Stress Attack

Today I experienced one of those overwhelming bouts of stress. Stress is almost as bad as a wild animal. It smothers you and snatches away whatever trace of a breath you have in your lungs. Your throat becomes dry as cotton and your mouth tastes oddly metallic as you try, and fail, to swallow. Your fingers clench your pile of books until the knuckles stand out starkly in your skin. Your eyes open wide, probably making you look comical, but at the moment, you really do not care. Your fight or flight response kicks in. Do you make a run for the door? Or put up the most desperate argument of your life? Neither, apparently. Your body has entered a mode of complete shut-down. Frozen as solid as an icicle, you sit rigidly in your seat. Your mind can hardly function, as it seems to have gone beyond its capacity. Is your heart even still beating? Are you still inhaling and exhaling? You have to remind your body to begin the breathing process once again, but in your state of panic, you overcompensate, making yourself hyperventilate. You hear breathless gulps that match your own all around you. Your classmates gaze in horror at the teacher, who remains oblivious. Yes, you just were told you have a test tomorrow, and you are completely, utterly unprepared. It is going to be long night.