ADDICTION TO EXTREME SPORTS
Why are so many people addicted to extreme sports?
Risk sports generate in those who practice them a set of sensations such as the feeling of danger, satisfaction, liberation... which cause athletes to become addicted to the sports that produce them. In addition to generating these sensations, they also give rise to three hormones that increase this addiction: adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine.
In the case of adrenaline, this is a hormone that prepares the body to face external stimuli. This hormone improves the respiratory capacity so that more oxygen reaches the muscles, and makes the person feel stronger, more agile, and faster... at the same time, it increases euphoria and reduces fear.
Next, adrenaline gives rise to two more hormones, endorphins and dopamine. Both are related to the feeling of well-being or happiness. In the case of endorphins, they have an analgesic effect and recreate a feeling of well-being and joy, when a person releases endorphins they provide an atmosphere of relaxation and happiness. On the other hand, dopamine, besides also producing happiness or well-being, is associated with feelings of pleasure, joy, and reinforcement, which motivate people to perform certain activities proactively.
All this causes the person to become addicted to experiencing this set of sensations, and to need more and more stimuli because the body becomes habituated to them.
Another characteristic, without scientific support, that makes this type of sports addictive is the fact that most of them involve a re-encounter with nature, offer different points of view about it and make the sportsmen and women live in it in a different way.
Finally, the risk of becoming addicted to this type of sport is when the athlete becomes habituated to the stimuli and feels the need to seek ever stronger sensations in order to continue experiencing them. This, beyond posing a danger to physical integrity, also poses a psychological risk for the person, considering that he or she may end up losing control over his or her behavior. Likewise, becoming addicted to these sports can also lead to panic attacks, anxiety, and other psychological problems associated with post-traumatic stress.
That is a really interesting post! I knew about these hormones, but reading this made me wanna go outside and get these hormone rushes by myself :D
ResponEliminaThe part about the bad side of extreme sports is as well fascinating. It’s funny how sports and nature (most of the time) can have such bad effects on you. I really would like to hear more about this side of the extreme sports :)
I think it's crazy this constant need to seek more thrills at the risk of putting one's life in danger. But like anything else, you have to find a balance. Excess is never good!
ResponEliminaAs for seeing nature from different points of view, for me there is nothing better than a hike with
family or friends. That's enough unless you absolutely want to put your life in danger ahah.
Ridoy RAHMAN
The fact that doing sport can be so good for our body and mind seems to me a very interesting topic, but why are there so many people who don't like to feel those sensations when they practice extreme sports?
ResponEliminaI always wondered how some people like Xtreme sports which can be very hazardous and their life can be in danger, but I never knew about this hormones so not it is more clear to me. It is fascinating how people can really become addict to the sport and as you mention it can lead to side effect and anxiety so this addiction is basically dangerous like any other.
ResponEliminaI think addiction is very dangerous for extreme sports fans because they are always looking for speed and more dangerous things.
ResponEliminaYes, absolutely agree with you. For example cliff jumpers will always try to jump from a higher distance than last time and that can affect them in a negative way (causing injuries or even death). Addictions aren't healthy and specially in sports because a life is more worth than any sport. So it is good to practice a sport but always knowing its consequences and evaluating the risks of it.
EliminaThis is a very interesting article. I had already heard about the hormones that are released when practicing extreme sports, but to be honest I had never thought about the consequences. I didn't know that they could get anxiety or have to deal with other psychological problems. I've always had a lot of respect for extreme sports practitioners, but after reading this article I realize that they are crazy in a sense too.
ResponEliminaI have always been told how these sports can become addictive and therefore harmful for the athlete if it is not responsibly practiced. They are not alike to usual sports since they demand higher consciousness and responsibility. I believe all professional athletes in extreme sports are under control to prevent such behaviors of loosing control or even having panic attacks. However, it would be great that this control be also over the starters in these sports to prevent accidents.
ResponEliminaIm totally agree with you Núria. This can be harmful and all what you want, but you have to be really prepared and responsable, because it's not a normal thing that everybody can do it, because your life is in risk at all time. These professionals are really prepared and they have all under control, so they take calm and control all the panic that this suposse.
EliminaThe most accurate comment.
EliminaJust to deepen in the fact that those people who are considered just "beginners" must already go through years of training and in addition to show strength, endurance and dexterity.
Very good topic dealt with!
ResponEliminaThe truth is that I was quite interested.
Without a doubt, adrenaline is a great sensation.
I hope I don't get addicted to extreme sports ;)
Oriol Carreras
I found this article very absorbing, however, In my opinion, it is interesting to see how this practice is not in being judged by society in the same way that other addictions are such as fast food, video games, or even drugs addictions.
ResponEliminaIt would be interesting to understand the reasons why society has always avoid this topic, taking into account that it leaves the person similar consequences as to do drugs, one example would be the need to seek even stronger sensations in order to continue experiencing them.
I believe society doesn't judge this type of addiction in the same way as video games or fast food because we see sports as something healthy which gives us values and a good physical condition without realizing it can become a serious addiction.
EliminaI had never thought about addiction to extreme sports. But now after reading this article and reflect a bit I realized this is something serious. In my opinion there’s nothing wrong in people practicing this kind of sports as long as they do it in the right way, with previous knowledge and following all the preventive measures. I think the problem starts when they begin to put their lives on danger because of feeling more and more adrenaline. As everything in live, everything with measure.
ResponEliminaI agree with some comments here talking about the addiction to extreme sports, but I also believe that the responsibility and mental health of each one is vital.
ResponEliminaEvery athlete, regardless of the sport they practice, must have a different mentality than the rest, as they must have gone through preparation, training and experiences both physically and mentally to be professionals.