Adrenaline Addiction: When the Thrill Isn’t Worth the Risk

Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.

By Genevieve Cunningham

Blood pulsing, heart pumping, sweat dripping. You might get this feeling at the top of a roller coaster right before the fall. Or maybe it’s the championship game and you’ve got the ball and the clock is ticking down. Whatever is happening in your life, the cause of this familiar feeling is something we all experience from time to time: Adrenaline.

Adrenaline can be a great feeling, like the moment before you go on stage, or it can be terrifying, like when you get in a car accident. Your body is pumped with adrenaline in both situations, and the feeling is both useful and unforgettable. The sounds, the sights, the awareness … everything pauses, and your body and mind are hyper aware. Sometimes it even feels as if everything is in slow motion. What a feeling!

But adrenaline is meant to be a tool. It’s supposed to help us think clearly in difficult situations, and for the most part it does its job well. But what happens when people get addicted to this feeling? When they seek it? When they go after that feeling on purpose?

Adrenaline addiction is real, but is it dangerous? Or is it a safe form of addiction? The answer is complicated.

What Is Adrenaline Addiction?

Adrenaline addiction is a type of behavioral addiction. Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone that is produced by the body in certain situations. It’s often referred to as the “fight or flight” hormone. Adrenaline pumps your body full of energy resulting in an increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, sweating, and heightened senses. It allows our mind to be clear and focused. Once the adrenaline subsides, the side effects disappear. But it’s these side effects that people seek when they become addicted to adrenaline-producing activities. These people, often called adrenaline junkies, enjoy these side effects and often describe it as "feeling alive or invincible."

Who Is Prone to Adrenaline Addiction?

Adrenaline addiction is one of the most misunderstood and complicated of all addictions. Why? Because like all behavioral addictions, there isn’t a product to blame. In the case of adrenaline addiction, it’s the high that comes from dangerous situations that keeps people coming back for more. In this sense, it goes against the body’s self-preservation instincts. What a contradiction, indeed.

Who is in danger of becoming addicted to adrenaline? It’s certainly a complicated issue, but research suggests that a few traits tend to be common among adrenaline junkies.

• High-risk takers - Before a person becomes a full-on adrenaline junkie, they may engage in high-risk behaviors from time to time. This may show up in the form of activities, financial situations, or everyday activities.
• Thrill seekers - Thrill seekers are always looking for that push to the next level. Why just ride a bicycle when you can ride a bicycle down a mountainside? Thrill-seeking people tend to take their activities to the next level in order to attain that adrenaline high.
• Extroverts - Research suggests that extroverts are more likely to be adrenaline junkies. Although it can affect personalities of all kinds, the statistics are heavily skewed toward the extrovert crowd.
• Childhood trauma - Like all addictions, there is a link between adrenaline seekers and childhood trauma. Those with a difficult past or childhood may be more likely to seek out dangerous behavior.

What Is the Difference Between Adrenaline Addiction and Adventure-Seeking?

It should be made clear that not everyone who participates in extreme sports or occasional high-risk activity is addicted to adrenaline. In fact, there are many people who like to seek out the occasional adventure but who wouldn’t be considered addicts. What's the difference?

The biggest difference is the level of risk between adventure and adrenaline seeking. Adventurous people are always up for something fun, but generally safe. Adrenaline junkies tend to be impulsive and sometimes even reckless. They’ll do almost anything as long as it produces the adrenaline high whether the activity is deemed safe or not. Adrenaline addicts have the need for stimulation, not just the need for adventure. It’s a fine line, but once you see the differences between adventure seekers and adrenaline addicts, it will be obvious.

What Are Signs of Adrenaline Addiction?

If you think that you might be an adrenaline addict, or you suspect that someone you love may be addicted to the high of an adrenaline rush, there are certain signs to watch out for.

• Losing interest in other things - Adrenaline addicts will be so keen on finding their next fix, they may begin to lose interest in more mild activities. The need for adrenaline will overtake daily life.
• Increasingly risky behavior - Those who are addicted to adrenaline may gradually increase the risk involved with their behavior. What starts out as adventure seeking may turn to more and more dangerous activity.
• Regret - Adrenaline addicts, after partaking in risky behaviors, may feel regret afterward. They may feel as though things are out of control and may even vow to avoid such behaviors in the future, to little or no avail.
• Withdrawal - If the adrenaline addict is unable to participate in adrenaline-producing activities, they may experience withdrawal symptoms, including feelings of distress or frustration, severe agitation, restlessness, and more.

What Are the Risks of Adrenaline Addiction?

Compared to other addictions, adrenaline addictions may seem rather mild. After all, what’s the harm? But this addiction, like any other, comes with many risks. The most obvious risk is harm during an activity. Because the activities of adrenaline addicts are often risky, there is risk of injury or even death. The more addicted the person, the riskier the behavior, and the higher the risk of major injury or worse.

But even if the activities remain relatively safe, there is risk of long-term health problems. Excess adrenaline can keep the heart rate and blood pressure up higher than is necessary. It can also cause the body to make excess stress hormones. When added together, this can raise the risk of heart problems, panic attacks, and ongoing anxiety.

How Can I Get Help With Adrenaline Addiction?

One of the hardest parts about getting help with adrenaline addiction is recognizing that there is a problem. Lots of adrenaline addicts participate in behavior that is fun. Rock climbing, extreme sports, bungee jumping, skydiving. These activities can be a lot of fun, and plenty of people who are not adrenaline addicts participate in them. Diagnosis may require a trip to a mental health professional who can help determine whether your behaviors are dangerous. This professional can then help make a plan of action. Your treatment may include some of the following:

• Behavioral therapy
• Replacement behaviors
• Learning decision-making skills
• Understanding risk management
• Activities such as yoga or meditation

Although adrenaline addiction is probably not one of the first things that come to mind when it comes to envisioning addiction, it’s a problem that needs attention. It’s a real addiction with lasting consequences. If you find yourself always seeking adventure or your next adrenaline fix, it might be time to stop, slow down, and pay attention to the risk involved.

The racing heart, the panic, the moment time stands still. These feelings can make us feel truly alive, but there just aren’t any safe forms of addiction. Adrenaline is a tool that our body gives us, and it’s not to be abused. Find your adventure but leave the risk behind. Your health and future self will thank you.

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