Please give me your best tips for staying cool under pressure

[Battykodas]

I have a very important day this week that will impact the rest of my life. The stress in the build up to it is becoming unbearable. I am struggling to eat, having panic attacks and can’t seem to function. I just want it over with but at the same time I can’t imagine getting through it. Please give me your best survival tips

Breathing !!! Look up
calming breathing techniques and try them until You find one you like.

also Amy Cuddy power poses ted talk. It is old but I think it’s a good moose changer

https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are?subtitle=en

it helped me

Thank you - going to watch now

Amy cuddy's work on this particular issue has been partially discredited. It might make you think you are more confident but doesn't do anything to your actual body chemistry.

I would suggest exercise, even a walk. There's a reason most people turn to pacing when they are tense.

It depends entirely on what it is, obvs, but I used to deal with, for example, a two hour interview (terrifying) by imagining it instead as 8 x 15 minute chunks, and reminding myself every so often how far I was through (25%, 50% etc) and then when I got to 75%, it’s as good as done, so, relax!

Also, I tell myself that this time tomorrow it will all be over, one way or other, and I will either be on one path or another. I’m pretty fatalistic I suppose, but it beats panicking, which is never helpful!

I second power poses!

• Talk it through with someone supportive
• Write it all down
• Do exercise ie swimming or running or fast walking
• Breathing exercises or meditation

On the day, give yourself a pep talk
You'll get there!
Good luck!

If you go into whatever it is feeling confident then you are a couple of steps in the right direction. Breathing techniques will help calm you definitely and can stop panic attacks. But power poses and as cringeworthy as it sounds, saying out loud that you are going to dowell, you are confident, people want to hear what you have to say etc will increase your feelings of confidence and so people will perceive you as calm and confident.

I find just accepting that it's ok to feel stressed in stressful situations rather than trying to fight it helps. I thank my body for trying to prepare me by pumping more adrenaline around and breathe into it

@Putmeinsummer I know it’s ‘discredited’ but feel it helped me and does still help when I need it.

maybe it does work but for reasons we don’t know yet. Like lots of things.

Propranolol!

Get some from the GP; it takes away the physical symptoms of anxiety like the high heart rate and about 15 minutes after taking it you just realise you don't feel anxious any more.

Oh man, I feel for you. The best I've got is make sure you are doing all the self care ,drinking water, nutrious breakfast, lunch, dinner, exercise and a good night's sleep. In the moment deep breaths and if it is too many things that are stressing you out make a to do list and then prioritise. Block off time to deal with the most important thing and then take it from there. Talk to a supportive person. If it is a stressful person, minimise your exposure and get down to what you have to do. Off to take my own advice!

Visualisation - imagine it going really well, imagine all the details, how you feel, how you look etc. Keep repeating.

"Stress acts as an accelerator: it will push you either forward or backward, but you choose which direction.”
―Chelsea Erieau

It's true. You can let your stress get the best of you or you can let it motivate you. If this thing that will affect the rest of your life is something you really want, you have to go for broke.