Caffeine Addiction

[WDWorBUST]

Okay - my name is Amanda and I am a caffeine addict Well maybe I should say was because I have not had any since yesterday afternoon. I have managed to only drink diet caffeine free pop today - which I plan on cutting out too once I get past this thing. I have had headaches off and on all week (when I started cutting it out). Monday night was MISERABLE and I had 3 cans of diet dr. pepper. Tuesday I had a 20 oz bottle of diet dr. pepper and that was the last I had. The headaches are getting better - now after all that rambling here is my question....

When will I start feeling better? I am so exhausted I can hardly keep my eyes open. And just worn out. I know cutting out caffeine is supposed to make you feel better - but WHEN?? I know I'm impatient...but I don't like being tired all the time.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Okay....so I'm the only caffeine addict on the board

 

[rkandmjsmommy]

I was a Diet Coke addict, I now only drink it for my meals... I feekl much better, you will too!

 

[deekaypee]

When will I start feeling better? I am so exhausted I can hardly keep my eyes open. And just worn out. I know cutting out caffeine is supposed to make you feel better - but WHEN?? I know I'm impatient...but I don't like being tired all the time.

Former caffeine addict here. I'd say that you'll feel "normal" in about five or six days, maybe a bit sooner. But it took me a month or so until I realized just how dependent I was on caffeine & how much better I felt without the artificial kick. It was then that I had a caffeinated soda and went through the kick and inevitable crash that I realized how lousy the swing actually made me feel. And I felt even better once I got ride of the soda altogether. Now I can enjoy an occasional soda without longing/needing it to get me through a hectic day.

Stick with it through this week--as that first week is physically the toughest. (After that, it gets easier physically but perhaps not mentally--at least not for me!)

 

[NeverlandClub23]

As a former caffeine addict I'd say the physical symptoms stopped after about 4-5 days. I started feeling more energized after about a week. But it took me awhile to get over it mentally. I still drink soda (I love it too much to ever give it up) just always diet and always caffeine free. I wish more restaurants would offer caffeine free soda other than Sprite or Sierra Mist.

 

[becky_AK]

I am a Diet Dr. Pepper addict too! I am really trying to cut back on my soda consumption but it is soooo hard. I get really bad headaches if I don't drink it but in the long run I know I am going to feel so much better.

 

[Donald's Shrink]

I used to drink a ton of diet soda too. A few weeks ago, I cut back from several cans a day to only 1 or 2. Now I'm only drinking 1 can a day at the most and drinking a lot more water. I feel a lot better but I still haven't been able to eliminate caffeine altogether.

 

[DawnM]

I drink a couple cups of coffee every morning. I am NOT addicted.

Just don't go near my coffee and noone will get hurt!

Dawn

 

[WDWorBUST]

Well so far today has been MUCH better. No headache as of yet...but then the last couple of days I was okay until the afternoon and then it started again. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'm passed the worst of it. My biggest problem is I don't really like water. I've been drinking Diet Caffeine Free Coke at work (I stopped by Wallgreens and they didn't have any Diet Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper and I didn't have time to go anywhere else) and then at home we are drinking Fresca. I really like the Fresca too. Here's to hoping I'm finally on the downhill slide.

 

[DevilDuckie]

Okay - my name is Amanda and I am a caffeine addict Well maybe I should say was because I have not had any since yesterday afternoon. I have managed to only drink diet caffeine free pop today - which I plan on cutting out too once I get past this thing. I have had headaches off and on all week (when I started cutting it out). Monday night was MISERABLE and I had 3 cans of diet dr. pepper. Tuesday I had a 20 oz bottle of diet dr. pepper and that was the last I had. The headaches are getting better - now after all that rambling here is my question....

When will I start feeling better? I am so exhausted I can hardly keep my eyes open. And just worn out. I know cutting out caffeine is supposed to make you feel better - but WHEN?? I know I'm impatient...but I don't like being tired all the time.

You are going to be absolutely miserable for 4-5 days. The good news is it gets better and while it's awful, it's only a few days.

Hang in there!

