I Abruptly Stopped Drinking Caffeine And This Happened

[@adrianhenle]

My friend worked at a coffee shop for a few years, and developed a strong dependence on caffeine that persists to this day. A decade later, his girlfriend didn't believe such a thing existed, and she secretly replaced his coffee beans with decaf to "prove" it. He was about ready to go to the hospital when the withdrawal was in full swing.

[@oOsillyrabbitOo]

I’ve worked in coffee shops for almost a decade, the dependence definitely was developing before he started working there, every barista at ever shop I’ve worked in enjoys Coffee, but is absolutely sick of it. Most of the newer baristas drop coffee after about a month of working because they’re just around it too often, most switch to tea.

[@talyer7728]

I'm sorry but if you "don't believe" in caffeine dependency when almost everyone has it..... get a new gf.

[@starblade1]

Damn bro I hate to hear it. 5 years ago I was bad addicted to caffeine. I was so dependent on it, if I didn't have enough money for coffee I couldn't get out of bed. It was so bad I would search the whole house even taking things apart to try and get the money for it. I even did some regrettable acts for strangers just so I could get a hit of caffeine. It was very bad. All my friends and family left me and I ended up homeless because I would spend all my money on it. I wouldn't even buy food, just caffeine. But now, several years later, I have been to rehab and have finally made it to where I can live without it. I relapsed several times and one time my wife even caught me drinking coffee and left me and took the kids. Thankfully I'm clean now and I still struggle with it but I'm getting through it one day at a time!

[@agrotta1650]

@@starblade1 🤭

[@MrKnutriis]

@@starblade1You should be a comedian.

[@holden_tld]

i was doing 1000-1500 mg caffeine daily for years (sometimes up to 2000 mg).. i used to wake up with horrible headaches sometimes until i had some. i decided to completely quit it a couple months ago. i just stopped one day expecting to have the shittiest week ever. absolutely zero withdrawal symptoms. was very weird. i think maybe i'm done with it for good now.

[@kencarp57]

I don't consume anywhere near as much caffeine as you did... maybe 500-700 mg per day across 4-6 cups. BUT like you, I have never had ANY caffeine withdrawal symptoms if I don't drink any coffee for a day or two. Never in my whole life. And I never feel any "buzz" from drinking caffeinated beverages either. I wonder if there has ever been any research done involving people who don't seem to be affected much by caffeine.

[@Zach0451]

At what point did you realize you were addicted? That kind of thing doesn't exactly sneak up on you

[@PandasAreLegit]

@@BorkBiscuit same, minus weekends where i have to have something w/ caffeine, but generally any amount will curb it.

[@holden_tld]

​@@Zach0451 i dont think i ever thought of myself as being addicted. i started drinking coffee when i was four..

[@natto84]

Caffeine actually makes me sleepy in large amounts and I don’t get withdrawals from it either. It is wakeful for me in normal amounts but I don’t get jittery at any amount. Once I drank six double shots of espresso in an hour and just wanted to take a nap. I know that genetically I am a fast metabolizer of caffeine, plus I have a neurological herpes simplex infection in my vagus nerve that seems to make my nervous system have a muffled response to things. I am almost impossible to scare even in really dangerous situations and it is very hard for me to experience anxiety. It is also almost impossible for me to vomit. I wonder if other people who have a muffled response to caffeine have unusual nervous systems too.

[@chrissantos3983]

I got mad anxiety and depression for about a week after I went cold turkey on caffeine. But it was worth it. I haven't had caffeine in about 3 years and I feel much better for it. The biggest thing I noticed is that I sleep so much better now.

[@sarah-uh6nn]

I stopped drinking caffiene suddently last year while I had just moved cities AND while I was coming down with the flu, my anxiety level was off the fucking charts. I don't consume caffiene now and I feel a lot better.

[@chrissantos3983]

@@sarah-uh6nn I totally understand. I had no idea how much caffeine actually affected me until about a month after I quit consuming it. I'm glad you're caffeine free and feeling better though! that's awesome.

[@donnydont]

@@chrissantos3983 I consume tons of caffeine and have never felt better, sleep great too

[@NeptuneGuy78]

@@donnydontI’m happy for you.

[@luciusdomitius9377]

The quality of sleep you mention. Did that happen straight away? Or maybe after a week or so before it really improved? I gave up a 7 days ago and have barely slept at all

[@Error404PageNotFoundx]

I stopped coffee cold turkey about a month ago. It was giving me acid reflux and insomnia. I went through a week, or so of hellish headaches and and irritability, but now I feel peace inside. I sleep better and I feel like a child inside. Just pure calmness and happiness. I suspect I was hypersensitive to that insecticide.

[@JaySoul711]

Same here! Totally worth it !

[@KelvinMullins-v2w]

I think it may be giving me anxiety....I make it strong and drink around 5 to 6 pints a day.....imma gonna do the same as you did....and....hope for the same results😊

[@evakozo3593]

I quit caffeine for a year, I also had the insomnia, it was weird about the insomnia though,... it took about 2-3 weeks after quitting caffeine for the insomnia to kick in... I could go to sleep normally but I could only sleep for 4 hours, I would wake up at 1am, this happened for about 4 months, and my sleep slowly improved,... I have read that alcohol and the caffeine unhinge the adrenal glands... I would like to know why my inability to sleep correctly happened after quitting caffeine occurred... only reason I drink caffeine in the mornings now is because I started graduate school, I do not agree with this doctor on the "dependency"... it's majorly addictive, they want to keep the word "addictive" reserved for heroin, and use a less threatening word "dependency" for caffeine, but I believe the world is massively addicted to caffeine

[@KelvinMullins-v2w]

@@Error404PageNotFoundx I seem to get in a bad way whenever I don't drink coffee....but...damn...I probably drink on average about 75 ounces a day....gotta cut back....quit making it so strong .,..gotta do somthin about rhe anxiety....but...to be honest....it's the marijuana habit thats causing it....and....I've quit the stuff....god...I've smoked it heavy for wbout 30 years.....but...it's gotta go...

