When it comes to addiction, anyone can get addicted due to different risk factors that exist around us.  

College students are not left out of this, as they can become addicted if care isn’t taken. When they become addicted, it can affect their academics, relationships, finances, and even their physical health.

Here are some tips to help college students stay sober and free of addiction

Educate them

One of the ways to help college students fight off addiction is to educate them about how it develops. It is equally essential to teach them about the downsides that come with addiction so that it would give them enough reason to remain sober.

When people are more informed about a concept, they are likely to make better-informed decisions when they are at crossroads.

Teach them to avoid peer pressure and temptations

Some addicted college students were probably influenced by their friends or classmates. You can teach them to focus on building healthy relationships with family and friends who do not have an addiction issue.

When you surround yourself with the right people, you are likely to be positively influenced by their behaviors. However, staying around addicted individuals might make them start abusing drugs, and alcohol, or engage in different types of behavioral addiction.

Live a healthy life

Another way to prevent addiction from building up is to live a healthy life. The application of healthy habits helps to prevent you from making unhealthy decisions.

For instance, when some people are stressed, their first line of action is to take substances like drugs or alcohol for relief. Often, the relief is temporary, and to sustain it, they might need to increase the amount of these substances.

If you happen to have a child or teenager who is a college student, you need to develop a solid relationship with them so that you can know what they are up to. Parents or caregivers who are not close to their children often miss the chance to know when they are developing unhealthy habits.

When college students are addicted, it can affect different aspects of their lives. Hence, it is better to help them before they get to the point where it becomes more difficult to manage.

If you are suspecting whether your child who is a college student is addicted, here are some signs to help you find out.

Poor grades

One of the ways to know an addicted college student is when they record poor grades. Usually, academics is the first aspect of their lives to suffer from a student addiction.

They may hardly pay attention to their studies because their priorities have shifted. This means that they might spend less time studying for tests, assignments, and other academic projects.

Mood swings

It is important to mention that addiction can cause some changes in the brain that affects mood. Addicted college students might frequently experience mood swings which are often a sign of mental distress.

Poor physical hygiene

Another sign of addiction in college students is poor physical hygiene. Most of them might not pay attention to basic hygiene because they are focused on their addictive activities. For instance, someone struggling with drug or alcohol addiction might always look unkempt.

Isolation

You can spot an addicted college student through their social interactions and behaviors. If you notice that they prefer to stay indoors, instead of being around people, they might be struggling with addiction.

One of the reasons might be that they don’t want anyone to discover that they are addicted through their physical appearance.

Failing relationships

Not all addicted college students are on good terms with their families and friends because of their addiction. They might often be involved in conflicts with their loved ones, and they may keep avoiding each other.

When you are certain that your child or teenager is struggling with addiction, it is important to assist them in seeking help from a reputable addiction treatment center. Be ready to give your unflinching support to ensure that they eventually become sober.

Addiction is one of the prevailing illnesses in college students. It is so serious that most college students do not know they are addicted.

One of the predominant substances’ college students are addicted to is alcohol. The “spirit” substance gives a strong feeling of arrival and excitement that can be addictive.

Asides from the excitement that comes with taking alcohol, most college students take alcohol because of peer pressure and the feeling of fitting in.

Most of them are excited about the feeling of independence that comes with being in college. This liberty makes them try to fit into the social life on campus thus resulting in acts like binge drinking and smoking.

Binge drinking is one of the most dangerous aspects of college alcohol life. It involves taking large amounts of alcohol in the shortest time possible.

The danger in this is the fact that the body is constantly adapting to the alcohol levels in the body. So, to achieve the height of ecstasy they desire, they have to keep taking more of the alcohol.

Addiction sets in when there is an undying appetite for alcohol and other related substances.

Visible symptoms of substance abuse and addiction include continual relapse after deciding to quit, a strong craving for the substance, etc. Other symptoms are continual consumption of the substance and lack of concentration when doing other productive duties.

Accepting the fact that you are addicted and you need help is the first step to gaining sobriety. The next step is detoxifying your body system.

This process helps you to reduce the alcohol concentration levels in your body. At this stage, you will feel a strong desire to go back to the use of the drug. The symptoms you’ll notice are called withdrawal symptoms.

The process of detoxification may be dangerous but some professionals help make this process seamless. This is where enrolling at a rehabilitation center comes in. You can enroll at a rehab center and choose the program that best suits you. They have professionals that help you on your journey to sobriety.

Adrenaline is a hormone excreted by the adrenal glands, and it is one of the most crucial survival mechanisms flooding the bloodstream. A reasonable amount of this hormone is of benefit to the body, as it keeps us alert and helps to maintain focus when stressed. 

