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Why am I nervous around my girlfriend?

275 Answers
Last Updated: 12/28/2019 at 3:28pm
Why am I nervous around my girlfriend?
★ This question about Anxiety was starred by a moderator on 5/12/2016.
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Tracy-Kate Teleke, PsyD, M.A., LMFT

Marriage & Family Therapist

I assist adults and couples in CA experiencing relationship challenges and interpersonal struggles including anxiety, depression, and a myriad of other life challenges.

Top Rated Answers
0LovelyHaven0
August 15th, 2015 8:36am
It's not an abstract feeling to feel around someone that means the most to you. If it bothers you that much, maybe you can consult with her that you're feeling this way and talk it out, no matter how embarrassing it may be, it's always good to get it off the chest and have good communication.
Anonymous
August 15th, 2015 1:20am
You might have some issues being your humble self around her in order to impress her. But remember that she loves you just the way you are.
Facel
August 14th, 2015 9:33pm
It could very well be that you are experiencing some doubt that you may not please her. This is completely normal. However if this isn't what you believe to be happening, then it could be (depending on how long you have been in the relationship of course) that you are just not yet used to being with her.
Anonymous
August 14th, 2015 2:33pm
Maybe you are afraid of doing something she might not like, afraid of losing her. Don't be; you are unique and special. :)
KellyCanary
August 14th, 2015 4:51am
There may be many reasons for this! Maybe you are afraid of intimacy; sexual, emotional, or otherwise. Maybe you are afraid of being rejected, and not being loved for who you are. The sooner you learn to be 100% your self, the sooner you will be able to discover the value or lack thereof in the relationship. Never try and change yourself for another person. There is a pot for every lid, and you WILL find that person. Never settle!
kittykat
August 13th, 2015 6:00pm
There are a lot of answers to this, and they all depend on the specifics in your relationship! Your nervousness might be caused by a feeling of "butterflies" or shyness in your romantic relationship, which is common. It may also be caused by various anxieties. If you're anxious around your girlfriend, you should try to have clear and open communication with her so that you can both understand where the anxieties are coming from and learn to combat them.
brightWords47
August 13th, 2015 2:38pm
Being nervous around the opposite sex normally means you have a attraction to them! Don't be nervous
Galina
August 13th, 2015 10:07am
Why do YOU think this could be? There could be a number of reasons, not knowing you both personally it is hard to say. What is your initial gut feeling?
Brittneym101
August 6th, 2015 4:44pm
Everyone has their own reason as to why they would be nervous around their girlfriend/partner. Usually it's because you like/love someone a lot. You maybe afraid of doing the wrong thing or embarrassing yourself in front of them. I have been with this guy off and on for almost 5 years and I still to this day get nervous around him sometimes. I get butterflies in my stomach, sweaty palms and feet and I sometimes feel lifeless. It's normal so don't be ashamed of it. It happens to the best of us.
Anonymous
July 31st, 2015 9:19pm
Are you afraid of what'll happen if you say something "wrong", or do something "stupid"? Have you ever messed up in front of your girlfriend before? The more it happens, trust me, the easier it becomes to loosen up. Once you learn your girlfriend truly loves and cares for you, then you'll be less afraid of what happens in front of her. If this doesn't seem like the reason for being nervous, try to pinpoint what it is, and maybe even talk to her about it. I know it's hard, but it'll be worth it.
ListeningOak
August 1st, 2015 6:03pm
When in a relationship, I find open and honest communication, both with yourself and with your partner the best way to get to the root of a problem,
Anonymous
August 1st, 2015 10:45pm
Perhaps you feel like you still have to impress her in some way, and so that every move you make is under scrutiny. Depending on whether or not this is a new relationship; that can be a blessing and a curse. Hopefully a level of comfort is reached at some point.
kindBubbles59
August 2nd, 2015 1:14am
How often are you all together take time to get yo know each other take walks an dc talks listen to her let her listen to you to f you can not be comfortable with one another the relationship needs help
Anonymous
August 2nd, 2015 4:05pm
It could be you are afraid of making a mistake or not being completely comfortable could be just a time issue
Anonymous
August 2nd, 2015 10:58pm
you may be feeling nervous around your girlfriend as you do not want to disappoint her as you are in love with her
RomanticJ
December 28th, 2019 3:28pm
Most of us feel at least a little nervous when starting a new relationship. This is due to the persistent fear of one or more situations in which the person is exposed to possible scrutiny by others and fears that he or she may do something or act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing. The best way to cope with dating anxiety is to focus on one’s sense of self-acceptance and self-worth. When a person feels good about who they are, their values and what they have to offer, it bolsters them against judgment. By calming their harshest inner critic, it opens the door to experiencing  closer connections with others. Good luck!
