Panic

Panic - that overwhelming feeling of anxiety caused by some deed done or undone that causes near immediate  and often total cessation of rational thought and may even kick-starts one's fight or flight mechanism.  Happens to me almost every Friday at 5AM when I sit down in front of the computer and realize that despite promising myself to do the LBC blog Thursday when there's plenty of time circumstances have once again prevented me from keeping that simple promise to myself. Yikes.  Here we go again.

Panic is clearly rooted deep within our brains. Kept early man - well - some of them - from being a meal to some long lost critter.  Fight or flight.  Can I whup that critter's ass?  Can it whup mine? Decision time.

Panic can be used to one's advantage - make the other guy panic and increase your advantage of prevailing in whatever the mutual endeavor. Assuming of course you have the ability to follow through and take advantage of the situation.

Panic is common in sports - especially in close contests. I have first-hand experience with that from my bygone jock days.  Bottom of the last inning, you've offered up your best fastball and the resulting crack of the bat sends shivers down your spine as you turn to watch the ball take a long, long journey to distant lands.  (well - these days it might be the loud ping of aluminum - not the same thing really). Actually I've been on both sides of that one - the pitcher and the batter.  Then there's the panic you feel when your errant fastball lands squarely between the eyes of a batter, he drops like a sack of bricks and is motionless.  Been there, done that too. (He's fine) 

Panic is something that needs to be managed as best you can. Control it and your life can be better.  Give in to it and expect to pay the consequences. 

Here's a short list of things that cause me to panic - care to share yours???

1) Friday mornings, 5AM
2) Email from my bank about the level of funds (or lack thereof) in my account _notice how they never email you and say gee - you have x figures in your account - good job
3) Screeching car brakes in front of the house and neither DJ (grandson) nor Ginger (dog) are immediately visible
4) NHL lockout - thereby removing one of my releases from the insanity that is my daily life
5) the first note of damn near any disco song

Truth be told I'm actually a pretty stable although somewhat excitable fellow.  Real panic is not something I've had to deal with much.  I try to be prepared for most anything by taking care of business.

I will, though, admit to some frustration that this vision quest that is my life is causing me.  I'm circling the drain as my good pal Audrey says - is it time to panic?

That's my somewhat light-hearted take on Panic.  Check out what the other LBC posters have to say on the matter.  Anu, Delirious, gaelikaa, Grannymar, Maxi, Maria SF, ocdwriter, Padmum, Paul, Ramana The Old Fossil and Will.