Caffeine addiction

[DukesMommy]

Caffeine addictions suck!! I used to get migraines soo bad if I didn't have my dose of starbucks twice a day. The way I got off of it was by slowly drinking less and less. I was getting drinks with added shots, so I got to where I wasn't getting the added shots and just weaned myself off until I got down to only getting a drink a couple times a week.

[PunkinPie]

I never drank coffee or tea but started a couple of years ago drinking diet cola. Typically one can a day at lunch time. I have an anxiety disorder so I was told that even one can could affect me - so I quit. That was 6 months ago and I still occasionally crave it. When I find I want some I drink a glass of water and I usually forget about it quickly.

I like the feeling of not 'needing' something to help get me through the day.

[Ashley V]

Originally Posted by PunkinPie

I never drank coffee or tea but started a couple of years ago drinking diet cola. Typically one can a day at lunch time. I have an anxiety disorder so I was told that even one can could affect me - so I quit. That was 6 months ago and I still occasionally crave it. When I find I want some I drink a glass of water and I usually forget about it quickly.

I like the feeling of not 'needing' something to help get me through the day.

I actually have panic disorder myself and I think my body is so used to it, that in a panic attack, I have to have a glass of Diet Pepsi and I will calm down enough, then I take a Xanax. It's really weird. It also wakes me up AND puts me to sleep.

[mstrooperwife]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

Oh, then it's sweetened with aspartame (nutra sweet). There's lots of problems with that sweetener. Here's a link with some studies on its effects.....Aspartame (Nutrasweet) Toxicity Information Center

i remember one year i was drinking diet coke and i think the nutrasweet was what was causing alot of my headaches. so i quit drinking diet soda.
i have the same problem as you. i have to take Exedrin Migraine headache med. to help my headaches. i did cut back on caffeine. i get it in 2 cups of coffee in the morning. my tea is caffeine free and the only other thing i drink is water or juice.

but that is interesting what someone said earlier........dehydration can cause headaches. since it's been colder weather i don't drink nearly enough in the day and i've been getting alot of headaches. hmmmm

[Lesley Carol]

Hypnotherapy is really useful for addictions - I am a hypnotherapist / psychotherapist, and have successfully treated lots of addictions, including caffeine. Just make sure you find a good therapist - sorry I can't recommend one, as I'm in the UK. Good luck!

[PunkinPie]

Originally Posted by Lesley Carol

Hypnotherapy is really useful for addictions - I am a hypnotherapist / psychotherapist, and have successfully treated lots of addictions, including caffeine. Just make sure you find a good therapist - sorry I can't recommend one, as I'm in the UK. Good luck!

Interesting. I have OCD - which I often feel is similar to an addiction. Does hypnotherapy help with OCD?

[romeos mommy]

I break up Excedrin into little pieces of take them when I have a caffeine with drawl situation.

[MindieRose]

I haven't read any replies, so sorry if this is repeat information. I just recently began weaning off of coffee and all caffeine. I found a lot of informataion about the dangers of it (regardless of how many doctors say its safe, I really don't care) and made a choice to give it up. Caffeine produces a "fight or flight" response in your body as often as you take it, so in a sense your body is in emergency mode all the time, horrible for your heart. More infor here... Caffeine Effects: Kicking the Caffeine Habit

[Yorkieforme]

I had a terrible reaction to caffeine when I was younger...When I was a student attending University..I was taking day classes & night classes and raising a baby on my own...so I was quite busy...I only drank coffee & coke...nothing else and I drank it around the clock! I ended up having swollen and tender lymph nodes under my arms, in my groin etc. I was terrified to go to the doctor...thought it might be cancer...finally after they became to painful to bare...I went to the doctor...well guess what...I had caffeine poisioning!!! Unbelievable!!!
So I had to gradually wean myself off of ALL caffeine....now...years later...I still only drink de-caf coffe and I will have the occasional pepsi....
Good luck with ommiting the caffeine...it's hard...but doable!

