By "alive" I spoke a little too narrowly - what I meant by that comment was that after an adrenaline rush or anything else that causes the body to release mood-altering chemicals, you feel better. After an adrenaline rush, I feel alive. After you SI, you feel relief. In some way, shape or form the body rewards us for its expected behavior.

some of it's magic
some of it's tragic
but i had a good life all the way......
~jimmy buffett