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Avatar universal

Impossible to quit coffee!

I think I've tried forty times at least to quit coffee, but it seems to be an impossible task. It's not that the withdrawals are very bad (although, they are not pleasant), but I love coffee to much to seem to quit. The problem is though, caffeine is causing me so much problem since I have generalized anxiety disorder. I get jittery even after one or two cups, and worry like crazy, combined with all the other sensations of anxiety (mostly mental but also physical).

I hate having anxiety since it limits me from enjoy what I love. One of these things are coffee. I think that's why it's so difficult for me to quit, since I want to not be ruled on how I feel.

Usually I wake up feeling foggy and tired, thinking about my exciting promise the night before to quit coffee. Then I come up with a million excuses to have my cup. I start comparing myself to other people who easily can drink coffee without any problems, and I feel envious that I can't seem to do it.

Then I have one to three cups, feel great for a few hours, and then in the evening the anxiety strikes (I think from caffeine withdrawal). Mind you, I also use nicotine to quit smoking, which I think may add to the initial stimulant effect of the coffee.

I want so badly to quit since I know how calm and amazing I will feel. My anxiety almost completely dissapears after some time without caffeine, but I haven't been without for longer than two weeks for twelve years, since I started drinking it. But at the same time it's so difficult since it's pretty much a decision I'm forced to make. The decision of quitting is not coming from the heart, but just because I "have to". I get more cons than pros from it though... but my logical mind gets easily tricked and confused when I try to quit.


Please help me... any tips would help.


By the way,

I have read EVERYTHING bad about caffeine as a motivation to lay off it. I even bought the book "Caffeine Blues", and I know what he says is true, but even that is not enough to scare me off.


Caffeine is a serious addiction...


Thank you so much for your help.
13 Responses
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Avatar universal
I have the same problem as you. I'm a Swede drinking black Gevalia, have read Caffeine Blues to get me motivated and done a lot of research on the internet. All the articles on how good it's so good for one's health makes me even more suspicious. Totally biased articles with only one point of view.
I got off caffeine for a month in summer, but constantly craved coffee over this period of time. I could smell it a mile away and since I hadn't lost the craving after one month, I figured this can't be done. After that I had a coffee binge every morning for a few months, until now when I try to wean myself off again.
I am currently drinking half a cup (½ dl) a day now. I'm starting to notice how bad I am at coping with stress. I've noticed how jittery others on caffeine are. I hope I will make it this time around.
I've quit nicotine a few years ago, with almost no troubles at all. Caffeine is the worst.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ahh, I haven't seen any in Sweden though. We only have one brand of regular decaf coffee, at least from what I've seen (Gevalia). No half-cafs or lite coffees though.
Helpful - 0
3197167 tn?1348968606
Just to clarify.....you can don't have to mix the decaf and regular yourself.  It is sold that way....the can actually says "Ground Lite...50% Less Caffeine"
Helpful - 0
5763738 tn?1373846792
  (\ /)
  ( . . )
C(")(")
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello again Michael!

Wow, this is really interesting! I had no idea, and I thought I was knowledgeable in the coffee culture, haha.

I looked it up, and the brand I consume and have consumed through all these years (Gevalia) has three different strains of coffee in their blend. I don't think Arabica is one of them (or maybe it is, but in a 1/3 amount). However, one of my other favorite brands which I very rarely drink (for traditional reasons, everyone in my family has always drank Gevalia) contains 100% Arabica coffee. Fantastic! It's perfect timing, because I'm finished of the other coffee and need to buy more, so I'll do that tomorrow!

Thank you very much for this! It would be fantastic if I could keep my delicious habit and not get to jittery. Another step to all this by the way would be to cut down on nicotine just because it mimics a lot of the effects of caffeine. It is indeed a stimulant, and a more powerful one than coffee. In terms of stimulation with my 1-3 cups of coffee (strong ones) with the nicotine, it would probably equate to 7-10 cups of coffee a day, only as a comparison.

