I know there are worse problems out there, but I am seriously addicted to caffeine. I've always had an addictive personality and was probably an alcoholic from the ages of 18 to 28 - thank God that I didn't do any hard drugs. Anyways, because I take medication for depression and anxiety, I have been told time and time again by professional and non-professional sources that I need to ditch the caffeine. I can't. I went a few days without it, then I went back to, "Oh, okay. I'll have one Diet Dr. Pepper. That's not too bad." For the past few days, I've had two Diet Dr. Peppers each day. The reason that this is a problem for me is that caffeine doesn't mix well at all with my medications (and my make-up, apparently). I get headaches, feel loopy, get anxious and eat like crap when I drink soda. Right now, I feel crappy. I have a really weird headache - almost like I'm hungover. I have a good job and I feel like shit that I feel like shit. What can I do when my own worst enemy is myself? Did I mention that I have control issues ("I'm going to have a Diet Dr. Pepper NOW because I WANT one!"), too? Help? Advice? Comments? Anything? Bueller?
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Serious Caffeine Addiction that I Can't Seem to Deal With
- Thread starter Juniebun
- Start date
Maya
Bluelight Crew
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It is quite frustrating to have an addiction, I too have an addictive personality and was an alcoholic for years. What I can tell you is that, you need to keep trying no matter how hard it is, you should never give up trying to quit. You will fall back but you have to be strong to control yourself and fight off the craving.
IME, what really had help.me is to focus my addiction into something positive, something that will benefit my body than destroy myself with drug or alcohol addiction. Remember that you are experiencing the effects of mixing caffeine with your medications and it is quite tiring to experience the effects doesn't it? Just think about the relief of not having to deal with the effects and you will be able to grasp the importance of self control.
IME, what really had help.me is to focus my addiction into something positive, something that will benefit my body than destroy myself with drug or alcohol addiction. Remember that you are experiencing the effects of mixing caffeine with your medications and it is quite tiring to experience the effects doesn't it? Just think about the relief of not having to deal with the effects and you will be able to grasp the importance of self control.
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As I have already told you, do a slow taper. You obviously can't do that with dr pepper. Can you switch to coffee? That way you should be able to do a slow taper...
2 tsp for the first two weeks, then 1 tsp for a month, then half a tsp for 2 months... (you can do it any way you like)
It's much easier to stop using a drug if you do a taper.
Good luck
HL ---> TDS
2 tsp for the first two weeks, then 1 tsp for a month, then half a tsp for 2 months... (you can do it any way you like)
It's much easier to stop using a drug if you do a taper.
Good luck
HL ---> TDS
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Lightning-Nl
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Thank god you never took Amphetamine... or maybe you should have? I don't know. Studies have shown that therapeutic dosages of Amphetamine have actually shown to decrease the potential of addiction to Amphetamine itself and many other drugs.
But I digress... thank god you never took Amphetamine. I'm addicted to it in the same way you are to caffeine. I can't go a day without it.
But I digress... thank god you never took Amphetamine. I'm addicted to it in the same way you are to caffeine. I can't go a day without it.
SwampFox56 - I'm glad that I never took amphetamines - yikes! My plan for today is to have 2 Diet Dr. Peppers and that's it. I had three yesterday and felt like shit, I have to say. I could feel it fooling around with my medication in my head, if that makes any sense. Do you have any plans to cut back and then stop the amphetamines, SwampFox56?
dopemaster
Bluelight Crew
Diet soda is the worst soda for your health. Its a proven fact that regular soda does not cause weight gain.
I do not think two sodas a day is a lot of caffeine. I drink a lot of green tea, coffee, and energy drinks. I also take caffeine tablets.
That being said I suffer from chronic insomnia and have migraines often. I personally choose to stay on caffeine as I like it and always have since I was a child.
If I wanted to taper I would look up how much caffeine I drinking and get some caffeine tablets and break them into smaller pieces and run a taper.
Now I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice.
I do not think two sodas a day is a lot of caffeine. I drink a lot of green tea, coffee, and energy drinks. I also take caffeine tablets.
That being said I suffer from chronic insomnia and have migraines often. I personally choose to stay on caffeine as I like it and always have since I was a child.
If I wanted to taper I would look up how much caffeine I drinking and get some caffeine tablets and break them into smaller pieces and run a taper.
Now I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice.
dopemaster - No, two sodas a day isn't a lot of caffeine for most people, however, I am really sensitive to medications in general and I'm sensitive to caffeine. The combination has not been a good one for me, so I'm trying to go soda-free. I'm sorry to hear that you have insomnia and migraines. Interesting idea about the caffeine tablets. I think that in addition to the caffeine, I like stopping and getting the sodas at the convenience store and I like drinking them. Thanks for your advice.
Lightning-Nl
Bluelighter
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- Nov 11, 2012
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I'd like to... some day... But considering that I'm prescribed amphetamine for a legitimate medical reason - I can't see that happening in the near future. It's the only way I can get myself out of bed in the morning right now.
