Visceral Reactions

Visceral Reactions
When a person is put in a nerve-wracking or overwhelming situation they exhibit visceral reactions. For example, during a major exam, like the SAT or ACT(that determine ones future), my friend constantly shakes her legs up and down, even when they are crossed. When crossing one leg over the other she shakes the foot that is on top. When that foot gets tired she crosses her legs the other way around and then starts to shake that other foot. She also starts to twirl her hair when she is stuck on a question. She actively chews her gum and doesn’t stop, sometimes making small bubbles and popping them with her tongue. She gets tired of chewing, spits out the gum in a napkin and then goes on to biting her nails. Sitting on the chair, she is constantly moving. She gets butterflies in her stomach from the fear of the difficulty of the exam. Her heart races, sweat fills her scalp. Her face and body start to get warmer due to anxiety. She bites the inner side of her cheek pulling pieces of skin off with her teeth. Throughout this whole time of the exam her legs don’t stop moving and the butterflies just won’t leave her alone. When she writes her hands tremble while her heart continues to race-until it’s all over.