Are you wondering exactly much caffeine is in your cup of coffee. Trying to cut down a bit, or at least know how much caffeine you are ingesting each day with your morning cup of java or afternoon pick-me-up triple espresso Latte?
A typical cup of coffee contains approximately one hundred and twelve milligrams of caffeine. There is a bit less caffeine in a shot of espresso - a typical espresso shot includes about ninety milligrams of caffeine.
How much caffeine in coffee?This is important to keep in mind when making any espresso drinks.
While these numbers are typical, the amount of caffeine in coffee can vary considerably based upon multiple factors. The primary factors affecting caffeine content of coffee and espresso include the genetics of the coffee bean varietal, the particular roasting given to the coffee beans and how the coffee is brewed.
If the coffee beans being used are Arabica coffee beans then one cup of coffee that is approximately one hundred and twenty milliliters of coffee, if it is drip-brewed, will have about 112 milligrams of caffeine.
A 30 milliliter Espresso shot using Arabica coffee will have an estimated ninety milligrams of caffeine.
How Does Roasting Affect Coffee Caffeine Content?
When coffee is roasted it decreases the overall amount of caffeine in the coffee, but not significantly enough for it to be a serious way to reduce your caffeine intake.
Caffeine did not undergo significant degradation with only 5.4% being lost under severe roasting.
Source
Choose your roast based on your personal preferences, not based on caffeine content.
Roasting does have an effect on chlorogenic acid content - possibly what contributes to many of coffee's purported health effects, but another study also shows that caffeine is relatively unaffected by roast level.
On the other hand the Robusta coffee plant varietal has significantly more caffeine than the Arabica varietal. Robusta coffee beans are used primarily for espresso blends and to make instant coffee.
How Caffeine Metabolizes in the Human Body
Once a person consumes caffeine the body starts to metabolize it and this takes place in the person's liver. The result is three different metabolites. These three metabolites include paraxanthine (84%), theobromine (12%) and theophylline (4%).
In the first 45 minutes after consumption of the caffeine it is likely absorbed by the stomach and small intestine and begins to spread throughout the tissues of the human body.
Caffeine's Classification by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Considered safe for human consumption by the FDA, caffeine is classified as a food substance with multiple uses.
All About Caffeine in Coffee - Investigating the Side Effects of Caffeine and the Symptoms of Withdrawal from Caffeine continued:
Caffeine is a stimulant and is known scientifically as a xanthine alkaloid. When it is isolated from its source it is a crystalline white substance and is very bitter.
How does caffeine affect the human body?
Caffeine affects the human body by creating chemical changes in the human brain with a whole variety of effects including an enhanced alertness and energy level.
The way this is enhanced energy and alertness is achieved by the chemical caffeine is that the caffeine pretends, or mimics, another compound which is called adenosine.
The caffeine then binds on to the adenosine receptors in the brain with the effect of halting the true adenosine from doing its job which normally would be to slow down the body's nerve impulses and bring a very sleepy feeling to the person, a natural drowsiness that is warded off by the effects of caffeine.
Yes, some drugs may have an enhanced effectiveness when affected by caffeine. For example, some headache drugs include caffeine in their contents in order to help the effectiveness. This may be related to the vasodilating effects of caffeine.
Caffeine may be used in combination with ergotamine to treat cluster headaches and migraines. Some people prefer to use caffeine to overcome the sleepy qualities they feel when taking antihistamines.
Caffeine doesn't specifically, but coffee does.
However, some people who have shown to be at high risk for liver disease have been shown to have less severe liver injury associated with increasing caffeine consumption. This may include people with obesity, hemochromatosis and alcoholisms. [source]
Because of this, people who drink coffee but want to quit caffeine may want to look into decaf coffee instead of cutting out coffee entirely, so that they can continue to benefit from its health protecting properties.
Yes, some studies completed on ex vivo hair follicles have shown that caffeine may decrease hair growth suppression in vitro due to testosterone. In this regard caffeine may be a potential therapeutic agent in Androgenic alopecia, and caffeine has been added by some companies to their soap and shampoos.
Caffeine is found in nature in a wide array of plants, and it is found in plant fruits as well as plant leaves. This includes: cocoa beans, tea leaves, coffee beans and kola nuts. Less common sources are yaupon holly, guaryusa, yerba mate and guarana berries.
Caffeine often serves to help the plant by working as a natural pesticide against harmful predators on the plant such as insects.
What Products Contain Caffeine, and How Much?
A tablet of Excedrin contains about sixty-five milligrams of caffeine while a regular strength caffeine tablet has about one hundred milligrams of caffeine. There are two hundred milligrams of caffeine in an extra-strength caffeine tablet.
Another example of a common product with plenty of caffeine in it is chocolate. There are about ten milligrams of caffeine in an average milk chocolate bar. Dark chocolate, by comparison, may have about 30 milligrams of caffeine.
There are some dark chocolate bars that have as much as 160 milligrams of caffeine so it can vary considerably by the type and the quality of the chocolate.
Six ounces of a typical green tea will contain about thirty milligrams of caffeine while the very same amount of black tea will have about fifty milligrams of caffeine.
Amount of Caffeine in Coffee continued: You will get about thirty-four milligrams of caffeine from 12 ounces of Coke while a Mountain Dew will give you a whopping 54 milligrams of caffeine. A Red Bull energy drink has about eighty milligrams of caffeine while a Monster energy drink has about 160 milligrams of caffeine.
Withdrawal from Caffeine and Human Tolerance To Caffeine
People who consistently consume caffeine will gradually adapt to the continuous presence of the chemical in their body by increasing their overall number of adenosine receptors in their central nervous system. This occurs since caffeine functions as an antagonist to the receptors in the central nervous system for the neurotransmitter adenosine.
Tolerance adaptation to caffeine has the effect over time of reducing the chemical's stimulatory effects. These adaptive responses to caffeine also have the effect of making the person more sensitive to adenosine, and thus when the intake of caffeine is reduced then the adenosine's natural physiological effects will create withdrawal symptoms.
Of 49 symptom categories identified, the following 10 fulfilled validity criteria: headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and foggy/not clearheaded. In addition, flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and muscle pain/stiffness were judged likely to represent valid symptom categories.
In experimental studies, the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 h after abstinence, with peak intensity at 20-51 h, and for a duration of 2-9 days. In general, the incidence or severity of symptoms increased with increases in daily dose; abstinence from doses as low as 100 mg/day produced symptoms.
Research is reviewed indicating that expectancies are not a prime determinant of caffeine withdrawal and that avoidance of withdrawal symptoms plays a central role in habitual caffeine consumption.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977
Debate Over Adenosine Receptors, Tolerance and Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms
There is some debate in scientific circles about the increase in adenosine receptors being the main cause of building up tolerance to caffeine's stimulating effects, with some evidence pointing toward a conclusion that there are also other causes at work which help to explain people developing a tolerance to large doses of caffeine.
The Discoverer of Caffeine
The evidence is a bit fuzzy but some say that the stimulating effects of caffeine are mentioned in Chinese legends dating to about 3,000 years ago.
Firmer evidence comes from 600 BCE as a Mayan pot dating to this time contains the first clear evidence of a cocoa bean, so we know caffeine was around by this time for sure.
Who First Isolated Caffeine from Coffee?
In 1819 the German chemist Friedlieb Runge became the first scientist to successfully isolate the chemical caffeine from coffee beans. Less than one year later the French chemist Pelletier and another scientist named Caventou also isolated the chemical caffeine, and Pelletier was the one to coin the word "cafeine" which he derived from the word "cafe" meaning coffee.
