nervous tic
Stress-induced twitch
A nervous tic is an involuntary, repetitive movement or vocalization—eye blinking, facial twitching, throat clearing—often triggered or worsened by stress or anxiety.
The phrase sometimes extends to habitual behaviors that aren't strictly involuntary: Checking his phone every thirty seconds had become a nervous tic.
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
- eye twitchInvoluntary eyelid movement
- blinkRapid lid movement
- spasmInvoluntary muscle contraction
- habitSettled regular tendency
involuntary · facial · eye · muscle · stress · stress response · anxiety · repetitive · jerk · flinch · compulsion · fidget · tremor · wink · grimace · shudder · uncontrollable · reflex
- stress symptomsanxiety attack, panic attack, panic attacks, stress headache, tension headache
- awkward momentsoops, cringe, embarrassment, yikes, awkward
- reflexesreflex, reflexes, reflex action, reflex response, quick reflexes
- psychosomatic disordersconversion disorder, functional disorder, hypochondriasis, somatization, hysterical blindness
smoothness/control
nervous ticgraceful movement
Smooth, elegant locomotion
fluid motion · calm demeanor · steady hand · relaxed posture · stillness
nervous, nerve, nerves, nerved, nervously, nervousness, nervy, unnerve, unnerved