Adrenaline Junkies & Passion Addicts

[dr_mabeuse]

I'm aware of the concept of sex addicts, people who are supposedly addicted to sex, but I'm surprised we haven't seen anything about passion addicts, people who are addicted to the rush you get from passion.

There's a bit of evidence for a physiological cause of adrenaline addiction, and isn't the passion rush very similar to the rush you get from adrenaline? If there's one, why shouldn't there be the other? I think a lot of the people classified as sexaholics are probably really passion addicts, people who like that feeling of falling in love, or being in states of high lust.

The difference probably is emotional involvement. If you can do it with a stranger or a glory hole, it's probably a sexual addiction. If you need to be involved emotionally: passion.

 

[Liar]

Passion is such a fuzzy little word.

What some call horniness, others call passion.
What some call love (hey, there's another fuzzy word), others call passion.
What some call zeal, others call passion.

So what are we talkin' bout?

 

[Guest]

Ever read the Doc, Liar?

A rush associated with the feeling of the wind in your hair at midnight, bombing down a deserted seaside road under a full moon, feeling seventeen and invulnerable, invincible, when every touch makes your heart pound and you will feel this way forever, because there is only NOW.

Yeah - I crave it.

 

[neonlyte]

Addiction to passion implies addiction to pain. So yeah... passion could be addictive.
There are two rushes, one on the way up and one on the way down.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

By passion I mean dangerous love.

 

[Belegon]

I don't know if I could go as far as addicted, but I certainly had my share of dangerous love affairs.

Some just emotionally, some even physically dangerous.

 

[rgraham666]

All the stronger emotions are addictive. Says the ex-anger addict.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

All the stronger emotions are addictive. Says the ex-anger addict.

That's a fascinating concept. I wonder why that should be?

Is it true for things like grief and self-pity?

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

I know way too many people who are addicted to grief and self pity, self righteousness, even boredom. Anything that helps you hide from teh variety of life that you gravitate to when walking away would be smarter, someone is addicted to it.

 

[rgraham666]

In my case, it was the rush of adrenaline and endorphins that rage caused. It's a real high.

But like all addictions you need bigger and more frequent doses to get the same high. It does odd things to your perception and thinking processes too. The comedown is a bitch.

My experience with passion is much the same.

 

[Emperor_Nero]

That's a fascinating concept. I wonder why that should be?

Is it true for things like grief and self-pity?

I think you could make a strong argument that it is true for both of those.

There are points in all of our lives where we experience grief and self-pity, and most people move past that point after a period of time. But there are those that remain and grieve for years, even the rest of their lives after an event -- as well as those who fall into self-pity and remain there.

Logically, there must be some attraction that keeps them there beyond what would be considered the "normal" amount of time. Something that, in some way, fulfills a need within them and satisfies them in a way they can not obtain without it.

 

[neonlyte]

In my case, it was the rush of adrenaline and endorphins that rage caused. It's a real high.

But like all addictions you need bigger and more frequent doses to get the same high. It does odd things to your perception and thinking processes too. The comedown is a bitch.

My experience with passion is much the same.

That's a good summary. Same might apply to Doc's 'dangerous love'... taking risk is the addiction rather than the outcome, once you've accepted the risk, the only way is down.

Not convinced it applies to either grief or self-pity. Grief tends to be temporary in nature, the pain rarely leaves but the intense grief at the outset dissipates (for most people) fairly quickly, though some people appear willing to take on the grief of others , even people remote from them... not sure you could define that behaviour as addiction. Self-pity has so many manifestations... if extended toward self-harm, I could see how that has addictive qualities.

 

[Liar]

Grief, self-pity, infatuation, excitement, anger, passion, enlightment, self righteousness, bliss, transcendence, adventure...

and
so
on...

They are all different coins with the same flip side opposite: Status quo. And they all correspond with a thirst for drama, for a narrative in our lives, for a kickass autobiography, with villains, heroes and a Kurosawa-esque set of obstacles to overcome on the way to triumph. A wish, if you will, for a life less ordinary.

Is anybody addicted to contentment? Some, who've had a shitload of drama and seen that it ain't all that fiction cranked it up to be.

 

[AllardChardon]

I married a Sicilian Italian and had four kids. I have had enough drama to last me the rest of my lifetime. Now I seek the dramaless.

 

[rgraham666]

I married a Sicilian Italian and had four kids. I have had enough drama to last me the rest of my lifetime. Now I seek the dramaless.

Moi aussi.

Excitement is highly overrated.

 

[keeblercrumb]

Rocket Man

Moi aussi.

Excitement is highly overrated.

But highly entertaining.....

And like the great line from the Movie of Great Lines... "Parenthood"

I happen to like roller coasters....

But then they will probably find me sitting in the neighbor's car, too.


_KC

 

[Guest]

But highly entertaining.....

And like the great line from the Movie of Great Lines... "Parenthood"

I happen to like roller coasters....

But then they will probably find me sitting in the neighbor's car, too.


_KC

Love Steve Martin.

Speaking of roller coasters, we're on our way out the door to spend the day at a large theme park. Coasters on one side, water park on the other - we're doing half and half today. It's going to be in the upper 90's.

Expensive but worth it, we hope. Son's first visit- this is the first year he's been tall enough to ride the rides!

I love roller coasters, though. Love the rush.

If I'm still alive, I'll be on much later tonight.

 

[rgraham666]

Have a great time, beautiful.

 

[cantdog]

Dangerous love. One of the people in my Sunday night group (long story-- think salon and also symposium) is still sunk in cynicism. She dismisses things of this kind as mid-life crises, but I think Liar has the good handle, here.