Who Opened the First Coffee House?
As early as 1530 there were coffeehouses in Damascus, Syria and Istanbul.
What began the spread of coffee all around the world?
In the 1600s the Dutch became the first people to carry coffee from the ancient port of Mocha. This movement of coffee by the Dutch began the rapid spread of coffee beans around the globe and it is still spreading, most recently growing rapidly in consumption in China and other emerging markets.
The Dutch were also industrious in cultivating coffee in other locations, first in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1658.
Caffeine withdrawal
Regular caffeine consumption reduces sensitivity to caffeine. When caffeine intake is reduced, the body becomes oversensitive to adenosine. In response to this oversensitiveness, blood pressure drops dramatically, causing an excess of blood in the head (though not necessarily on the brain), leading to a caffeine withdrawal headache.
This headache, well known among coffee drinkers, usually lasts from one to five days, and can be alleviated with analgesics such as aspirin. It is also alleviated with caffeine intake (in fact several analgesics contain caffeine dosages).
Even small amounts of caffeine (such as a green tea, compared to a full coffee) can do wonders to alleviate a withdrawal-induced headache.
The source of caffeine is important to consider as well. Coffee is generally considered to be healthy, due in part to its anti-oxidant properties. However, energy drinks and unregulated supplements may contain any number of other compounds that can have a negative impact, often working synergistically with caffeine.
Caffeine on its own, particularly coffee, is associated with an overall decrease in all-cause-mortality [4]. Simply put, this means that people who drink coffee are less likely to die from all causes.
Caffeine withdrawal symptoms
Often, people who are reducing caffeine intake report being irritable, unable to work, nervous, restless, and feeling sleepy, as well as having a headache. Many of these symptoms mirror having the cold or flu.
- Headache
- Sleepiness
- Irritability
- Fatigue, lethargy
- Constipation
- Depression
- Muscle stiffness, cramping
- Brain fog, Inability to focus
- Cold-like symptoms
- Anxiety
In extreme cases, nausea and vomiting has also been reported. These are very real experiences [1], and despite recurring jokes, can cause problems with normal functioning. If you experience severe symptoms, seek medical advice.
Is Caffeine Withdrawal Real?
In short: Yes. Negative effects from quitting caffeine have been scientifically documented in clinical studies.
Of 49 symptom categories identified, the following 10 fulfilled validity criteria: headache, fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness, drowsiness, decreased contentedness, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and foggy/not clearheaded. In addition, flu-like symptoms, nausea/vomiting, and muscle pain/stiffness were judged likely to represent valid symptom categories. [1]
Additionally, caffeine withdrawal is recognized by psychiatrists as a real disorder.
Caffeine withdrawal is a recognized disorder and is listed in the DSM-5. (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
How Long Does Caffeine Withdrawal Last?
The answer to this will depend on your level of consumption and the level you reduce your caffeine consumption to.
In experimental studies, the incidence of headache was 50% and the incidence of clinically significant distress or functional impairment was 13%. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12-24 h after abstinence, with peak intensity at 20-51 h, and for a duration of 2-9 days. [1]
That means you'll probably notice the start within 12-24 hours with the worst being the second day you after you quit. From there, it gradually gets better over the course of a week to a week and a half.
Your brain is miraculously resilient and adapts to life without caffeine in just 2 short weeks. The psychological habit of drinking caffeine can take 3 to 4 weeks to break, but can also be replaced with decaf coffee or another low-caffeine drink (eg. tea).
Reports of people having withdrawal symptoms months or years after quitting coffee or caffeine are more typically confused with general health maladies or other more drugs.
Unrelated Symptoms
Caffeine cessation is often associated with major lifestyle changes, and as such, it can be difficult to associated symptoms directly with caffeine withdrawal. As a best practice, you should isolate factors by making changes slowly, over time, unless under the advice and guidance of a medical professional.
Compounding factors such as other medications, and major health events that lead to discontinuing caffeine, can have a misleading association with caffeine withdrawals.
If symptoms such as kidney pain appears, seek immediate medical attention.
Tingling
There are no known mechanisms through which caffeine withdrawal may cause tingling. On the other hand, caffeine consumption can sometimes cause tingling due to restriction of blood flow to extremities.
Back pain
While back pain is not a symptom of caffeine withdrawal, symptoms may (re)appear when caffeine use is discontinued.
This may be due to caffeine's reported analgesic affect on pain [3] - in english, caffeine might help alleviate (back) pain by amplifying the effect of pain killers. The re-ocurring presence of back pain may be due to synergistic effect being lost, but is unrelated to the temporary effects of withdrawal itself.
Dealing with Caffeine Withdrawal
The severity of caffeine withdrawal symptoms vary with how extreme the restriction, and a gradual reduction can do wonders in avoiding symptoms. Simply starting by replacing one cup of coffee with a decaf coffee or tea will provide a much smaller dose of caffeine, allowing your receptors to re-acclimate to lower levels. Drinking coffee (decaf) or other warm beverage (tea) instead of regular coffee helps psychologically with the well established habit.
Timing large reductions in caffeine consumption is also a useful tool. Picking a time of rest and relaxation such as a weekend or vacation can lessen the burden of symptoms like brain fog and a lack of motivation.
Hydration is also key - while coffee is a diuretic it's also mostly water, and cutting back on coffee may also inadvertently cut back on your fluid intake. Many symptoms of dehydration overlap with caffeine withdrawal including headaches, muscle soreness and leg cramping, irritability and lethargy.
Without caffeine blocking your adenoseine receptors, your body's built up levels of adenosine will lead to a lot of sleepiness. Get lots of rest! Scientists are still puzzled by why humans need sleep, aside from getting tired. According to some research from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) has indicated that sleep enables your brain to drain built-up chemical by products of working so hard (you little genius), which is good for you!
Advil or Tylenol can be an effective method of dealing with the coffee withdrawal headache and muscle pain. Other natural pain relievers such as running / exercise and even an orgasm can provide temporary relief by dilating blood vessels in the brain.
The best solution may not be totally ceasing caffeine consumption though. Coffee does have health benefits, as it contains over 1000 known compounds, with many associated with lowering blood pressure and improving cardiac function, as well as liver protection [2]. Generally, the best coffees are grown at higher elevations will develop more healthy chlorogenic acids that are present in higher concentrations in light roasts than dark roasts. If you're a dark roast lover however, darker roasts cause less stomach acid production. A decaffeinated coffee with just 5-25 mg of caffeine will still retain a lot of its healthy chemicals and will provide health benefits in medium and dark roasts.
With these tips you can reduce the caffeine in your body and avoid the rebound of a caffeine withdrawal.
References
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15448977
[2] Coffee Consumption Decreases Risks for Hepatic Fibrosis and Cirrhosis: A Meta-Analysis
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0142457
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22419343
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28697850
Caffeine and Health. J. E. James, Academic Press, 1991. Progress in Clinical and Biological Research Volume 158. G. A. Spiller, Ed. Alan R. Liss Inc, 1984.
Xie et al "Sleep initiated fluid flux drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain." Science, October 18, 2013. DOI: 10.1126/science.1241224
Lisa says
re: Just having such an awful time is all:(..
