I tried many time to stop coffee and tea and for one year now I am sober. I am very happy with my decision. I feel much better and much less anxiety
I quit caffeine
111–120 of 304 posts
Re: I quit caffeine
#112I quit caffeine about 8 weeks ago for mental health reasons. It has been TREMENDOUS so far. I'm still hesitant on writing about it because it's such a new experiment.
When I was on caffeine I was on a lot of it. Probably around 400-600mg a day combining my pre workout with my daily coffees. It is one of my favorite drugs and I loved taking it. This was the last 15 years of my life.
I became quite irritable over the past couple years with the inability for my mind to sit still which spiraled me into manic depression. I slowly weened myself off for a few months and finally quit altogether 8 weeks ago.
I've noticed I am much calmer, my mind is quieter, and my bipolar 2 is no where to be seen. Life definitely seems "duller" which sucks. But the lack of excitement everywhere feels much healthier.
Working out is definitely harder, as is being productive at work, but I'm slowly figuring out ways to combat that. If you haven't taken a break I highly recommend it. Even to just reduce you tolerance so you can feel just how powerful a drug this stuff is.
Re: I quit caffeine
#113I had this exact same problem just back in November. Regular coffee drinker (1-2 cups), having pre-workout before the gym. Starting having an absurd amount of anxiety and what I can best describe as a panic attack or flu-like symptom making my heart race & feelings of palpitations. Go to the ER, they find nothing wrong. Doctors say "cut your stimulates and lower your stresses". Seemed to be a combination of work stre…
I experienced something similar (minus the hospital visit.) I'd regularly gone with 4-6 cups a day for years, with no noticeable problems. I ran into a particularly stressful month, then experienced a 2-month bout with insomnia and anxiety. Insomnia is brutal, and I did everything I could to get over it including eliminating caffeine/coffee completely for around 6-7 months. I didn't experience any issues stopping. Af…
That's awesome that you were able to find a moderation change. I just went cold turkey because of experience itself.
Re: I quit caffeine
#114One of the best investments I've ever made was a good espresso machine and grinder (Rancilio Silvia and Rocky for those who know something). Espresso coffee tastes so much better than drip (I really hate French press so that's not even a comparison). I find espresso also much more agreeable. While I feel jittery after several cups of drip I find I would need to drink a lot more (unrealistic amounts) espresso coffee f…
About the withdrawal symptoms: anything that you substitute in place when you don't drink coffee? When I don't drink at morning I always have headache after a few hours, and I'd like to see any non-caffeinated (natural) substitutions that'd keep the headache away.
>When I don't drink at morning I always have headache after a few hours
for me in the past that would be a warning sign to cut back on the number of cups a day. I've settled on two espresso's a day
I have a bean to cup machine and to cut back I would miss one cup or make it weaker
Re: I quit caffeine
#115> I need a quick fix. I make a Nespresso. It's good enough. I'll make a french press after this cup wakes me up. Sounds like you approach caffeine like an addict. Coffee is actually good for you though: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/coffee-be...
Like with every substance, the dosage and regularity of intake are the key factors that determine what it does to you. Coffee can be good for your health, but it also can be detrimental... Every habit can become an addiction, even coffee -- with less severe withdrawal symptoms than other stimulants, but still...
Re: I quit caffeine
#116I quit successfully several different times. The key to avoiding all the withdrawal symptoms is drinking a lot of water IMO. I’ve just reduced intake at this point though.
> I quit successfully several different times.
This phrase... I'm struggling to interpret it in a way that doesn't mean exactly the opposite of what you were trying to say.
It's a good one to use in a joke.
Re: I quit caffeine
#117I quit caffeine about 8 weeks ago for mental health reasons. It has been TREMENDOUS so far. I'm still hesitant on writing about it because it's such a new experiment. When I was on caffeine I was on a lot of it. Probably around 400-600mg a day combining my pre workout with my daily coffees. It is one of my favorite drugs and I loved taking it. This was the last 15 years of my life. I became quite irritable over the p…
I quit and I just felt worse. I'm not a morning person and only caffeine lets me function.
My trade off was no caffeine on the weekends. It lowered my tolerance a lot since I had over 48 hours off it.
I don't have any mental health issues, so I can't speak to that trade off. But in the past, when I've had some anxiety, caffeine makes it worse.
Re: I quit caffeine
#118Re: I quit caffeine
#119I think I can only quit coffee with suicide.
It is impossible.
During my days as a student I managed to be 9 days coffee free.
But I relapsed.
I get all kinds of symptoms.
Coffee is the hardest drug to get clean from.
Re: I quit caffeine
#120I quit successfully several different times. The key to avoiding all the withdrawal symptoms is drinking a lot of water IMO. I’ve just reduced intake at this point though.
> I quit successfully several different times. This phrase... I'm struggling to interpret it in a way that doesn't mean exactly the opposite of what you were trying to say. It's a good one to use in a joke.
Kinda the point. :)
I quit for a period of several months many times though. Got past the withdrawal and was generally fine without it. It’s easy to let it creep back in and hard to avoid it all the time.
Now I just drink half-caffeine coffee in the morning and cut out soft drinks.