1. Maria Gosula Gina Kuang Rosalita Maldonado Qi Zhang COGS 175 5.31.06

2. Presentation Outline Introduction - Gina Physiology - Qi
Psychology - Maria
Conclusion - Rosy

3. What is an Adrenaline Junkie?
Someone who is looking for the feeling of a rush
‘Type-A’ personalities that are addicted to the stimulation and arousal of adrenaline
Stress-induced adrenaline high

4. Types of Adrenaline Addiction
Stress as an adrenaline addiction
Used to repress conscious that comes from feelings of loss, abandonment
Intense high
“rush” from high risk activities

5. Adrenaline Addict Types
The Accomplisher
The Personal Deflector
The Organizational Deflector
The Dramatist

6. Adrenaline Rush Activities
Skydiving
Surfing
Kayaking
Bungee Jumping
Rock Climbing
Hang Gliding
Gambling
Arguing
ER Doctors

7. Alternate State of Consciousness
“Rush”
Causes desired physiological and psychological effects
Anger, fear, guilt, worry  produce adrenaline hormone

8. Crash Coming down from a rush phase…
crave for another rush
If unable to participate, experience feelings of depression

9. Physiology

10. What is Adrenaline (C9H13NO3) ?
Catecholamine
belongs to the family of biogenic amines
A hormone and a neurotransmitter
Enzymes responsible for fast degradation of Adrenaline
1. Catecholamine-O-methyltransferase (COMT)
2. Monoaminoxidase (MAO)

11. Adrenaline as an Internal Drug Effects of the Adrenal Gland
Hyperarousal
Increased blood flow
Heightened pulse rate
Increased physical
performance

12. Brain During Stress Subcortical Fight or Flight Areas
Subcortical Fight or Flight areas includes thalamus, hippocampus, brainstem, and hypothalamus
Mobilize body for action
Bypass frontal executive functioning and trigger stress response

13. Adrenaline and Addiction
Adrenaline rush followed by release of endorphins
Leads to increase in endorphin receptor sites via synaptic plasticity
Extreme risk takers tend to have 1/3 less MAO than average person
Mechanism for chemical addiction?

14. Psychology and Reports

15. Parachuting or Skydiving
200 years
WWI & WWII
Definition
Breaking free from a free-fall from a height using a parachute
Types
Blade running, Canopy piloting, Skysurfing
Skills
Basic safety, free fall maneuvers, parachute operation, and landing

16. Safety Statistics Risk Factors Inexperience Misuse of equipment
Hundred Jump Wonders
jumps
Most dangerous period
Changing wind conditions
Equipment failure
Rare cause of injury and fatalities

17. Reports Leonardo DaVinci Shelley’s “amazing experience”
“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
Shelley’s “amazing experience”
“I was falling at 120mph screaming with excitement all the way, it was thrilling and very noisy! Once my instructor deployed the parachute it was like the whole world had gone quiet. We were able to float and twist using the parachute, it felt so calm and surreal.”
After landing: "It’s just such a rush. Definitely the most exhilarating experience I’ve ever had. Just talking about it makes me want to do it again. I’d say to anyone who has ever wanted to do it, sign up, you won't regret.”

18. Skydiving and Addiction
The “Rush”
Diagnosis
Hard to draw precise line
Skydiving:
sport or same as drug addiction?
Drug addiction definition
“Anhedonia” study among skydivers
(Franken, Zijlstra, Muris, 2005)

19. Treatments
Why seek treatment?
Adrenaline Addicts Anonymous
12 Steps

20. Conclusion

21. A True Addiction?
Key elements of addiction present in adrenaline junkies’ behaviors
ASC causes desirable physiological and psychological effects
Altered state disappears, leads to “crash”
Disappointment and depression
Crash phase  craving for another rush

22. Individual Differences
Hooked on an adrenaline rush
Seeking for the “rush”
Different activities

23. Levels of Addiction Less to more severe
Intensity may progress with time
No formal diagnosis
Drawing the line
Risky behaviors
Social and occupational dysfunction
Society benefits from this ASC

24. ASC’s and Adrenaline Junkies
Adrenaline rush one of many ASC’s
Motivated to seek new experiences
Global change in one’s consciousness
Experience bigger than self
Adrenaline Junkies appeal
Cheating death

25. References
Sanchez, X., Journal of Sports Sciences 23.2 (Feb.2005)
Meadows, L. Adrenaline Addicts Anonymous, Reno, NV, 1995
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biology Psychiatry 30 (2006)
Schedlowski M et al. Psychophysiological, neuroendocrine and cellular immune reactions under psychological stress. Neuopsychobiology. 1993;28(1-2): J. Clin Immunol. Mar 1993; 13(2):119:29
Wong, DL., Epinephrine Biosynthesis: Hormonal and Neural Control During Stress. Cell Mol Neurobiol Apr 28;
Meyer G, Schwertfeger J, Exton MS, Janssen OE, Knapp W, Stadler MA, Schedlowski M, Kruger TH., Neuroendocrine response to casino gambling in problem gamblers. Psychoneuroendocrinology Nov;29(10):
Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients –August/September 2005
Ontario Science Centre,
Wikipedia,
Adrenaline Addiction Info & Articles, Reno, NV,
Answers.com,