How to Nix Your Caffeine Addiction

These days more and more people are choosing to give up caffeine for the health benefits. Like sleep.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 'step down' caffeine
• water
• painkillers (optional)
• something soothing (optional)

1. First, try and go one whole and complete day to see how bad your addiction is. Can't function at all? You've got a bad one. There are two ways to quit: step by step, or cold turkey. For you step by step people, just follow these steps. For those of you who wish to do it cold turkey, skip to step 3.

2. If you're used to drinking coffee, switch it out for tea. Tea still has caffeine in it (how much depends on the type of tea) but not as much as a cup of black coffee. You're used to drinking energy drinks? Trade your can of Rock Star for a can of Coke. Again, there's still caffeine, just not as much.

3. After a few weeks of that it's time for the next step. Giving it up. I know from personal experience that caffeine withdrawal can involve headaches, irritability, nosebleeds, and fatigue. Part of this is all in your head. But most of this is simply your body freaking out because it can't get its fix.
   
   For headaches, take any painkiller EXCEPT IBUPROFEN!!! That drug has caffeine in it, and while you'll 86 your headache, you wont be giving up your addiction.
   
   For stress and irritability, zen out with a good book, a hot shower, anything that takes you away from irritating such as family and work. Take one hour of time each day to do these things and you'll find you are much more calm and stable.

4. Once you have given up your addiction, you can temp fate a bit by drinking coffee, or an energy drink once every other day. If you're like me, you LOVE the taste of coffee, and can taste a difference between decaff and regular. Just make sure you dont have much more than that. Otherwise you may need to read this How-to again!

Tips & Warnings

• Did you know that too much caffeine can leach calcium from your bones?
• Caffeine IS a drug, and it IS possible to overdose. Signs of an overdose include headache, nausea, weakness and shaking, and racing of the heart.

[chenderson00]

on 2/2/2009 Great tips. I like that about switching coffee with Tea! Green tea is pretty good and great for your health. It's still caffeine but not half as bad 5*s

[AdirondackTrina]

on 2/2/2009 Caffeine addict here, thanks for the great tips!!

[PearlsWisdom]

on 2/2/2009 Great tips, especially quitting for a day to see how bad your addiction is. I'm not ready for this yet!