How many of you are addicted to adrenaline and find danger "romantic"? ie--do you drive cars to fast, etc.

[jpb4815]

Raises hand. Here. I am.

I used to be VERY adventurous in my youth and did all those things except sky diving and scuba. Would have done them both had I had a partner in crime. I adored roller coasters. After having my son my equilibrium shifted and physical thrill seeking and motion makes me very nauseous. I sometimes wonder if this is a biological fail safe to protect our young by protecting ourselves and therefore is vital to survival and evolution? I do ponder this. I thrill seek in my own unique ways however.

Not at all. Never have been. I think that is in part because I always have had a strong "parent" within me, even when I was very small, and partially because I spent so much of my life depressed that I was always so physically and mentally exhausted. (I have rarely been manic -- just enough to get a diagnosis; I've stayed mostly on the depressed end of the spectrum).

"But in some ways, the adrenaline rush from it did feel good." This is an immature and irresponsible thing to say concerning any attempt and I am probably already viewing it differently as time goes by. I have very bad judgement sometimes.

[philopsychology]

Yep pretty much. I've always been an adrenaline junkie. I've loved roller-coasters since a young age, gone skydiving, drive recklessly fast, and have climbed towers for fun at night with no fail-safes. I've also randomly bought snakes even when I was scared of snakes (I'm not scared of them anymore now but trying to get rid of them lol) and have done other crazy stuff and would have done more crazy stuff too if I didn't have joint problems which limited my craziness. I also have social anxiety which has made it hard for me to find others who are equally as crazy as I am to become friends with. I have always wanted to do lots of other adventurous stuff though like scuba diving, surfing, snowboarding, etc...

[MobiusPsyche]

Not me....

[zijax]

Nope don't relate.

Did this question get changed cause it sure looks much different than it did

Still wondering if the pursuit of adrenaline producing activities is a bipolar trait. Thanks for noticing.

I do not find danger romantic, that part I do not relate to. ((Hugs))

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

I do not find danger romantic, that part I do not relate to. ((Hugs))

Perhaps finding danger romantic is an immature, not bipolar, way to look at danger.

Or perhaps it's a symptom of the illness. I would need more context to determine if immature is a word I would use to describe the situation where a person feels danger is romantic.

[Yours_Truly]

Well, I don't think anyone would call me an adrenaline junkie, but, let's put this way, I like limited adventure, e.g., I'm frightened of heights but would love to go in one of those wind tunnel things where you can experience what it's like to parachute from a plane but be only a few feet from the ground. Much less threat of death.

I loved the one time I went white water rafting and our raft flipped & as I was coming up for air I found myself thinking how awful this will be for my parents if I drowned. It was exhilarating. Wish I'd white water rafted more.

Concerning my attempt, I was just quite ill. When I was younger, I did it to feel alive and occassionally I did it to show off. But I mostly did dangerous things when I was all by myself. In the case of speeding (not the ticket-that was in the desert), I would drive at night after work through treacherous mountain roads. Each night I would see how much farther I could push up the needle on the speedometor. If an elk or something had jumped across the road--I would have been toast. The more tired I was, the faster I drove. I would tell myself it was "safer" because it would keep me from falling asleep!

The white water rafting sounds awesome. It's one of those things that has always been on my "bucket list."

[Victoria'smom]

I'm not. I like rollar coasters but that's about it.

"I found myself thinking how awful this will be for my parents if I drowned."
Yours_Truly--you are consistently sweet and caring about the feelings and welfare of others. I look up to you for that. If I was more like you, I would have never made an attempt.

[Yours_Truly]

Hmmm, I have to think about that. I'm not so sure. I don't have a SO or children of my own (don't know how that happened, well I know how it didn't happen but thought it would until it was too late). Not sure if I could have when my parents were alive, but sure have wished for it, & since they have been gone, came very close a year or so ago. So... not really sure about that. But thank you, I think you just can't know until you get there. Whatever that means.

ElsaMars, Thanks for all your feedback on this thread. Leaning toward the idea that the pursuit of adrenaline is not necessarily a bipolar trait.

[TishaBuv]

This one's for you, Mysterious.

Lyrics
He was a hard-headed man he was brutally handsome
And she was terminally pretty
She held him up and he held her for ransom
In the heart of the cold, cold city
He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude
They said he was ruthless said he was crude
They had one thing in common: they were good in bed
She'd say, "Faster, faster. "The lights are turning red."

Life in the fast lane Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane

Eager for action and hot for the game
The coming attraction, the drop of a name
They knew all the right people; They took all the right pills
They threw outrageous parties; They paid heavenly bills
There were lines on the mirror, lines on her face
She pretended not to notice she was caught up in the race
Out every evenin' until it was light
He was too tired to make it; she was too tired to fight about it.

Life in the fast lane surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane
Life in the fast lane everything all the time
Life in the fast lane

Blowin' and burnin' blinded by thirst
They didn't see the stop sign; Took a turn for the worst
She said, "Listen, baby. You can hear the engine ring.
"We've been up and down this highway; haven't seen a god-damn thing."
He said, "Call the doctor. I think I'm gonna crash."
"The doctor say he's coming but you gotta pay in cash."
They were rushing down that freeway; Messed around and got lost
They didn't care they were just dyin' to get off.

And it was life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane
Life in the fast lane everything all the time
Life in the fast lane

[TishaBuv]

Originally Posted by Mysterious153

Perhaps finding danger romantic is an immature, not bipolar, way to look at danger.

Or it's a destructive way to look at romance.

"Life in the fast lane"--Cute!
It can be fun if your luck doesn't run out.
Time to stop counting on being lucky.
Decided that I'm not bipolar, I just need to behave more responsibly!

[TishaBuv]

I wouldn't say it's danger I find romantic, but it's a vivid, fringe experience that does it for me. Imagine the train scene from Risky Business.

Boredom is my nemesis.

Could this be more of a BPD trait?

P.s. I've been the passenger in a few 'flying' cars. Not liking it, scared of crashing, but sat back and allowed it.

Oh yeah, definitely. Skier, rock climber, mountain biker, etc