Dmitry A. (SLE) - Heightened sensory perception in critical situations

To make it clear how my brain works in a critical situation, I can give an example—the fall from a horse.

There was a competition; I was poorly prepared and fell from the horse.

As I was falling, I was flying from a height of about one meter twenty. I’m flying and I realize that I don’t have the reins in my hands, I’m not holding the horse, and I see the reins flying past me. A thought: “Grab them!” Because if I fall and there are no reins in my hands, the horse will be uncontrollable and I’ll have to run after it. I grab the reins, turn toward the spectators, see the spectators. Someone is surprised, someone is frightened; Anechka was there. Anya is looking, and I’m ashamed. She’s watching my disgrace, how I’m falling off the horse.

I also remembered that it’s better to fall in front of the horse’s front legs. In that case, the horse will never step on the rider; it will stop.

Only after these thoughts did I hit the ground. That’s how quickly my brain works. I clearly remember all the sensations I experienced at that moment; I even remember the position of my body.