Nervousness is that jittery, unsettled feeling you get when you're worried about something that's about to happen. Your stomach might flutter, your hands might feel shaky, and your thoughts might race as you wait to give a class presentation, try out for a team, or meet someone new.

Nervousness shows up when you care about doing well but aren't sure how things will turn out. Before a piano recital, a student might feel nervous because they want to play perfectly but worry they'll make a mistake. Before the first day at a new school, a kid might feel nervous about making friends or finding their way around.

The physical sensations come from your body preparing for something important. Your heart might beat faster, and you might feel more alert and aware of everything around you. Some nervousness can actually help you focus and perform better, like the tingle of energy before a big game. Too much nervousness, though, can make it harder to think clearly or remember what you practiced.

Almost everyone feels nervous sometimes. One key difference between nervousness and fear is that nervousness usually involves uncertainty about your own performance or how things will go, while fear responds to actual danger. Being nervous before a spelling bee is normal. Nervousness often disappears once you actually start doing the thing you were worried about.