People addicted to adrenaline are being referred to as ‘adrenaline junkies.’ It is used to describe people who enjoy intense and thrilling activities that generate an adrenaline rush.

Adrenaline addiction is a type of behavioral addiction similar to gambling addiction, shopping addiction, exercise addiction as there is no external substance involved. 

Overtime, adrenaline addiction can lead to many health problems like;

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Risk of heart attack
• Weight gain
• Risk of stroke

Some other danger of adrenaline addictions is:

1. COMPETITION: People with adrenaline addiction might create a competitive environment wherever they are, especially in the workplace. They tend to become abusive or angry as a result of this competitive attitude triggered by their adrenaline.
2. EXCESSIVE RISKS: An entrepreneur with an adrenaline addiction tends to act impulsively, and so he would buy a company that he cannot afford. Or even take on projects or workload that he cannot possibly complete on time.
3. WORKAHOLISM: they seek more and more adrenaline rushes which tend to lead to workaholic behavior.
4. HURT PRODUCTIVITY: The excessive behavior of an adrenaline addict can hurt productivity at work. They do not have enough rest; they foster unhealthy competition, take too much risk, and put things at stake. 

Generally, getting over adrenaline addiction is about seeking ways and methods to manage the emotions of this condition. This condition can damage relationships, workplaces, and even families. A lot of time, adrenaline addiction leads to other mental health symptoms. 

Addiction lurks close by, awaiting its next victim. However, what many fail to realize is that a full-fledged addiction can happen to almost anyone who is abusing one or more substances to a high degree. We walk past people who are struggling with such every day, in addition to those who are unaware—and/or in denial—that they even have a problem in the first place. In turn, this can be dangerous, especially in certain social settings in which people downplay addiction.

In fact, one of the most common locations where this takes place is at colleges and universities. The reasoning behind this is because of the many parties that take place—that allow people to be desensitized to substance abuse. Some students may binge drink alcohol or use certain drugs in order to lighten the anxiety that they might feel within that of their environment, while others may feel pressured to join in by peers. Consequently, social anxiety isn’t the only way that students feel encouraged to abuse, but the pressure that they may feel through school work, jobs, and/or even in pleasing their parents while away at school.

Certain factors such as the ones listed above can cause the student to isolate himself/herself, skip class, and engage in other negative behaviors as a result of his/her addiction. Who the person surrounds himself/herself may also play a big part in his/her substance abuse—especially if that particular group has a stronghold on him/her. Unfortunately, the group as a collective may engage in activities that do more harm rather than help, causing the student to continue in a downward spiral. All is fun in games until the individual begins to buy more of the substance long after the party has ended—consuming it during the day, as well as into the late hours of the night.

In conclusion, if a student feels as though he/she is struggling with addiction, then it is best that he/she seeks out help so that he/she can get the treatment he/she before it’s too late. It is then that she can be aided in self-evaluating the source of the harmful behavior in an environment that is free from triggers. The aid—and/or assistance—of a trained professional is the most effective way for the student to be able to get right back on the fast track to recovery without any distractions.

Many of us have boarded a roller coaster at least once in our lives, whether it be at a small carnival in the middle of a parking lot somewhere, or a notorious amusement park. Our stomachs begin to get butterflies as we wait in line, and follow us as we take our seats, and buckle up. The suspense begins to eat away at our inner core of what’s to come no matter whether it’s our tenth time riding or our first. It’s then that we begin to think in our mind, again. However, these small thrills that some of us may experience are nothing in comparison to the types of death defying stunts that a number of thrill seekers engage in on a daily basis. Such activities can range from balancing on a skateboard atop a skyscraper, to rock climbing with no harness on.

First and foremost, thrill seeking is defined as, “being eager to take part in exciting activities that involve physical risk”. In turn, one primary factor for one doing such is the adrenaline that comes with it, and/or the rush/release of endorphins, much like that of a runner’s high. A runner’s high is “a feeling of euphoria that is experienced by some individuals engaged in strenuous running and that is held to be associated with a release of endorphins by the brain”. As a result, a thrill seeker oftentimes experiences something similar to this even if it doesn’t necessarily stem from the activity of running.

One activity in particular, briefly mentioned earlier, is free solo climbing which involves “climbing without a rope, safety gear, or a partner”. The gravest consequence that follows such an extreme sport is death. Yet even so, thrill seekers who engage in such are aware of the risk that comes with it. In turn, that’s oftentimes how it is with thrill seekers. They choose to take part in dangerous activity, but aren’t forced to, and know of the potential outcomes, and/or injuries.

