Featuring Andy Johnson, HowStuffWorks.com, December 2015

From backstage, you hear a crowd beginning to gather. As the hum of conversation grows, your confidence begins to ebb. Within seconds, your mouth is a desert, your heart is a hummingbird and your mind is a forest of doubt. You’re much more comfortable talking to people one-on-one, and the prospect of walking on stage is a veritable nightmare. Then you take a deep breath and do just that.

Later, you’re relieved that your performance went off without a hitch and feel briefly energized, but spend most of the next day recharging in solitude. Read more.