Maria Gosula Gina Kuang Rosalita Maldonado Qi Zhang COGS 175 5.31.06

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Physiology

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)

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

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

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?

Psychology and Reports

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

Safety Statistics Risk Factors Inexperience Misuse of equipment Hundred Jump Wonders 100-500 jumps Most dangerous period Changing wind conditions Equipment failure Rare cause of injury and fatalities

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.”

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)

Treatments Why seek treatment? Adrenaline Addicts Anonymous 12 Steps

Conclusion

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

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

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

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

References Sanchez, X., Journal of Sports Sciences 23.2 (Feb.2005) 164-165 Meadows, L. Adrenaline Addicts Anonymous, Reno, NV, 1995 Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biology Psychiatry 30 (2006) 297-300 Schedlowski M et al. Psychophysiological, neuroendocrine and cellular immune reactions under psychological stress. Neuopsychobiology. 1993;28(1-2):87-90. J. Clin Immunol. Mar 1993; 13(2):119:29 Wong, DL., Epinephrine Biosynthesis: Hormonal and Neural Control During Stress. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2006 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. 2004 Nov;29(10):1272-80. Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients –August/September 2005 Ontario Science Centre, www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/imax Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skydiving, 2006 Adrenaline Addiction Info & Articles, Reno, NV, http://www.adrenalineaddicts.org/articles.php, 2003 Answers.com, http://www.answers.com/topic/adrenaline-junkie