Ask Yourself

Are You Dependent on Adrenaline?
William Gaultiere, Ph.D.

Do you rely on adrenaline to feel alive, important, and productive? Are you putting your body at risk of stress-related illness? Take this self-test to help you identify if you might be over-adrenalized.

1. Are you often in a hurry, rushing from one thing to the next?

2. During a typical day do you work with intensity on something that seems urgent?

3. Do you tend to do two or three things at once to be more efficient?

4. Are you productive, busy, or active almost all the time?

5. Do you regularly rely on caffeine to feel energetic and focused?

6. If you’re not working on something do you rely on stimulation from activity, entertainment, or noise?

7. When you’re resting do you feel fidgety, pace, drum your fingers, tap your feet, or chew fast?

8. If you’re idle do you feel guilty or restless?

9. When you’re waiting are you usually uncomfortably impatient (e.g., looking at your watch, getting upset, or counting items in the short order line)?

10. When you go to bed at night do you typically think about all the things that you didn’t get done and need to get done?

11. When you go on vacation do you feel empty, bored, or depressed?

12. Do you often have physical stress symptoms like gastric distress, rapid heartbeat, headaches, muscle pain, teeth grinding at night, and sleep problems?

Scoring: Yes answers to four or more items indicate that you may be depending on adrenaline and related hormones like cortisol to manage daily stresses. For diagnoses and treatment consult in person with a doctor or psychotherapist.

William Gaultiere, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the New Hope Crisis Counseling Center and the Moderator for OneCommunity at the Crystal Cathedral. He is also a Clinical Psychologist with a part time private practice in Irvine, California. You can read Dr. Bill’s encouraging self-help articles on www.NewHopeNow.org and www.ChristianSoulCare.com.