What Is That Little Tingly Feeling I Get When I Really Like a Boy?

As you've discovered, being around that special someone isn't just an emotional experience but a physical one as well, sometimes leaving you with sweaty palms, a racing pulse and that tingly feeling that's hard to describe. Knowing what exactly is behind the excitement you are experiencing can help you sort through your feelings, which may lead you to feel more confident around him.

Strong reactions are triggered in us based on certain body language, according to biological anthropologist Helen E. Fisher in her book “Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray.” If the guy you like has been flirting with you by gazing into your eyes, a primitive part of your brain goes into “approach or retreat” mode, and the urgency associated with the decision can translate as a rush. An all-over tingly feeling can also result from factors such as mystery, the right timing and even certain evocative odors. Fisher says that when all these factors align just so, you can experience powerful feelings of attraction, which can lead to a pins-and-needles feeling in your heart.