[@NullnVoid.]

​@KelvinMullins-v2w that's a loooot of coffee holy hell

[@I_Willenbrock_I]

I am a lab technician and for over 15 years, coffee was the diesel which kept my motor running. I drank lots of strong coffee. I made a hard reset and went to zero the next day. It took me over two weeks to adapt. I was nervous, anxious, had depression and several blood pressure related problems. Ultimately, it was worth it.

[@dilat]

What about after two weeks? You can resist easily or it's still hard?

[@I_Willenbrock_I]

@@dilat once you adapted, it's totally easy. You just need to watch out for caffeinated products. I've been drinking decaffeinated coffee for the past 5 or six years I guess. No problems. (although I am very happy that decaf tastes just as good as normal coffee where I live)

[@dilat]

@@I_Willenbrock_I I get it, thanks for answer

[@boru-cnc]

Bollocks - coffee is a life

[@KrazyKrzysztof]

I am still thinking about caffeine after 5 months@@dilat

[@amsie02]

I used to be pretty dependant on caffeine, but it was giving me heart palpitations which led to panic attacks, so I decided to stop drinking it and was expecting to feel terrible from withdrawal symptoms. but weirdly enough I felt pretty much fine. It's interesting how different it affects people

[@dcard228]

Same thing here. I had a pretty rough day 1 but I was also quitting smoking at the same time.

[@Ayydee624]

Same here I just had a headache on the first day

[@ruski1151]

I also had pretty bad palpitations, and I was getting to the point where I could feel my resting heart rate rise- in the morning I would get up and my heart would just be beating faster than normal, but I guess I’m now realizing that it was doing that because it was trying to move more blood due to my vessels not being as constricted

[@riveteye93]

hey, I've had the same stuff from caffeine, and I have to warn you, heart palpitations are a signal that there's a problem with your body, or you're too stressed. I stopped getting them for a while after dropping caffeine, but after a while they came back, I lost my sleep and was really struggling for a while. I found the reasons since then, ever person will have a different one but if you need a practice that helps with the systems while you're searching for the cause try any kind of vagus nerve stimulation - breathing exercise, chanting, massage. Sauna, cold showers and cardio also helped a lot with the symptoms.

[@ProbablyAEuropean]

Same thing, I used to abuse caffeine, in pre workout, coke zero, coffee and energy drinks. Casually consuming a gram or more of caffeine a day. Safe to say I was getting some heart palpitations. At first I didn't realize what it was until it was getting to a point where these were not only noticable but uncomfortable. I scaled back my caffeine intake massively after that and now never go beyond 400mg a day

[@bluestrife28]

Man, the bone tiredness....it was literally inside my bones. No one could ever prepare you for that one. I made it, but it was brutal. Now I’m careful with my caffeine.

[@sekischro5093]

can you elaborate pleasee. also did you have brain fog??

[@tanakaobi]

Yes no.@@sekischro5093

[@johnkennedy4023]

Muscle aches are a common symptom of caffeine withdrawal

[@Suzanne-goes-Carnivore]

I kind of liked the tiredness because I am in a comfortable position that I could totally give in because I don't have to get up to go to work. I knew my body was recovering from something, I napped like I was a 6month year old. Don't quit when you just started a new job though, you'll never make it haha

[@lachlank.8270]

My only regret is.... boneitis

[@ohnoohyeah3205]

Pre-watch! I gotta hear this. I quit drinking alcohol for a month and I lost 7 pounds and prayed for death daily.

[@MACTEP_CHOB]

A friend of mine recently told me that he does not like to drink alcohol often, that is why he drinks coffee instead. And another women said that she quit alcohol for months, but she would never do the same with coffee. As if it is good replacement.

[@ClarkPotter]

How much friggin alcohol did you drink? My gosh.

[@troyrager1352]

I quit pain pills 3 times cold turkey after only a few months dependence each time, it was brutal, death was welcome to come at any time, alcohol got me through it I thought, I had to drink to not hurt it was hell, a few years later I did mushrooms at higher doses and voila no more addiction issues or substance issues, I smoke pot and need to leave that behind as well as my addiction to bad relationships 😂 still got a few bumps to iron out but what the heck else have we got to do here but learn and get healthy? 🙂 love and light to you all out there struggling to make it to the next day or hour, you got this, you are the master of your destiny have fun with life, never worry never fear!

[@kazumahazeuzumaki]

I know the pain. Went cold turkey from prescribed benzos and a 1000ml a day alcoholic habit. Was two months of hell, but rehab is always worthwhile.

[@Freddisred]

@MACTEP_CHOB Many people struggle with feeling compelled to use or abuse substances just for the ritual of taking something and feeling different afterwards, even other addictions like gambling let you escape into another mental state while participating.

