Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with nerves

Lied der Terror

philotes — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:58:31 -0800

First ever opera audition this week and I’m terrified. Help me overcome my nerves and perform like a pro! I’ve auditioned for musicals before, but I’ve never managed to do so without shaking violently and nearly passing out. I could go into a whole lot of historical & psychological background about why singing auditions scare the everliving bejesus out of me, but I don’t think it’s essential to my question. Suffice it to say that at 26 I’m a latecomer to the awesomeness that is classical vocal training, I have an audition for an opera at the end of the week, and I’m terrified. Oh, and when I say terrified, I mean that when I walk into an audition room my legs quiver so I can barely stand, I can’t breathe (major problem for singing), and little stars dance in front of my eyes.

My vocal coach, confused by my paralyzing terror, said to me, “You just go in there, show them what you have, and hope that they like it,” as though that were the simplest thing in the world. Though, strangely, her pithy statement did make me feel a little better. And now, as the dreaded hour approaches, every time I get short of breath or consumed with worry I repeat her words in my head, and feel better…for a minute or two, anyway.

So I’m asking my fellow MeFites, for any mantras or mind-tricks you may have for calming your nerves in the situations you find most terrifying.

I am also looking for any tips or information to help me through the audition itself. For example: how to communicate with the accompanist, how to introduce my pieces, and any other procedural aspects of the audition for which I should be prepared.

Two more things: I’ve practiced and practiced, and my songs are as good as they’re going to be at this point in my training. So, while I know that preparation is the greatest aid to confidence, there’s little more to be done for that at this point. Secondly, I’ve been acting since I was 12, so monologue auditions are old hat to me and I know general auditioning etiquette, but I would love any music-audition-specific advice you can give.

Sorry for the long question and thanks in advance for your help!

shoulder blade/back/neck knots

figTree — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:44:08 -0800

what is going on with my shoulder blade and neck muscles? hello there! i have an odd pain that comes every year or two in my shoulder blade - im not sure if the best way to deal with it is accupunture, massage, chiropractics etc etc...

I was hoping to find someone with a similar experience. Here's my case:

Seemingly random sudden onset (within 10 minutes), not from anything strenuous - at least not that day. Perhaps it comes due to strenuous activities from a day or two before that my body is not used to.

Initially it starts sort of at the side of my spine (right across from the shoulder blade). This is the only time that my back is a bit hurting. Then within a few days, the pain totally migrates over to what seems to me like under my shoulder blade and stays there. Here on in my back is totally fine. It feels like the problem is in the muscles - im not sure if its just a really big knot? or if its more to do with nerves? (same thing?)

Its only really bad for a week or so, then its totally managable (can go skiing with it even). It doesnt seem to drastically get worse once it starts and usually takes 1 to 1 and a half months to totally get better. Also, at the same time, on the opposite side of my body, my side of the neck usually develops a similar pain a few weeks in. Pain perhaps isnt the best word, as it only hurts in certain positions that my neck is in (pertaining to both my neck and shoulder) and in that way constrains motion.

So a few things - first of all, what is this called/what is going on medically? and second of all, any particular therapies that people could recommend? Any preventions too?(particular stretches or something..?)

Thanks for any tips! i am almost completely better now (a month after initial onset), but now im more curious than anything as to any sort of things i could be doing, and if this is a common problem and how people deal with it.

thanks MF!

Insert "pain in the neck" joke here.

littlerobothead — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:30:31 -0800

Did I pinch a nerve? If so, who best to go to? Over Thanksgiving we stayed with my wife's folks in a lavish, over-dressed bed. I got rid of as many pillows as I could, but still ended up yanking a mean knot into my neck. I figured it was no problem and would work itself out; instead, it's weeks later, the pain is intense at night and radiates into my hands and head, and shows no signs of ceasing. Did I pinch a nerve, or worse?

My wife says I should have a message, and putting an extreme amount of pressure on my shoulder does seem to help somehow; but maybe I need acupuncture, or to see a plain old doctor. Help me focus my "wellness efforts", as my HMO might say! Thanks...

Are self-installable dental electric nerve blocks on the horizon, at all?

Quarter Pincher — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:39:24 -0800

Would it be very plausible to hope that a consumer-good electric(al) nerve block be developed for dental/oral surgery pain management? Soon? I will likely be having lots of dental work in my future, unless I can somehow discover a drastically inexpensive way to skip right to dentures.

In the meantime and less pricey time, I'd ideally like a consumer-implementable electric(al) nerve block that I could install myself when needed, because getting the chem-shot is almost as bad as the toothache itself, so much that I've had my last umpteen fillings bored and filled without any shots and going purely off nitrous and goa-trance.

The pain-to-the-point-of-insanity I feel when injected with whatsit-caine nerve block meds into the gum is absurdly fearsome, but I'll overlikely be needing a number of root canals later in my years -- and it seems like an electric/electrical nerve block would be the answer, but to get a dentist to buy one and use it would take decades rather than me just bringing one in and using it myself.

Would you suppose the installation of electric(al) nerve block is too delicate or sensitive (pun, yes) of a procedure for standard consumers to implement, or could a rudimental version be contrived that essentially accomplishes the goal without needing to know advanced bio-science?

What biologically causes the pleasure associated with an orgasm?

WCityMike — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:46:54 -0800

What are the underlying processes occurring during an orgasm that are the biological causes of the pleasurable sensation we associate with it? Is the sensation of orgasm a function of the nervous system, or is it something neurochemical in the brain, or both, or neither? Is the reason that certain masturbatory and/or sexual acts feel good because of nerve concentration in the erogenous areas, or is it something different or more in nature? I'm primarily interested in answers relating to the male orgasm ... as I expect the male orgasm and the female orgasm may have different biological processes given the different anatomy?

