You hear about adrenaline, how it spurs you on and gives you uncanny strength, but there’s a flip side. The feeling is heady, out of control. It heightens your senses to the point of paralysis. You have to harness the power or it’ll choke you down. ~ Tell No One
I have never been an adrenaline junkie, but I know a few. You probably do, too. Maybe they love roller coasters. Maybe they enjoy white water rafting or bungee jumping. Sure, you might spot one sitting on the back porch, sipping something cool, but that’s equivalent to me standing in line for the Gatlinburg Sky Lift. I’m there alright, but I’d rather be somewhere else. Like on the porch.
Why is it that I am perfectly content with a day that contains zero excitement, but my grandchildren and millions of other people thrive on thrills? What’s the science* behind these behaviors?
*Please note that this post barely scratches the surface. Accessing the full articles will provide more detail for the intellectually curious.
What does a rush do to your body?
According to Medical News Today, every single body gets a shot of epinephrine (aka adrenaline–via the adrenal gland) in certain circumstances: fear, excitement, or extreme emotion. The chemical reaction serves to enlarge air passages to increase oxygen flow. Simultaneously, epinephrine forces muscles to contract, which in turn feeds more blood to specific areas, primarily the heart and lungs. This is the body’s response to conditions requiring fight or flight and provides “a rush.”
Who among you are most likely to be impacted?
And I say among “you” because it’s not me and my people. Let me explain. Even before I started researching this topic, I had a gut feeling that there was a correlation between personality types and the need for extreme sports, for example. Therapy Changes tells me that I was onto something, and there’s a physiological reason for it. There are three chemicals in the brain: adrenaline, acetylcholine, and dopamine. It’s common knowledge that the latter makes us feel good.
What you might not know is that generating adrenaline forces the release of more dopamine. Why does this matter? To quote, “extroverts have more dopamine receptors in their brains than introverts do.” This means it takes more dopamine for them to get the same HOOWAH! result as someone who has fewer receptors. Conversely, introverts feel more of an impact from acetylcholine, which makes them more chill. Alright. It didn’t say that exactly. The words were, “makes us [referring to introverts] feel relaxed, alert, and content.” Close enough.
This explains a lot. I’m an introvert, as explained in a prior post, and this means that there’s less of a reward for me to indulge in high-risk behavior than there would be for my brother. He is clearly an extrovert and loves to participate in activities that would make me anxious. Always has. I do understand that there’s more to this than birth order. Of course, there are outliers. Not every introvert wants to sit on the porch and blow soap bubbles and not every extrovert wants to participate in BASE jumping.
Who cares about your need for speed?
Well, apparently not medical professionals. Medical News Today (dated 2-17-21, not actually today, but oh well), indicates that the term “adrenaline junkie” is not a medical term, which would preclude it from being a medical diagnosis. That said, there are situations where even daredevils should access professional help. Very Well Mind cautions risktakers to take remedial steps when the need for thrills negatively impacts their ability to function. There are also “relaxation techniques” to assist in their efforts to calm down. As if. I can’t visualize the incentive for that group to roll back their need for speed, but I don’t have a dog in that fight. A rush for me means not having “a rush.”
If you need me, I’ll probably be at home, doing laundry or figuring out which book to read next. You?
I must be an introvert when it comes to seeking an adrenaline rush! My need for speed was cut short years ago after suffering multiple mishaps 😉
Learned behavior. I was born with mine. (:o
At this stage of my life, I am content to sit on the porch, sip some tea, and read a good book.
I think that’s been true of me for almost every stage of life. Just more so now.
Good piece. I never connected the introvert/extrovert part with excitement needs. I also think there is a expiry date on the part of the brain that makes dopamine. Although I treasure the memories and good times of taking the motorcycle from Austin to the Arctic Circle, I have no interest in doing it again. Seeing 145 mph on my BMW RT was a thrill but not one I feel compelled to repeat. After a while you move to a Honda 750 that will barely hit 100, from a 500 H.P. boat to a 40 H.P. pontoon boat. Not sure I will ever sit on the porch, but I am pretty happy doing 60 mph in my 47 Cadillac.
Interesting concept – whether there’s an expiration date, or at least a slow down, on the dopamine dosages. No idea what the answer is.
Great blog, Gayle. As an ambivert, I can relate to both the need for that “rush” and the need to be seclusive. As another reader mentioned about slowing down, I’m more inclined to participate in the latter activity these days as I want to be around to take care of my people.
So this is your “slowing down” mode? I would have loved to observe you when you were a teenager. 😮