In conclusion, thrill seeking can result in death if one is not careful with the extent to which they engage in certain activities. Individuals may find themselves wanting more thrills because of the feeling that courses through their body in response to them. But, one must be careful, because too much of one thing can be deadly. However, if one is itching for a good thrill zip-lining, indoor skydiving, zorbing, and volcano boarding are only a few among several options that one can look into when planning his/her next thrill seeking adventure.

The psychology of a thrill seeker is baffling to most. What could possibly motivate a person to deliberately put themselves into a risky situation? This quality in a person is at the opposite end of the spectrum from where most people exist. The average person is looking to keep themselves as safe as possible and avoid risky activities. Though it is difficult to empathize with a thrill seeker, understanding the basics of how their brains work will make you understand their plight a little bit better.

One thing that has been observed repeatedly in thrill seekers, by psychologists and casual observers, is that they have brains that do not want to turn off. They are compulsive thinkers and they have a very hard time stepping out of that role in order to have meditative moments. The trouble is, people need to shut off the activity of their brains sometimes in order to stay level and healthy. For thrill seekers, this is more difficult than it is for most. However, all thrill seekers report that when they are engaging in their thrill seeking, they are living completely in the moment instead of thinking and overthinking. When people discover that thrill seeking can do this for them, they are often sold on it for life.

Thrill seekers do extreme things because it allows them a freedom that they otherwise have a hard time coming by. The adrenaline rush of doing something incredible that involves risk opens doors for them that tend to stay closed in their lives. This does not necessarily mean that they should engage in risk seeking constantly. It can still become an unhealthy addiction. But for the joy it brings them, thrill seekers should have the freedom to pursue activities that make them feel the most alive. Thrill seeking is a chance for them to turn their calculating brains off, feel a rush of pleasure and experience the feeling of pure escape.

https://youtu.be/T7-_boyjkFo

It is very hard for the average person to understand why someone would be a thrill seeker. Most of us spend our lives thinking about safety and how to acquire more of it. Thrill seekers literally have an opposite brain type of the average person. They spend their lives seeking out activities that put them at risk. This may seem counterproductive to a person’s well being, but the opposite is true for this brain type. In order for thrill seekers to be happy, they need to pursue activities that meet the following criteria.

• Extreme. In order for an activity to be adrenaline inducing and exciting to a thrill seeker, it needs to be extreme. Thrill seekers are not fond of tame activities that people can do with a safety net in place. For them, excitement comes from doing the most extreme version of any activity instead of going halfway. For example, if they get a thrill from heights, they will probably want to sky dive out of an airplane rather than simply ride a roller coaster.
• No guarantee of personal safety. While other people work hard to protect their safety, thrill seekers are often looking to get rid of it. For them, safety is a buzz kill. Their thrill seeking is an art form to them, and safety kills their inspiration. The level of focus required in the face of danger and the way that the activity totally consumes thrill seekers is a major part of their attraction to it. They would consider the experience impure and half executed if it came with a safety net.
• Abnormal. Another attraction to thrill seeking is that its something that other people do not tend to do. Thrill seekers want to see the world from a different perspective and they are drawn to the roads that are less traveled. If there is a safe hiking path available, they want to take the riskier one. If there are rapids to raft, they want to try the rougher ones.

Thrill seeking is a behavior we observe in a great many people. Most of us know someone who gets their jollies from cliff jumping, sky diving, mountain climbing or some other high adrenaline activity. Most people cannot understand it, but these activities are highly enjoyable to them. The question of ethics often arises in these situations because commonly, a thrill seeker will be married or have children. People naturally wonder how they are all right with jeopardizing their safety for fun when they have dependents or loved ones. There is no clear answer to this controversy.

On one hand, every person is free to spend their time how they see fit. Thrill seeking involves taking calculated risks, often times to experience things that will broaden perspective and allow a person to practice a skill. Firemen and policemen also take calculated risks going into their line of work, so why would thrill seeking be called unethical?

On the other hand, thrill seeking can be considered addictive and worthy of rehabilitation. After all, the thrilling activities that adrenaline junkies perform give them a rush of dopamine, the same brain chemical that is responsible for all troubling addictive behavior, including the kind that involve substance abuse. Can it then be deduced that thrill seeking behavior is a sign of maladaptive tendencies and require therapy and treatment?

The reason this is controversial is because thrill-seeking has observable therapeutic benefits to thrill seekers, not just detriments. When we examine an addiction like substance abuse, we can be certain that the addiction will have harmful effects on the addict. But in the case of thrill seeking, it is entirely possible that the thrill seeker will never experience harm for as long as they engage in the activity of thrill seeking. The bottom line is that anything can be addictive. Some addictions put a person in immediate danger and some do not. But any addiction throws a person’s life out of balance and makes them lose perspective, so any addiction should be brought under control.