Surprising Mental Benefits of Doing Extreme Sports

Surprising Mental Benefits of Doing Extreme Sports

Extreme sports may seem like something people with a death wish would do. Either that or they have an urge to get away from something, perhaps the bleakness of everyday life. But, there is much more to these endeavors than being hooked on danger.  Risk is more of a by-product that has to be managed than a goal in itself. Likewise, temporary buzz and physical sensation are just the tip of the iceberg. Namely, a growing body of evidence suggests that extreme sports can turn your life around and work miracles for your mental health and stability.

Confidence and calmness 

Going to great lengths in order to challenge yourself builds self-directedness and confidence. You face fear and learn to get past it. Moreover, you are in a position to push the worries aside and remain focused, in a present moment. Ultimately, this experience forges you into calmer and steadfast person. Of course, the trick is to find something that really rocks your boat. If you do not know where to start, go through the list of 100 extreme sports and see if anything stands out. Find your relief and source of self-esteem and drive in life.

Mental sturdiness

Another study has found that high-risk athletes have a higher level of mental stability than the average people. They also have more energy than non-athletes and non-risk athletes. Indeed, extreme sport can be a great outlet, but the buzz of the adventure sport is not just a short lived-boost. In the long-term, it helps you restore mental balance and cope with the feeling of being trapped. When faced with great dangers, all other problems in life diminish and become meager. Hence, you get a new perspective and see your position in the whole new light.

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Hormonal balance

During extreme feats, your brain releases the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine. As you may know, these neurotransmitters manage brain’s reward and pleasure centers. What is more, they regulate physical and emotional responses, as well as psychological and bodily functions. This elevated hormonal activity translates into the improved mood, sex life, sleeping patterns, and social behavior. On the other hand, a disrupted hormonal balance leads to depression, fatigue, (social) anxiety, and other mental problems.

Therapeutic properties

There have been cases of therapists using extreme sports as means of treating mental illnesses and emotional disorders. Many swear by therapeutic benefits of engaging in activities like bungee jumping. They point out to the connection between adrenaline and mental health. Tandem skydiving, for instance, is linked to the increased ability to feel pleasure from normally pleasure-inducing activities. Thus, it holds the power to help emotionally dysfunctional people. There are many other sports that can aid patients and troubled individuals to overcome many obstacles before them.

Regaining control

Taking on high-risk sports requires a great deal of knowledge.  It includes meticulous planning, assessment of various conditions, and confidence in your skills and capabilities. The journey to towering summits and gaping ocean realms starts with self-discovery.  Nothing can be left to chance because any mismanagement or mistake has dire consequences.  This is to say that extreme disciplines teach you how to assume control over your life and pay attention to detail. The effects of this lesson can spill over into other areas and help you make a positive change through daily habits and choices.

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Push the boundaries

Sports riddled with dangers are not just for adrenaline junkies or crazy types. They are a fulfilling experience full of great rewards for many different people. Fear that initially overcomes you turns into euphoria and it becomes a sense of empowerment over your life. This is just one indication that there are numerous proofs that physical challenges and activities have a profound effect on one’s mental picture. The greatest risk is not the one that looms over you during extreme exploits, but the one of living a bland life without adventure. So, get out there and pull your socks up.