My name is Erika and I'm an addict! I guess that's the first step, at least that's what I keep seeing in the movies. You have to admit that you're an addict. I just did that. I'm an addict! And it's time to make a decision.
Addiction is a serious illness, no matter what kind of addiction we are talking about. Addiction can be of many types drug addiction, alcohol, food, gambling, you name it. And there's coffee addiction. Did you know that caffeine is the most commonly used drug in the world?
My Story
Before we go on, let me tell you that I'm not a doctor, or a scientist, or researcher. I'm just a simple addict!
I started drinking coffee when I was 18, not because coffee was something my body needed, but because it was cool to have a coffee with a cigarette. (That's right, I was a smoker too but gave up smoking a long time ago.) At the beginning I was only drinking instant coffee. Then after a while I thought a genuine coffee drinker drinks real coffee and switched to ground coffee.
Even though it started out as a joke, a game, after a few years I was drinking coffee on a regular basis, more than one a day and not just any coffee.I only drink espresso, strong espresso (the stronger, the better), preferably with a minimal quantity of brown sugar and no milk! That's coffee for me!
About three or four years ago I started thinking about my coffee addiction and knew this is not good, it won't end well, I knew I should quit and made a decision. When I told my family I want to quit, no one believed me, they all thought I can't do it, won't do it because they knew the lever of my addiction. Well, what better motivation do you need? I wanted to prove them wrong and I did.
Quitting
I knew it would be tough to quit, so I thought it would be clever to start on Saturday. If you're a coffee drinker or a smoker, you know what the first coffee or cigarette means in the morning. I woke up and had a glass of water instead of having my usual morning coffee. My body was sending me signals, trying to tell me something is missing. First I got a headache which got worse during the day. Then at about 3 or 4 pm I felt sleepy, nausea, started yawning and felt that my strength is gone, there's nothing left in me, I can't do anything. I felt sick, literally!
At this point my mind started to search for solutions to solve the problem. The first thing that came to my mind was energy drinks and black tea because both are known to contain caffeine. But changing one addiction to another? Is that a good idea? No, it is definitely not but you know how human mind works. I said to myself, one black tea is not the end of the world, just today, just one, just till I get through the first day. OK, let's have one black tea with no sugar. I made myself a black tea but could only drink half of it and had absolutely no effect on me, none! By dinner time my headache got worse, it was was killing me, I was dizzy, cold, shivering, so went to bad early hoping the next day would be better or at least easier.
And the next day was a bit better but still had the withdrawal symptoms which were torturing me for another couple of days, then stopped. My life got easier and managed to stay away from coffee for two months.
Then one day I had a coffee, just to prove myself that I can drink one coffee and stay away from it after that. Then after a few weeks I had another one .... and the next week I did the same and, of course I got back to my old habits, having coffee on a regular basis and here I am today, telling you I want to quit again.
What coffee means to me
I tried to analyze my behavior to see why I drink coffee and why is that I can't stay away from it and came to a shocking conclusion. I realized that I'm not drinking it because if its taste, or not just for its taste or effect. I realized that I was using it as a solution for everything.
I have low blood pressure, sometimes 100/60 which can generate symptoms like headache, fatigue, dizziness etc. My doctor told me I can have two coffees a day. So that's the main reason I got addicted to coffee, at least that's what I'm telling everyone, myself included. Now comes the question! Does coffee help? Not really. I guess my body got used to it because even after having two strong espresso my blood pressure is the same, still low.
This is only one reason why I drink coffee. During the period I was trying to quit, there was plenty of time to analyze myself and my behavior and came to the conclusion that I drink coffee when I'm tired, when I have a headache, when I feel dizzy, when I'm sleepy etc. In other words I'm treating everything with coffee. Does it work? Not really.
What coffee does to your brain
Those symptoms I was feeling when I tried to quit, those were because caffeine altered my brain's chemical makeup.
Did you know that caffeine withdrawal is a mental disorder? According to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) it is! This means in the next few days I'll be having a mental disorder and I'm not saying this because of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, but because I know from experience that it's true!
Now let's see what makes us, coffee addicts craving for coffee. Soon after drinking coffee or other food or drink containing caffeine, the substance is absorbed through the small intestine. This is how it gets into your bloodstream. Once caffeine is in the bloodstream, penetrates the blood-brain barrier and enters the brain (source).
Structurally, caffeine closely resembles a molecule that’s naturally present in our brain, called adenosine (which is a byproduct of many cellular processes, including cellular respiration)—so much so, in fact, that caffeine can fit neatly into our brain cells’ receptors for adenosine, effectively blocking them off. Normally, the adenosine produced over time locks into these receptors and produces a feeling of tiredness. (source)
Basically coffee does not give you a boost like, it is believed, but it's blocking adenosine molecules and does not let them produce a feeling of tiredness, not to mention the adrenaline, which can be produced more efficiently.
I became tolerant to coffee and need more and more coffee, unfortunately, and doeasn't matter how much I drink, sometimes I can't get the effect I want.
There is more about coffee, it has many good effects, but for me the addiction, ot more precisely the withdrawal symptoms make me very uncomfortable. If I'm not being able to drink coffee for a day, I'm starting to feel them and it's not pleasant at all.
