From Panic to Presence: The Neuroscience of Staying Calm

Your brain can’t tell the difference between physical threat and psychological pressure.

Both trigger the same flood of cortisol (the stress hormone) and adrenaline, pushing your body into high alert. Your heart rate spikes, your breathing shortens, and your focus narrows.

When you consciously reframe stress as activation energy instead of danger, your prefrontal cortex comes back online. You regain access to reasoning, emotional regulation, and creativity.

This is the difference between panic and presence.