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Tuesday, July 7, 2015

I decided to quit caffeine

It's been 72 hours since I have ingested the sweet, sweet nectar of coffee. My favourite is the Italian roast at Starbucks.

Right now, at 11:26 am on Day 3, I am ready to put my fist through a window. Only I don't have the energy. I slept well last night. I slept great actually after a 22 km bike ride that was so sweaty my hair was dripping (the mosquitoes LOVED it).

I feel depressed and groggy. I also find it challenging to concentrate. Surprisingly, I don't have a headache which, according to Dr. Google, is the number one reported symptom of caffeine withdrawal.

Dr. Google also suggests that I will experience the following during my possible week-long, or even month-long, detox:

Irritability
Oh yeah, totally. I have my office door shut tight. I'd lock it if I could.

Lethargy
I'm unmotivated to do anything. Don't ask me to design any graphics this week, it won't happen. Yet, I can still exercise.

Depression
I haven't gotten to a point where I feel like there is no hope in living but I have no desire to smile. Ask me again on Friday.

Lack of Concentration
It's good I'm not a brain surgeon.

14 comments:

Squiggles said...

I get the headaches. I have actually gotten searing migraines from caffeine withdrawal. I just can't do it, so good on you!

As a compromise, I do try to limit the caffeine. Especially considering how I have ingested heart-palpitation levels of it. Now onto my diet coke. Can't drink coffee with this current cold that will not go away.

C.J. Smith said...

No, no good for me. This is pretty awful. I don't think I can do it!

Squiggles said...

You can! It is awful, but I have kicked it before. Normally in conjunction with being sick. But just randomly? I just can't do it.

Some people have switched to tea or even decaf. It can give the same mouth-feel and/or act like a placebo.

C.J. Smith said...

Writing about it made me want one. So I had 8 ounces... sigh... but I feel SO MUCH BETTER.

Michael Suddard said...

I used to order a medium at Tim Hortons twice a day (morning and afternoon). I switched to a small in the afternoon and make my own in the morning.

I might try the decaf thing next, thanks Squiggles!

Kelly said...

Don't be too hard on yourself, Cindy. I'm lucky I never started drinking coffee or tea - I don't like the taste and was never willing to go through the "acquiring" period (same reason I haven't touched beer since I had a sip of my dad's in Grade 4 - yuck!). People ask me how I survive but never having drank it, it's not an issue for me. I make hot chocolate in winter when I feel like something hot. HOWEVER. I. LOVE. my Coca-Cola and although it's not the same amount or same withdrawal symptoms, it is so hard to give up. I'm not crazy about it, I have one every day or every other day, but it's something that I feel bad about.

April said...

Weaning your way down is the only way to go.

I get the headaches so bad I want to split my own skull with an axe because I believe it would hurt less.

C.J. Smith said...

It's only in the past two years that I became a every day habitual drinker of coffee, and usually 12 ounces, and only in the morning. Weaning to 8 ounces and eventually switching to decaf seems to be the way to go.

Squiggles said...

Not a problem. In fact, my addiction is so great that at home I cut my regular with decaf. Just to make things a bit better.

And, when I think of people drinking straight decaf all I can think is: it is like paying a prostitute to snuggle.

Unknown said...

Personally I think the caffeine is the least harmful thing in coffee (at least weight for weight) might as well enjoy it.

Bicky said...

I have the same effect with tea. If I don't have my tea by noon, my head hurts. I'm trying to cut back.

Peter said...

Did I miss a few details? Why are you giving up coffee? How do you take your coffee?

C.J. Smith said...

I just wanted to see if I could do it. I enjoy torturing myself

Ashley said...

@Kelly
I don't drink tea or coffee (or beer) either! Can't stand them... most people think I'm crazy so glad to know I'm not alone. I also drink Hot Chocolate in the winter, and drink the occasional diet Coke or Coke Zero :)