The adrenal glands are responsible for producing a hormone called adrenaline (also known as epinephrine). The adrenal gland is a part of the sympathetic nervous system, a branch of the nervous system that regulates the classic stress response and has numerous roles in other normal body functions.
The adrenal glands and their production of adrenaline are really important for many different reasons. For one the epinephrine helps us with stressful situations that can happen in life such as some traumatic experiences that require us to respond quickly and make important decisions as well as maintain a certain amount of calm in the midst of chaos.
The rush of adrenaline released in the blood leads to increased blood pressure, heart rate, sugar metabolism, oxygen intake, and muscle strength. All of this increase cause an adrenaline high: feeling alert and highly energetic. This is what allows for some people to do well in crisis. Hockenbury, D., & Hockenbury, S. (2007). Discovering Psychology (4th ed.).
Second, adrenaline also plays a part in specific careers that may require some of the same focused energy, a steady hand and knowledge of the human body such as a surgeon for example. To have the responsibility of a human life is so intense and not just anyone could do well in that situation.
I find it interesting how different individuals require different amounts of stimulus.
Other individuals may not require much for the release of adrenaline and may get their rush from doing things like finishing a list of task or chores or a paper due in a class. For example an individual who gets their rush from completing a list of task is probably a very organized and detailed person and accomplishes more in one day than others over a period of a week.
I have mentioned some of the positive things that can be accomplished; however there can be some negative consequences as well. When an individual seeks out the adrenaline rush they can put themselves in less than desirable and sometime dangerous situations. Some of these situations can include a dangerous stunt or maybe even gambling excessively and getting into a really bad situation trying to seek out that high.
Regardless of where you are on that scale and whether a lot or very little stimulus is required to get that release of adrenaline, we are amazing beings and capable of doing great things when we put our minds to it.
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