[@henriquealves1957]

I'm an avid coffee drinker, so some things I learned from this habit: - My withdrawal is a huge headache, strong enough to make me nauseous. Whenever I know I won't be able to drink coffee, a paracetamol or metamizol is a must to not be useless towards the day. But as much as medicine helps, the true solver to withdrawal is sleep, if I can get a good nap or some sleep during the withdrawal, the symptoms reduce significantly. - With time you tend to get to a point where you drink enough coffee to not feel the need to drink more and also not too much to have symptoms of caffeine abuse (for me the most notorious is blinking white spots in my vision with some photophobia). - Drinking coffee with milk increases the amount of coffee you can take daily. It also reduces the stomach problems you get with black coffee. - Drinking good quality coffee will make you drink less at the end of the day. Having the process of grinding beans and taking time to make a good cup of coffee instead of just making a black caffeine juice reduced my consumption from a liter daily to like 300mL tops. Also the improvements in taste, smell and a cool skill to show off to people is way more benefitial

[@pauldehayes1898]

@@fdfgsa same here, with a quality single origin coffee (usually an Ethiopian) but no milk or cream. Kinda feel like there's a greater caffeine content, though (I'm used to drinking Celcius, which has 200mg of caffeine, one a day). Might just be the other compounds......

[@QuickQuips]

I wonder if there's a benefit to switching to espresso so you're drinking less but super high quality overall.

[@henriquealves1957]

@@QuickQuips I drink espresso regularly and the difference between good coffee and bad coffee is gigantic. With bad coffee you usually tend to get a very strong and bitter taste (mainly due to over roasting to hide the bad quality). With good coffee you will have a very pleasant smell, the bitterness stays but is more enjoyable since you'll have a range of flavor (some beans have fruity flavours, some have almond) and you will feel more satisfied, not just caffeine hooked.

[@vanjam412]

That's not what photophobia means

[@mckennayoung4185]

As someone who's severely actose intolerant and has sensitivity to coffee, drinking milk with coffee only heightens my stomach problems. Coffee with milk is just so good though 😭

[@auggiecontreras8068]

I've been on 600-800 mg of caffeine for years. Every 9-12 months I like to take a 1-2 week break. For me, the 1st day is oddly fine. The 2nd day, I have to completely clear out my schedule, because I feel like a literal junkie, and I sleep 18 hours. The 3rd day will be like 12 hours. And I'm pretty much back to normal by the 5th day. It's absolutely awful. There's no doubt in my mind that caffeine is a real drug 🙏

[@muteerbeer1662]

@Umbra Sight caffeine is a drug. but not drugs dont have to bad if you dont abuse them, most drugs at least

[@YRBYD]

I do the exact same thing roughly once a year and experience exactly the same symptoms. Glad to hear I'm not alone in that

[@DonoVideoProductions]

So why would you ever go back to using?

[@jonesjermaine4387]

Holy Christ he stopped caffeine and it him turned Asian? I need to do this I have Calcuas and Linear Algebra this semester but I won't be able to drive my car to campus looks I have live in the dorms oh well.....

[@Poppa_Capinyoaz]

If it does that to you when you detox, why go back to it?

[@MagicPlants]

I truly respect how candid you are. You're helping connect people to doctors, not just virtually but emotionally. You're changing the world. Thank you for all that you do.

[@PoM-MoM]

Doctors are normal people. Don't grandiose the profession. Doing so just causes patient/Dr relationship anxiety & stress. What I'm saying is that you should feel at ease and comfortable while being honest while discussing your health symptoms or your worries/stress with your Dr, PA, Rn. 🙂

[@Shitfuckt]

I'm surprised someone this smart drinks Mountain dew.

[@aggradation]

@@Shitfuckt Ooo i’m better than everyone for Not Drinking Soda let me tell you how dumb Drinking Soda Is ooooo

[@D.KlWA-aG]

@@aggradation im suprised you would respond like thius

[@MitsurugiR]

That's your takeaway from his content? "Go to the doctor"? I'm sorry, but I think you entirely misunderstand what he is trying to convey. YOU should change, your habits should change, the way you see things should change, not just "oh yeah, you feel bad? Go to the doctor".

[@annieevelyn3112]

As an Italian living in Melbourne coffee is life for us ill have 4 cups a day easily but this was a real eye opener

[@mystrength5640]

Wow, that’s a lot.! Apparently it must BE ORGANIC coffee, especially If one’s Going to have more than 3 teaspoons of Freshly Ground coffee per day!

[@ap5194]

I've worked shift work for 4 years, literally as soon as I started working long unsocial hours I became reliant on caffeine. For 3 years straight it steadily increased to 8 to 10 cups of coffee a day, well over 1000mg, every single day. My sleep got worse and worse during this time to the point I'd barely get 4 hours unbroken sleep per night. I started to feel like I had no energy whatsoever and my anxiety was present all day which was affecting my mood around my kids and at work, so I decided to quit cold turkey, literally overnight just stopped. Within a couple of days my anxiety went crazy, I'd have dark thoughts, no energy, headaches, rushing thoughts in my head, concentration issues and worst of all panic attacks. Infact I had to go see a doctor because I was having 2 to 3 panic attacks a day, it was absolutely the worst time of my life. Do not underestimate caffeine withdrawal after heavy use

[@nothanks9503]

You’re just doing it wrong I worked 8pm to 4am or 6am from 18-25 at most I drank 4 78mg redbull a day usually 2-3 never needed to go over 300 mg which is the max safe dose

[@nothanks9503]

Redbull is the safest possible commonly accessible energy drink and I think the extra vitamins and glucose not fructose really helps reduce the need for caffeine but there’s also bawls which is just caffeine water and guarana

[@Cam-pz6lb]

Strangely enough for me, I have experienced some of what you shared regarding anxiety, dark thoughts, and rushing thoughts, but only when I consume caffeine. Normal amounts, (100-200mg) give me major anxiety and paranoia. I even have to be careful with 80mg drinks, I have to sip on them very slowly for it to be safe. I only mess with caffeine as a last ditch when I get desperate on night shift. Doctor says I have hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness), and after watching this I'm curious if that has something to do with adenosine receptors which would explain my bad relationship with caffeine.

