Adrenaline, or epinephrine, was discovered in 1900 and can be considered to be one of the greatest discoveries in the history of medicine. It is naturally produced by the adrenal glands and is the chief chemical messenger of the sympathetic nervous system, preparing the body for any sort of crisis. In response to fear, it dilates the iris, increases heart rate and breathing capacity and dilates some blood vessels allowing the vital parts to receive a better supply of blood. It is also released into the bloodstream when we are angry or when we are sexually aroused, it's effects can be summarised by the three Fs - fight, fright and shall we say frolic.
For some, the effects of adrenaline surges are addictive, especially among the young and foolhardy, though there are many older and equally foolhardy junkies out there. Most of us enjoy a certain amount of fear as long as the conditions are controlled and that there is an escape route. Children love scary stories up to a point as long as they know that they are just stories, and for adults there is a massive market out there for horror stories and movies. Theme parks and fun fairs provide rides that give some experiences that are so far beyond their normality, but people rarely think f these rides as unsafe. If that seed of doubt were there, most would not put themselves at any real risk.
For me, travelling on the M25 and the spectre of senility are probably as scary as things tend to be. My days of thrill seeking have long gone but I do take long and wistful looks at memories of times when I thought of myself as immortal. Times when I would do things without too much consideration of consequences.
Bringing up children in 21st century England is a difficult job. When we were young, there were lots of things to fear. Bad behaviour was often met with some form of physical punishment. A slap maybe, but in my experience nothing worse. In school, sanctions included detention after school, the cane for serious misbehaviour, or worse, a letter home to parents who would blame YOU and not the school. Out in the real world, bad behaviour was often dealt with then and there with a slap around the ear of a boot in the backside should you be daft enough to get caught. We knew that for every action, there was the possibility of a reaction and that all behaviour had consequences. Things have changed, children no longer have a healthy fear of behaving badly, a loss of privileges can be tiresome but it is nothing to be afraid of and besides there is always something there to take its place. Lack of fear can lead to a reckless disregard for any form of authority and this begins at home.
Fear is essential and without it grows confidence without competence. Sooner or later there will be a clash of expectations and then there will be tears.
For some, the effects of adrenaline surges are addictive, especially among the young and foolhardy, though there are many older and equally foolhardy junkies out there. Most of us enjoy a certain amount of fear as long as the conditions are controlled and that there is an escape route. Children love scary stories up to a point as long as they know that they are just stories, and for adults there is a massive market out there for horror stories and movies. Theme parks and fun fairs provide rides that give some experiences that are so far beyond their normality, but people rarely think f these rides as unsafe. If that seed of doubt were there, most would not put themselves at any real risk.
For me, travelling on the M25 and the spectre of senility are probably as scary as things tend to be. My days of thrill seeking have long gone but I do take long and wistful looks at memories of times when I thought of myself as immortal. Times when I would do things without too much consideration of consequences.
Bringing up children in 21st century England is a difficult job. When we were young, there were lots of things to fear. Bad behaviour was often met with some form of physical punishment. A slap maybe, but in my experience nothing worse. In school, sanctions included detention after school, the cane for serious misbehaviour, or worse, a letter home to parents who would blame YOU and not the school. Out in the real world, bad behaviour was often dealt with then and there with a slap around the ear of a boot in the backside should you be daft enough to get caught. We knew that for every action, there was the possibility of a reaction and that all behaviour had consequences. Things have changed, children no longer have a healthy fear of behaving badly, a loss of privileges can be tiresome but it is nothing to be afraid of and besides there is always something there to take its place. Lack of fear can lead to a reckless disregard for any form of authority and this begins at home.
Fear is essential and without it grows confidence without competence. Sooner or later there will be a clash of expectations and then there will be tears.
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