Weird nervous habits you haven’t heard of

In one of our previous blog posts, I wrote about most common nervous habits.

Now, we are taking one step more and exploring a bit weird or unknown habits people practice while feeling nervous or anxious.

Before we start, let’s remind ourselves why do we develop nervous habits in the first place. Those help us:

To release built-up tension,

To distract ourselves from discomfort,

Come as learned behaviors from childhood,

or as coping mechanisms for anxiety.

1. Excessive Throat Clearing

Constant throat clearing can be linked to anxiety rather than medical issues. It’s often unconscious and repetitive.

2. Tapping or Drumming Fingers

Finger tapping may seem harmless, but in high-stress situations, it can become rapid and compulsive. I bet you know at least one person doing this.

3. Over-Smiling in Serious Situations

Some people smile when they’re nervous – even during serious conversations. This mismatch can confuse others. Bereaved parents know very well that inappropriate response to some shocking news can be a part of unbereable sadness.

4. Laughing at Inappropriate Moments

Nervous laughter is a classic example. When tension rises, the brain sometimes triggers laughter as a coping tool. This can be connected to the previous facts I’ve mentioned.

5. Repeating Words or Sounds

Under stress, individuals may repeat phrases like “um,” “like,” or certain sounds without noticing. There can be many other phrases people start using constantly, and later don’t even realize.

+Talking Too Fast

This may sound a bit weird, but is actually a nervous habit. When nerves kick in, speech can speed up. People may rush through sentences without pausing for breath.