How do I stop panicking when an auditor asks for records I might not have?

You keep the records, but the moment an auditor asks for backup you are not sure you have, your stomach drops. That panic is not about being disorganized, it is the fear of being caught short in front of someone with authority. And it usually feels far bigger than the actual gap, which is often small and fixable. Here is the calmer truth. Auditors expect that not every single item will have perfect, instant support. A missing document is a normal thing to work through, not proof you failed. What matters is not that you produce everything on the spot, it is that you respond honestly and can show how you would track it down. Composure counts more than a flawless file. So take away the ambush before it happens. Go through your records now and find the items whose support is thin, and either fix them or note where the backup would come from. Knowing your own weak spots ahead of time is what kills the panic. When the question comes, you will already know the answer, or exactly where to look, instead of freezing.