mood-regulating serotonin.
Observational neuroscience shows that mirror neurons may play a role in how we perceive the emotions of others, making us more self-conscious when we sense that someone is paying attention to us.
Tactical breathing exercises, commonly employed in the military, can be effective in combatting feelings of freezing up; they counteract the stress response by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system to promote calmness.
Social psychologists propose that self-talk and reframing your thoughts about social interactions can alleviate nervousness; by challenging negative beliefs about yourself, you can reduce anxiety levels.
The polyvagal theory posits that our nervous system can respond to social cues; when you feel safe and connected, the vagus nerve promotes relaxation, but when feeling threatened or insecure, it can trigger defensive behavior.
Studies show consistent practice of mindfulness can enhance emotional regulation, reducing the intensity of nervous reactions around attractive individuals through increased awareness and presence in the moment.
The mere exposure effect suggests that repeated interactions with someone can gradually decrease feelings of nervousness; familiarity breeds comfort, allowing you to feel more at ease over time.
A person's body language significantly affects social interactions; mirroring the gestures and postures of the individual you are attracted to can create a feeling of connection, potentially easing nervousness.
Research into the role of pheromones in attraction indicates that subtle chemical signals emitted by your body can influence how attracted you feel to someone, often leading to increased nervousness.
Evolutionary psychology suggests that feelings of nervousness when attracted to someone may be an adaptive strategy to signal interest and elicit a similar response from the other person.
The phenomenon of "emotional contagion" means that your emotional state can influence others around you; feeling at ease can diffuse tension in the interaction, while anxiety might provoke similar feelings in the other person.