Pontius syndrome: causes, symptoms and treatment

This disorder causes affected persons to totally lose their fear of certain risks.

Nowadays we will all have heard of someone who is addicted to adrenaline. 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, rock climbing... Most people who practice them are looking for 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 the exposure to danger is no longer within the limits of controllability. This is Pontius syndrome, which we will discuss in this article.

What is Pontius syndrome?

Pontius syndrome is a rare and unusual disorder consisting in the loss of perception of danger and fear, which is linked to an overproduction of adrenaline.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 involve habitual exposure to dangerous situations and the need to actively seek them out.

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 may 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, not producing either well-being but there tends to be a certain level of frustration, anger or constant discomfort that are relieved by the exposure to risk.

Unlike people who like adrenaline and this type of activities, who despite doing this type of activities know the danger they run, 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 feeling of danger.

What are the causes of this affectation?

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

The main problem presented by people with Pontius syndrome is the presence of very high levels of adrenaline due to an altered development of cranial nerves 5.2 and 6 (trigeminal and abducens), which are hyperdeveloped. Their hyperfunctioning and their linkage with other brain nuclei affects adrenaline production, increasing with respect to its normotypical values and causing over time 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, it is certain that Pontius syndrome could be related to the presence of high levels of the personality trait called Openness to experience or Sensation Seeking. It is not that someone with high levels of this trait will have Pontius syndrome, but someone with the syndrome will be much more likely to have high scores. Likewise, someone with high sensation seeking is more likely to display similar behaviors if they become addicted to adrenaline.

Affecting day-to-day life

Pontius syndrome can have repercussions in different areas. At the work level the tendency to risk seeking 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 the commission of petty crimes (e.g., being arrested for climbing a building without ropes) or the imposition of 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 should also be taken into account that the continued presence of high levels of adrenaline has in itself an impact on the organism. Particularly noteworthy is the risk of cardiac problems if maintained for a long time, as well as hypertension and hyperglycemia. In addition to this can lead to restlessness, stress and anxiety in the long term, as well as sleep problems, 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 first possible to analyze thought patterns, beliefs and emotions and then use different procedures. On the one hand, it is possible to try to carry out cognitive restructuring to modify beliefs, cognitive biases and maladaptive behavior patterns.

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

At the 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 mentioned above.