How I Released My Inner Caffeine Fiend

I have been addicted to caffeine, in the form of coffee, for as long as I can remember. Talk about tea and I’ll get mildly excited. Dangle a soda and you’ll get a small rise. BUT, just the mere mention of coffee makes my arm hairs stand on end. I can taste it on my tongue as it is brewing. I love the aroma drifting through the morning air as my life support machine, I mean coffee maker, drips away. For years, my Mr. Coffee was set on auto pilot, making a pot just in time for my feet to hit the floor. But not any more.

There’s Too Much Blood In My Caffeine System

At the height of my addiction, I would drink coffee all day long and into the evening. Pots of coffee. A Cup of Joe to wake up. Hot java with breakfast. A little liquid nerve to help problem solve. It was nearly impossible to get out of bed in the morning without my fix. I had coffee running through my veins. I was hopelessly addicted.

Just Do It

For years I have been kicking around the idea of quitting. Not because it’s bad for my health, heck some studies say it’s good for you. No, I wanted to quit because I don’t like the powerful addiction the devilish liquid held over me. Like smoking though, I knew that I had to make up my mind, once and for all that it was time to quit. And, like smoking, I have tried to quit several times over the years. AND like quitting smoking, I hope this time is for good. In the past, I tried to ween myself off the black goodness gradually, but that didn’t work. That’s the problem with addiction. You always crave more. I would get down to one cup a day and then gradually work back up to three or four. It’s was a constant battle.

Bye, Bye Sweet Love Of Mine

It’s been 6 weeks since I quit. I went cold turkey. I got up one morning and thought to myself, “Today’s the day.” However, it was not as easy as I just made it sound. I suffered from intense headaches the first week. Getting up without my lifeblood was extremely difficult. I was tired, cranky and missing my old friend. However, after about five days, these symptoms went away and I started feeling better. Today, I don’t even miss it. And I’m not looking back.

How Did You Do it?

I approached quitting coffee the same way I quit smoking nearly 13 years ago:

1.) Set My Goal
I decided I wanted to quit completely, not just ween off the java.

2.) Determination
When battling a powerful addiction, you must be absolutely committed and determined to quit. If not, your abstaining won’t last long.

3.) Substitution
Find a drink to substitute for the coffee. I have found that drinking an ice cold glass of water in the morning helps wake me up. Seriously. And I drink water throughout the day. If I start craving my old nemesis, I have a glass of decaffeinated Green Tea.

4.) Will Power
You must be able to control your urges, as strong as they may be. Usually, if I can distract my mind for just a few moments, the urge passes.

5.) Quit Cold Turkey
I don’t believe in weening. It didn’t work for me with quitting smoking or trying to stop drinking coffee. Make up your mind and QUIT!

So that about wraps it up. So far, so good. AND no, there is no silver bullet. BUT, if you find one, let me know! Have you ever thought about quitting or reducing your caffeine intake? How did it work out for you? I’d like to hear your story.

Tagged as: caffeine • coffee • quitting