If you'ld just laugh at the situation and take a deep breath you could figure this stuff out faster.
You have the experience, and you have the resources. But it seems like when a puzzle comes up you rely on muscle memory for a situation that never existed before. You have to train yourself to figure these things out. That's the only way you'll get past the heebie jeebies where your brain short circuits. Its not like there's a lion breathing down your neck but this way you'll be ready when there is.