Pontius syndrome: causes, symptoms and treatment

Today we will all have heard of someone who is addicted to adrenalin. People who practice adventure sports or expose themselves to high-risk situations in order to feel the rush of energy caused by the adrenaline generated by danger.

Skydiving, bungee jumping, hang gliding, climbing... Most of the people who practice it seek intense experiences, but they are aware of the risks and take precautions so that the risk is controlled.

However, there is a condition in which the perception of danger is non-existent and exposure to danger is no longer within the limits of what is controllable. It is about Pontius syndrome, which we are going to talk about throughout this article.

What is Pontius syndrome?

A rare and unusual disorder consisting of loss of perception of danger and fear is called Pontius syndrome., which appears linked to an overproduction of adrenaline. This syndrome also implies a certain dependence on adrenaline as well as the acquisition of tolerance to it, which tends to imply habitual exposure to dangerous situations and the need to look for them actively.

In this syndrome there is a lack of control over behavior as well as a compulsive need to resort to high-risk activities. The person seeks risky activities, which can endanger their survival, for the mere fact of feeling adrenaline. There is a lack of awareness of danger and the activities are carried out without the subject being emotionally altered, neither producing well-being but there tends to be some level of constant frustration, anger or discomfort that is alleviated by exposure to risk.

Unlike people who like adrenaline and this type of activity, who, despite doing this type of activity, know the danger they are running, in In the case of Pontius syndrome, this factor does not exist: the subject will consider that the risk situation is safe and that there is no danger, having lost the sensation of danger.

What are the causes of this affectation?

Pontius syndrome is not yet recognized by the medical or psychiatric community. and knowledge about it is rather limited. However, abnormalities have been observed at the neurological level that seem to be at the base of the disorder,

The main problem presented by people with Pontius syndrome is the presence of very high levels of adrenaline. product of altered development of cranial nerves 5.2 and 6 (trigeminal and abducens), which are located hyperdeveloped. Its hyperfunctioning and its connection with other cerebral nuclei affects the production of adrenaline, increasing with respect to to their normotypical values ​​and over time causing addiction, tolerance and the need for strong experiences to feel good. and emotional reactions, such as fear.

Although it is not a cause per se, the truth is that Pontius syndrome could be related to the presence of high levels of personality trait called Openness to Experience or Sensation Seeking. It is not that someone with high levels of this trait has Pontius syndrome, but it is much more likely that someone with the syndrome will have high scores. Likewise, someone with high sensation seeking has a greater facility to manifest similar behaviors if they become addicted to adrenaline.

Affectation in the day to day

Pontius syndrome can have repercussions in different areas. At the work level, the tendency to seek risks can lead to accidents, difficulties in coping with tasks that may involve unnecessary or excessive risks and even conflicts and fights with colleagues and superiors. It may also lead to legal problems, such as petty crime (for example, being arrested for climbing a building without ropes) or fines. At the social and family level there may also be difficulties depending on the levels of risk assumed by the subject.

Beyond this, it must also be taken into account that the continued presence of high levels of adrenaline itself has an impact on the body. It especially highlights the risk of heart problems if it is maintained for a long time, as well as hypertension and hyperglycemia. Besides it can lead to long-term restlessness, stress, and anxiety, as well as trouble sleeping, blurred vision, irritability, and nervousness.

possible treatment

Pontius syndrome has received very little attention and there are no specific treatments for it, although it is possible to use different types of treatment to try to reduce the symptoms.

At the psychological level, it is possible first of all to analyze the patterns of thought, beliefs and emotions to later use different procedures. On the one hand, it is possible to try to make a cognitive restructuring to modify beliefs, cognitive biases and maladaptive behavior patterns.

This can help the subject establish control at a cognitive level over her behavior. In turn, procedures similar to those used in the treatment of substance addictions can be applied. It can also work from exposure with prevention of response to situations that would normally elicit risk behaviors.

At a medical or pharmacological level, it is possible to work to either reduce adrenaline levels or to surgically treat the alteration present in the cranial nerves aforementioned.