Caffeine Addiction

[caleb_james_566]

Yesterday I was very drowsy right in the middle of the day. I had plenty of sleep (8+ hrs) and it was a typical Sunday. I've been noticing that I have to drink more coffee, energy drinks to just get even. I usually drink 6 or so cups of coffee in the morning and maybe an energy drink or a couple more cups of coffee in the afternoon. If I don't, I feel groggy and tired, lethargic. I got mad yesterday though b/c it's not normal to feel that way when you are getting enough sleep, and I run about 50 miles a week so I'm getting my normal exercise too. I read a lot about caffeine and realized I'm addicted. I put it to the test today. I went cold turkey and just about lost it. I went a full 24 hrs without caffeine and it was miserable. I had headache after headache. My throat hurt, my mind was slow and my run this morning was very slow and I felt like I couldn't get going. That solidified in my mind that I was dependent on caffeine. As a Christian we all know that dependency on anything other than God alone is sinful and I need to stop this. When I got home tonight I had an energy drink and a diet mt dew and my headache has gone a way for the time being, but I am definitely going into battle mode to wean myself off this drug.

I realized that I never really thought I was dependent on it. I just drank coffee and everything b/c it made me feel like I had more energy and it helped get me going. My challenge to you all (especially the coffee drinkers as it is very much our culture) is to try and give it up for 24 hrs. If you can't do it without having all the side effects than you are also dependent on it. It may seem okay b/c it is socially acceptable, but at the naked truth it is a drug and people can be dependent on it.

I would love to hear anyone's thoughts on this or would love to do this undertaking with anyone who is struggling like myself.

God be with you.

 

[Anti Existance]

Well you know caffeine is a chemical that messes with your head and blood pressure, its exellent stuff and i often use coca cola to stay awake at work, the drawback is as you said getting tired just because you didn't get caffeine, means the caffeine has taken over the job of determining when you feel awake, and when you feel sleepy. The brain doesn't have to do anything anymore to maintain the 'awake'/'tired' status and will become lazy as a result of it.

I hope i am not addicted tho, my bro had such an addiction on coca cola, but after a bit of struggling he managed to get away from it.

 

[swordsman]

I have not touched caffeine and alcohol for 3 years. Not looking back. I'd encourage you to get off the caffeine. You can do it mate!

 

[Exodus1513]

Good job, swordman. I cannot say I have done so well, myself, but good luck to you all.

I'm addicted to caffeine, I get really bad headaches when I don't have coffee and other caffeine.

 

[Trying_Hard]

I know I am addicted to caffeine, I drink a lot of coke, coffee, and ocasionally energy drinks. I don't really see it as a bad thing. Out of all the addictions I have had in my life, being addicted to caffeine seams quite trivial.

 

[AdamLawlessEnvy]

I used to be addicted to caffiene. Not coffee, or cola, but energy drinks... I would literally stay up for 3 days straight drinking Full Throttle or other random energy drinks. I decided it was time to stop when I downed 2 Amps within 15 minutes. I'm obese, and have been borderline diabetic ever since I can remember, so that kind of thing is deadly for me.

I remember after staying up for almost a week straight, my chest hurt, and I couldn't stop sweating. My body ached, and my head felt like it was splitting. I'm so glad those days are behind me.


I still drink caffiene. In a controlled daily dosage, caffiene is actually good for you. 2-3 cups of coffee a day gives you pep, and helps you think straight.



I wish you luck with your addiction.

 

[HoosierCanuck]

I know I'm addicted. I started attempting the 'cold turkey' thing from all caffeine last week. I had some headaches...surprisingly they weren't too bad. I had gone to the Doc for massive headaches and part of the problem was caffeine! Well...a week and a half into it and I feel like I could seriously go postal! My head hasn't hurt *alot* but I've been soooooooooooooo irritable!!! I bit off two heads (not literally!) at work the other morning first thing...just because I didn't like the way someone else talked to me. It was really petty and stupid. I broke down and had a large iced tea yesterday and I felt better. I guess cold turkey isn't the way to go for me....or anyone who has to be around me!

I wish you much luck. Yes...I think getting off caffeine will be a good thing once all the horrible symptoms go away. I can tell when I'm not in homicidal mode...I DO actually have more energy. It's kind of weird....

 

[Angeldove97]

I'm addicted to coffee myself, though I try to keep it in check by not having more than 2 to 3 cups a day. You'll have to wean yourself off of it--- one cup at a time. You might have to take something like Advil or something to help with the headaches from withdrawl, but be careful because even headache medication like Advil has caffeine in it.

I would suggest trying to switch over to teas, which (if you get the right kinds) have lower amounts of caffeine and are generally alot healthier for you to drink. And please avoid energy drinks, they're horrible for you!

