Why I'm a Risk Taker

What makes some people seek out adventure? Why would anyone work his or her body to near exhaustion? Why are some people more prone to addiction to drugs? Why do some people have such intensely held beliefs in the inerrancy of their religious views that they can't even recognize inconsistencies within the bible? Why does extremely hot chile become a staple of some people's diet? My belief, endorphins are responsible. Endorphins are natural compounds that create euphoria (similar to that caused by opiate drugs) from stimulation events. The stimulation can be the adrenaline rush from fear, the runners high from over exertion, the hypnotic rhythm of a preachers voice, or even a bowl of really hot chile. The desire to get endorphins to the brain is highly addictive, and because your own body produces them, they're perfectly legal.

Athletes discovered long ago, over exertion or continuing to exercise beyond comfortable limits can lead to a feeling of euphoria. It wasn't until the later part of the 20th century that endorphins were found to be the culprit. Once endorphins were discovered, the functionality of opiate drugs became better understood. Since the receptors that opiates bind with are the same as the ones endorphins bind with, it's easy to conclude that one can desire behaviors that stimulate the production of endorphins.

In ancient man, fear was much more prevalent than in our modern world. If you weren't able to react fast enough, you not only had a better chance of not passing on your genes to the next generation; you may have just become the dinner instead of the diner. The ability to run long distances without tiring was also very beneficial. Endorphins allow one to keep your wits and react in more control of your own actions when faced with fear causing events. They are responsible for the sense of slow motion one experiences during accidents. Endorphins are also very rewarding after a hard day's work. I think ancient men with both a high number of endorphin receptors and the ability to create endorphins survived more of the perils of their world.

Modern man has altered his environment in ways that don't provide very much stimulation for the healthy release of endorphins. Our brains still crave them, but we have been forced to find other ways to get them. Civilized man discovered alcohol and other mind-altering drugs to assist his desire for a "high", but in our current society, alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine are the only drugs still universally accepted for recreational use (though nicotine is being phased out). The drawbacks of using artificial chemical stimulation are side effects like inability to remember things, headaches from withdrawal and nervous twitches to name a few.

Other things besides running were found to stimulate the production of endorphins. Chile peppers produce capsaicin. Capsaicin stimulates the body to produce endorphins. Chocolate also raises the level of endorphins. Hypnotic trances elevate the level of endorphins. Various rhythms also tend to stimulate endorphin production. Could the desire to keep getting our bodies to produce our favorite form of endorphin explain the addictive power of these things? I believe it is so!

Some preachers use a 3 beat tone when addressing their congregation. This is done in part because that particular kind of rhythm can induce a quasi trance state in the mind. I suspect it raises the level of endorphins, and in some instances, leads to mild epileptic type seizures. I am not affected by the tone of speech (as I concentrate much more upon the actual words), but I have seen the results several times. The pattern of speech is the exact same as the one used by professional hypnotists when they try to induce trances in willing subjects. Could the stimulation of endorphins produced by these speakers offer an insight into why some people lose their ability to reason logically after prolonged exposure to them? I have had arguments with people that supposedly are highly educated, but they are unable to do the simple loading mathematics that eliminates any scientific basis for Noah's Ark. They seem to cling so tightly to a belief of biblical in errancy and in the process lose track of the message of Jesus. They blind themselves to the real world that God has created for us. I guess for some, religion is addictive.

It seems that the people who use drugs and alcohol are also susceptible to the endorphins created by rhythms and religious speakers. I have seen many people go directly from one form of addiction to another with simplistic ease. Is it possible religion and drugs make use of a different kind of endorphin or a different endorphin receptor than those used by risk takers?

I think risk takers may have a higher number of endorphins and endorphin receptors. I have found most of them enjoy life with a verve that exceeds that of most of our tame brethren. Ask a risk taker how he feels, and most of the time the answer will be "great". It also is the rare risk taker that limits his stimulation to only a single kind of activity. Most of them will go from sport to sport and alternatively food sources like chiles or chocolate to satisfy their desire for endorphins. The drugs and religious endorphin flavors don't seem to satisfy a risk taker as much as the more natural product his own body produces.

I remember my first roller coaster ride quite well. My mother had taken us to Willow Grove Park (it's no longer in existence), and I was strapped into the seat next to her on the ride referred to as the "Baby Scenic". I fell in love with thrill rides as a result. I seek out thrill rides of all kinds. I got used to riding my bike for endurance. After a few years of this, it got to the point that days I didn't ride I felt lethargic. I was introduced to chile peppers during my senior year of high school. I ate them sporadically for many years, until after I got married, and no longer rode my bike. I then became almost fanatical in my desire for chiles. A few years after I got married I was introduced to the sport of white water rafting. It combined thrills and endurance in a blend that is quite intoxicating particularly if followed by a pizza with green and red chiles. A few years ago I took up kayaking. It gave me the freedom to enjoy whitewater sports with fewer numbers of extra people. I enjoy backpacking, with and without other people. I am particularly fond of high elevations; there is something about standing on the very edge of a cliff that's awe inspiring. I now have my yearnings for my kind of endorphins sated by a combination of bike rides, long walks, whitewater sports, and chiles. A natural high can't be beat!