"Am I Currently Being Attacked by a Velociraptor?"

Illustration: Jen Troyer

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If your answer is yes, now would be an excellent time to panic. However, absent a velociraptor (or some other imminent physical threat), panic's advantages decline precipitously. Your biological stress responses are counterproductive in almost every civilized situation. So before getting completely hysterical, remind yourself that right here, right now: You're physically safe. Just breathe in, breathe out. That's all it takes to get by.