NERVOUSNESS DEFINITION:Feeling unsettled and being easily agitated PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: Short, jerky movements Pacing Rapid blinking; a tightness around the eyes Rubbing the back of the neck Unfastening the top button of a shirt Scratching or rubbing one’s skin Biting at the lips Jumpiness Flighty hand movements Clumsiness Rubbing one’s hands down one’s pant legs A lack of eye contact Scraping a hand through the hair Quick breaths Crossing and uncrossing one’s arms or legs Eyeing the exits Bouncing a knee (while sitting) Repeated gestures (straightening one’s tie, touching an ear, etc.) Increased sweat, particularly on the hands Tingling fingers and toes Pupils that appear dilated Biting or picking at one’s fingernails Shaking out the hands Clearing the throat Facial tics Stuttering and stumbling over one’s words Quick, high-pitched laughter Restlessness (e.g., sitting, then standing) Laughter that goes on for longer than normal Closing the eyes and taking a calming breath Rapid speaking, babbling, revealing things one didn’t intend to, etc. A change in the pitch, tone, or volume of the voice Tackling a task (cleaning, waxing the car, etc.) to distract oneself INTERNAL SENSATIONS: Sensitive skin Faintness An empty feeling in the pit of the stomach Quivery, twitchy muscles Nausea, or a fluttery feeling in the stomach Loss of appetite Dry mouth Heart palpitations Headache MENTAL RESPONSES: Acute senses (especially regarding sound and movement) The desire to flee Erratic thought processes and irrational fears Second-guessing oneself The mind going to the worst-case scenario Wishing time would speed up ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: Vomiting Fatigue or insomnia Panic attacks Withdrawal Irritability Ulcers and other digestive disorders Weight loss or gain Negative thought patterns Indulging in alcohol, drugs, or chain smoking to take the edge off SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: A pasted-on smile Clasping one’s hands together An unnatural stillness Eyes that blink too much or don’t blink enough Not meeting anyone’s gaze Changing the topic Avoiding conversation MAY ESCALATE TO:Flustered,Insecurity,Anxiety,Fear,Dread,Doubt MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Uncertainty,Apprehension,Relief ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Babble, chafe, chatter, dart fiddle, fidget, fool with, giggle interrupt, jerk, jump, overreact panic, startle, stifle, swallow tap, twitch, worry WRITER’S TIP:Body movement and external reactions alone will not create an emotional experience for the reader. Pairing action with a light use of internal sensations and/or thoughts creates a deeper emotional pull.