This means I'm always linked to this brown liquid, I have to think ahead, have to pack some and carry it with me in case I'm going to an unknown place and I'm not certain I'd be able to get some coffee for myself.
Apart from the other side effects, excessive coffee consumption can increases eye pressure, can put you at risk of developing glaucoma (source). This can be a very good stimulent to quit.
The other stimulent (for me to quit) is that according to to a meta-analysis, coffee oils may cause increased cholesterol.
This morning, meanwhile I was having my first coffee, I decided to have a week without coffe!!! Can you believe it? A coffee free week!
According to Stephen R. Braun, the author of "Buzz: the Science and Lore of Caffeine and Alcohol", this blocking effect can last between four and six hours.
The good news is that, compared to many drug addictions, the effects are relatively short-term. To kick the thing, you only need to get through about 7-12 days of symptoms without drinking any caffeine. (source).
This is obviously not the same for everyone, it depends on age and other factors but I'm a heavy coffee drinker, so I'm preparing myself to the worst. It won't be easy, that's for sute!
Documenting this journey is one of my intentions. It wouuld be helpful to write everything down, but I'm not sure anyone would be interested to read about my strugle on a daily bases. A week report might be a better idea.
Thank you for reading my article.
Sources:
- Caffeine Use Disorder: A Comprehensive Review and Research Agenda
- This Is How Your Brain Becomes Addicted to Caffeine
- Do Lifestyle Choices Affect Glaucoma?
- Caffeine
- Coffee Consumption and Serum Lipids: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
- Caffeine, Withdrawal
- Symptoms of Caffeine Withdrawal—Worse Than Headaches
- Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms: How Long Do They Last? Average Timeline Varies.
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Of all the addictions in the world, this is one I can totally live with. I drank a lot of it. I reduced it by more than half. I drink more herb tea now, but I still like my coffee. Without the sugar, which is also highly addictive.
I quit smoking and I barely drink alcohol.
Jól megszerkesztett cikk, látszik, hogy alaposan utánajártál a kávé témának. Én is kávéfüggő vagyok, no meg csokifüggő, de az erős kávékat már nem iszom, csak amolyan könnyű "lötyiket", az ízük miatt. Első kávémat 14 évesen ittam, nagymamám főzte. Addig a pohárban hagyott kávés cukormaradékokat kanalaztam ki. Hogy egészségtelen-e a kávé? Ha túlzásba viszik, minden dolog egészségtelen. De írnak a kávé jótékony hatásáról is. És kapható a ganodermás kávé, ami lúgosít. Ittam már, nem rossz, csak kicsit (nagyon) drága :D A leszokásról annyit, hogy bizonyos időközönként leszokom róla, ilyenkor hónapokig, egy évig sem iszom, aztán visszaszokom. Most épp egy visszaszokási periódusban vagyok, de érzem, hogy már nem esik jól annyira, így hamarosan elhagyom. Helyette ott vannak a finom teák!
Jut eszembe: egy ilyen cikket érdemes felcímkézni a #steemiteducation címkével! Biztos vevők lesznek rá! Mindenesetre megosztottam!
Köszönöm szépen Zsuzsi, a kedves szavakat. Elég sokat dolgoztam rajta, de kevesen értékelik :) Erről a steemeducation-ról nem tudtam, köszönöm szpen, hogy szóltál. Sajnos erre most ők nem reagáltak, de majd legközelebb. Egyszer már én is leszoktam, aztán szép lassan visszaszoktam. Most végleg le akarok szokni, nem akarok rabja lenni.
Okay, I am also addicted to coffee and want to stop drinking it. And now it's 11.45 PM and I think I drank too much coffee today, that I am still awake 😐.
If you know you're addicted and don't like it, you should quit, especialy if it affects your sleeping.
Hi. It's a real challenge you want to start. Perhaps can you only reduce your consumption and stop coffee at eleven a.m. for example.Good luck
Thank you! I've read about reducing the quantity before quitting but that does not work for me. Tried once and always ended up drinking more because always managed to find an excuse, to convince myself that I really need another coffee, so not I know better. I'm going to quit!
I still don't reach the adiction point, actually I've never been adicted to anything, I get bored easily so I think that's the reason... I can be months without drinking coffee and be like nothing but sometimes my body ask for it, so I please my body hehe
Good luck in this journey!
What about your sugar addiction? 😁
I'm not adicted to sugar, I can be long periods of time without eating sugary stuff and feel perfectly fine.
If you say so :)
Good post @erikah I particularly liked the section about caffeine and the brain. I am similarly addicted to caffeine but I drink lots of diet soda not coffee. I know its an addiction because I have quit sometimes for over a month but start back up and its like I never quit. I will be interested to hear of your journey in quitting.
We are both addicted.
Welcome in the same club my friend.
My morning coffee is our routine :)
We are not ready to stop. Good luck @ erikah
Greetings
Happy coffee day :)
Morning coffee is a routine for many people unfortunately. Thank you Greg!