Sorry I keep posting:(.. Thank you Jackie for your kind words.. If you could only understand that I was in HELL once before a couple years back and I am just having such a hard time doing this twice.. I was totally normal and now I'm not.. I am having trouble taking care of my baby , my kids.. All I can do is cry..my cns feels such a mess .. I have not felt good in 67 days.. I feel like failing my family who counts on me for everything ..just really struggling.. I try to distract but they are pretty bad still:(.. Thats just how I feel .. Do you know what it's like to have a massive panic attack and have your kids watching you? This isn't fair.. My heart is hurting for my babies .. I feel so alone .. I really have no one .. My boyfriend doesn't understand :(..
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: Lisa
Lisa, it WILL go away but it WILL take time. As Sam has said, maybe try to follow Claire Weekes' advice - Face it, Accept how you feel, try to float or not 'listen in' and let time pass. It's hard not to keep monitoring yourself to see how you feel, physically and emotionally, so is there anything you can do to take your attention away?? I think I used to focus on my symptoms too much which actually made it worse. I feel so sorry for you, though, as you must be worn out. Your mind and body are trying to rebalance so I'm afraid the only answer is to keep going. I'd read some of the old posts again and you'llsee that other people have had some terrible symptoms, too. It's the price we pay for putting harmful substances into our bodies. Harsh but true. BUT you should be so proud of yourself that you have managed to keep off it for so long AND that you are strong enough to have KEPT OFF IT! Please try to keep going. This WILL end. Sending strength and prayers. Jackie Good luck and strength to everyone else, too.
Lisa says
re: Sam:(:(:(:(
I am getting so scared.. I don't know how much longer these awful sx will be here.. I have horrible pressure in my face and head.. This freakin anxiety is awful.. Worst thing I have ever felt.. I truly wonder if it will will ever go away:(.. Could not sleep last night:(.. Do you really feel bad after 60 long days .. I'm still not functional at all
And my days are filled with anxiety and fear and other wierd sx. I'm so screwed up.. Why is not taking so long?.. Lisa.. Having am awful day
Sam (sjredd) says
re: Lisa,
I haven't forgot about
Lisa,
I haven't forgot about you or anyone else on here. I have been keeping up with reading everyone's post, but haven't had the time to reply.
Lisa, you're panic will continue to come and go for some time. You're body is still trying to rebalance those chemicals post withdrawal, which takes time. You are doing well, you said your panic was gone for a few days, that's good!! Mine did start to lift slightly in month three, but would still continue to come and go. Your days will get better and better. Just stay strong and keep off that caffiene. You're doing great. Remember not to fear the symptoms when they do come back for a visit. Accept accept and accept!! They are a set pattern of symptoms and I'm sure you've noticed that already.
Time is on your side. You've got this!! Hang in there.
-Sam
Lisa says
re: Hey Sam -day 61
Well it's hard not to count the days boy.. I still feel like hell.. The last three days were nothing but panic.. Bad.. I hadn't had the panic in a while so it's messing with me.. I think maybe that might be my hormones.. I would usually have my cycle how but I'm still breastfeeding.. This is still so rough.:my stomach is still a huge mess, nauseous , lightheaded somedays, so tired and the anxiety sucks.. I think my body is so exhausted:(.. Did you see any relief in month three. I been tryin to be positive but is so hard pushing through these awful days.. I hope that I'm not sick I mean the docs can't find a thing.. So it's got to be anxiety .. Pleae send some words of wisdom Sam.. I appreciate it:). Hope next month is better, Lisa
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: To Rob
Hi, Rob, sorry to hear you're back on the bean again. Great sympathy as I can identify with everything you've written - and I mean everything. I've been doing A LOT better but it is so easy to slip back and your " addiction gets switched on again" - that's exactly how it feels (which I hadn't realised before). I now understand how you could go back, even after 3 months. A word to User below, with respect - if it was that easy - to just "walk away" - we'd have done it a long, long time ago. Caffeine IS a strong stimulant/drug and plays havoc with the brain chemistry, blood sugar levels (hence the rollercoaster ride of wanting more and more- and sugar, too) etc, etc .......and, in my experience, Rob, "rational thought" really DOES desert you as you've become controlled by your brain chemistry and/or blood sugar levels. (See the book Maximum Willpower for a proper explanation of this.) Also, in my experience, it's also been linked to a deeply ingrained pattern of behaviour, going back as far as I can remember. When I was 5 years old, I turned to sugar/sweet carbs if I was unhappy or my mum had told me off or I was bored or whatever- and it never stopped. Growing up, you're taught NOT to feel, to control your emotions, at all costs,(at least here in the U.K.) - don 't cry, don't be angry, don't be emotional, don't, don't, don't FEEL ANYTHING - and so you bottle it all up and train your brain to try to stop the feelings, by ANY means you can. My God, I'm only just realising this now! I turned to alcohol as a teenager, coffee as an adult, sugar all my life, (I was overweight, up and down, for most of my life until I hit 50 and lost 5 stones (70 lbs). So now, when I'm anxious or fearful or angry or irritable. my instinct is to run - to try to stop those feelings, NO MATTER WHAT. And, of course, the caffeine see-saw brings out those repressed feelings so when you're on a downer, all the nasties (anger, fear, anxiety etc etc )come out. Now, having said all of that, I HAVE been doing a lot better. Understanding WHY I couldn't manage to just walk away has helped me to get a handle on it and stop beating myself up, too. I could never understand why everyone else seemed to be able to just walk away and I couldn't - but now I think I finally get it. I have to re-train my brain and body chemistry and that is starting to happen. Now, I'm not sure if any of this rings a bell with you, Rob? The difference between us is that you stop having caffeine for about 3 months (for me, it was more 3 days lol)......but you still get lured in again. Is it that false promise of 'feeling good' again? The social aspect? We can KNOW it's poison, but our brain's tell us otherwise - you just want that dopamine to make you feel good again. They've done tests with rats and they will do ANYTHING to get that dopamine hit - even walk on plates which give them an electric shock. Now, OK, we're NOT rats - but, as you say, Rob, our rationality deserts us, and off we go again. I'd be interested to hear exactly how you were feeling and what you're thinking as you bought that 1st coffee (this time)?? Anyway, rambling here - sorry. I guess the answer is to try hard to use our rationality and to keep trying, no matter what. It's a rocky road. Anyway, please let me know what you think - and, just to add, I have been wondering how you've been doing. Good luck to you and everyone else - Lisa, hope you're still hanging on in there. Jackie
User says
re: Hi Rob ~
Great post. Everyone posting over and over and over on this site needs to read and understand your message. Caffeine is a central nervous system STIMULANT. A DRUG! Stop taking the shit. Leave it behind. No "tapering", no "occasional" lapses. You pay the price. Rob, best of luck buddy. Just walk away.
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: Rob!!
No time now but wanted to let you know I'll reply tomorrow!! LOL.............
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: Anon
Hi, Anon, sorry to hear you're still struggling. I must admit, I don't understand why it's taking so long for you to feel better. As I've said before, the only thing I can think of is that it's our age and that the accumulation of toxins takes longer to be expelled, as our bodies are not working as well as some of the younger ones on here. Yes, I do have some muscle weakness/ sore joints. This has improved somewhat since I've cut right down (doing really well - not having any most days!) but I know that it won't completely go away as I have some general wear and tear. But the caffeine has definitely made it worse in the past. I still have cog fog and memory probs, too, later in the day - but I do feel clearer in the mornings /early afternoon. Sleeping generally better but still feel get fatigue and do still feel like a zombie sometimes. Well, I wish I could offer more in the way of an answer but thinking of you and time should see you improving. Good luck, Anon. Jackie
User says
re: Hi Jackie and lisa
If only I
Hi Jackie and lisa
If only I could say that my symptoms are getting weaker, I suppose they must be but I still feel like ----. Please could SOMEBODY tell me if they also have extreme muscle weakness, (I have asked this 3 times before and nobody has answered yet). And how can I STILL be having cog fog, memory problems, sore eyes,gut problems, aching joints etc etc when I have been off the stuff for 9 months now???
