Feeling nervously restless or anxious, often accompanied by physical trembling or fidgeting. Describes a state of agitated nervousness that manifests in both mental and physical symptoms.
From 'jitters' (1929), possibly derived from 'jitter' meaning to act nervously, which may come from dialectal 'chitter' (to shiver). The word gained popularity during the jazz age to describe nervous excitement.
Jittery perfectly captures how anxiety lives in our bodies — it's impossible to feel jittery without some physical manifestation like fidgeting, pacing, or trembling. This mind-body connection shows how emotional states aren't just mental experiences but whole-system responses to stress.
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