by Robert Regler
Although it is not commonly associated with addiction, caffeine addiction is a real thing. I myself had become hooked on what I referred to before as “the corner store drug” through the extensive use of energy drinks. Although I consumed energy drinks on a daily basis, I have officially made it one week without consuming one and I plan on keeping the streak alive. Most people do not realize that caffeine is addictive, however there are several factors that play a role in caffeine addiction. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that increases energy levels, concentration, and heightens one’s overall mood. Due to these chemical changes that caffeine produces within the body; one can become addicted to caffeine fairly quickly. Once one experiences these chemical changes, their tolerance to caffeine develops and the amount of caffeine needed to experience these same changes will increase.
There are multiple ways one can get through caffeine addiction. However. the two most popular ways are quitting cold turkey and slowly cutting caffeine out. Quitting cold turkey requires one to completely stop consuming caffeine all together. This is the quickest way to cut out caffeine, however there are a few drawbacks. Depending on how addicted someone is to caffeine, the withdrawal effects can be fairly strong. This can include irritability and grogginess and levels will vary depending on previous consumption levels. In addition, the chances of one going back to their old habits is greater in this variation. Slowly cutting out caffeine is the other alternative. Rather than cutting out caffeine completely, one will slowly lower the amount of caffeine they drink on a daily basis. The withdrawal symptoms will be less severe, however it will take more time to cut caffeine out of your system. I personally have been using this method and it has been working well so far.
The benefits of cutting out caffeine are numerous and can vary from biological to economical. One of the best benefits I have experienced since lowering my caffeine levels is a better night's sleep. I have always had a harder time falling asleep and I attribute my daily caffeine intake to this. In addition, your blood pressure, anxiety levels, and mood will all improve once caffeine is taken out of the equation. You will also save money if you can take caffeine out of the equation. If someone who drinks one energy drink a day is able to cut out caffeine, they can save over 1000 dollars on an annual basis. Perhaps my favorite benefit from cutting out caffeine so far has been my schedule freeing up. Now that I do not have to dedicate a time out of my day to pick up an energy drink, I can go about my day uninterrupted.
The Southwest Council provides free presentations on drugs, alcohol, and other topics for both parents, community members and for schools. Some of these presentations do include caffeine dependence. If you are interested in having a presentation, please feel free to reach out at (856) 794-1011 or visit us online at www.southwestcouncil.org.
Resources:
https://www.caffeineinformer.com/benefits-quitting-caffeine
https://www.caffeineinformer.com/my-caffeine-detox
