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This expansive guide defines popular sports lingo across major American sports and worldwide favorites like soccer, tennis, golf, and motorsports. Whether new to the hobby or a lifelong sports junkie, mastering the dense lexicon provides a passport into sports’ passionate communities.
- Tom Eddy
Jan 8, 2018 · The only meaningful difference between a "junkie" and an "adrenaline junkie" stem from how we treat them. Most people experiment with high adrenaline activities (sky diving, rock climbing, long distance running, skiing/snowboarding, bungee-jumping, racing cars, etc.) at some point in their lives.
- What is an adrenaline junkie?
- Could you be one?
- Is it really an addiction?
- Should I be concerned about it?
- How to safely get your fix
- Remember to relax
- The bottom line
Adrenaline junkie is a phrase that’s used to describe people who enjoy intense and thrilling activities that generate an adrenaline rush. Other terms include sensation seekers, adventurers, or thrill seekers.
They’re the type of people who enjoy things like skydiving, extreme sports, or potentially dangerous lines of work, such as firefighting or emergency rescue.
When you’re excited, afraid, or emotionally charged, your body produces the hormone adrenaline. When released into your blood, this hormone increases your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate, which can sharpen your senses and give you a boost of energy.
Some people seek this sensation in the same way that others might chase a high from a particular drug, hence the term adrenaline junkie.
There’s no single test to determine whether you’re a thrill seeker. But certain personality traits can give you a desire to experience certain sensations and excitement.
If you’re drawn to activities that provoke thrilling sensations and a rush of adrenaline, you likely have some type T, which stands for thrill, personality traits.
These traits might include:
•flexibility and openness to change
•a desire for complexity
•a desire for novelty
Others might enjoy starting conversations about hot-button issues, such as religion or politics, or maintaining a jam-packed work or social calendar.
The way we talk about thrill seeking includes language that’s usually reserved for talking about addiction. But thrill-seeking behavior isn’t currently classified as an addiction in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
According to the DSM-5, peer-reviewed research supporting behavioral addictions is still lacking. But some experts have done some research on the topic of adrenaline addiction.
For example, a 2016 study looked at withdrawal symptoms in eight rock climbers. After going through a period of not climbing, participants experienced withdrawal symptoms similar to those experienced by people with addictions to substances.
These symptoms included:
•cravings to go climbing
Thrill seeking generally isn’t anything to worry to about. However, if you’re regularly putting your safety — or the safety of others — on the line, it might be time to reevaluate things.
Some signs that might indicate a potential problem include:
•driving well above the speed limit, with or without other people in the car
•mixing multiple drugs or drugs and alcohol for an increased effect
•intentionally picking fights with people
•behaving aggressively toward others
Remember, being a thrill seeker isn’t necessarily something to be concerned about. There are plenty of ways to get your heart pounding without putting your life on the line.
These include:
•cage diving with sharks
•indoor rock climbing or bouldering
•bungee jumping
•motorcycle or car racing on designated tracks
With a little forethought and some safety precautions, an adrenaline rush can be an enjoyable and healthy experience. But it’s important to balance thrill-seeking moments with relaxation.
Constantly putting yourself in high-stress situations can take a toll on your physical and mental health, increasing your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
After your next adventure, follow up by trying these tips for relaxation:
•Deep breathing. It can help you feel more relaxed and relieve tight muscles.
•Gentle movement. Try yoga or tai chi, two practices that help promote relaxation through a combination of concentration, movement, and deep breathing.
•Light exercise. Go for a brisk walk around the block or a slow stroll through nature.
Being a thrill seeker isn’t anything to worry about as long as you aren’t putting yourself or others in risky situations. But some experts believe that chasing adrenaline may take on some qualities similar to those of a drug addiction.
Aim to balance heart-pounding experiences with plenty of rest and relaxation. If fixating on your next adrenaline rush starts to feel all-consuming, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.
- Crystal Raypole
Aug 28, 2023 · People who seek out high-sensation experiences for the neurophysiological effects may be known as adrenaline junkies. Learn if you're an adrenaline junkie and how it can cause distress.
- Elizabeth Scott, Phd
Feb 17, 2021 · The term 'adrenaline junkie' describes people who regularly partake in activities that cause an adrenaline rush, such as extreme sports. Learn more.
Aug 6, 2012 · Steven Kiyoda | Flickr. Every adrenaline junkie knows the feeling: Heart pounding. Hands trembling. Blood racing. And then all of a sudden—flying. Plunging through the air, 18,000 feet above...
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Nov 1, 2019 · When it comes to hair-raising experiences, why do some of us cower while others can't get enough? Ken Carter, an expert on adrenaline junkies, reveals what makes them tick.