[@djayjp]

It's actually unhealthy to quit any drug suddenly. It's easier on your body to taper it off gradually.

[@comradegarrett1202]

I started working overnights last year and I've felt myself start to become dependent. I've limited this by strictly limiting my dose - no more than 100mg per 24h period is a good limit for me, and I take breaks on days off. Avoiding consumption entirely is hard but keeping a specific dosage is really effective.

[@Ragnarok540]

I used to drink coffee a lot, but at some point it was only to avoid having a headache, I did not feel any energy after drinking it. About a year ago I decided to stop drinking it. I did it gradually, and a week after I had my last cup of coffee I started feeling a lot better, started having better sleep, more concentration, and the daily headaches slowly disappeared. I definitely recommend people to try to leave coffee if they think it's having a negative impact in their lives.

[@lmercuryw]

i’m trying to stop drinking it right now, im hoping it will help me be less tired in the afternoon

[@MaternalUnit]

My dad started bringing me coffee in bed in the mornings when I was about 12. (He was so sweet!) By early college, I realized I was addicted and decided to quit cold turkey until the addiction ended and then drink less from then on. My symptoms were exactly as Dr. Bernard describes: the sickest headache I've ever had as well as some nausea. That was 40 years ago, and I still enjoy a cup in the morning but have never allowed myself to become addicted again. I appreciate the physiological explanation of caused such an awful headache!

[@malborboss]

"when I was 12" - what a terrible parent. However 40 years ago people didnt some things we know now

[@Bdkdklllvv]

Giving a 12 year old coffee is way questionable. I’m sure your dad was otherwise a good dad and loved you though.

[@boaofdeath]

Yeh, my dad gave me coffee when I was 6, I kinda managed to stop around this year and I finally realised without the dependence coffee actually makes me sleepy

[@jazzs7480]

@@boaofdeath crazy ! Lol

[@LuminousCatt]

meanwhile im here 15 year old, never have coffee or tea even a bit when i was younger, and still the same, not interested in them

[@del-marmare1646]

When you look at the thumbnail and title, one should be excused for thinking that stopping caffeine resulted in a terrible hairdo

[@CeRz]

Yeah, very misleading.

[@Mrs.LadeyBug]

Well, that’s what happens to me when I quit drinking coffee. So I just make sure I get that delicious hug in a mug first thing every morning. 😊☕️ 💝

[@LightPhoenix7000]

There was an interesting study on CYP genes in the liver and how different versions of the gene responsible for the breakdown of caffeine. They concluded this was, at least in part, why some people can drink caffeine and be up forever while other people can sleep and have minimal effects. Essentially the rate of breakdown is increased in some people. I think that might make an interesting addendum to the story and a great example of why most medicine, even just weaning off of caffeine, should be personalized.

[@RatKindler]

I discovered that I'm a fast caffeine metabolizer after having been a subject in a caffeine metabolism study. The researcher thought something had gone wrong and made me do the testing again with the same result. I was an outlier among the subjects.

[@RatKindler]

@IndoleFox I tried sub-lingual THC recently and it didn't make me high. It gave me severe anxiety. It was awful. I'll never take it again.

[@coolbugfacts1234]

Smokers in particular have much faster caffeine metabolism, smoking tobacco upregulates CYP1A2. This can actually be a problem if a smoker is in the hospital and unable to smoke and remains at the same dose of prescriptions, if any of them are broken down by CYP1A2.

[@morganzander5814]

I dont know if my body breaks it down quickly, but I have chugged monsters and then went to bed just fine🤷‍♀️

[@keithyinger3326]

I must be one of those fast metabolizing people. I usually have a latte in the morning but in the winter time I've come home and sit in front of the fireplace drinking tea in the evenings. Sometimes black tea and sometimes it's herbal tea and sometimes it's a mix of the two because I'll have two or three cups a night. Finish the last sip then go in and go to bed. Im asleep within 10-15 mins usually. The only time I wake up is if my bladder calls. Otherwise I sleep until about 6:00 in the morning when I just automatically wake up.

[@n4n1damn]

I was drinking a lot of energy drinks but decided to stop and go cold turkey. The worst of my symptoms were the steady depression over several weeks but eventually that goes away. I used to feel great after having an energy drink for about 30 minutes to an hour and then anxiety would kick in. Now I feel great all the time and anxiety and depression are gone.

[@n4n1damn]

@jasonvoorhees5640 I drank sugar free energy drinks but I do agree coffee would have been better. Howerver, I don't think it's a solution as the caffeine addiction would have persisted.

[@user-wu4fg7tc9y]

one thing is to not focus so much on how you "feel" and just do stuff. focus on getting things done/results and time flys. modern culture is way to focused on feelings and that's hurting progress

[@p0t4t0nastick]

jeez I thought I was alone. first 30mins were awesome and then as you said.