Cut down on nicotine and start on the Arabica will be my next goal! We'll see how it goes!

Thank you all for your fast, fantastic answers. I will return!
Helpful - 0
5763738 tn?1373846792
Hmmm I found this sounds interesting..
Naturally low-caffeine coffees[edit]

Coffea arabica (common name "Arabica Coffee") is one of the most common varieties of coffee seen on today’s market and is widely accessible. However, only a small percentage of coffee consumers know that this coffee type has a naturally lower caffeine count than most other popular coffees. Because Arabica has an approximately 40-50% lower caffeine count than other coffees, the average person can safely consume two cups of non-decaf coffee with the same effect as consuming one cup of a different variety. For more precise measurements of caffeine in common foods and beverages, please reference the table below adapted from USFDA estimates
Michael
Helpful - 0
5763738 tn?1373846792
L-Theanine works wonders for anxiety and will not make you tired. You can pick it up when you get your adrenal supplement. 200mg is a good starting dose it really works.
Michael
https://www.biosynergy.com/l-theanine-natural-anti-anxiety/
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your answer!

I actually bought some decaf for my latest attempt to quit. I took two cups of it and went back to the regular straight away. The decaf tastes vile (at least the brand I bought). The mixing is a very good idea though. I have a problem with sticking to it though. I can keep at it for a few days, making half-cafs or whatever, and then I come up with excuses and self-blame, like "come on you wimp, you can't even drink two cups of coffee a day? Your friends/my uncle/father/mother/etc drinks way more than that and has no problems!". It's ridiculous, and reading what I'm writing makes it even more funny. For me, caffeine is more addictive than nicotine, by far.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Many thanks for your answer. I think caffeine is looked at way too mildly these days. Almost everyone on the planet is addicted to caffeine, and most don't even dare to think about quitting, yet it does rarely come up as something with a problematic nature. The world is in love with the drug, and I think it's underestimated how strong it is.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your answer! Yes, my adrenal glands are for you on the way to a serious burn out if my anxiety does not disappear, or if I doesn't quit caffeine. I have had anxiety daily now since 2008. It started with panic attacks and is not just a general feeling of anxiety almost at all times (except when I'm doing stuff that takes the attention away from it).

I have good days though where it's pretty minimal, but I think about the anxiety pretty much all the time; checking how I feel, reacting very badly to worrisome thoughts (I also can get very disturbing thoughts and very crazy fears from the adrenaline... I don't react that badly to it now as I did before though as I know that anxiety cannot harm me, but it's unpleasant for sure).

The thing is that from anxiety I have gotten super sensitive to caffeine, so in reality, one cup a day is more than enough for me. I have a hard time keeping it to that though since the ritual and taste (and effects) are so pleasurable, until the anxiety kicks in of course.

I will look for adrenal supplements though! Thanks!
Helpful - 0
3197167 tn?1348968606
The affect on our adrenal glands is a VERY good point.  An adrenal supplement is a great idea.

Also, a method my mom tried when she had to cut back for her heart...was she started buying the 1/2 decaf and 1/2 caffeinated for awhile...and stepped herself down that way.  Those days where decaf smells awful are long gone...and it might help to ease you down.

Along with the adrenal gland supplement it might just work for you....just do it slowly when you do....cause the "base of the neck" headaches are awful if you don't.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your post! I think I am also on the caffeine rollercoaster. I think I am going to taper. The last to give up will be my morning cup. I know if a person c/t s coffee the headaches are legendary.
I too am reading about the adrenal glands, supplements, etc.

Thank you for bringing this into the spotlight.
Helpful - 0
5763738 tn?1373846792
If you are consuming that much Coffee(btw I love the stuff too) your ADRENAL glands are likely to be fairly burn't out. What I would try is to purchase a good adrenal supplement at your local health food store. You may find by taking the supplement you will need far less coffee to get you going hence reducing our coffee intake and then you may even get away with a good decaf which still has a little bit of caffeine.
Michael
Helpful - 0
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