People who are calm on the surface but nervous underneath display these 12 behaviors

These signs reveal an inner nervousness.

A woman with brown hair and glasses is smiling. She is wearing a white shirt with thin black stripes. The background is softly blurred, featuring hints of greenery and an outdoor seating area.

Although someone might seem like the embodiment of cool collectedness, they may be wracked with anxiety just below the surface. Look for these 12 behaviors in those around you, as they often indicate intense nervousness beneath the smooth exterior.

1. Excessive or inappropriate laughter.

People are sitting around a table, smiling and talking while holding bottles of soda. Some wear casual outfits. The setting is bright, with red blinds in the background, suggesting a cheerful atmosphere.

A person who laughs or giggles constantly is likely dealing with intense nervous anxiety just below the surface. This is a learned coping mechanism that they use subconsciously to diffuse potential tension, and to make themselves seem more friendly and likeable to those around them.

2. Empty smiles.

A woman with long blonde hair and a gentle smile looks off to the side. She is outdoors in a natural setting, with a blurred background of greenery, wearing a sleeveless white top.

Similarly to excessive laughter, smiling constantly can be seen as a “fawning” response to discomfort. A person who’s always smiling is unlikely to be seen as a threat, and therefore may not be targeted for cruelty. Additionally, they may be assumed to be friendlier and more pleasant to be around.

3. Repeated blinking.

A young woman with light brown hair and bangs is smiling with her eyes closed. She is wearing a checkered shirt and is in a dimly lit setting, possibly a café or a similar cozy environment. The background is blurred, emphasizing her content expression.

Blinking repeatedly is a sign of anxiety and nervousness. Although it may also be indicative of dry eyes (since blinking lubricates our eyeballs with lovely, salty tears), a person who’s blinking a lot in a scenario that isn’t overly hot or dry is likely quite nervous, rather than dehydrated.

4. Licking their lips a great deal, or drinking a lot.

Close-up of a person's face with smooth skin, showing their mouth and part of their nose. Their lips are glossy as they smile while playfully sticking out their tongue to lick the upper lip.

Anxiety can cause dry mouth, so if someone keeps licking their lips or drinking their beverage of choice, that’s often an indicator of high anxiety. Additionally, their lips may get chapped from all the licking, so the person may bite at the dry skin, leading to raw, bleeding sores around their mouth.

5. A quiet, trembling voice.

A woman standing and speaking in front of a whiteboard, with two men sitting at a table and listening attentively. One man is holding a pen near his mouth, seemingly deep in thought, while the other is slightly out of focus. The background has soft lighting.

When a person feels confident and capable, their voice will be firm and audible to reflect that. They’ll speak articulately and enunciate their words clearly. In contrast, a nervous person might speak too quietly to be heard properly, and their voice may tremble or shake when they talk.

6. Nail biting.

People who bite their nails do so as a coping mechanism for stress or anxiety. It’s a repetitive, soothing behavior that allows them to focus on something other than the discomfort they’re feeling in the present moment. A person whose nails are ragged from being bitten is likely very nervous beneath their calm exterior.

7. Over-explaining whatever they’re talking about.

Three women are engaged in a conversation in a professional setting. The woman on the left wears glasses and holds a coffee cup, the middle woman holds a tablet, and the right woman gestures with her hands while speaking. They are all dressed in business attire.

Those who suffer from social anxiety are often terrified of being misunderstood. As a result, they often over-explain things in an attempt to make absolutely sure that what they’re saying can’t be misconstrued. This often leads them to ramble on a bit, making themselves (and others) feel more awkward and uncomfortable by the minute.

8. Avoiding eye contact.

Close-up shot of a woman with light skin and wavy brown hair, looking down with closed eyes, displaying long eyelashes, and a neutral facial expression.

Eyes are the windows to the soul, and many people who are nervous beneath their facade of calm self-certainty often avoid eye contact with those they interact with. They’re afraid of being analyzed or judged unkindly, so if they don’t look people in the eye, they can avoid these uncomfortable feelings. (Note: avoiding eye contact is also common in neurodivergent people.)

9. Fidgeting or twitching.

A person in a gray shirt holding a spinning yellow fidget spinner against a blurred background with warm lighting.

A person who’s feeling nervous or anxious about something will often feel their “fight or flight” instinct kick in. Since they can’t actually crawl out of their skin to run away—especially in a work meeting—they’ll twitch or fidget in an attempt to release the impulse to run that’s coursing through their body.

10. Sweating.

A man wearing a light gray shirt lifts his arm, revealing a large sweat stain in the armpit area. His facial expression suggests discomfort or surprise. The background is a plain gray.

Anxiety will cause a person’s heart rate to speed up, which will also accelerate other body processes such as hormone release and glandular production. As a result, those who seem calm but are nervous underneath may start to sweat during a conversation, such as getting beads on their forehead or upper lip, or turning red.

11. Checking the time repeatedly.

A man in a gray suit and red tie stands in a kitchen, leaning against a counter while looking at his wristwatch. There are kitchen utensils and a laptop on the counter, with a window in the background showing cars outside.

A lot of people who suffer from anxiety are terrified of losing control. Checking the time repeatedly during a conversation can serve a dual purpose: it’s a soothing, repetitive behavior that they can control, and may also give them an indication of how much longer they’ll need to endure their current social excruciation.

12. Formal speech patterns.

Four people in business attire sit around a table in a cafe, engaged in a lively conversation. One man, holding a drink, appears to be speaking, while the others listen attentively with smiles. The atmosphere is warm and casual.

If someone is feeling nervous, they might be terrified of being perceived as inferior or immature. As such, they’ll become very formal in their speech, thus conveying the image of mature professionalism. Additionally, by speaking slowly, clearly, and formally, they can often control potential speech tremors that will give away how anxious they really are.