[@eittam43]

Literally no correlation between depression and energy drinks 😂 wtf are you talking about

[@user-vg8tv1hp9c]

You were probably slamming them, If I use it outside the gym I just take a couple sips an hour and make it last 8 hours. Chugging them is usually a bad idea

[@alexmcmahon2810]

It's crazy to hear about such strong physical symptoms associated caffeine withdrawal. I get the headache and become extremely tired but really what nails me is the depression and agitation. The psychological effects are pronounced and enduring for me. It's interesting how people love caffeine and so they want it to be good for them. The way people discuss it as helping them simply because they're addicted to it is hilarious. It may be helpful at times but in retrospect I think far more clearly when I'm not loaded on caffeine. Good video.

[@kimsherlock8969]

I was loaded with Caffeine when I discovered ITALIAN coffee percolator in the 80s Good stong Caffeine Italian..... Expresso Machine's were plentiful and frequently busy At home we brewed our own favourite blend We were students writing 2500 word clarification of a particular topic Coffee and tobacco kept me going to the final stage I really amazed myself how I produced the paper for grade. I dont drink Coffee now I dont need the speedy supply .

[@alexmcmahon2810]

@@UnknUserx That's brutal man, I'd recommend using caffeine pills. They're cheap and you can get them in controlled doses and carefully taper down. Good luck!

[@Talking_Ed]

@@UnknUserx You should like stop now and never touch it again this is not remotely normal

[@PK1312]

I've come off several drugs before and no substance has been as absolutely BRUTAL as caffeine withdrawal, lol. And I was only drinking one cup a day! But when I had to quit because of a medication I went on, it was about 2 or 2 and a half weeks of horrible headache, exhaustion, and brain fog. Now I can't even have half a cup of coffee without getting uncomfortably jittery. I do really miss the taste, though. I keep thinking about getting some decaf beans.

[@lanzi7912]

@@Talking_Ed What do you mean? All of those symptoms are normal for caffeine withdrawals.

[@hdervish2497]

I suffered from mood swings, extreme PMS, back pain, and erratic sleep schedule. When I cut out caffeine, I felt a thousand times better. Turns out, my liver was stressed from living with a bad gall bladder. I still have reactions to caffeine, but it's not nearly as bad as it was before I started liver support vitamins

[@standardnerd9840]

I used to be a cop and a dispatcher. I drank a LOT of coffee. I developed AFib and had to stop caffeine cold turkey. I had no idea what I was in for! It was 2 weeks of headaches, sweating, no sleep and misery. I'm 15 years caffeine free and now if I order a decaf and I get regular (happens all the time) I can feel the rush within 1/4 of the cup and I have to rush to drink tons of water.

[@mysterylovescompany2657]

An ex of mine was a heavy smoker + a coffee fiend, w. some unhealthy drinking habits that were then mostly kept under conscious control, but who was also a several-years-recovered ex- heroin junkie, who had tried most major recreational drugs during that past point in his life, & he told me, of everything he'd ever had to go thru withdrawal for, nicotine & caffeine were actually the worst. He said obvs the heroin withdrawal _by itself_ was worse, but caffeine + nicotine were still mean enough that the ubiquitous _accessibility_ for both put it in front.

[@ALSPEHEIR]

What is AFib?

[@spacescienceguy]

Do you notice anything when you drink decaf? My understanding is that decaf is just very low caffeine, not no caffeine.

[@yourworstnightmare1488]

@@ALSPEHEIR atrial fibrillation

[@miaa7968]

@@ALSPEHEIR Atrial fibrillation, it's a problem with the rate and rhythm of the heart and is horrible but manageable for those who take it seriously.

[@dayglotonite]

I wish more people would learn about the science behind caffeine and become aware of how it affects them. This could improve so many relationships. Reducing caffeine intake has drastically improved my mood and nearly eliminated my general irritability and irrational behavior. I realized I became caffeine dependent in college drinking two energy drinks. It wasn’t until my late 20s that I realized the cause of my irritability was from the effects of caffeine. Now when I drink caffeinated drinks, I’m much more self-aware and conscious of how I project myself towards others. This has improved my relationship and my overall outlook in life.

[@lilyluhtwizzy]

Honestly, I quit for two months, and it didn't help me whatsoever. It was also pretty easy to quit. Was I addicted? Idk. I don't think I am. But it didn't make me feel any happier. I was still as depressed as I was before I quit for a while.

[@huhwhatomg]

i've heard of judges ordering criminals to reduce their caffeine intake for this reason.

[@mikevachon8752]

It doesnt help that they are starting to overload these energy drinks with 300mg of caffeine when a normal cup of coffee is closer to 80mg so you really have to pay attention.

[@TheGumbyGuy]

I drink a 10 ounce cup of coffee most mornings and don't have any other caffeine (unless I drink some soda but I rarely do) so I don't think it's an issue for me but I'll go a while without caffeine and to see if I get any of symptoms to make sure.

[@KevKlopper]

@@lilyluhtwizzy check your testosterone levels, in trt it was waking up from a coma

[@Chiisai1987]

I can second this. In 2019 I overslept and didn't get to drink my morning coffee before work. After a few hours I got headaches and got tired while trying to work normally. I tried 2 different kinds of painkillers that day. It didn't help. I got home from work to drink my first coffee of the day and BAM: headaches/tiredness were gone. I then decided to get away from coffee and abruptly stopped drinking it. My symptoms again were headaches and tiredness for 2 long days. After that I was still tired and found out I needed more vitamin D so I took food supplement for it and I can happily live without coffee since then until today....

