It’s no secret that skydiving is fun, especially for those of us who are self-deemed adrenaline junkies and skydiving addicts. Many people use these terms loosely to describe their love for adrenaline rushes. But is this an actual thing? Can skydiving become addicting?
Adrenaline rushes can become addicting, and if skydiving is your way to achieve that preferred level of adrenaline, then skydiving can very much become addicting! This is because the amount of adrenaline in your system triggers the release of endorphins, causing a euphoric-like state and leaving you wanting more.
Below, I will dive into a bit more of the nitty-gritty with adrenaline and skydiving addiction. We’re all here because we love extreme sports. But we need to be safe and make sure we’re participating in a healthy way.
Is Skydiving Addictive?
Even if you have done it many times, jumping from a plane will still give you an adrenaline rush. The effects of this experience are like those of drugs, and people tend to seek their next fix of adrenaline.
You’ll experience great control and relaxation as your time slows down during your jump. It’s hard to explain to others why they should try it, but once they do, they’ll understand.
Therefore, because skydiving creates an adrenaline reaction, it can most definitely become addictive, just like other extreme sports.
Read our related post “5 Reasons Why Skydiving is Worth Every Penny” here.
How Does Skydiving Make You Feel?
Skydiving gives you an adrenaline high. Since the adrenaline level released during a jump is so high, your body will also release serotonin and other endorphins, such as dopamine, leaving you in a euphoric state.
The adrenaline rush causes blood vessels to send signals to your organs, such as your lungs and heart, making you feel alert and lessening your pain. It can also improve your performance and strength.
You will feel amazing during and after your skydive. It makes you feel you’re on top of the world; in a way, you are!
What Makes Skydiving Addictive?
What makes skydiving so addictive is the adrenaline rush. As stated above, the adrenaline coursing through your veins will set off an endorphin dump, leaving you feeling high or euphoric.
Because this euphoric state feels so good, some people become addicted. So, if skydiving is the best way to achieve this euphoric state, that individual will return for more.
Read our post on “What To Do After Skydiving?”.
Is Adrenaline Addiction Real?
Adrenaline addiction is very real, as it sets off the same response that drugs do. However, the addiction to the adrenaline isn’t necessarily the issue.
The issue is when people start doing things unsafely or spending their life savings to achieve their adrenaline rush, leaving them without a home, car, or money.
What is Adrenaline Addiction Symptoms?
At the time of writing, there is no formal documentation supporting adrenaline as an addiction. This is because behavioral addictions are recognized as other types, but that does not mean they do not exist.
So, when it comes to adrenaline addiction, the symptoms to look for include the following:
- The unbearable urge to go climbing/skydiving/or participate in any sport that gives you a rush.
- Agitation
- Restlessness
- Frustration
- Spending money, you don’t have to achieve that rush.
- Participating in riskier than normal behavior to feel the adrenaline.
- Endless visits to an amusement park for the roller coasters and other extreme rides
Is Adrenaline Addiction Dangerous?
Adrenaline addiction is not typically dangerous, but it becomes dangerous if you are not careful in the way that you achieve your adrenaline rush. So, in other words, not getting that adrenaline fix isn’t going to kill you.
When To Seek Help?
If you think you might be experiencing an adrenaline addiction, it’s essential to consider the cost of the addiction to yourself and your family. Ask your friends and family for their feedback. Be open to receiving what they have to say.
If you find that you are putting yourself or others in danger to get that adrenaline high, then you have a problem and will need to seek help.
For instance, if you find yourself driving too fast, leaving young ones at home so you don’t miss an opportunity, or you’re experimenting with drugs, high-stakes gambling, and more, seek help immediately.
How to Cope with a Skydiving/Adrenaline Addiction?
I know it is probably a cliché you have often heard, but it’s true. The first step to beating any addiction, including adrenaline addiction, is admitting first that you have a problem.
Once you recognize the issue, you will be more open to recovery. Below are a few additional steps in the process:
Discover Your Personal Symptoms
Different people may have other signs of adrenaline addiction. The best thing to do is stop engaging in certain activities and see how you feel. For instance, if you’re a regular participant in a sport like cycling or rock climbing, then stop immediately. Take note of how it makes you feel.
Knowing your personal adrenaline withdrawal symptoms will make it easier to be mindful of them so that you know the best tool you can use to handle them. If it makes you restless, perhaps going for a 20-minute walk will help to combat that, and so on.
Talk To Your Friends and Family
Let your friends and family know that you believe you have an adrenaline addiction and are trying to recover from it. This will help them to be mindful when thinking of inviting you to go skydiving or to an amusement park.
Cut Back on Stimulants
When battling any addiction, stimulants are not a good idea. Start consuming decaffeinated coffee and toss those energy drinks out the window! Sugar is also a stimulant. Perhaps you can adopt a low or no-carb diet to get rid of sugar altogether.
Keep Your Number of Adventures at Bay
Just because you have an adrenaline addiction does not mean you must stop skydiving all together. However, it does tell that you need to limit the number of times you go, and that’s also true for how many times you go bungee jumping or visit an adventure park.
If you go skydiving ten times per month, it’s best to cut that back gradually, so this month you would go eight times, and next month will be six times. Eventually, you will want to phase that out until about once every two to three months.
Work With a Therapist
Addiction typically happens due to underlying issues, which is something your therapist can help you work through.
They can also help to reign in the risky behavior you’ve been taking part in and help to develop a recovery plan.
Exercise
This can be tricky as you may want to exercise for hours due to your adrenaline addiction. However, you’ll want to cut your session down to about an hour, with 30 minutes of that being cardio and the rest maybe yoga or strength training.
Exercise can help curb that uncomfortable craving for an adrenaline rush. Remember that it doesn’t need to be full-fledged cardio, either. Some days, a brisk 20-minute walk will help.
Meditate And Breathe
Learning to meditate and relax will help you regain control over your body and the need for infinite amounts of adrenaline.
Make sure you find a breathing technique that’s comfortable for you. Both of these combined can help you on your journey to recovery.
Final Thoughts
While we all love to get that adrenaline pumping, it can be detrimental to some of us who become addicted to the feeling. Knowing your boundaries and ensuring you’re not putting your life or anyone else’s life at risk when skydiving or participating in adrenaline-inducing activities is vital.
This does not mean you need to stop doing what you love; however, if you think you have an addiction, you need help to enjoy these adventures safely.
When Heather is not participating in extreme sports you can find her working the events across the country, or writing about these amazing adrenaline rushes. She loves to go skydiving, snowboarding, parasailing, hang gliding, dirt boarding, off-roading and hiking.