Nearly everyone loves a little adrenaline, but how can you tell when adrenaline-seeking behaviors turn you into someone struggling with adrenaline addiction? Many damaging behaviors—like those related to addiction—produce adrenaline to the detriment of the person experiencing it and those around them. Call 888.341.3607 to speak with someone from Ashwood Recovery’s caring and compassionate team about adrenaline addiction and drugs and how our adrenaline addiction treatment and co-occurring disorders treatment programs can help you or your loved one.
What Is Adrenaline?
Adrenaline is a chemical response in the brain that can result from various activities and types of stimulation. Activities that can often produce adrenaline include:
- Driving unsafely
- Engaging in extreme sports like rock climbing, motorcycle racing, and skydiving
- Lying
- Gambling
- Stealing
- Abusing alcohol or drugs
- Picking a fight
- Having an argument
- Debating controversial issues
- Working after procrastination
Some people turn to creating stress to get an adrenaline rush. If any of this sounds like you or someone you know and love, it may be time to get help—especially since addiction can be a co-occurring disorder.
3 Signs of Adrenaline Addiction
Consider the following three signs of adrenaline addiction to determine whether your adrenaline-seeking behaviors are damaging in the long haul.
1. You Engage in Dangerous Activities for the Rush
Perhaps the clearest sign of adrenaline addiction is when you consistently engage in dangerous or unhealthy activities because of the mental rush it brings you. This dangerous behavior can take various forms—it could be anything from riding your motorcycle much too fast on the highway to getting drunk in public to experience the thrill. Of course, there is a time and place for more extreme activities—jumping out of an airplane with a parachute, for instance, does not necessarily mean that you are an adrenaline seeker.
2. You Tend to Argue Simply for the Rush
You can get an adrenaline rush simply from the way you interact with other people, which is why going unchecked as an adrenaline seeker can be detrimental to your relationships with other people. People who love adrenaline a little too much will use other people to get that rush—by causing conflict, instigating arguments, creating drama, and even exploding at other people in anger or frustration. Research has shown that the brain gets dopamine and adrenaline from being right in an argument. It may be normal to experience this, but it can be detrimental when you begin arguments or cause fights solely to get this rush.
3. You Have an Overly Busy Schedule
An adrenaline seeker continually adds more to their schedule if things slow down. If you suspect that you may be exhibiting this sign, ask yourself some of the following questions:
Do you procrastinate on projects and then get excited to finish them quickly?
Do you ever say no to projects, activities, or social events?
Do you have time, either in the morning or at night, to relax on your own?
Do you have time set aside daily with your family or loved ones?
Do you tend to take on more responsibilities and projects when things slow down?
This tendency to overstuff a schedule and overwork is arguably one of the most challenging symptoms of adrenaline addiction to recognize since it can often appear as a necessity.
What to Do If You Think You Are Struggling with Adrenaline Addiction
Suppose you think you may be an adrenaline seeker. In that case, your adrenaline-seeking behaviors are likely wreaking havoc on your personal and professional life—not to mention your emotional health. Thankfully, individual counseling for addiction can be beneficial in overcoming the detrimental effects of adrenaline-seeking behaviors. Seek professional help immediately. Processing what led you to this point can help you get on the right path to a healthier, happier, and more stable life.
Find Adrenaline Addiction Treatment in Idaho at Ashwood Recovery
Contact Ashwood Recovery today at 888.341.3607 to learn more about adrenaline addiction and drugs in Idaho and how our caring and compassionate team can help you or someone you love on the path to recovery.
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