(Can't You) Trip Like I Do: a treatise on natural and artificial highs

When I run, my mind wanders, and this particular time I began to wonder about similarities between the euphoric "highs" attained by sustained exersize and recreational drug use.

When you exercise, you are essentially tearing apart your body and rebuilding it. During the catabolic part of this, you are destroying your own tissue. When this happens, your body releases seratonin (even tho I can't spell it) and other euphoria-inducing chemicals to numb the pain that you would feel. There is also the rush of adrenaline you get from a workout as well, and these factors contribute to a significant feeling of elation during and after. A greater shot of adrenaline can frequently be created through public performance, such as street busking, stage performance, or even public speaking, as well as through dangerous activities such as skydiving and base jumping, hence the creation of the "adrenaline junkie".

With recreational drug use of any sort, artificial compounds are introduced into the body with the intent of re-creating and perhaps surpassing the effect created by your own system. These compounds bind to seratonin receptors in your brain and trigger them to make you feel good.

Similar effects can be created through self mutilation behavior, and it is believed that this is the reason many people engage in 'cutting'.

Now for the similarities: you can and will build up a tolerance to all of these activities after continued exposure, and a greater fix will be needed to achieve the same feeling. A bigger hit of heroin, more alcohol, a longer run, a higher base jump, a bigger stunt, a bigger crowd, a bigger show. The similarities here are stunning: with the continued use the need for the fix becomes stronger and the amount needed increases.

Now for the differences: run longer, perform in front of a bigger audience, or play a sport, and you're likely to increase your lifespan. Seriously. There is scientific evidence for this, I promise. I'm a biologist.

Smoke more, drink more, shoot more heroin and you're likely to decrease your lifespan. Seriously. There is scientific evidence for this, I promise. I'm a biologist.

Thanks for bearing with me during this little brain jaunt.