I am so fed up with all this!
It is good to have this support and opportunity to vent!!!
Keep on keeping on
User says
re: Rob!
I could have written this post myself - every single word of it! Caffeine is pure poison to me as well. I have experienced the EXACT same pattern as you ... going months without it and then giving in by having what I tell myself will be "only one cup". It instantly engages the whole addiction again and I suffer physically (body pain, personality changes (negative), disrupted sleep, etc.). With all my heart I wish you good luck, Rob. Tomorrow is a cool day, numerology-wise ... 11.12.13. 🙂 Best of luck to you. Stay strong - caffeine is horrible.
Rob says
re: Getting off the merry-go-round
Interesting posts. My experience is that caffeine is simply poisonous to me. When I drink it, I feel awful. A combination of physical symptoms (aches, pains, stomach distress) and mental ones (anxiety, fogginess, exhaustion). By far the worst are the mental symptoms, effectively rendering me useless; my productivity drops hugely as I just can’t form thoughts or seem to get motivated to do anything. I would say I’ve spent the majority of the last 20 years in this mess.
Periodically I gather my resources and quit, often for months at a time, then a bizarre thought comes in that I’ll just have one cup. I’ve never stuck at one cup in my life, but rational thought seems to desert me and off I go again. The effect is profound and instant – an initial (very short lived) lift from the drug, followed rapidly by a massive increases in anxiety and depression, with the addiction almost instantly switched on again. A week and a half ago, after quitting for nearly 3 months this is exactly what happened and I’m back in the insanity again, saying today’s the last day, I’ll quit again tomorrow. Not sure if it's just me, but I also find my sugar intake goes up massively with caffeine. I don’t think it’s a surprise 90% of the food sold in coffee shops is sugar-laden pastries and cakes.
I am so sick of this drug. It may be harmless and even beneficial to some, but for me it really does have a negative impact on my life. I’m going to try and quit again tomorrow (ha !). When will I ever learn lol !?
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: Lisa
Yes, Lisa, it IS all part of the withdrawal. Going cold turkey means that your body is detoxing super fast and your body is expelling all of the poison it had stored in it. It seems that your withdrawal is particularly hard but the only answer is to KEEP GOING and let all the poison out. YOU HAVE DONE SO WELL ALREADY!!! And you WILL start to feel better at some point. Just remember that you are NOT going crazy - it is the withdrawal. Read back over some of the posts again - some people have had the most horrible symptoms. My symptoms are really getting weaker now and I know I will recover. My fear has more or less gone although I do have some anxiety - but it is managable and I keep remembering Claire Weekes' boo - face, accept, float, let time pass. Try that, Lisa, if you can. Good luck - we're all behind you. Hugs Jackie Good luck to everyone else and hope things are improving for you all. 🙂
Lisa says
re: Still feeling bad Sam
Well I'm coming up on 60 days in hell now.. I'm on day 57 today.. Still so anxious.. This isn't fair that I'm still having all these symptoms.. The only real improvement I see is my sleep.. I still have a ton of fear, body pain, racing thoughts, can't handle any stress, my legs tremble, I'm joyless, anxiety on most days ( I get kind of a break sometimes), weird dizziness and lightheaded feelings, I feel like I'm out of my body, I have this scary fear in my body that has no origin, I'm just over it already , cold tingles, less panic though( knock on wood), my stomach is still kinda messed up somedays, I did notice that my nausea is not as bad .. I hate that feeling of wanting to crawl out of my skin, .. This is all so bizarre and I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams I could feel all this stuff.. I didn't even have some of these crazy symptoms taper the benzos or even after!! Somedays I feel like I'm
In a dream state or more like a nightmare..is all this really normal fir caffeine withdrawl? I've been trying to accept this as me now but days like today I feel hopeless and I need to get it all off my chest:(.. I just can't see how this is possible :(.. Please write back to me and tell me Sam and Jackie and tell me if this is all really possible still it if I belong in a nuthouse lol.. I'm hoping its still the withdrawl.. This is just all crazy to me still.. Onto month 3 already.. Hope to see improvement.. I have this other sensation where I feel like my brain and body are not connected and my arms and legs feel so weird .. :(..nuts , just nuts
Sam (sjredd) says
re: Unreality
Lisa those feelings aren't fun at all I know!! I remember them well. I had them pretty much all the time for quite a while, more than three months. Things just looked and felt different to me and I would get so frustrated trying to explain it to people. It was like I was in a fog a lot of the time. The more I thought about it the worse it would get (as goes with all anxiety symptoms). I can remember feeling like I had poison in my body going through my head and veins (poison is the best term I can think of for it).just some really odd and scary stuff sometimes.
Honestly don't worry about. Depersonalizations and unreality is something so many anxiety sufferers experience. It's nothing to worry about because as you slowly recover this symptom will begin to lose their grip. Time time time.
Also, I used to count those days also, just like you. I think it made feel more anxious sometimes because I would be counting and looking at how I was still feeling and it would cause me to worry more and kit realize any progress (even though it was there). It's good that you are able to see some progress in that you are not experienced anxiety as bad on some mornings now. That's a good thing!
It's hard I know. It's not impossible though. You are doing the right thing and it's beginning to show. Keep on keeping on! This will all be a distant memory someday. You are going to be fine:)
-Sam
Lisa says
re: So weird Sam
Sam , I was reading over your posts a s I see that you describe a feeling of unreality.. I too have this and I constantly feel detached from my body.. It really is a very scary sensation and I don't like it one bit:(.. I feel so disconnected from my own body.. How often did that happen for you? This fear is tearing me up but I do notice that I have not had it every single morning.. Anymore.. Thanks Sam for always answering:).. This is hard.. Tomorrow is day 55.. So done
Lisa says
re: Sam again:)
I was reading over your old posts and I saw that you quit caffeine twice.. Did your anxiety lift the first time or did you notice it lift more the second time? I'm not seeing a whole lot of changes with the anxiety still:(.. 54 days already. I do get moments here and there where its low but it never leaves me.. But quite sure why its still so strong.. I'm not making this come its just there.. Sometimes way worse than other times.. Makes me nervous that ill have it forever.. And some of the head symptoms are very scary.. Like feeling lighteaded and dizzy and wobbly.. Not too much has lifted yet.. Just the sleep has improved a lot and sometimes I don't have the fear.. Tell me once again this isn't permenant :(..
Sam (sjredd) says
re: Sleep
Getting more sleep is a very good sign. You may not always have as much sleep as you would have liked, but the fact that you are now able to get more sleep most nights now, than you were a month ago is a great sign you are recovering.
Your really are such a strong individual. To be home all day dealing with this is a tough thing. You are doing quite well I think. And you are still giving your child the care it needs and deserves. You are a loving mother don't let anxiety tell you otherwise. Anxiety is a bluffer. Your really are in control and you are getting just a tiny but better each week!!
I would start looking back further than how you felt yesterday and comparing it to today. Too small a period of time to see your progress. Look back to a week ago, a month ago, even further. There you will get a better idea of the distance you've come.
