"- The drugs the body produces aren't bad either. Actually they're great.
- Like adrenaline?
- For example. There are thousands of them. The endorphines...
- Happiness hormones when you are in love...
- Now you're talking hard drugs... Watch out for those.
- Don't fall into a life of crime...
- Fear is an awesome drug. Don't let fear take control. Use it as a motor. It takes practice. Put yourself in a situation where you're scared stiff. First there's panic. But after a while, the body's defense system kicks in. You do things you never dared. You overcome your limitations. You believe you can do anything."
The use of drugs does not extend to the external chemicals we put in our bodies. It goes much further than that. In fact, compared to the chemicals that occur naturally in our bodies, they are a small drop in the ocean. We can manipulate our bodies to produce certain levels or chemicals that will produce a natural high, or manipulate our psyche in order to increase feelings and emotions, which will induce the overproduction of naturally occuring chemicals in our cute little brains. As funny it may be to play with our brains, we should keep in mind that it can be dangerous as well. Any drug can create an addiction. Any thing that provokes happiness is likely to keep you hooked. Either a love addiction, or a danger addiction, it can be hard to turn around and to step away from the need and the withdrawal, because eventually you will reach a point where your need for the chemical is beyond your body's ability to produce it, and your reckless quest for stimuli will prove frustrating and destructive.
A natural bodily function
Epinephrine, or adrenaline, is a hormone that occurs naturally in our bodies, which has a key role in the 'flight or fight' reaction. When we are faced with a dangerous or scary situation, our body instantly releases adrenaline, which sends our body into defense mode. Adrenaline in the system causes our heart to race, blood pressure to rise and pupils to dilate. This happens because the body has received an enormous boost of strength. A person confronted with stress or danger naturally releases adrenaline into the bloodstream, giving them the strength and instincts to fight for their life or to flee to safety.
Once the immediate danger has passed, the average person's body will slowly descend to normal levels and the additional hormone will be absorved and eliminated.
The drug effect
The adrenaline rush is as strong as a needle in your arm and it can bring with it the same satisfaction, power and high effects as other drugs. Coming down from the adrenaline high, will make you feel weak, depressed, or wanting the high feeling back. Studies show that usually people suffering from depression have been found to experience a dramatic decrease of adrenaline.
Since the high makes you feel empowered and over the world, you're likely to keep triggering stressfull situations in order to maintain your fix.
The adrenaline junkie's profile
Even though the term 'adrenalie junkie' is generally connected to daredeviling and extreme sports, it goes beyond that concept. You don't have to be a bank robber, a skydiver or a daredevil to be hooked on adrenaline. Adrenaline junkies come in much subtle forms.
The everyday adrenaline junkie is much more common than the sensational characters in movies. They tend to create drama and crisis in their lives to trigger the body's stress response and get the rush that comes with the excitement. These are the people who don't merely survive well under pressure, but work best under stressfull circumstances.
The addicton's colateral
Adrenaline junkies crave the high that is caused by doing something thrilling or dangerous and will continually provoke situations that press the triggers for the rush. Like any other drug, it creates tolerance, and the stimulus required to induce the high will need, overtime, to become stonger and more aggressive to produce the desired effect.
Like any other addict, the main concern of the adrenaline junkie is how to get their next fix, without regard to means or consequences, which will lead to consequences in their social and professional lives. Friends and family often find it difficul to maintain a normal relationship with this type of person. Generally people who fail to keep up wih the person's edgy and anarchic lifestyle are likely to find themselves marginalized or abandoned by the junkie.
An adrenaline junkie's lows are often as deep as his or her highs, which can make it extremely difficul to maintain a normal and functional lifestyle. The person will eventually burn out and suffer the consequences of a reckless lifestyle, provoked by their constant pursue of their next 'high'.
Even though adrenaline is a natural substance, the over-focus on it is not healthy. Like in everything, moderation is better than going to extremes, and a balace needs to be kept.