And it's not like I'm abusing my prescription. I always stick to my 40 MG's a day regiment. Granted, once every month or so, I'll take an extra one as needed - but I'm not really sure if that counts as abuse.
When I do get off of it - I plan to go cold turkey. It's a misconception that Uppers (this excludes Caffeine) gives you physical withdrawals. They don't. All you get is very intense psychological withdrawal effects. Mainly depression, fatigue, and maybe a bit of anxiety. But that's pretty much it. You may have minor muscle aches, and soreness, but those are pale on comparison to actual physical withdrawals that benzos or opioids produce. Having withdrawaled from both in the past - I can say, from experience, that amphetamine withdrawal is a cake-walk compared to benzos and opiates.
What causes your inability to get out of bed in the morning? Forgive my ignorance, but is it like a chemical imbalance, like depression? And by the way, it doesn't sound like you are abusing your medication. That's a good thing. When I start to get rid of the caffeine, I feel like crap. I get headaches and feel nauseous. I also do start to feel a little depressed and anxious. I worry about things when I try to stop my caffeine consumption; it's weird. Caffeine is a drug. I know that now. I think that you have to treat it like one when you're trying to get off of it.
Jabberwocky
Frumious Bandersnatch
who is bueller? Anyways, you don't want this to be the best/proper response to you, but learn to control your caffeine addiction. It's not hard, it's not painful, and, if you think about concepts such as self improvement, self esteem, you'll be incredibly happy once you've tamed this infant-beast your mind is carrying. Taming a caffeine addiction may seem laughable to ppl on bl, who have experience w/ w/d's/addiction from hard drugs, but i can tell you that I do understand, as i've been habituated to hardcore narcotics (oxy/opioids) in my past, and still notice that, if usage is unchecked, i turn into a caffeine junky, to the point where triple espressos do nothing for me and my sleep goes to shit.
there's no proper advice for you besides "nut up", or, at the absolute worst, "be GODDAMN SURE you stay away from harder drugs than caffeine", cuz if you're experiencing this to caffeine then i hesitate to think what'd happen if you tried nicotine, alcohol, dope or crack. Caffeine addiction, and its withdrawals, are completely real but they're a joke compared to any 'real' drugs, so, if you're unable to get your caffeine addiction in-line i at least beg you not to touch another psychoactive substance, because caffeine is - despite being habituating/addictive/(minor, minor)withdrawl-inducing, is still a reinforcing drug. God save you if ya've got this type of prob w/ caffeine, and touch anything (including legal nico / ethanl.) else, cuz you'll lose that job and be a tard in short time.
Xorkoth
Bluelight Crew
You don't like it, but you CAN switch to it. This isn't about enjoyment, it's about getting better. Maybe you could try tea instead of coffee? Coffee is strong anyway.
Hi juniebun.
I have to be honest and say I have read all the response above but I have some personal experinace with addistive behaviour and caffeine. It's a habit that crept up over time and in the end the ritual of srong black coffee and cigarutes had wrokd it's way into evercorner of my life. Then add in a rapidly growing use of cannibis resin and a working environment which facilitated all of this and a heavy daily habit was born and lasted more than 10 years.
Quite what part of the mis was more attictive that the other I've not idea, but ritual played a big part, my obsession with a perfect joint, I'd keep a special brand of cigarettes in the fridge, and Rizlas only came in onek colour (green with thre corener cut off).
During that time I would also drink lots of really strong black coffee with sugar, some much that 2 guys thatb worked for me got me a coffee maker as a gift for my desk.
I was quite happy with it all, I loved my hash and coffer brought my no ill effects, then when I was about 30 my wife became pragnant (it was more complicated than that but there's only you left reading now and I'm abridging)
ing on the fly). WE both decided we would stop smoking and for me that had to mean hash as well because for me they were so interwoven I felt I couldn't drop one and not the other. It was hard, I'll spare you the moaning but using nicotine lozengers, valarian root and a litte hash in a pipe, I made it and have smoked any tobacco since, just the odd draw on a pure weed doob some I can laugh at blow spun out I get.
If you looking for a point in all this and since you've hung on this far, I ceased taking a number of substances in the bast and the rukes seem largely the same:-
* - Have a proper plan with dates and a list of what you need
* - Get all the things you need, don't leave yoursefl having to visit people you want to stay away from
* - Have really good and well thought out reasons as to why you are doing this and what the benefits are
* -[ Research what you are doing - Understand it as well as you are able, many people mean when but talk utter shite, the internet is a great place for information but don't believe everything you read ( Jeesus that;s one parodux of a statement) .
I still enjoy a few coffees in the morning but don't indulge after after 2am, My usual would be a normal size cup with 3 heaped spoons of high end instant, I feel no obvious lift from this but it's possible I get one. Don't stress too much about it many argue health benefits of coffee and there are many mores damaging 'habit' to have.