That's what helped me when I was down in the dumps about my day with anxiety. Try it.
Warm regards,
Sam
Lisa says
re: Once again Sam .. You are wonderful
Thank you Sam for all your kind words..these days have been rough for sure. Just wishing for better days.. Nothing is joyful to me.. It's awful.. I try to be happy but nothing comes. My baby is growing so fast and I feel like im missing it all being sick .. My head symptoms are the worst.. The dizziness , lightheadedness , weird electric stuff..my body feels like 1000 pounds .. At least my sleep is returning .. I swear this the worst I have ever felt;(.. I sure hope this all passes sooner than later.. Thanks again, your wonderful Sam.., Lisa
Sam (sjredd) says
re: Depression
Lisa,
My depression got pretty bad for a while. It would often begin as a panic attack. Then the anxiety (fear) would start. Then I would become emotionally exhausted from it... Anxiety and depression seem to go hand in hand and depression easily becomes part of the cycle. You begin to fear it as well. It seems particularly oppressive when the two seem to happen at the same time. This lasted several months for me... off and on, sometimes more on than off. But it too faded in time and retuned to more normal levels.
I've learned from my experience, that the depression is merely the result of mental and emotional fatigue from all the anxiety symptoms, feelings, etc... Along with the panic attacks. We do reach a point where we become exhausted from all of this. Physically and emotionally. We just get tired of it all. Please take heart and remember that these feelings are also a symptom of anxiety. It is treated in the same way... Facing it. Accepting it. Floating through it. And letting time pass. Claire Weekes method is so simple, yet so mentally and emotionally difficult at first, I know, BUT it does work.
Here's how I worked through this difficult symptom...
I would get a wave of sadness reinforced by a churning stomach, that hot poker feeling you sometimes get when you are very, very homesick. It would often vary in intensity and really make me feel like all hope is lost. I would think "why do I feel like this... Again? I am so tired of it! I want it to stop now. I never felt this way in the past!" It would then subside after a while, sometimes it would take several days to go away. Then, I would feel that "pang" of sadness again, and I would think "oh no! Not again please not again!" I would then develop a fear of it as well which would then lead to those dreaded feelings of unreality and being in a fog.
I realized I had to accept the depression AS A SYMPTOM of anxiety.
I faced the symptom: I told myself the depression wasn't real sadness, it was a symptom of the churning "homesick" stomach... I mentally pictured myself pulling the churning stomach symptom out and holding it and turning it in my hands to look at it from all angles. I would see it as nothing more than a churning stomach and said "hmm that all it is?! Well then that is in fact all it really is!!"
I was then able to more easily accept the symptom of depression: with the mental image of me holding it in my hands, along with the knowledge that is it merely a physical reaction to the excessive hormones being released during my anxiety, it no longer seemed so monstrous and certainly didn't seem as scary.
With all the "mystery" of this unnerving symptom of depression removed, I was able to float right along with it... Embracing it and reassuring my self it will eventually pass and I will feel better. I no longer resisted it, and that was the key!!! If you resist these symptoms they seem to want to stick around and feed off your resistance and fear, gaining strength. Don't feed it through resistance and fear! Move towards it, accept it, and let it do it's thing, run it's coarse. It will, like all other anxiety symptoms, pass and, remember this?... It will fade with TIME!
Claire Weekes says that when the emotional lows of anxiety come, don't be too impressed by them, those downer feelings. They are merely your nerves, still in a sensitized state, trying to balance. It will take time. Let that time pass as you willingly accept the symptom and float your way through it.
It does get easier and I can personally attest to that.
Please don't despair from this it's a symptoms of you tired nerves. Our emotions are part of our nervous system and are also affected by all this as well.
Warm regards and God bless!
Sam
Sam (sjredd) says
re: Jackie it is good to hear
Jackie it is good to hear from you again! I'm so glad you have been helped so much by the posts of so many in this forum. I as well as so thankful for the support of those posting here as well. A tremendous help.
Thank you for your kind words. This anxiety is something I wouldn't wish on my enemies! It is so unnerving, especially during those initial days when you have no ideas what is happening to you.
It's great to hear that you are making progress. I'm glad you have ordered Claire Weekes book... it will be a tremendous help and reliefe for you. I know it will. It certainly was for me.
Please keep us updated.
Best wishes and God bless!
Sam!
Lisa says
re: Hey Sam
How r u? Can u tell me how was your depression after you quit. ? Mine is so bad and I have no desire to do anything:(. This is just not like me and I'm wondering if it will last long.. I'm
53 says off now!! This sucks.. Im so over it .. The fear is a tad less today and anxiety came down a bit yesterday but I feel all around like hell everyday.. Thanks again Sam, Lisa.. Hope u are well <3
Lisa says
re: Jackie
I don't really think I turned a corner yet:(.. Why are the mornings so bad Jackie? I have no emotion and I'm so depressed.. This is so not like me.. I'm getting scared something else is wrong:(.. How do you feel in the mornings? Lisa
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: Lisa!
Hi, Lisa, that is great news - as it feels like you really have turned a corner!! I'm really happy that you met someone who's been through the same as you and can reassure you - that must make you feel like you're on your way out of this state- and you are! Also glad you're sleeping a bit better - I know that when I'm sleeping better, it helps me to cope. I'm doing really well, thanks, I feel like I've turned a corner, too. 🙂 I woke up this morning and actually felt like I DIDN'T WANT a coffee!! Miracles do happen.:) I've been having this caffeine-free 'No-Caf' which is made from chicory/dates etc as a warm drink substitute and it's great. Sleeping much better. Still having some anxiety and bouts of fear - but when I get the fear, I've tried the homeopathic remedy Coffea and it seems to work and takes off the edge. Even if it's the placebo effect. as long as it works, that's fine by me lol. Starting to feel alive again and there's a different feeling in me - like it really is the beginning of getting myself and my life back. Anyway, keep going, Lisa, and you WILL get through and feel better again. Thanks, again, to everyone on here - what a fantastic supportive group it is. Good luck to everyone and best wishes. Jackie
Lisa says
re: Hey Sam, Jackie and everyone !!
I met a guy last night in a benzo withdrawl group!! He is 100 days off caffeine and like me he was healed from his withdrawl from
Benzos.. He started to get anxiety he thought from adrenal fatigue.. He has all of the same exact symptoms as me!! Exactly!! The same.. He said after 100 days he is still rough but some stuff is getting better .. I was so happy to find him just like I found all of you.. 52 days off now.. Still feeling rough.. Slept good last night. About 8 hours.. Lots of symptoms today.. Hate the weird head stuff.. Almost at 2 months! Looking forward to the end of this .. Can't wait till its at least manageable .. How are you all doing? , Lisa
Lisa says
re: Anxiety!!!