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Headaches are only an acute symptom for me, but that usually correlates with not consuming anything over the period. Basically not taking a break. And then caffeine + sugar + water does a lot. Long term effects for me are mostly tiredness. Which will last for multiple days. After that I'm usually so far off that the symptoms go away.

[@ErnestoHorner88]

I could remember several years ago I was actually a big time caffeine user. Caffeine actually destroyed my life. Also suffered severe depression and mental disorder. Not until my husband recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 6 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.

[@MorrisBasar-jm9lc]

I love hearing great life changing stories like this. I want to become a mycologist because honestly mushrooms are the best form of medicine (most especially the psychedelic ones) There are so many people today used magic mushrooms to ween off of SSRI medication- its amazing! Years back i wrote an entire essay about psychedelics. they saved you from death buddy, lets be honest here.

[@NasDaily_11]

Can you help me with the reliable source 🙏. I'm 56 and have suffered for years with addiction, anxiety and severe ptsd, I got my panic attacks under control myself years ago and they have come back with a vengeance, I'm constantly trying to take full breaths but can't get the full satisfying breath out, it's absolutely crippling me, i live in Germany. I don't know much about these mushrooms. Really need a reliable source!! Can't wait to get them

[@CathieGomez-mp8sk]

YES very sure of mycologist Predroavaro. This treatment worked for me. Helped me got rid of my addiction and ADHD. Never had to take shrooms after then.

[@JohnGeorge-pw2xo]

I'm so very happy for you mate, Psilocybin is absolutely amazing, the way it shows you things, the way it teaches you things. I can not believe our world and our people shows less interest about it's helpfulness to humanity. It's love. The mushrooms heals people by showing the truth, it would be so beneficial for so many people, especially politicians and the rich who have lost their way and every other persons out there.

[@Owemruther-hk4zn]

How do I reach out to him? Is he on insta

[@camdenfurry5187]

I had to quit caffeine due to the discovery of an underlying heart condition (SVT) And the clarity that it gave me mentally and physically was incredible. I've never felt better.

[@VintageCR]

@@bloodynine801 i'd say if you stop abruptly consuming caffeine, go to bed at any time but wake up early so your body has 2 things to do at once. which yes makes you really sleepy lazy and unmotivated on day 1, 2, 3 ect. but in the long run your body will naturally heal and wake up at the correct time, you will feel comfortable and relaxed without caffeine.

[@funinthewoods3390]

I have the same thing and drink 400mg a day in energy drinks.

[@camdenfurry5187]

@funinthewoods3390 then you clearly don't have it as bad as I do. I had a heart attack at 19. Four years ago

[@funinthewoods3390]

@@camdenfurry5187 Sorry to hear that. Nobody ever told me that could happen, but it stands to reason. I think I’m going to give some serious thought to avoiding caffeine now.

[@nothanks9503]

@@bloodynine801 you missed the important part start drinking caffeine again and it’s as good as it was the first time for a while at least then the cycle begins anew the fallen leaves tell a story such is life

[@Nethezbet]

As a veteran and VA employee, thank you for fighting for such an important issue! We appreciate you and the others involved in that.

[@jonesjermaine4387]

Holy Christ he stopped caffeine and it him turned Asian? I need to do this I have Calcuas and Linear Algebra this semester but I won't be able to drive my car to campus looks I have live in the dorms oh well.....

[@bacicinvatteneaca]

@Alpha Momentum service to whom? By doing what? "Veterans" need to be extradited to the countries they invaded and be tried there.

[@quinton1661]

Several years ago I decided to lower my caffeine intake. I was consuming 720 mL (24 fl oz) of coffee daily, all in the morning. I realized it was contributing to my anxiety problems, so I decided to cut back. Since I would have two mugs of 360 mL (12 fl oz) each, I simply lowered each by 10 mL (1/3 fl oz) per week until I was at the point where it would all fit in one mug: 380 mL (13 fl oz) total. I use a scale to get the quantity right. This took me several months, but ultimately avoided caffeine withrawal/sluggishness I would have had if I had just cut it in half right at the start.

[@ArthArmani]

did it help with your anxiety?

[@Ariellswmud]

@@ArthArmani ​ @Arturas Arm it would help significantly to stop drinking caffeine all together if that's an issue.

[@quinton1661]

@@ArthArmani Absolutely. I never had anxiety to the level where I'd need medication, but it was frequent enough that I was starting to wonder. I've been much more stable since then. I still sometimes have a second mug of coffee later in the day, but it's 1-3 times per month. Around the same time I was also a new father which brought a whole new set of challenges anxiety-wise. My anxiety was generalized, not about any one specific thing. I started feeling the lowered anxiety levels after lowering my coffee after only a couple weeks.

[@Re-Destro]

I quit caffeine this summer for a month and yeah even though I had some withdrawal symptoms not much changed in my body, not that I can think of anyways. The longest I've gone without coffee or caffeine was six months, again some withdrawal symptoms at the beginning but after a whole six months I realized that I felt the same with or without coffee, so I went back at it, I think my body is compatible with coffee. There were times when I could drink a cup or two in the evening and still go to bed due to exhaustion from work. I had an old colleague who said that he could drink coffee before bedtime and still sleep because he was so immune towards the caffeine. I guess everyone is different.