Great post! I tasted coffee as a youngster and didn't like it. People kept urging me on, telling me I would learn to like it, and that just sounded stupid to me, so I never learned! I enjoy my morning cup of black tea. sometimes in the afternoon I will make a cup of green tea with milk and honey.....but coffee? Yuck. Resteemed!
Well, you were a smart woman not to get addicted to coffee. The same thing happend to me with beer a long time ago. I hate beer and people kept telling me I would get used to it. Never did, I hate beer. Thanks for the resteem! You're a sweetheart :)
Good luck!! I keep thinking I need to put down my mug for a while. I never started drinking coffee until I became a personal trainer and had to wake up at 4:30 am most days out of the week. Now I've gotten to the point where it is usually not the caffeine that I need, but I just like the taste and it has become a habit for sure.
Thank you! So far so good, the first "No Coffee" day is almost over, it wasn't that terrible and I'm really confident. I'm going to write about it soon.
I agree with you, while writing and researching for this post, had time to think about what and how and came to the conclusion that I drink it, or used to, because I think I can treat everything with coffee but I'm tolerant and coffee has no effect any more.
I drink coffee and East Timor has one of the best coffees in the world. I love black coffee with no sugar. In Portugal EVERYONE drinks coffee, is a national habit. I'd like to quit smoking first. I guess I will always drink coffee. It's so delicious!
Glad to hear that.
Hmm, I will not quit the coffee. I am not a smoker and I don't drink any alcohol.
So, what is left is to have my morning coffee. 😀
But you have strong will and I am sure you will succeed.
Miért is nem láttam én ezt...
Én is iszok kávét, de nincs bajom azzal, ha éppen nem iszok. Akkor ez szerencsére nem függőség :D Mindenesetre kitartást hozzá!
Amúgy DSM, hát erről van egy vicces kis sztori:
Anno, az első kiadásnál a szakmabeli pszichológusok egy idő után észrevették, hogy ha olyan páciensük van, aki gyászol valami miatt, ugyanazokat a tüneteket mutatja, mint aki depressziós, és értelemszerűen ugyanazokat a gyógyszereket kellene fogyasztania, mint aki depressziós. Egy teljesen normális lelki folyamat, a gyász közepette.
A kiadó persze lelkiismeretes emberekből állt, ezért a második kiadásban megszületet az ún. gyász-kivétel. Azaz ha a doktor gyászoló pácienst kezelt, nem írt fel neki antidepresszánsokat.
Aztán volt még valami bohóckodás, aminek eredményeképpen kivették a gyász-kivételt.
Tehát most megint az a helyzet, hogy a világ pszichológusainál a legdurvább utcai kábítószerekkel felérő gyógyszerekre kapsz receptet, ha gyászolva elmész hozzájuk. Jó kis fejlett orvostudomány :D
Na igen! Ez sajnos imerős! De valamiből a gyógyszeripar is meg kell éljen, nem igaz? Ez egy egész lánc, az orvos felírja a gyógyszer, aminek van egy mellékhatása, amit kezelni kell, arra megint kell egy külön gyógyszer és így tovább ...
Ezt a kávéfüggőséget is le lehet szokni, nem kell hozzá semmi hókuszpókusz, csak kemény akarat. ha én túléltem, más is túl fogja! Csak az a gond, hogy rögtön orvosolni akarnak mindent, lehetőleg úgy, hogy a szerencsétlen függő vegyen is valamit (tapaszt, meg tablettát stb.)
Két energiaital van a kamrámban, de ott maradnak! Azokat azért tartogatom, ha véletlenül annyira leesik a vérnyomásom, hogy nem tudok létezni, akkor iszok belőle egy ujjnyit, amíg helyrejövök. Eddig életemben összesen kettőt bontottam meg, ittam beléle egy keveset, a többi ment a kagylóba :)
Szóval elég fura világban élünk :)
Én sosem gondoltam volna, hogy az alacsony vérnyomás probléma lehet. Nekem olyan 70/100-110 körül van mindig több kávé után is, mondjuk elég nyugodt és türelmes vagyok :D
Üzemorvos mindig kérdezi, hogy szedek-e gyógyszert, de mondom csak akkor, ha iszok is :D
A feleségem amúgy pocket coffee csokit szokott enni, mikor ilyesmi érzése van, mint neked. Kávé is, csoki is, de egyikből sem túl sok :D
Az energiaitalt nem szeretjük, szóval azt nem is tudom, mikor ittam utoljára.
Sajnos szoktam szédülni, de szerencsére ritkán, egy évben max kétszer, háromszor. A családorvos azt mondta, hogy vannak cseppek, kimondottan erre, de nem ajánlja, mert elég nehéz beállítani az adagolást és megvan az esélye, hogy átesek a ló másik oldalára. Továbbá azt mondta, hogy igyak sok vizet, sózzak kicsit jobban és igyak meg naponta két kávét, ha szeretem. Sózni nem igazán szeretnék túlzottan, mert az sem jó, a kávét viszont ittam és a vizet is :)
A pocket coffee csokit kerestem egy időben, de nagy szerencsémre nem találtam :) Azt azt hiszem zsákszámra zabálnám :)