Everything good!!! I have anxiety:(... I knew it.. Gosh it's still so strong
Lisa says
re: Last visit to the er
This morning I freaked out and came to er.. This is my third visit.. I have a ton of symptoms but I also have a lot of ovary pain.. So that was my main symptom .. I am getting a bunch of tests just to be sure it's nothing serious.. After this and if they tell me it's just anxiety I guess I have to wait it out:(...praying for this hell to end soon.. My gah my whole body is numb and I could not sleep last hight. I hate hate hate hate hate anxierty.. Worst symptom ever:((. I hope it does go away forever... Thanks everyone , Lisa
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: To Sam, Sensitive to caffeine, Lisa and Anon and everyone
Hi, tbh, I've got a little lost in all of the comments (which are all SO helpful) but wanted to post - but sorry if I've ignored anything. First, Sam, as Lisa said, you ARE wonderful - the amount of support you are offering to us all is amazing - thanks so much - and, as SensitiveToCaffeine said, you explain it all so well. I'm reading what you've said and I'm thinking - YES, THAT' S ME, THAT'S EXACTLY IT! I can't find the original STC post but BIG thanks to you, SensitiveToCaffeine, as Sam cited what you'd said about how we become hyper -sensitive to caffeine and then spend all of our time in "a very high state of hyper vigilance" and the slightest change can cause us to "respond instantly to an overload of panic". Again, that's absolutely me!! I'm always watching myself to see what state I'm in or how I'm feeling or how I'm going to feel. My nerves are so sensitive and the slightest incident can have me flooding with adrenaline/cortisol/fear (and it happens spontaneously, as well). It's clear that the caffeine has sent my fight/flight response into overdrive and it feels like I'm sometimes in that state 24/7. BUT now that I understand what's happening to me, I know that it will help me to get a handle on this. There ISN'T some big nasty monster inside of me - it's my brain chemicals gone awry. THAT feels like a big relief, in a way - and NOT so scary - because I feel like I can DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, rather than feel at the mercy of the big monster of fear. Having said all of that, ANON, thank you very much for your earlier comments and best wishes. I HAVE taken on board what you've said and have put into practice some of your suggestions. AND I have had some success - and I'm starting to feel stronger and feel like the more times I can ride out my feelings, the better it will get. Thank you 🙂 LISA - you have been such an inspiration to me! You are such a brave, determined person, to have gone over 50 days with such awful symptoms - so thank you, too. PLEASE keep going! I truly believe your symptoms will start to die down but - as everyone testifies to - it does take time for the body to re-balance its chemistry. Thinking of you.
Also, I have ordered the Claire Weekes book and have already started to put into practise some of her techniques (gleaned from goodsreads book reviews). I REALLY do feel I'm finding a way out of this and I don't think I could have done it without the support here - and all the important information and subsequent understanding of just what is happening to me. So I want to say a GENUINE and massive thank you to everyone here - it really is a life-saver. Good luck to good health to everyone. Jackie.
Sam (sjredd) says
re: Yes yes google and anxiety
Yes yes google and anxiety are best friends... Our health anxiety is started or at the very least kept alive by Dr. google!
Lisa says
re: Sam<3
I went three times to doc so I'm not sure but I know
They did a ton of bloodwork.. And also in the er.. I did a bad thing.. I googled:(.. All about hormones and stupid stuff.. Dang it it was just so scared.. No more google.. It's been 50
Days already ..seems so long to feel like this.. Lots of stupid stories about how hormonal imbalance can cause stroke, heart attack..
I've had this numbness all day.. Today had been bad bad and lots of stress on top.. I'm hoping to sleep good tonight..my anxiety is so
High tonight which isn't normal but I had a rough day .. Maybe tomorrow will be better.. Thanks so much Sam
.. You are wonderful
, Lisa
Sam (sjredd) says
re: Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Isn't it hard?! I haven't forgotten how hard it is to go through all of this. I, like you, was convinced that all the doctors were dead wrong in their conclusion about me. However weeks later I learned that they were right. Because the symptoms can vary to a degree from day to day, it's very hard not to second guess yourself and start spiraling back into the cycle of fear. It can be especially difficult going back into anxiety when you have just enjoyed a brief respite from the anxiety.
It was a miracle that I got to work at all the first two or three months. I did end up taking a LOT of sick leave during that time due to the scary symptoms, I yes I know they are scary. It wasn't easy. I know it can't be easy for you either. It has to be difficult especially for you because you are a mom and trying to take care of your children all while trying to coexist with this "thing" that has happened to you.
You can have your endocrine system checked if you want to. Maybe it will give you temporary peace of mind, but you must understand that the doctors may or MAY NOT find anything wrong. If they don't then you are back dealing just with anxiety... You must accept it and carry on like you have been.
I will tell you that I've already been in that position wanting to have my hormones and vitamin levels checked. Like I said before, I too experienced countless times the pins and needles sensation all over. Numbness and so called weakness as well. I developed a tingling buzz sensation in my face and around my eyelids that would come and go... All that led me to self diagnose Multiple Sclerosis and all I ended up doing was getting afraid and reinforcing the anxiety. Just so you know... I did have an MRI and a lumbar puncture (for an unrelated problem) which did not show any MS related lesions on my nerves or anything else that would cause that. It turnes out that I was tensing my muscles severely so much with the panic and anxiety that nerves were being affected by the tight muscles. When I relaxe the buzzing and pins and needles usually go away.
The anxiety would begin to die down and then I would allow myself to freak out and then all those nasty sensations would come back strong, sometimes really strong and then I would find myself headed back to the place that I wanted so badly to escape from.
There is nothing wrong with going and making sure that there is nothing more serious. But you can't keep second guessing or you will most definitely not recover. You need to let your nerves be for a time so they can relaxe. Let them take all the time they need to calm down. Let them do their anxiety things. You don't have to ignore the sensations. Just acknowledge them and move on. Tell them you already met and you know what they are. It will take you a while, but you will eventually stop fearing them much and they will not have as strong an affect on you.
Anxiety symptoms se to come in stages and you will feel new and different sensations for a while. However you will eventually have experienced them all and will begin to notice a pattern. Adrenalin only affects your body in certain ways and as Dr. Weekes puts it... The pattern is set. You may have already felt the worst your nerves can throw at you. You must not worry. Remember that time is your best friend in this process. Time is a great healer.
Also don't fret too much about losing your mind... You are not. Your mind is reacting to all the stress hormones being releases and is just fatigued and exhausted. You will be alright.
Lisa says
re: Imbalance
Sam I am wondering if I am dealing with a hormonal imbalance from having my baby 7 months ago and this is not caffeine at all:(.. But see the only problem is that I went to sleep fine on sept 8 and I woke up in the depths of hell.. I don't understand any of this .. I
Having crazy symptoms and I feel like
My endocirine system is all messed up now and that is why I
Having such severe symptoms.. I don't know what to think
Anymore... All i know is the bloodwork showed that I was healthy.. They checked everything .. Could coming off caffeine really makes body so whacked out ? Now I feel like I'm going into menopause ( I just turned 37).. But none of this makes any sense.. My symptoms are unthinkable .. I am a mess.. This is so frustrating .. The anxiety is really getting me bad.. I have other stuff but I can handle it..maybe the docs are wrong.. I don't know what I ever did to deserve this :(.. I feel like I ate poison .. My arms and legs go numb and have pins and crazy needles.. I literally feel like I'm on the verge of a nervous breakdown .. No one can be this bad for no reason.. I can't even function.. How did you go to work Sam?
User says
re: Hey just wanted to say thanks
Hey just wanted to say thanks for posting - very mature, real and helpful
Lisa says
re: Seriously?