And just to ward off any wisenheimers, I obviously understand the idea of Act A produces Obvious Biological Result B and Happy Sensation C. What I'm curious about is the underlying medical process behind that equation.

Cannabisfilter

freddymetz — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:37:30 -0800

Cannabisfilter (haha) How would cannabis affect my Nerves and is it even a neurotoxin? How dangerous is it really? The internet gives me very split opinions on it.. Im not talking about withdrawal effects, but mainly what it does to your body while its being smoked.

Help me explain what I call "cat mouth" to my boyfriend.

letahl — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:31:58 -0800

Help me explain what I call "cat mouth" to my boyfriend. When I had cats, if one of them walked in front of me while I was at the computer, and their hair softly brushed against the front of my face, the entire inside of my mouth would go all funny. It is like a cross between pins and needles and cotton mouth, but a very strong sensation. I call this sensation "cat mouth" per its origin.

I can also get it if something else brushes against my cheek or lips just very slightly, especially if it is fuzzy in texture. It is not a pleasant feeling at all, although its not painful.

Does anyone have any idea what causes this, or what it is? Am I the only person that gets this?

What do I do with my arms and hands?

HotPatatta — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:09:56 -0800

I don't know what to do with my arms and hands when I'm nervous. They just feel awkward, like big old sausage links hanging there. I don't want to cross my arms because it makes me look aloof and apathetic. What do I do? This happens when I'm in front of people or even one-on-one with someone--even with friends sometimes.

But I don't wanna interview on the phone!

Eudaimonia — Thu, 17 May 2007 11:49:22 -0800

How do I turn the prospect of a phone interview into the prospect of an in person interview? Forgive me for the naivete - I'm young and ill versed in the job hunting world!

People from a job I really really want just got back to me asking for a phone interview. Yay!

While I know its just an informative interview and whatnot, I reeeeallly hate speaking to people over the phone. What little charm I have does not come across over the phone (I think) - I already sound like a little girl and when I get nervous I tend to stutter/not find my words. I guess the Pros of a phone interview include the fact that I can write things out and look at them as I'm talking? Maybe? But like I said, who cares about the substance of the words if I sound like a nervous midget?

The times they offered aren't convenient anyways (I'll be traveling and going to class), so I'd like to just ask whether I can come in. What's the best way to do that without coming off oddly?

If there is no way to conveniently finagle my way into an in person interview, do y'all have any tips for me so that I don't sound like a 12 year old tween?

Help me not act like a freak when interviewing for my dream job

hazelshade — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 07:25:08 -0800

I am insanely nervous for an interview I have tomorrow for what is essentially my dream job. Any advice to avoid allowing my nerves to get the better of me and screwing it up? Extra points if you have tips for stopping yourself from rambling, because in these situations I tend to be uncomfortable with silence and sometimes can't stop myself from talking just to fill space.

Pictures of the redistributed nervous system?

rebirtha — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 20:02:37 -0800

Can anyone help me find the pictures I once saw of remapped nervous system density in rats and humans? Actually, there were a bunch of different pictures. I saw this in a biology book once in school and there's no way I can trace my steps back to it. The key characteristic of the pictures was that the nerves, normally not equally distributed, are redistributed to be equal. The effect is that the bodies are distorted so that the area containing the dense areas of nerves becomes larger and the less dense, smaller. The rat sticks out in my head as having an especially large nose. Uh.... Pointers?

Nervous density

twine42 — Thu, 22 Sep 2005 04:54:29 -0800

Some questions about nerve endings... This has been bugging me for a while and I can't find any easy to follow answers on googling...

Do we have a fixed number per person or per square centimeter of flesh?

Does someone with a bigger body feel more pain? Does a large penis have less sensation than a small one? I've often heard it said that big breasts have less sensation - is this just because the nerves are more widely spaced? If so do they become more sensative as they shrink back with weight loss?

Tips for typing with an injured arm?

sequential — Mon, 11 Oct 2004 00:51:16 -0800

Last month, I injured the nerves in my left forearm. Since then, I have not been able to work - I type for a living. Worse yet, I type code for a living. (more inside) Typing itself did not cause my injury. When I moved, I gave away my old desk and began using an old oak work table, the kind you might have seen in study hall thirty or so years ago. The upside is the table is quite roomy and fits perfectly in my rather small apartment. The downside is that when I rest my arms to type, it causes the nerve that runs under my forearm into my last two fingers to become aggrivated. Untreated, the nerves caused the muscles to become inflamed. I have maintained full use of my hands otherwise and can type some without serious pain or discomfort, just not long enough or consistant enough to produce billable hours.

I expect with continued treatment to some day be able to type again. In the mean time, I need to earn a pay check. Several people have suggested voice recognition software as the way other coders have used to overcome injuries to their typing arms or hands. What software would you suggest? From what I understand, Dragon Naturally Speaking is best suited for natural language transcription. What I need is to be able to say something like "pound bang foreward slash bin forward slash sh" and have it produce "#!/bin/sh".

I'm on Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional (SP2), Linux or Mac OS 10.3. My iBook is woefully underpowered, so any Mac software would need to be extremely special in order for me to suffer through using it as my primary machine.

Lastly, I'm looking for suggestions for wireless headsets to use with the software. I have a preference for Bluetooth headsets, but would be interested to hear your opinions of USB microphones or wired headsets. (The headset would serve a dual purpose - I'd also use it to access the phone line through my PC.)

Budget is a non-issue, but I expect to only use the software for one to four months, so I'd prefer not to spend thousands of dollars in software and equipment. Personal stories, experiences or links to others who have gone through similar ordeals would be appreciated. Thanks for your help.