Can You Be An Adrenaline Junkie? | Signs And Precautions

The rush you get when skydiving or the feeling of “high” you experience when you go parasailing, what do you name it? Many people use the phrase “Adrenaline Rush” to describe the thrill they get when they enjoy adventurous or intense activities. These people call themselves, “Adrenaline Junkies”.

When you’re excited, scared, or emotionally charged, your body activates adrenaline, a hormone that can be associated with increased heart rate, high blood pressure, and rapid breathing. This hormone also helps heighten your senses and gives you a rush of sudden energy.

Some of us experience the rush of adrenaline when we are stressed or when our bodies crash after a traumatic event. Other people actively seek out the adrenaline rush exactly the same way an addict would seek their next chase.

Adrenaline junkies can deliberately put themselves in harm’s way to seek that thrill. In this article, I’m exploring more on who is an adrenaline junkie, the signs you’re an adrenaline junkie, how adrenaline can be addictive, and some safety precautions you can take even when chasing the thrill of adrenaline.

What Is An Adrenaline Junkie?

Given the right amount of motivation and push, people can do wonders and achieve almost anything. This “right amount of push” or stimulation is connected with motivation and might differ in personality. Higher levels of anxiety or thrill-seeking that stimulates the psychological mechanism of a person can be called adrenaline junkie.

The brain is a complex organ and its mechanism is also quite complicated. When the stress response is activated, it can drive us to act on our compulsive thoughts and impulsivity. In a 2017 review, it was noted that neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine have a huge impact on our ability to regulate our impulses and risky behaviors.

In another study, it was found that adrenaline junkies such as skydivers, parasailers, and rock climbers experience frequent cravings and negative signs of withdrawal when they stop pursuing their thrilling activities, similar to people with addictions.

Then, Is Adrenaline Addiction Real?

Some people enjoy engaging in heated discussions on topics such as religion or politics, but that’s another thing. When we talk about adrenaline junkies or adrenaline rush, it’s largely about addiction or addictive behaviors. Adrenaline addiction is not an official disorder listed in the DSM-5.

There have been numerous studies to understand adrenaline addiction. In a 2016 study, it was shown that adrenaline junkies who stopped seeking thrill at every turn experienced withdrawal symptoms similar to those with substance use addiction.

Some of the common withdrawal symptoms that can be experienced by adrenaline junkies can include;

• Craving to go back to their thrill-seeking activities
• Lack of interest in activities that are not their thrill-seeking ones
• Experiencing negative emotions such as anger, frustration, and restlessness

Are You An Adrenaline Junkie?

There is no diagnosis to help determine if you’re an adrenaline junkie or have an adrenaline addiction, but some personality traits can help you understand if you seek the rush of adrenaline. Here are some of the most common traits an adrenaline junkie might have;

• Openness to change
• A desire to seek complex situations
• A desire to seek novelty
• A drive to chase challenges
• Spontaneity
• Impulsivity
• High curiosity
• High creativity

If you’re an adrenaline junkie, then you’re likely to pursue activities such as:

• Riding complex roller coasters
• Visiting haunted houses that require a waiver
• Engaging in BASE jumping, shark diving, etc.
• Playing extreme sports such as motorcycle racing, rafting, etc.

These activities can be almost life-threatening, but adrenaline junkies pursue these activities with a desire.

What To Do Next?

Thrill-seeking isn’t anything harmful until you make it, however, when you keep putting yourself in life-threatening situations almost regularly, then it could be a call to take things slowly and with caution. Remember, your thrill-seeking behaviors might put others in danger too.

Here are some ways to stay protected while seeking the thrill;

• Cage diving with sharks
• Indoor rock climbing
• Bungee jumping
• Racing on designated and safe tracks
• Indoor skydiving
• Going to escape rooms

With proper safety equipment, adrenaline activities such as skydiving and rock climbing can be safe. The aim is to use protective gear and safety equipment. With enough foresight and precautions, the adrenaline rush can be enjoyable.

When you constantly put yourself in high-risk situations, it can take a toll on your overall health and can put you at risk of stroke and heart disease.

Here are some things you can do for relaxation to come down from the adrenaline rush;

• Deep breathing can help you feel relaxed and relieve any tension in your muscles
• Gentle movement exercises such as tai chi and yoga can help you promote better relaxation
• Light physical exercises such as brisk walking can help you find a calm state of mind
• Spending time with your loved ones can also relieve some stress and help you calm down

Final Thoughts…

There’s nothing wrong with being an adrenaline junkie, but only when you take safety precautions seriously. As long as you don’t put your safety and those around you in danger, seeking thrilling activities can be healthy and help relieve stress. However, adrenaline addiction can be a real thing if you’re not careful to reel it in.

Try to balance your adrenaline rush with some relaxation activities before chasing adrenaline becomes all too consuming. If you’re having trouble reeling your adrenaline rush in, then connect with a professional to seek support and help.

I hope this article helped you understand what an adrenaline junkie is and how to make chasing adrenaline rush safe. For more, you can write to us at info@calmsage.com or DM us on social media. You can also share your thoughts in the comments below.

Take Care and Stay Safe!