Is this for real? How could anxiety be this bad in my body? It's all day long omg:(((((.. It's really making me want to go to doctor so maybe they will find what is causing this!!! I cannot handle this..I honestly feel like I'm losing my mind.. I'm sorry for being a pain but im having a hard time here.. I feel so so bad.. How can this be normal:(
Lisa says
re: Sam how did you know
How did you know you would survive? How did you know you were gonna make it? I don't understand how such horrible
such awful can be present in my body.. I didn't t
Think could ever feel like this unless they were dying.. How did you push through the days wih high anxiety? I feel like im getting weak.. Like my body can't handle it anymore and I'm scared.. Im gonna end up in a crazy house or something .. I feel like I'm gonna get even worse like yesterday afternoon and lose my mind..maybe im just not strong or maybe the anxiety is getting the best of me.. I can barely do anything anymore.. I've left my house maybe 5 times in 46 days.. I don't know how it can be this bad.. It's caffeine.. Just caffeine .. I'm
A mess.. :(.. Trying to be strong.. I can't even take my kids to the park.. I'm so scared of getting worse
Lisa says
re: Hey Sam
Weird symptoms I wanted to ask you about.. This morning and a few mornings I woke up feeling like my body was asleep.. Or filled with like sand or heavy.. It feels like my blood is not circulating or something.. It scares me .. I have weird pins and needles.. Is this normal? Does it sound familiar..yesterday was the most horrendous day yet:(.. Thanks sam
Lisa says
re: Hey Sam
Weird symptoms I wanted to ask you about.. This morning and a few mornings I woke up feeling like my body was asleep.. Or filled with like sand or heavy.. It feels like my blood is not circulating or something.. It scares me .. I have weird pins and needles.. Is this normal? Does it sound familiar..yesterday was the most horrendous day yet:(.. Thanks sam
Sam (sjredd) says
re: Lisa,
Think back to earlier
Lisa,
Think back to earlier this morning... you were feeling pretty good compared to how you've been feeling lately. I bet that felt really nice and relaxing! Remember these feelings of peace will be fleeting for a while and you will still spend most of your time with anxious feelings. Learning to accept these is no easy task but it is going to happen if you let it happen. There were many time I thought I was having or going to have a stroke... That was my most prevalent fear in all this.... Anxiety is the biggest bluffer and is capable of imitating so many things. Especially if you spend a lot of time "researching" your symptoms on the internet. The internet wilthout fail will always come up with the absolute worst of things and in your anxious state of mind you will latch onto those and your mind will begin to convince you that "that" or "this" is what you have. Even though you know that your doctor said you were fine. Remember how your nerves are still sensitized very much and will respond almost instantly with an overload of panic at the slightest change of sensations in your body. Just as "Sensitive to Caffiene" posted below, the anxious person spends most of their time in a very high state of hyper vigilance of how you feel. You notice absolutely everything and think about how you are feeling or going to feel. You are intensely awaiting the next move your sensitized nerves are going to make.
You are making progress... remember this morning?... That is a sign of progress. Slow progress is still progress, even when it seems you've relapsed a little, that is still an even better opportunity to practice what you've learned...accept, face, let the symptoms came at you with everything they've got... They can not harm you remember!! And continue to let more and more time pass... A lot of people need months to recover. Even I still have moments where panic flashes though my system, and I have to stop and face them head on... The difference now is that I've been there so many times I know that they are just my nerves bluffing me. But I know better now and the adrenalin only flashed once and leaves just as quickly... I've desensitized my nerves to lost of this and do not keep throwing more fuel on the anxiety with fear of it. Just as you feel now, I once thought I would never get to this point.. But I did... And so wil you... You will. Remember the peace and calm you had this morning:) it will return...
Sam
Lisa says
re: Sam and panic attacks
Damn panic or more like a terror attack got me today:(.. It came out if nowhere.. So awful ans it made me cry so much.. I thought I was having a stroke:(.. I was all alone with my little baby.. This is so sad.. I feel like such a failure as a mom.. How can I let this happen to me. Why didn'tt I see this coming? Sam did the panic attacks just go away? When the anxiety lifted.. I am a mess.. I don't know what what is worse.. The anxiety or the panic.. My god they are so strong.. I swear I was dying .. How the hell am I ever gonna get better if the panic and anxiety is contstantly traumatizing me? Does it just get easier with time.. Am I doing something wrong??? This is
Devastating :(:(:;((
Lisa says
re: Spoke too soon sensitive 🙁
Well I got up and started to clean and then I started feeling pretty bad again:(.. This is so hard and I want to do so much like a did before this happened.. I do have a hard time pushing myself to go out soon.. I was so calm this morning that I was just waiting for a panic attack.. I know that is so stupid but like I said I'm still a mess.. My muscles are so tense when I try to do stuff.. Makes me want to just llay in bed.. Will this ever really end? I get this weird diabetes feeling come over me and it shoots adrenaline through me... I know I'm not far off.. I know it takes time.. I'm just so impatient:(:(:(... I eat well by the way
sensitivetocaffeine says
re: To Lisa
Great to hear you're now able to sleep thru the night and your anxiety has lifted a bit! That's a great sign that you're coming out of it. Sleeping 7+ hours a night is so important for your brain/body to heal. When I don't get a full nights sleep, my anxiety is elevated most of the time.
As you continue to improve, you need to break some of the "anxiety habits". An example of this is- opening your eyes in the morning then wondering what you feel like. I do that as well. As far of the other symptoms, give yourself time and they will lift. People with anxiety are SSSOOO hyper sensitive to "how the feel" that we add additional anxiety "worrying" about it. People w/out anxiety wake up and start thinking about there day, they don't start micro-stressing about every ache, pain or weird sensation that they feel. We are too tuned into our bodies.
The sooner you can push yourself to do more and more and not let your anxiety symptoms limit you, the faster you'll be back to yourself.
Keep feeling better!
As you're up to it, keep pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Get out of the house more. Go for some longer and longer drives.. You don't want to contribute and reinforce bad anxiety habits like telling yourself you "can't" because your anxiety is high, etc.. The more you push yourself and realize that you're only feeling increased stress chemicals that are not dangerious, they faster you will get back to yourself 100%.
Lisa says
re: Thank you sensitive:)
Funny thing.. Today I woke up for the first time without severe anxiety and I'm so scared lol.. Go figure huh.. My body has been in such high alert for the last 45 days I have no idea how to relax anymore.. I just push through the days hoping I pass time so I can get better.. I do. Feel funky however but that severe horrific anxiety I usually have is not here.. I am hoping the next 45 days it lifts a ton.. I have weird symptoms like heart palps sometimes, racing brain, malaise, very unco fortable restlessness, and bad headaches and some other minor stuff.. I am finally starting to sleep better this week, hope that lasts.. Slept all night again but for some reason my body wakes up at 6 am.. Ugh.. I do have lots if body pain and weird burning sometimes and jaw pain.. Ill be so glad once this crap is over.. I do feel slight anxiety there but it's way better than severe.. Also my feet sweat which is so weird.. I'm a chick and that has never happened to me until this.. Super weird .. My body is so off... I pray I'm coming back cause I missy life.. I can't really. Drive a lot it do much cause I'm so scared.. I miss the taking my kids out ans going out period.. So many long horrible days :(((.. Can't even watch tv yet.. Makes me so nervous.. Thanks for this post.. I am
Still having panic attacks but not every day... I'm so done already.. Lol.. Thanks, Lisa
sensitivetocaffeine says
re: 10 days since last caffeine. FYI LISA
Im posting this for others in the future to hang on to hope when they are in the midst of the initial, terrible w/d.
I'm now at day 10 of no caffeine. Most of the really terrible symptoms eased up around day 7 and I felt really good on day 8. I had the classic w/d symptoms but my most annoying was- feeling stressed out, tension in my body, feeling on edge and having constant, tight traps muscles and constant anxiety. I then got drunk the night of day 8 and had low grade anxiety (and a mild hangover) thru day 9.
