42 - The thin line between anxiety and excitement in the brain
The Credibility Minute · Jen deHaan
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Show Notes
Physical sensations related to anxiety and excitement (things like racing heart, shallow breathing, heightened alertness) are almost identical in the brain. Research shows that the only difference is the story the brain attaches to those sensations.
When you try to "calm down" before recording, you are often fighting your body's natural activation. Instead of suppressing this energy, you can reframe the narrative. By labeling these sensations as excitement or care rather than fear, you can channel that physiological arousal into a sharper, more energetic performance.
In this micro-episode:
- The physiological similarities between anxiety and excitement
- Why trying to "calm down" often backfires
- How to reframe nervous energy as performance fuel
Resources:
Get Excited: Reappraising Pre-Performance Anxiety as Excitement: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/xge-a0035325.pdf
The brain basis of emotion: A meta-analytic review
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