What Causes ‘Chills’ When We’re Nervous or Excited?

When we’re nervous or excited, our body does a kind of dance that makes us feel chills, like tiny goosebumps all over.

Imagine you're wearing your favorite hoodie on a cold day. You shiver because your body is trying to keep you warm. Something similar happens when you're nervous or excited, your body starts doing little "shivers" even if it's not cold.

When we feel strong emotions like excitement or nervousness, our brain sends messages to other parts of our body, telling them to work harder. This makes our heart beat faster and can make us feel a little shaky, kind of like when you're really happy and can’t stop jumping up and down.

At the same time, some tiny muscles in our skin (called arrector pili) get a signal to tighten up. That’s what causes the goosebumps or chills we feel, it's like our body is giving itself a little hug!