get rid of my caffeine addiction

aka caffeine

Is a migraine trigger for me at times. Having learned to avoid it, I now must take seriously getting to bed at a reasonable hour, because I can no longer rely on caffeine to prop me up through the day.

Really hard! I rely on caffeine before I go work.

I’d say after 28 days I’m done. Was it worth it? I don’t know. Does it matter? Not really. The amazing fact was how addicted I was to caffeine. No it wasn’t making my life unmanageable. I think in the long-term there will be benefits.

24 days now without caffeiene. The withdrawals are over thank goodness. Today I woke up not feeling tired and refreshed. I hope it’s a sign of what’s to come.

I love using the term, Fortnight. Sweet. It’s been a fortnight now off caffeine. I feel like it’s getting easier. I realized the cravings have been few, practically nonexistent, unlike cigarettes. Which by the way, I’ll celebrate 5 years off the cancer sticks on March 25th, same day I run a half-marathon. But I digress.

I think my withdrawals are stronger due to the fact I drank so much coffee for so many years.

12 days off caffeiene. Still drowsy in the morning. Morning was the only time I drank coffee during the weekdays. The power of caffeine is not a joke.

Into day 6 now. I’m still irritable. Yesterday was a wash at work. I got little done. Hopefully the withdrawal symptoms will be gone soon.

Don’t feel like I miss it but I am ready to feel better than this. Not that I feel horrible, just tired of being cranky and unfocused.

Here it is 3:30 and no caffeine today. I’m lucky to have the experience of quitting other bad habits. Actually I’m very blessed b/c this takes willpower.

I’m still very sleepy and my focus is….what did you say…oh yeh my focus is not good.

Oh I’m extrememly irritable.

Yesterday I saw a Naturopathic doctor. When I told him how much coffee I drink, 3 cups a day, he said I am playing havoc with my digestive system as well as leeching calcium from my bones. Not only that, coffee drinkers must deal with bad breath.

What he said next is what made me want to change. He said my addiction to caffeine is covering something else. From my past I know this to be true. All the years of drinking and drugging masked the self-loathing and the spiritual bankruptcy from which I suffered.

My doctor, who is a Christian also, encouraged me let it go and let Christ take over. He said when we give up our crutches and allow God to enter we grow.

I started this morning with no coffee. It was ok. Gradually the withdrawal symptoms kicked in. I was tired, unable to focus and irritable. I broke down and had a cup of green tea, yes with caffeine. I think I’ll ween myself off until I’m free.

I could feel my heart pounding after I had the tea. It was as if my body was rejoicing for feeding the addiction. There is a great scene in the movie, “What The Bleep Do We Know,” that brilliantly shows what happens in our bodies with addiction.

Getting to higher levels of health means getting rid of behaviors which do not give your body nutrition.

Even though I’m still tired a lot and am amazed at how much the caffeine actually effected me I have no interest in drinking caffeine at all. I have even cut out chocolate because cocoa beans have caffeine in them. But over all I feel much better now!