Adrenaline junkie

'Adrenaline Junkie' is a colloquialism used to describe somebody who is addicted to the effects of adrenaline. Adrenaline in this case comes from an endogenous source (i.e. the adrenal gland) and does not imply the use of exogenous adrenaline (e.g. injection).

Adrenal glands

Adrenaline junkies enjoy engaging in activities that stimulate the adrenal glands, which are responsible for producing a broad spectrum of hormones which cause the stress response, also known as the fight-or-flight response. Adrenaline is the most well-known hormone in this family, although each of the hormones, including noradrenaline, cortisol, and various other catecholamines and corticosteroids, play a part in the stress response. The effects include hyperarousal, increased blood flow, heightened pulse rate, and increased physical performance, which adrenaline junkies find an enjoyable and invigorating state of mind and body.

Activities

A typical adrenaline junkie enjoys engaging in extreme sports and other intense or dangerous activities, such as:

• skydiving
• surfing
• kayaking
• mountain biking
• bungee jumping
• BASE jumping
• hang gliding
• horse racing
• horse-back riding (more advanced levels that include jumping the horse over obstacles
• Kitesurfing
• riding roller coasters
• automobile racing
• tightrope walking
• mountain climbing

Less obvious but just as dramatic adrenaline junkies include gamblers, snow sports enthusiasts, highway speeders, emergency medical personnel, emergency response personnel, SWAT officers, stock market traders, and argumentative people.

A true addiction?

Although the term "adrenaline junkie" is normally used facetiously and without any genuine implication of addiction, there may be an element of truth to the description. Many of the key elements of addiction are present in the behaviour of an adrenaline junkie:

1. An altered state of consciousness (in this case called an "adrenaline rush") causes desirable physiological and psychological effects.
2. The altered state eventually disappears, leaving a "crash" in its wake, usually involving feelings of disappointment and depression.
3. During the crash phase, craving for another rush manifests itself, prompting a search for a new rush.

This creates a pattern which is reminiscent of the classical addiction cycle.

An adrenaline rush is usually accompanied by an increase in endorphin activity. Endorphins are responsible for feelings of well being, as well as pain relief. Due to synaptic plasticity, increased endorphin activity creates an increase in endorphin receptor sites, which in turn can create a stronger desire for endorphins. Synaptic plasticity and receptor site proliferation are widely believed to be the mechanisms by which chemical addictions are developed.

However, the same can be said for any endorphin-stimulating activity, whether laughter, physical exertion, artistic expression, religious experience, or sexual intercourse. Although synaptic plasticity may responsible for chemical addictions, it is also believed to be involved in reinforcement, the mechanism by which animals learn to differentiate what is desirable from what is undesirable. Seen in this context, chemical addiction could simply be seen as an aberrant form of plasticity.

Although the effects of adrenaline is largely positive, increasing cardiovascular activity and oxygenation, extended or chronic adrenal stimulation can eventually lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and other stress-related diseases.