 

[JudyS]

I was a major cafeine addict in college -- like, I would drink 12 cups of coffee a day so I could stay up all night studying. (Ivy League college, chemistry major, lots of studying to do!) Eventually, I started developing severe heartburn whenever I consumed caffeine, so I had to give it up.

I agree that most people are better off without any stimulants (stimulants can shorten life expectancy by raising blood pressure and heartbeat), but in my case, I seem to have some real metabolic problems (constant fatigue, low body temperature) that are improved a lot by taking stimulants. So, rather than stopping stimulants altogether, I've switched to ephedrine and green tea. (Green tea has hardly any caffeine but lots of catechins.)

I am a Diet Dr. Pepper addict too! I am really trying to cut back on my soda consumption but it is soooo hard. I get really bad headaches if I don't drink it but in the long run I know I am going to feel so much better.

Headaches are the most common symptom of caffeine withdrawal. What I did in order to get off the caffeine was stop drinking coffee until I started getting a headache, and then I would take just a little bit of caffeine -- less than my usual dose, but just enough to make the headache better. When the headache came back, I would take a little bit of caffeine again, but less than the previous time. Doing this, I was able to get off the caffeine in about a week, without much headaches.

When away from home, it can be difficult to find beverages that have no caffeine and no sugar. (I drink a little decaf coffee, but even decaf hurts my stomach if I have too much.) I was bringing individual packets of lemonade mix into restaurants and adding them to water, but the mix would color the water and I was afraid the server would notice and say something! I just bought some Splenda with Lemon flavor packets, and plan to try adding those to water in restaurants; I don't think they have any color. (And, the lack of artificial color probably makes them safer than Crystal Light, too.)

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I do WISH that you get through this and never look back.

I have not completely given up coffee. I really enjoy my morning cup. That's it though; I rarely will have anything with caffeine after that.

I know I should not have any coffee/chocolates/peppermint due to the reflux I've got. I have eliminated that mostly, but some days that piece of chocolate sure calls to me and I do have it. I don't drink any carbonated beverages or, again, rarely. I've actually gotten used to drinking water and it quenches my thirst better than anything. You can get through it!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Just hang in there. I gave it up 4 weeks ago and I actually blocked out the week as much as I could. I didn't schedule any appointments, etc. in case I needed naps or just felt poorly. You can do it!

 

[paintnolish]

Recovering addict here, too! I go in cycles...just recently gave it up AGAIN! Hang in there. It will get better. I was a Diet Coke drinker. I even drank it with my cereal. I do drink one cup of coffee each morning, but not until I drink 32 oz. of water!

 

[tinabheart]

I used to drink alot of Diet Coke....and I do mean alot!

For the past two months, I've limited myself to just one in the morning...to get me going, and to keep the headaches away.

Tomorrow - I'm going off completely. I need to. I know that the next several days are going to be rough - but once before when I got off of it, it made a huge difference. It's funny how much better you feel, more energized you feel...yet we drink it to stay awake!

I may be back for encouragement in the next few days!!!

Stick with it - I know you'll feel better, and I will too!

 

[lkwssss]

I am addicted to diet Pepsi......I have a real hard time trying to get off of caffeine....I know I should cut way back.....good luck to all who are trying.

 

[WDWorBUST]

Well just thought I would give everyone an update. I haven't had caffeine in two weeks now and it's great. Mentally I still want it - but there are no more headaches and I'm not quite so beat anymore. I did have one interesting challenge - I have to admit I don't really like water all that much, I drink it but I don't just LOVE it - well we went out for lunch last weekend and the waitress came to take our drink order and I was just like "what do I get??" I ended up ordering water. I was so proud of myself

 

[Z.Black]

I know I’m jumping in a little late, but figured I’d offer up what saves me. I gave up soda a while ago too, which was EVIL and I still have cravings for it. I also don’t care much for water either, so instead I get the powder drink mixes, the kind you just add to water. There are a lot of different types out there that you could try (I’m a peach tea and raspberry tea girl myself). And when at a restaurant I usually order Ice Tea or they have Lemonade usually. It’s not soda, and it’s not water either.