All the best
I have to be honest and say I have read all the response above but I have some personal experinace with addistive behaviour and caffeine. It's a habit that crept up over time and in the end the ritual of srong black coffee and cigarutes had wrokd it's way into evercorner of my life. Then add in a rapidly growing use of cannibis resin and a working environment which facilitated all of this and a heavy daily habit was born and lasted more than 10 years.
Quite what part of the mis was more attictive that the other I've not idea, but ritual played a big part, my obsession with a perfect joint, I'd keep a special brand of cigarettes in the fridge, and Rizlas only came in onek colour (green with thre corener cut off).
During that time I would also drink lots of really strong black coffee with sugar, some much that 2 guys thatb worked for me got me a coffee maker as a gift for my desk.
I was quite happy with it all, I loved my hash and coffer brought my no ill effects, then when I was about 30 my wife became pragnant (it was more complicated than that but there's only you left reading now and I'm abridging)
ing on the fly). WE both decided we would stop smoking and for me that had to mean hash as well because for me they were so interwoven I felt I couldn't drop one and not the other. It was hard, I'll spare you the moaning but using nicotine lozengers, valarian root and a litte hash in a pipe, I made it and have smoked any tobacco since, just the odd draw on a pure weed doob some I can laugh at blow spun out I get.
If you looking for a point in all this and since you've hung on this far, I ceased taking a number of substances in the bast and the rukes seem largely the same:-
* - Have a proper plan with dates and a list of what you need
* - Get all the things you need, don't leave yoursefl having to visit people you want to stay away from
* - Have really good and well thought out reasons as to why you are doing this and what the benefits are
* -[ Research what you are doing - Understand it as well as you are able, many people mean when but talk utter shite, the internet is a great place for information but don't believe everything you read ( Jeesus that;s one parodux of a statement) .
I still enjoy a few coffees in the morning but don't indulge after after 2am, My usual would be a normal size cup with 3 heaped spoons of high end instant, I feel no obvious lift from this but it's possible I get one. Don't stress too much about it many argue health benefits of coffee and there are many mores damaging 'habit' to have.
All the best
abracadabra girl
Ex-Bluelighter
Is it possible that rather than the caffeine, it is the artificial sweeteners making you feel bad? I agree with the suggestion to switch to tea (unsweetened) as it will help you find out. Be aware though that coffee and tea both have MUCH more caffeine than soda so do the math accordingly.
Bueller is Ferris Bueller from the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Have you ever seen it? The movie is a 1980's classic movie. In the movie, his last name comes up a lot, that's all I'll say so that I don't ruin the movie for you, in case you see it.
Bmxxx - I think your right about concepts such as self-improvement, self-esteem and the need to control things being involved with my addiction to caffeine. A lot of this problem is mental, although I know, as I have said before, that caffeine does weird things to me and so do the sweeteners, I think. I read recently that they are addictive, too!
As far as harder drugs go, I have no interest in them. I drank a lot in my 20's and was probably an alcoholic, but I don't drink any alcohol now. So far, this morning, I haven't had any caffeine and I feel better than yesterday in terms of how my head feels. I feel more alert and with it.
Thanks for your advice, by the way. I appreciate it.
I don't want any caffeine in my system, so I probably won't start drinking tea. I think that I have to recognize that I have an addiction to the ritual of drinking caffeinated drinks and am addicted to caffeine. The longer that I go without it, the better that I will feel...I think...
Thanks for your comments, Allein. Yes, the ritual aspect of the whole situation is part of my addiction. I like that aspect of the situation in addition to the caffeine. Like I said to someone else, I haven't had any caffeine this morning and I feel better. Thanks again.
herbavore
Bluelight Crew
^I think that the ritual and the reward you get (possibly the caffeine but more probably the sugars --even fake sugar) are what you need to tackle simultaneously. To replace a habit takes time and intention but we all need rewards so choose something healthy that becomes the same kind of ritual.
When something you ingest--be it a drug or food--is ingested for an emotional reward, it is important to tackle it on an emotional level. What are you feeling when you impulsively stop for a diet soda? Sometimes it takes a lot of digging to identify what the emotion really is but once you do it makes it easier to see how the reward you are giving yourself usually isn't even coming close to satisfying the real need.
When something you ingest--be it a drug or food--is ingested for an emotional reward, it is important to tackle it on an emotional level. What are you feeling when you impulsively stop for a diet soda? Sometimes it takes a lot of digging to identify what the emotion really is but once you do it makes it easier to see how the reward you are giving yourself usually isn't even coming close to satisfying the real need.
Abracadabra girl - Yes, definitely! I have done some research on the Web (I know. Not the best source of information.
) and learned that the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas aren't good for you in many ways. I knew that they weren't great for you, but I didn't realize to what extent, etc. I'm drinking caffeine-free soda today and I feel different - not as hungover, cloudy and gross. Did you know that some people are allergic to caffeine? Interesting idea, there...thanks for your comments. I appreciate them.Thanks for the excellent comments, herbavore. I think my issue, or one of them, lol, in this situation is control. I am not a Type A person, but I have a need to control things very strongly. I grew up in a very controlling environment. Well, I better stop typing or I'll go off on a tangent.