Do most days have a peaceful and centered quality to them? Or are you often stressed, rushed and hurried? Do you have trouble focusing? Could be you are addicted to adrenaline and don't know it. Adrenaline is that old "fight or flight" stimulus that has been around since the caveman days. The adrenal gland is part of your immune system and is suppose to keep you well and healthy. When we are stressed, it kicks into high gear with chemicals that help our bodies face the challenges and cope with difficult situations.

Many of us who live in achievement-focused, modern day America, are using adrenaline as the fuel to keep us going. And while, it's a great resource to use some of the time, when it is used as your primary fuel, you are setting yourself up for some very nasty side effects.

The Dark Side Adrenaline Addiction

Using adrenaline as your fuel source will lead to eventual exhaustion and burnout. You'll start have trouble focusing and it will be harder to experience joy in your daily living. You will tend to get sick more often, since you are diverting immune system's resources. While this usually won't happen until, after the big push, it will happen. John Wanamaker's observation,"People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for illness" is on target for those who use adrenaline as their energy source.

In the October 2000 issue of Yoga Journal, Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa says the stress response of "near-constant cortisol release (from the adrenal gland) can damage the memory center of the brain... we lose our ability to concentrate, and recall." He says as we get older, the brain becomes less adept at managing the chemical release. His studies are primarily with treating Alzheimer's disease. I found this link quite scary. I do notice, though, when I am relying on the energy from rushing and last minute deadlines, my ability to focus is decreased. Dr Archibald Hart's book, Adrenalin and Stress is an in depth look at the whole problem and links addiction to adrenaline as a leading indicator of future heart disease.

Are you an Adrenaline Addict?

Here are a few questions:

• Do you wear a pager or carry your cell phone everywhere you go?
• Do you drink 3 or more caffeinated coffee or drinks each day to keep going?
• Does standing in line make you edgy and annoyed?
• Do you tailgate, drive over the speed limit regularly and get upset with other drivers?
• Do you react strongly to surprises?
• Do you schedule your appoints so you just make it from one to another?
• Do you spend time around others you are frantically working as hard or harder than you?
• Do you take on more than you want to be nice and because you can?
• Do you attract more problems than you deserve?
• Do you eat sugar to calm yourself?

If you answered yes to 5 or more of the questions above, welcome to the club! You aren't alone.

Breaking The Addiction

The good news is that with awareness and some changes, you can bring more peace into your life and get off the adrenaline treadmill. Like any addiction, you must want to make the change and be willing to go through some discomfort.

Step #1: Your awareness is the first step.

Notice when you are triggering the release: Your heart rate goes up, your breathing becomes more rapid, you experience a rush of energy, your hands get cold.

Step #2: Monitor Yourself

For a week, make a list of all the things that triggers these physical responses.

Step #3: Identify Solutions to each trigger.

For each trigger, identify a solution and implement changes your behavior. Some examples of triggers and solutions:

Using caffeine excessively - - Cut out all caffeinated products
Rushing, being late - - Arrive 10 minutes early
Involved in many non-essential projects - - Cut out 50% of all projects & goals
Overpromising results - - Deliberately underpromise everything
Doing everything you should - - Re-examine whose agenda you are living
Driving too fast - - Don't pass another car for a whole week
Dual Tasking Constantly - - Focus on one thing until complete

Step #4: Consciously Slow Down

Start scheduling some time for contemplation and silence. Do nothing. This will be very hard at first but will get easier. Ideally, give yourself at least 15 minutes of silence each day. Start appreciating the present more.

The discomfort of feeling like you "should" be doing something, of feeling guilty because you aren't pushing yourself to excel will rear their ugly heads. You, however, will find that boredom is the gateway to peacefulness and might decide that nothing and no one is worthy of stealing your peace!

You will also notice that it is easier to accomplish more when your ability to focus is increased and you will struggle less. You'll be more intentional and stop running frantically in circles. You’ll actually make more and do less. You’ll feel peaceful and centered. How does that sound? Are your ready?