I have been dealing with moderate Generalized Anxiety for the past 4 plus years so any additional chemicals can trigger an increase in the anxiety. I have always been very sensitive to caffeine and know I'm one who should not drink it due to it causing anxiety issues.
To Lisa- I remembered something that will help you. Around 1990, I had a girl friend who drank tons of coffee. I started drinking tons of it as well for several months. I then for the first time had an outbreak of anxiety. I saw several doctors who checked my thyroid and blood work and said I was fine, it was just anxiety. They wanted to put me on meds but I said no. I immediately quit drinking any caffeine as I learned it could be a contributor. It took 2-3 months but the anxiety did lift and I returned to normal again. So, in your case Lisa, you and Sam might be right in that it's just taking your brain an extended period of time to right itself and find balance again. Kudo's to you and be proud of yourself for being so strong and navigating thru the high anxiety drug free.
Remember one thing I was told a while back.. Anxiety isn't a separate "thing". You are the anxiety and you control the anxiety thermostat with your thinking and reactions to the symptoms of your body misfiring, dumping more adrenaline and cortisol, causing your strong symptoms. Sam does a WONDERFUL job of explaining it all and good job to him for being so helpful. At the end of the day, your body's nervous system is on high alert and needs to heal and reset back to normal.
I'll continue to keep you in my thoughts Lisa and that your anxiety will ease up and go away soon. 🙂
User says
re: jackie and Lisa,
night time terrors are horrible I know, but I always watch TV or do breathing exercises, ANYTHING rather than putting caffeine back into my system and thereby ensuring that the terrors will continue, I ask myself at those times "do I really want these terrors to stop, because if the answer is Yes, than I have to get through them tonight without any caffeine" if you could just try doing ANYTHING but drinking caffeine, that is how I have done it and it works for me, I record some programme just in case it happens, and it usually lasts about 4 hours and then I can go back to sleep. If I can't watch tV, I do ironing or wash the floor, something just to get me through the fear.
Good luck Jackie
PS I know all my symptoms are down to caffeine, it is just going to take it's time, and I am going to put up with it.
I have made huge improvements, but sometimes I can't see that, and the symptoms fluctuate a lot too.
Lisa I am so envious of you getting 8 hours sleep, I told you you would improve, you will recover faster than i do and I will be very very envious......
Lisa says
re: Sam you are so wise;)
I am so glad that I met you on these boards.. I honestly had no idea what was happening to me.. I too wake up with dread and fear of the day to come.. I think that your right about the physical
Withdrawl coming to an end.. To me though instill have a few physical symptoms such as dizziness, headaches , head pressure but my sleep is returning slowly and my stomach is not near as bad as it was.. I have a ton of anxiety and fear which I am positive are the worst symptoms... I do feed them sometimes but even on the days I try my best to accept them.. They are very strong still.. When did you start reading that books? You said your anxiety started I lift around three months which is what a lot of people say. Sometimes
It's so hard not ton fear the symptoms.. They are strange and scary:(.. But I am trying .. I am hoping as time wears on they will get easier .. I'm so glad you are doing well and thank you for giving me hope... I slept 8 hours finally last night yay!!! I know I'm healing and its so slow and some days are so hard.. Thanks for all your great advice.. 45 days off already.. Can't wait till 3 months ;).. Can't come soon enough, Lisa
Sam (sjredd) says
re: Constant fear.
I hadn't felt such a fear as the fear from and of anxiety either until last year when all that started. I remember waking up a whole lot dreading the morning and the day to follow. I would even have issues with going to bed at night because of all the memories of previous panic attacks in bed. Remember this fear is part of the anxiety and will get less over time. You also play a huge role in keeping this fear alive by the very fact that you are anticipating it and dreading it. Dreading it and wishing it would go away is not accepting it. I know because I went through the same situation. Remember you play a part in breaking the cycle of adrenalin fear adrenalin by facing accepting floating through it and then letting time pass... I know it's hard from experience... It was very very very hard but is not going to stay that way. Remove the fear of the symptoms and then the symptoms don't seem so threatening anymore:)
Keep listening to you audiobook and try (hard as it is) to practice what she is teaching you. I also have the audiobook as well as the paperback. The audiobook is highly abridged (even though it says it isn't) and doesn't go into nearly the detail that the full paperback does.
Take care and keep going... It's so worth in the end and you WILL get there!!
Sam
Sam (sjredd) says
re: Anger and muscle weakness.
I believe that in our case, the caffiene withdrawal plays a big role in starting the cycle, but then our fear of the symptoms keep the cycle going far beyond the point the actual withdrawal physically ends.
Muscle fatigue and weakness, malaise and mood issues can also be symptoms of prolonged anxiety. Anxiety releases adrenalin which affects our mood and physically exhausts us it if goes on for a while. I had all these symptoms as well and they lasted several months.
Sam
Lisa says
re: To Sam and Jackie:$.. FEAR!!!!!
Please tell me what this awful fear is all about
And why why why it won't leave me alone!! I have never felt such a thing in all my life/((.. Sam how long did the fear last for you? Jackie you scare me cause you still have it 18 months later.. It's gotta be the caffeine cause we all have it or have had it.. Please tell me it goes away!!! Sam I wake up every single morning with terrible fear and anxiety!! Do you wake up with it?? This is hell... I'm in hell:((( I don't even know what I'm afraid of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is awful:(:(:(:
Lisa says
re: To Sam and Jackie:$.. FEAR!!!!!
Please tell me what this awful fear is all about
And why why why it won't leave me alone!! I have never felt such a thing in all my life/((.. Sam how long did the fear last for you? Jackie you scare me cause you still have it 18 months later.. It's gotta be the caffeine cause we all have it or have had it.. Please tell me it goes away!!! Sam I wake up every single morning with terrible fear and anxiety!! Do you wake up with it?? This is hell... I'm in hell:((( I don't even know what I'm afraid of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is awful:(:(:(:
Jackie from the U.K. says
re: To anon and Lisa and eveyone
Hi, Lisa, just the usual word of encouragement - I'm thinking of you and sending you strength and my prayers are with you. KEEP GOING - you can do! I'm so glad your diet is good - it really will help and I'm so glad you're finding so much help on here - what a fantastic group it is. TC x Hi, anon, well, I'm really sorry to hear you're still having such a rough time. I think you've said elsewhere, as well, that you feel this is going on longer than you would have expected. Have you been to the doctor to get checked out to make sure there isn't anything else that's adding to your difficulties?? We all know that caffeine withdrawal is very physically, emotionally and mentally demanding but there could be other factors adding to it, maybe ? As I've got older, I've experienced more aches and pains. I know the caffeine has added to that but I think that some of my aches and pains are age-related. Well, I agree with your comments. Rationally, it doesn't make sense that I still put the poison into my body when I know it's so bad for me. But as I've explained elsewhere (and also see my reply to Sam, today), I get this gripping, all consuming night-time terrors type of fear and dread - and it's so terrible, I'd do ANYTHING to make it stop. It feels like I am in the middle of a living nightmare - and I admit that I run away and turn to caffeine to make it stop. Maybe I'm weak but I'm doing the best I can. As I said to Sam, I'm taking heart that I HAVE made progress and am having MUCH less coffee than I was. Also, feeling a little clearer and stronger every day I wake up. At least I am a work in progress and not drinking the vast amounts I was. Anyway, I guess we all need to just keep going and take heart from all the posts on here which make it clear that healing IS possible. Take care and keep us posted. Jackie.