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An adrenaline junkie is a person that appears to be addicted to the affects of adrenaline. Many people that participate in extreme sports are often considered to be adrenaline junkies or to have mild cases of seeking adrenaline rushes. Adrenaline is a hormone that comes from the amino acids and plays a role in the short term stress reaction of the body, traditionally. The physiological response to threats seen towards the body is that the element of adrenaline or epinephrine is released into the bloodstream and creates a reaction to the threat. This can increase heart rate, stroke volume, dilate the pupils, and constrict the arteries in the skin and in the abdomen. When adrenaline is released, people often become uncomfortable as their bodily systems begin to work with the release of the chemical from the brain.

Adrenaline junkie - we hear the word constantly these days, as people seek new thrills that gets the blood flowing and the heart pounding. Extreme sports are the candy of adrenaline junkies, individuals who love the short-term stress reaction of the body to threats or danger. Heart rates go up, pupils dilate and arteries in the skin and abdomen constrict. Most people don’t enjoy those feelings and start to feel uncomfortable as their bodies respond to the chemicals in the brain. But some people love the rush and just can’t get enough of it.

Most people today have heard the term “adrenaline junkie,” usually associated with extreme sports and taking risks. Individuals who are adrenaline junkies are associated with pushing boundaries, testing fate and putting their lives on the line. These risk-takers enjoy the short-term response of their bodies to threat. As adrenaline or epinephrine is released, a chemical reaction to perceived danger, heart rates go up, arteries constrict and pupils dilate. It’s a rush for some people, but for most others, the sensation is uncomfortable as the body prepares for fight or flight.

Psychologists were the first to use the term “adrenaline junkie” in 1993, referring to individuals who seemed to be addicted to argumentative and confrontational behavior. In fact, some people were known to deliberately get into arguments for the explosive action, and the behavior was thought to be more harmful than conventional drug use, such as cocaine. The addiction to the adrenaline high from explosive arguments was seen as very damaging to both the individual and the others involved in the conflict. From there, the term “adrenaline junkie” spread to other venues where the desired goal was a rush of adrenaline.

The term adrenaline junkie first came into use at around 1993. It was originally intended to be used to refer to argumentative people that deliberately get into arguments because of the “explosive action” that comes out of an argument or out of a conflict. The psychologists began to label these people are adrenaline junkies because it appeared they had an addiction to the rush that came with conflict. The mode of addiction was often seen as being very explosive and very damaging. It was even related to drugs such as cocaine and it was claimed that being an adrenaline junkie in this fashion was more harmful than conventional drugs because the addiction involved other people. The term soon became used in other avenues as well, in which adrenaline was thought to be the desired effect of an action.

The term adrenaline junkie doesn’t come from where most people would think. It started being used around 1993, as psychologists referred to explosive-action people as adrenaline junkies. These psychologists saw individuals who were argumentative and repeated conflict-creating behavior, apparently because of their addiction to the adrenaline released during arguments. It was thought that this addiction was more harmful than addiction to cocaine, as the need for adrenaline was harmful in relationships with other people. From there, the term spread and began being used in other areas.

The adrenal glands is, more specifically, what is affected by adrenaline junkies and their actions. The glands are stimulated through activities and situations in which the heart rate increases and a host of other physiological signs go off, leading to the aforementioned biochemical reaction. The adrenaline junkie openly seeks this out and attempts to coerce the body into reacting in a way that will stimulate the glands and release the epinephrine. The response that comes out of this is often called the fight or flight response and is credited to human survival throughout prehistoric times. Adrenaline junkies thrive on the fight or flight response and enjoy challenging the body’s internal notions to resist danger and to remain calm.

Some activities that adrenaline junkies frequent in order to get the rush are snowboarding, skiing, parkour, skydiving, surfing, kayaking, BASE jumping, horse racing, hang gliding, auto racing, rock climbing, and white water rafting. There are also cases in which adrenaline junkies will pursue career choices because of the rush such as police officers, gamblers, and even stock market traders.

There are lots of options out there for people seeking to get an adrenaline rush from activities. Extreme sports, such as snowboarding, white water rafting, and skydiving respond nicely to adrenaline junkies’ demands, as do many others like horse or auto racing, rock climbing and surfing. Some career choices are based on the rush of adrenaline and excitement an individual can achieve. Many police officers, gamblers and stock market traders live for that particular high.

There are plenty of sports and activities that respond to adrenaline junkies’ demand for thrills and excitement. Snowboarding, surfing, kayaking, white water rafting, BASE jumping, and hang gliding are perfect examples of sports that give a rush to people and are risky. Some individuals base their career choice around their preference for an adrenaline rush, and many police officers, gamblers and stock market traders enjoy the rush on a daily basis.

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