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Shut down reflex? Cortisol?

S

spatts

High End Bro
Platinum
Shut down reflex?

I have a question about how I react to extreme stress. This has happened to me ALL my life. Whether it was a track meet, as a lifeguard, working in an ER, or lifting:

When I get that "adrenaline rush" it makes me instantly SLEEPY. Everything seems slower and clearer, and very calm - almost surreal. Then, all of a sudden, I'm sleepy. I've taken naps in the middle of my last two comps.

What's up with that? What's it mean? Can I change it?

It comes in handy in stressful situations where I need to be able to think clearly, but I don't particularly care for it when I'm about to lift. It doesn't seem to hinder my performance (probably because I won't let it), but it is annoying.

Thoughts?
 
Could be a natural response once your body decides the threat is over? I get it too.

I was a competative swimmer, and I always wanted to nap after a race. My adrenaline would pump hard.

Or after any intense situation actually.
 
No this isn't after. This is my initial reaction. You'll see some guys shaking, or sweating, bouncing around, even slamming their heads on the bar....I'm yawning.

After the lift I'm wide awake.
 
Hmm, that seems like the opposite reaction of what should be happening.

Although if you are doing a lot of yawning. I was just reading a study recently published on yawning. And that it's something of a myth that you yawn to get more oxygen, or even that you are tired. It's more a reaction to 'changing states' between rest and activity, or imminent thereof.

(Just to continue this tangent)
Also yawning is a collective thing. They were theorizing that yawns are 'contagious' so that the 'tribe' in general shares the same state of alertness.


Also in the study they showed people pictures of others yawning and it made them yawn. Then they just showed a yawning mouth, which did NOT make people yawn. Then they showed yawning eyes, which DID make people yawn.

Interesting stuff, but sorry that it probably doesn't help.
 
I have the same reaction to stress. When I was playing football in college I would lay in the locker room and sleep before a game and usually wouldn't be fully awake till after I had hit someone. I like it though, after I learned how to use it as an asset. What I learned is that I shouldn't fight it and try to work myself up into a frenzy like most everyone else...that doesn't work for me I am tired and calm regardless of wether or not I am slaming my head against the wall or not, in other words I can't fake it. I know this sounds cheese-ish but I have learned breathing and meditation techniques that allow me to be relaxed and remain ultra focused on what I am going to do.

Try to at least visualize every small aspect of the lift with the ultimate focus being how light it will be (the first step in guided meditation) and let yourself be sleepy or even doze b/c you'll waste energy trying to fight it. It is like a calm before the storm, when it is time to lift, if you are like me you can get very intense very quickly but you won't sustain it well, so just learn to time it right.---hope this helps a little

oh and my theory is that it feels so intense because you have a higher release level of adrenaline than the average person
 
I've seen plenty of guys/girls nap before their weight class in grappling turneys.

I have no answer for you, sorry. Just chiming in to let you know you're not alone.

T Bone
 
IronLion said:
...if you are like me you can get very intense very quickly
Click to expand...

Yes. Once I'm at the bar, I've been "seeing the lift" for some time. When I get there, I hear nothing, I see nothing (other than myself moving it), and everything's very calm and clear. Like I'm dreaming. Then, when I unrack the bar, something just kind of snaps, and I'm on.

I guess I just feel like a slacker sleeping between lifts...but if it's ok, then ok.

I am curious to learn more about what's happening physiologically when that happens, though.
 
its cortisol slowing the body down, the body releases it after adrenaline.

ps...i get sleepy just breathing. carbs are doing it to me as of late.
 
I guess I don't understand this: If cortisol is a reaction to adrenaline...why am I feeling the cortisol and not the previous adrenaline? Why do I feel the adrenaline after?

It almost seems like I'm "fighting" physically, by "flying" mentally..at the same time.
 
spatts said:
I guess I don't understand this: If cortisol is a reaction to adrenaline...why am I feeling the cortisol and not the previous adrenaline? Why do I feel the adrenaline after?

Click to expand...

youre just weird! thats all i can tell you! :p

you are probably used to the adrenaline and you have learned to focus your attention whereas most people get slightly disoriented.

its not just the hormonal changes but also the syp/parasymp nervous systems battling for control. elevated heart rate and then heart rate lowering, GI tract shutting down and then starting back up again. tons of things controlled by both mechanisms. ya gotta think it will make you tired.
 
spatts said:
I guess I don't understand this: If cortisol is a reaction to adrenaline...why am I feeling the cortisol and not the previous adrenaline? Why do I feel the adrenaline after?

It almost seems like I'm "fighting" physically, by "flying" mentally..at the same time.
Click to expand...


Your adrenal glands are dyslexic?
;)
 
Spatts, have you always done this? Even when you began competing?

I'm wondering if the case is that you haven't and you have just learned to direct your focus/energy only when needed. I tend to overly relax right before a ME lift. I have seen how some powerlifters get themselves revved up before a lift and I can't do that.

I'm a very quiet lifter, actually.

I'm thinking of something like the "calm before the storm" in your case. The storm, in this case, being the fruits of your labor; your actions. You've lifted heavy so, so many times before, that initial action of the lift isn't what excites you, it's after the lift - after you've done the work. That's your adrenaline rush.
 
Slinky, yes, I've always been like that. I remember standing on the 200 meter line at a meet, and would be yawning and laying on the field until they called my heat. I'd get in the starting blocks, and until my hips raised on the "set," I could've just as easily taken a nap. Calm before the storm explains it well.

I'm a quiet lifter too. I can't do the angry, rage, pacing back and forth, making a scene crap. I understand some people need to do that, or genuinely feel that, but it just looks like a damn production to me. I prefer peace and quiet to angry music. All the hype just distracts me from the clarity I need on the platform.
 
SB, I don't know what it is right before. I know resting it's under 60. When I sprint, it goes up to about 120. Maybe I'll check that next time. Why do you ask?
 
Well from what you explained you seem to be really relaxed before you lift. When I was Competing in Grappling This is something that I tried so hard to learn to do. This method is used by Divers, Martial artist to relax so that they don't overexaust theirselves and get out of breath. I don't know if this is what you are doing but It what you are experiencing sounds like it.

SB
 
maybe it's your focus? You get intensely focussed and your "non-essential" ie "non-lifting" systems shut down in favour of the parts of the body and mind that are part of the lift? As in, you have very good focus?
 
LOL...you guys are making this sound like a good thing! Maybe I should just thank my lucky stars for the extra cortisol and move on!
 
spatts said:
Maybe I should just thank my lucky stars for the extra cortisol and move on!
Click to expand...

Yeah but that whole "muscle breakdown thing" is soooooooo uncool.
 
LOL, It's a great thing for certain circumstances. I am not sure that it is all too good for your situation though.

You got the Power:D .. Not everyone can control their body like that Now you just have to figure out how to turn it off:confused:

SB
 
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