Adrenaline makes me feel weak

[Anonymous]

Whenever I get an adrenaline rush, if I'm about to box or something similar, my limbs feel really light and weak. Does adrenaline actually make you weaker or the opposite?

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

Are you sure you aren't mistaking adrenaline with fright or nervousness?

Sometimes when a fight seems about to break out, my legs feel like they can't support my weight (almost as if I was rocked, they want to buckle). I'm pretty sure it's just cause I'm nervous. Because when I prep myself for training, I get my self psyched up and get my adrenaline going and it always helps me perform better. Also, during non-threatening events like stage performances, 1600m and 5k races I get an adrenaline boost that makes my thought process and race times far surpass my timed trials and usual improv abilities, but my legs don't feel weak then. However-- with fights they do. So my assumption is it's nerves. And you may not even be thinking you're scared, but subconsciously your body knows there is imminent danger and freezes up. Least that's been my experience with fights vs adrenaline during other excitable moments.

[Dantemustdie]

yes I know the feeling you're talking about, I get it too. I think that is just the way your body reacts to adrenaline, my own personal thinking behind it (I'm a university Biology/Chemistry student), is because when you produce adrenaline your body starts using up and metabolising sugars very rapidly which would allow you to perform tasks of massive energy requirements, but I also think a side effect of this is that it makes you feel light headed and feel slightly weak. Trust me though, you're anything but weak when the adrenaline flows, I've done some mad stuff on adrenaline lol, even though I felt weak.

[Asker]

Maybe it's just because the blood has rushed into the muscles and filled it with oxygen, making them feel really light and weak when they actually arn't.

[katylaura]

i don't know about always, but for me it does the opposite - I work really well on adrenaline and don't crash until it wears off. important exams, for example, I'll freak before hand and panic about the results afterward, but while I'm in there I work like a pro. I guess it kicks the fight or flight decision.

[sa230e]

Adrenaline is the body's chief "fight-or-flight" hormone. It increases your heart rate, your metabolism and alertness. When you encounter a dangerous situation, it kicks your body into overdrive. Basically, it has the opposite effect you describe.

[Asker]

I had a thought that it could be the amount of blood that has rushed to the muscles, filling it with oxygen, making it stronger but due to how much blood is in the muscle, it makes it feel weaker than it actually is.

[SilentEarth]

I heard of this one baseball player who passed out because of an adrenaline rush. Just locked up and fell. I suppose it could have the opposite effect.