substances, and behave aggressively, you are setting the stage for
problems physically, socially, and otherwise.
Icarus got the warning about the importance of moderation
a bit too late. But how can you tell if sensation-seeking has reached
a point where it’s a problem? As one counselor pointed out to me,
“It’s not a problem until it’s a problem.” There are many common
characteristics among the various addictive behaviors, and it’s good
to note if sensation-seeking behavior is becoming a problem. The
key is to take note when and if sensation-seeking behavior is get-
ting out of control. Constantly thinking about an activity,
engaging in a behavior even though it is causing harm, withdrawal
symptoms when not engaging in the behavior, or even hiding the
behavior after people have expressed their concern – these are all
tell-tale signs the sensation-seeker has taken things too far. The
more those characteristics look familiar, the more problematic
your behavior might be. If you’re on a mountain experiencing
headaches, vomiting, and your face is turning blue, but you’re
considering finishing the climb anyway? That’s a sign. If your
friends tease you because you have the most dented car in the
group and they are terrified to drive with you? That’s a sign – even
if you’re convinced you’re the best driver on the planet. And, of
course, if you’re facing problems at work, school or with other
responsibilities, or experiencing social problems caused by obses-
sive sensation-seeking, that’s a strong signal that something needs
to change. Consider, too, if you have lost friends, have had frequent
injuries, or your friends are concerned about your sensation-
seeking behavior. If you feel your behavior is causing a problem,
it’s important to consult a mental health professional such as
a licensed psychologist or licensed professional counselor for help.
Addiction is never healthy. Aggression is rarely useful. And
riskisrisky. In its most extreme forms, sensation-seeking can lead
to addiction, injury, and death. If you let your sensation-seeking
drive you too close to the edge, you may just fall off. However,
despite the fact that it definitely has a dark side and it remains
a mystery to me in many ways, I have developed a great deal of
respect for the high sensation-seeking personality. In fact, I see it as
a kind of superpower as you’ll learn in thenext chapter.156 / Buzz!Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. Access paid by the UCSF Library, on 11 Nov 2019 at 14:20:10, subject to the Cambridge