[celstu1]

I thought I had a caffeine addiction. I can drink 6 - 8 cups of coffee a day. I do get a headache midafternoon if I don't have one, unless Im busy and not thinking about it. I also have been able to go away for a weekend and not have any caffeine and be fine. If I don't have a first cup in the morning I can go all day without any without headaches. So I guess I do not have an addiction. I do not drink soda on a regular basis, only once in awhile. I do see that when I drink soda (even diet) the caffeine affects me differently than coffee does. Soda makes me wired and gives me heartburn. I cannot drink a caffeinated soda and then go to sleep but I can drink a cup of coffee and go to sleep. I don't worry about caffeine intake too much, its the least of my addiction problems (I smoke). As someone said I welcome it with open arms! LOL

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by MindieRose

I haven't read any replies, so sorry if this is repeat information. I just recently began weaning off of coffee and all caffeine. I found a lot of informataion about the dangers of it (regardless of how many doctors say its safe, I really don't care) and made a choice to give it up. Caffeine produces a "fight or flight" response in your body as often as you take it, so in a sense your body is in emergency mode all the time, horrible for your heart. More infor here... Caffeine Effects: Kicking the Caffeine Habit

Actually the idea that caffeine is bad for you is not really true. Anything we do to excess is bad, but studies have shown, that

Harvard researchers calculate that compared with not partaking in America's favorite morning drink, downing one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits. But having six cups or more each day slashed men's risk by 54% and women's by 30% over java avoiders. . . . .. Overall, the research shows that coffee is far more healthful than it is harmful," says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, research scientist at Vanderbilt University's Institute for Coffee Studies, which conducts its own medical research and tracks coffee studies from around the world. "For most people, very little bad comes from drinking it, but a lot of good.

Consider this: At least six studies indicate that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson's, with three showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones.
Coffee even offsets some of the damage caused by other vices, some research indicates. "People who smoke and are heavy drinkers have less heart disease and liver damage when they regularly consume large amounts of coffee compared to those who don't," says DePaulis.
There's also some evidence that coffee may help manage asthma and even control attacks when medication is unavailable, stop a headache, boost mood, and even prevent cavities.
On the flip side, it's clear that coffee isn't for everyone. Its legendary jolt in excess doses -- that is, more than whatever your individual body can tolerate -- can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat. Coffee may also raise cholesterol levels in some people and may contribute to artery clogging. But most recent large studies show no significant adverse effects on most healthy people, although pregnant women, heart patients, and those at risk for osteoporosis may still be advised to limit or avoid coffee.
The bottom line: "People who already drink a lot of coffee don't have to feel 'guilty' as long as coffee does not affect their daily life," says Hu. "They may actually benefit from coffee habits in the long run."

Health Benefits of Coffee - WebMD

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by Gracie2006

I used to have the dreaded addiction. I found it easiest to taper off the caffeine. Start by doing 3/4 regular coffee, 1/4 decaf. Every 3-4 weeks reduce the regular 1/4 and increase the decaf 1/4. Eventually you will be drinking all decaf (which still has a bit of caffeine in it). I also found it more pleasant to use a good quality coffee, like Starbucks or Seattle's Best for the decaf as the store bought decaf, IMO, tastes terrible. Also, start immediately with decaf soda, decaf tea, decaf all other beverages. Good luck!

I quit this way and it worked great. No headaches. But I just started out 50/50. I'm back to drinking coffee now but I think I need to cut back again or quit.

[MindieRose]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Actually the idea that caffeine is bad for you is not really true. Anything we do to excess is bad, but studies have shown, that

I have read that, and I have read other studies as well, such as what I posted. I don't believe that coffee is healthy, esp decaf. The FDA used to deem a lot of things as healthy, or at least harmless that we know now are unhealthy. I also know that the coffee industry has a lot of money and influence.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by MindieRose

I have read that, and I have read other studies as well, such as what I posted. I don't believe that coffee is healthy, esp decaf. The FDA used to deem a lot of things as healthy, or at least harmless that we know now are unhealthy. I also know that the coffee industry has a lot of money and influence.

What I posted is basted on scientific studies, from such places as Harvard. There have been lots of studies suggesting caffeine is not only not bad, it's good for you. What you posted is someone's paper; this is not research. It bothers me that so many of you seem to think someone's' opinion is the same as valid research. After saying that caffeine is bad for you she suggests that you use herbal coffee, which she sells. The author of the paper is Caroline MacDougall, the founder of Teeccino.

She says that the bad things she leaned about caffeine were taken from the book Caffeine Blues by Stephen Cherniske, M.S. published by Warner Books. If you read about Stephen Cherniske, he's the president of and Chief Science Officer of Oasis LifeSciences. He has an MS from Columbia Pacific University that is no longer an acredited university, and his companyMaxCell Bioscience was fined $150,000 and ordered by the FTC to stop making false claims about its products. Quixtar Blog: Examining Stephen Cherniske While the Internet has so much good information, it has so much bad information too, you have to make sure the sources you are reading are just not trying to sell you something.

[AF Diva]

<-------------Loves her Coke and Starbucks.