[@Re-Destro]

I actually drank minimum of 4 and up to 8 cups of coffee daily back in the day, today I only drink between 2-4.@jasonvoorhees5640

[@Forged4War206]

Yea like anything, Caffeine is fine in moderation. Of course it's optimal to just not need it at all, but if a cup of coffee gets you out of bed and to work every morning consistently, then I'd say it's worth it. Most people simply struggle limiting themselves to 1 cup or less a day and that's how addiction starts.

[@Fir3Chi3f]

The headache and excessive water intake is definitely something I experience when caffeine withdrawal. I found it incredibly easy to get off caffeine by switching to instance coffee and slowly migrating to decafe instant over the course of a week or two.

[@bunkaaa8726]

Its easy to quit coffee if you switch to instant. Because its disgusting.

[@hornet-h3v]

@@bunkaaa8726 nah

[@bunkaaa8726]

@@hornet-h3v It is. Unless you have no fucking taste.

[@jonesjermaine4387]

Holy Christ he stopped caffeine and it turned him Asian? I need to do this I have Calcuas and Linear Algebra this semester but I won't be able to drive my car to campus looks I have live in the dorms oh well.....

[@notimportant3914]

Decaf still has caffeine.. not much at all but still has some

[@raddad9041]

Had to go on a course for the military about a year or two ago. Knew we would be out in the field and have infrequent access to the amount of coffee I'd need to get my caffeine fix. So about a month before going on the course I decided I'd get off all caffeine products and get over the withdrawals before being in the field. Ended up with headaches for nine days straight, the kind of headaches that a tylenol or advil do nothing to stop. Was miserable, but I was glad to get over it before being in the field.

[@flagmichael]

That is how I know I am having a caffeine withdrawal headache - miserable, aspirin doesn't help. Fortunately, caffeine is the limit of my addictive drug use. Knowing how easily it slaps me around I can imagine what a seriously addictive habit would be like.

[@ForeverMasterless]

damn that's intense. I probably would've just brought a bunch of caffeine pills with me lol.

[@AntonioDoesMetal]

Wanted to comment here as it might be helpful for people who have anxiety or sleep problems. I drank caffeine for 8 years every single day fluctuating from 1 cup a day to 4 or 5 at times when work was really intense. I quit this year cold turkey and when I did literally all of my sleep issues and anxiety disappeared overnight. Even if I would drink 1 cup of coffee at 9am, it would have an effect on me by 11pm when I was trying to sleep (very tired but couldn't sleep, tossing and turning for 1-3 hours a night). Everything I've ever read indicated to me that the coffee shouldn't be having an effect on my sleep since I wasn't drinking it after 12pm but that clearly wasn't the case for me. I've also had bad anxiety for that entire period of time (and before the coffee started as well) and when I quit it completely went away. Mind you I did a lot of the necessary work during that time (meditation, therapy, fitness etc) but even with all of that I could never totally overcome it without removing caffeine. I do miss my morning cup of coffee, but I will never miss the crippling anxiety and sleep issues I had for years. If this sounds like anybody reading this, quit caffeine for a while and see what happens. What I will say though is as far as withdrawals I felt tired the first 2 weeks and I was having bad lower back pain for about a week and a half. Supposedly this is related to your adrenal glands since caffeine activates them but totally worth it. I'll never return to coffee again

[@hughgeorgechannel]

Wow ty

[@SchlauSchafe]

Weirdly enough, I've had anxiety issues my entire life and never drank much caffeine because in the past, it made me feel really jittery. I also have adhd and Autism, I am not sure if this makes any other kind of difference. However, I've started drinking more caffeine recently and just, I suppose, because I like the taste of coffee and caffeinated teas? And for me, I have the exact opposite experience. I am actually much less anxious. My ability to fall asleep is exactly the same, though.

[@kaisuki9107]

@@SchlauSchafe I don't know the exact science behind it, but when getting diagnosed with AD(H)D, one of the questions I'd been asked was "Does drinking coffee make you feel sleepy?", so I assume it's an ADHD thing.

[@earlysda]

That's great, Antonio! So many people are depressed or ADHD and don't know the reason why. Maybe if they took a good look at what they were putting in their bodies, they would find the answer.

[@Smileythesilent]

Wouldn't decaf still give you a good morning coffee experience without the negative effects? Mind you, this is coming from someone who's never had a coffee, be kind if I'm badly wrong😄

[@elvyfoster7455]

You are my favorite medical oddities channel. You don't waste time and you keep everything interesting to watch. Huge Thanks!

[@AlkisGD]

Always love your analyses and generally just listening to a doc talk about pharmacokinetics and how the body reacts to different substances. Thank you for being around, Bernard!

[@rasmachris94]

I went on a complete caffeine cutout because I dont adhere to my own desires at the best of times and after the migraines went away about 3-4 days in i felt pretty good. This lasted for 2 weeks until I started drinking coffee again for my night work. It likely lasted that long because I had been drinking caffeine since I was 6 until I was 24. Now I have one caffeinated beverage a day and try not to exceed that because i always feel worse the day after. The way i describe caffeine is that it's like a loan; Like loans borrowing money from your future self, caffeine is borrowing alertness and wakefulness from your future self.

[@KentuckyFriedChicken99]

Some time ago I started diluting my coffee with roasted dandelion root and chicory (can buy this mix in bags). It tastes similar to instant coffee and gives a nice little buzz without the terrible side effects. I do it in my espresso machine at a ratio of about 3:1, coffee being the smaller quantity. Highly recommend this mix to anyone who wants to keep drinking coffee without the bad effects of caffeine.

