I’ve heard that the restaurant industry refers to the panicked state of mind as spinning, and it’s something that affects a lot of stressed or new service industry staff caught in the pandemonium of the kitchen line for the first time.

Confusion takes over, and you’ll see a person go frantically from one direction to another with no clue of what they’re doing right then and there. Spinning.

Spinning means panic. Panic means that you can’t think. Usually, in a context of a kitchen this means you’re about to screw something up. Whether you drop a pan of oil, slice your finger open or burn what’s on the stove, it almost always happens after someone starts spinning.

My wife – a chef, among other things – gave me some pretty useful advice. “Stop. Look. Think.”

Whenever the feeling of “spinning” kicks in, put down whatever you were doing and stop. Stop everything. Stop time. Stop the world. Stop spinning. Think.

It stops chefs, waiters and other service industry staff from making a mess of things.

It can also be related to bridge.

Stop, look and think.

This describes how I look at every card play, every hand and every move.

Many bridge games turn into a hot, busy kitchen where you have to keep several pans going at the same time (and of course, keep track of what’s in play). Sometimes, spinning can describe what you feel like when trying to choose the next move.

Stop, look and think.

Almost always, this can provide you with enough clarity to find the right move and it works every time.

If this doesn’t work, it might not be simple nerves causing the issue.

Could Flutters Be Physical?

Excitement and nervousness are similar feelings, and you might experience them at many bridge games (and other events in your life that warrant these emotions).

It’s completely normal to feel a little nervous or excited – but if you experience chronic “spinning” that happens often or you feel like you’re stuck in a panic attack that you can never get out of, the cause might be more serious.

Physically, this feeling is caused by an increase in heart rate which can in turn be triggered by other conditions. Occasionally, hormones like adrenaline mix together with this.

See a doctor anywhere the feeling of nervousness, excitement or fear are felt regularly without a clear cause.

It could be due to a chemical imbalance (such as a panic disorder), or it could point to other issues (such as of the adrenal glands or of the heart) that cause feelings similar to these natural emotions (but occurring at the wrong place and time).

As someone with a heart condition prescribed beta-blockers, I can say that I’ve noticed the rate of what I assumed were initially panic attacks becoming instantly less after my body had gotten used to taking medication to keep my heart in check.

If it’s chronic, you can bet it’s more than nerves. See your doctor and check your health.