Dillion
August 5th, 2015 4:47am
A lot of people get nervous around the one they admire and spend a lot of time with. Some people experience a little anxiety at times as well when becoming nervous.
Anonymous
August 5th, 2015 11:52am
u want to be perfect for her. so of course u think u arnt good enough for her. talk to her, she will understand it
Anonymous
August 5th, 2015 7:29pm
I think that might just be you being hopelessly in love with her. It also depends on the type of nervousness. Are you scared of her or are you anxious?
katherinegracee
August 5th, 2015 9:07pm
I'm so sorry to hear that you're feeling nervous around your girlfriend. It's important to reflect on the experiences you and her have gone through. What kind of nervousness are you feeling? Is it negative, or positive? Does it make you feel like you want to stay around her or run away? It can help to think of these things. Another thing that might be useful to take note of is that one scientific study shows people can confuse fear with attraction and attraction with fear. This biopsychological phenomenon is very powerful. It may not be what's going on with you, but the whole point is that anything can be a possible answer to why you are feeling nervous. Only you can answer this for yourself. After all, you know you more than I do! :) What do you think? How do you think you could approach this situation so that you can self-evaluate and try to make sense of what's getting you nervous? I hope this helps in some way. You deserve the best; everyone deserves the best.
Bri
August 6th, 2015 12:23am
This is a question that I think takes a lot more background information to truly get to the bottom of. There can be numerous reasons why you are nervous around your girlfriend from relationship abuse, past experiences that make you nervous, situational issues that are coming up in your current relationship, etc. I suggest talking to a listener to really get to the real reason and help you get through this problem.
JustineElizabeth
August 6th, 2015 1:55pm
Its possible that you are experiencing new feelings, and although they may be positive, the newness may be causing you to experience butterflies or feel nervous.
Anonymous
August 8th, 2015 7:14pm
Being nervous around your significant other or just the opposite or same sex is completely normal. You may be nervous around her because you feel like you need to be the best you can be for her. That's not entirely true, you don't need to try and be perfect. Of course, mind your manners, be nice and be yourself. That's all a girl really wants.
Jenniferroseh98
August 12th, 2015 4:44pm
The are many reasons why you may feel nervous around your girlfriend. The most common reason is that you have a lot of feelings for her and you are scared you may do something that will ruin your chances with her.
trashcat
August 12th, 2015 11:51am
We are always worried that the people we love may leave us. So you are nervous that you make a mistake and that she will left you because of that.
heretohelp356
August 12th, 2015 4:08am
you can feel like you might want to impress her. so you might get anxious. it's totally normal.
Anonymous
August 9th, 2015 9:46pm
You may be nervous around her because you like her so much and don't want to mess up. (Which you really can't). :)
Sammy01
August 9th, 2015 1:13am
Probably because you want to make a good impression on her, since it's important to you that she likes you. That's completely normal at the start of a relationship. However, if you've been dating for some time and you still feel this way, something's probably off. In that case it's probably worth discussing with her.
quiescentvibes
August 9th, 2015 12:18am
Sometimes we feel we must put on a show. Possibly, you feel she wont be interested with your true self. Which should not be the case, be yourself ! If she/he doesn't like what they TRULY see... he/she is not meant for you! Move on and find someone who likes the TRUE you 😊
Anonymous
August 7th, 2015 10:19am
Often when you care about someone and haven't been dating for a long time, there's quite a long period of time where you feel a pressure to be "perfect", perfect clothes, perfect hair, perfect hygiene, perfect conversation, avoiding "embarrassing" things like belching, etc. It's all a very stressful thing to try to live up to and can cause nervousness/anxiety, as it's not possible, as perfection isn't possible. Also, often one goes through a period of time of wondering if they're good enough for the person, if they can provide what they need, or if they've been hurt by others before, wonder if this person "might leave them too". That certainly never means to not care about any of those things, as all of them are important and are part of who we are as people (worrying about getting hurt, wanting to impress people), but to be willing to occasionally let a mistake slide in there and understand that everyone is human and often times with new partners you can bond and laugh over mistakes and how you were both trying your best to impress each other and how it doesn't always work out :)