Why is my body nervous and I'm not?

[OneFrenchEgg]

What can I do? I have to give a presentation in 30 mins and actually I'm prepared I have some good slides I'm happy to share the info. But I feel sick my hands are numb my heart is racing and I feel light headed.
Why???
Last time I took phenergan and it was a disaster as it made me so tired I fell asleep early and couldn't function properly (have been told I'm v sensitive to some medication, maybe that's also a thing).

This happens to me! I know I've got it, it's fine, it doesn't matter, but nope- body decides it's time for anxiety mode.

Good luck - hopefully once you start you'll feel more normal.

I get this too OP so sympathise! It's the body's flight or fight response. I take Bach Rescue Remedy before a big presentation. It's probably just psychological but seems to help a bit. I'm generally ok once I get going!

I get this sometimes too. A vigourous shake of hands and walk normally gets rid of it.

Oh maybe I could jump up and down outside for a bit! No time for a walk. I just know my voice will go funny and I can't feel my hands to move the slides
At least it's not just me might buy some Bach RR for next time

Thousands of years of evolution pump priming your body to get ready for a life or death situation.

Something that helped me was closing my eyes and saying thank you to my brain and body for warning me and making me ready, but it's OK, I'm going into a room with friends, I'm well prepared and excited.

Helps me shift the emotion from defensive/protective to forward footing.

It’s because you care, and that’s good.

All great actors get it before they step onto stage.

I get this. Just push on. Nobody will mind the wavering voice, and it wears off

This is a great approach!

Superhero pose (superman) and winner of the race pose - arms in air - great big smile - makes your body feel like a winner.

Ok i love these ideas. Got through it ok but it's so annoying. I'll try some for the next time, will have more prep time !

If it's something you regularly suffer from, I recommend betablockers -- stops racing heartbeat, damp palms, etc.

On the other hand, you could just accept this as something your body does, and accept it as a quirk in the knowledge that in fact, you're not nervous, your body just likes to insist you take this stuff seriously...?

(I always did very well in exams, but still felt horrifically nauseous in advance of them -- by the time I was approaching my doctoral viva, I'd just accepted that this was the way my body responded to an approaching test.)

This podcast episode on the amygdala backs up what @Timeforabiscuit is saying - it basically says your amygdala gets you ready for a change in circumstances -good or bad and if you can persuade yourself you are feeling excited rather than nervous (same physiological reaction) it can really help. I actually set this as a listening homework for my year 11s and then irritate them before exams by going ‘what you are feeling is excitement!’.

It's just your body preparing you to face a challenge (pretty much the same physiological response as when you're excited).

If you embrace it as excitement and your body preparing you for success rather than trying to squash it down, it will probably go better. Harness it, don't fight it.

Also, phenergan is a sedative. People take it for insomnia, so definitely don't use it for wakeful nerves.

Oh so that explains the phenergan, big mistake on my part!
Thanks for the podcast recommendation and I'm looking forward to trying some of the mind over matter ideas.