Continue to exercise and take vitamins--- I take Vitamin B Complex to help naturally boost my metabolism (though I would suggest talking to a doctor before you start taking them).

 

[Sapphire Dragon]

Well, I don't have a caffeine addiction myself, however, I'm sure that my grandmother does. She has a cup of coffee every morning when she wakes up, and she says that if she doesn't have coffee every morning, she gets a terrible headache that lasts for days. I'm not sure if this is detrimental to her health or not, but... it worries me sometimes.

 

[librarianmarian]

Thank you! I came onto this forum topic with caffeine in mind, and sure enough, here's a post about it!

I've been struggling on and off with caffeine since I was sixteen, so over 5 years now. I don't like coffee or tea (which I'm viewing as a blessing), but my family drinks a lot of pop, and I love me some carbonation!

I've tried cold turkey, I've tried stair stepping...both have worked for a period, but neither has had lasting effects.

I think that motivation is a huge factor: right now, pop is easy and available and totally acceptable in this caffeine lovin' house. However, someday soon I'm going to be a married woman to a man who wants a healthy wife who can have healthy kids someday. Caffeine and true health (and healthy pregancies!) don't go together.

That probably doesn't help, except to know that someone else shares your struggles! Sorry for ranting!!

 

[Radagast]

... I went a full 24 hrs without caffeine and it was miserable. I had headache after headache...

The headaches from giving up caffeine last only a few days in my experience, but it's usually easier just to slowly ease down to sensible quantities (1-4 cups a day).

 

[Angeldove97]

I'm down to one large cup of coffee (so I guess technically two cups) in the morning. I try to avoid it unless I have alot of work to do in the evening--- a teacher never rests. Soda and tea are a different story, but those headaches can get really bad for me. I find popping a few Advil (which has a some caffeine in them) can really help without having to down a cup of coffee.

 

[Nessie]

You know, a lot of people would consider this an insignificant addiction, since it's common and not seen as bad. But let me tell you my story:

I was addicted. Seriously. I don't mean to coca cola or coffee, but I would take Vivarin (caffeine pills, no doz, jet alert, etc) multiple times a day, more than the recommended dose.

I had a difficult childhood so immediately after I escaped it, I was determined I would become successful and get over it. In middle school I wouldn't sleep for days so I could stay up all night and get perfect As in all my honors classes. I would pop a few pills in the morning, more at lunch, some after school before drama practice, then at night to stay up and do my homework. Some days I took at least 10 pills (that would be the equivalent of 2000mg of caffeine). I couldn't function without it.

I got off for a while, but realized I had to keep doing it to keep ahead, so I did it through part of my high school years. It took a while to get off of them. I realized I was dependent upon it, not only because it would give me energy but because it would make me hyper, which would make me "happy". I remember I used to call them "happy pills". If I was depressed I would take them and the next thing I knew I was bouncing off the walls excited.

When I realized my dependency (after I came back to the Lord as a junior in HS), I know I had to stop. Furthermore, I talked to my pastor (who is now my adopted dad), and he likened it to "legal speed". That's really all it is.

I slowly took myself off the pills, taking one less per day and then slowly lessening soda and coffee. I suffered from horrible headaches and migraines but they eventually went away.

I rarely ever drink soda or caffeinated coffee anymore, and if I do it's in small amounts. I learned that caffeine was causing some of my depression, mood swings, and anxiety as well. My pastor's wife (adopted mom) has encouraged me to stop taking caffeine alltogether since I know how it affects me, and my doctor has said I need to be off of it completely (because somewhere I developed a stomach disorder).

So if you're addiction is as bad as mine was, to the point where you had to take it to e happy or to survive, you really should work on getting off it. But go slowly, or else it won't work!

(Just for clarification my pastor does not preach against caffeine lol.. he is a loyal starbucks customer... he just taught me that if it is a dependency issue then it becomes wrong)

 

[Sapphire Dragon]

I'm so glad you got over your addiction... What doesn't kill you always makes you stronger, and I'm glad you can now control your life again without the use of other drugs, even if it's caffeine. Personally, I think caffeine's ok when you absolutely need it, but they shouldn't make it so readily available to the mainstream public like they have now... I recently heard something about them starting to take caffeine out of soft drinks and replace it with something else, and I'm glad that people are noticing that caffeine is a drug that can be addicting and should be limited.

I know that my grandmother is addicted to caffeine, but how bad does caffeine addiction affect a 72 year old? I would like to know at least an estimation... she has to drink one cup of coffee every day in the morning or, according to her, she gets excruciating headaches for a whole week. I don't know if this is affecting her health or not... I'm a little worried.