There are steps we can take to deal with breakdowns. I had Miles liken his fundamental commitment to a performance, the performance of his life. Staying focused on the performance goals will minimize distractions. Don't settle for the sake of survival. This is your performance.
Great performers commit their entire being to their craft.
Move as fast as you feel is appropriate, not what others expect. Allow the performance to unfold naturally. If it takes an hour to perform a set, don't expect to have the audience eating out of the palm of your hand after the first five minutes. Break up what you need to accomplish into manageable steps, and then acknowledge the milestones along the way. Sometimes it takes a while to prepare a difficult arrangement.