Fear worry
Nervous
Strength 2 of 4
Keyed up as a moment you have to face draws near, with jittery energy running through you and a fear of not getting it right.
In the body
- Butterflies in the stomach
- Fidgeting hands
- Sweaty palms
- A dry mouth
Needs behind it
When these needs aren’t met
Softer and stronger
Often confused with
Apprehensive
Apprehensive looks ahead to an event with doubt about how it will go; nervous is the jittery, keyed-up energy as the moment draws near.
Excited
Nervous and excited share the fluttering stomach and quick heartbeat; nervous braces for something going wrong, excited leans towards something you want.
Shaky
Nervous is keyed-up energy before something happens; shaky is the unsteadiness that lingers after a shock or a loss of footing.
Shy
Shy is a hanging back from contact with people; nervous is unease about how something ahead will go, people or not.