[@wendypeters6084]

Thank you

[@KentuckyFriedChicken99]

​@Gay Kyle Smith (Kai) I have never been anywhere near this bad. Also dandelion root has lots of great health benefits, I sometimes pick it from the yard.

[@ClickClack_Bam]

Dandelion is a diuretic & will make you piss like crazy. If you're taking things like blood pressure pills, dandelion can be dangerous.

[@Arexack999]

Dandelion coffee smells so nice. I would not compare it to instant coffee though, that stuff is horrid. Got a few cichory growing in yard now.....havent triwd that yet.

[@llutac]

Why not get a nice decaf espresso or something like that? When I want the taste of coffee in the evening, I just make myself a cappucino with decaf and that works fine. Sure, if you like the taste of dandelion or chicory, go for it. But if you want something similar to the taste of regular coffee, try decaf.

[@rutalorp4777]

I love how you explain the concepts, just building them up in a logical chain good stuff

[@minacapella8319]

Also also (last one I swear) I absolutely love how you're using your own personal experiences for a video. It proves that you're human too and go through things like we do and sometimes even very well versed doctors can be lacking in understanding of something that's going on until they process it a bit. Really reminds us that doctors can't just pull diagnoses and solutions out of their butt for everything within a short period.

[@joem13yearsago73]

I thought he roboto

[@theowendautobiography4267]

Thank you so much for this. I kicked caffeine stone cold years ago and I had the worst withdrawal symptoms of my life. I also kicked sugar, alcohol and salt at the same time..... I lost 20 kilos in 2 weeks and after 14 days of pure horror i was like the child I remembered whilst growing up. My mind was sharper than ever before and I looked amazing. Basically rejuvenated

[@WhatIsSanity]

That's a lot of withdrawal to put yourself through at once. Ouch.. I'm glad you came out the better for it.

[@leggyegg2890]

Losing 20kg in 2 weeks isn’t safe and should warrant a hospital visit. I hope people reading don’t get the impression that it’s in any way healthy or something they should be striving for.

[@joerodent1343]

Your body needs salt. Not the kind in most processed food or too much in general

[@qpqpqpqpqpqpqpqp]

were you a heavy drinker?

[@guidedexplosiveprojectileg9943]

@@joerodent1343 Salt is very good put it on food but dont over consume it

[@99percent_]

Last year I realized that coffee was one of the causes of my terrible anxiety and tremors, so I started to reduce my intake for two weeks or so until I took 0 caffeine. However, I still love coffee way too much and tea is too bland/sweet for me, so every morning I still drink a cup of decaffeinated coffee. I just can’t quit the flavor ☕️

[@jackeronie6490]

decaf coffee still has caffeine in it...

[@poppyorangeflower]

@@jackeronie6490 not nearly as much. It removes 95%+ of the caffeine in it. That's a pretty big deal.

[@MagicPlants]

@@jackeronie6490 Don't be that guy. "technically" yeah it's a trace amount ya knob end.

[@jackeronie6490]

@@MagicPlants dude stfu ive had caffeine sensitivity and im trying to help and i know that many decaf brands are no where near caffeine free

[@fireemblemaddict128]

Decaf also tastes nasty. Without the caffeine you realize that you were just addicted to the flavor of caffeine.

[@bonelessthincrust]

just wanna say A&W zero sugar root beer is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me... no sugar, no caffiene, and it's the only "diet" soda that actually genuinely tastes like its sugar counterpart... been low/no sugar and caffiene free for over a year now and a large part of what has made it doable is thanks to this

[@kathleenking47]

Diet root beer, is the best diet drink. Even better than lemon/lime

[@vicariousjohnson9823]

Because aspartame is so good for you.

[@bonelessthincrust]

@@vicariousjohnson9823 k, keeping drinking sugar then big boy

[@SuitedPup]

Zevia caffeine free cola is my go to

[@blackeastertheguy]

@@bonelessthincrustkids kids stop bickering you’re both terrible! To sit here and pretend your artificial chemical drink is better than another artificial chemical drink because one has natural sugar and another is more artificial is the epitome of the dunning-Kruger effect.

[@spit.or.swaIIow]

I've had coffee for one and a half decade. The withdrawal I've had was 2 weeks full of grueling migraine, insomnia and nausea. To see that you didn't experienced anxiety, depression nor mood disorders means that patients that displayed those might already have those underlying psychological symptoms, the caffeine withdrawal amplified that to make it very significant.

[@BanditTech]

That would be my honest take as well, its rather disturbing while in the throws of the migraine.

[@Chris-iu3vl]

@@BanditTech How long have you gone without caffeine? ( no coffee no tea's no chocolate acai berries no nothing )

[@cincin4515]

I quit a heavy caffeine addiction for 3 months after 50 years. Nothing happened at all. NOTHING.

[@dominoplay3712]

yeah but it can be done easily. for a week drink a cup in the preafternoon, 2 week switch to decaf on the middle of the way and 3d week you have no or very slight symptoms

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

I had migraines as a kid. Didn't have any for the last 15 years or so. Which almost perfectly overlaps with me drinking less energy drinks and soda, and more coffee.

[@imaelf4791]

I'm a person who's naturally very high-strung and anxious, both caffeine consumption and caffeine withdrawal have elevated this in the past to the extremes. I didn't drink much caffeine as a kid, but during my first experience drinking a larger amount of caffeine (~150mg) I remember being shaky and incredibly anxious for the rest of the day. I suppose I never learned from that experience, as during 2021-early 2022 I worked up to drinking 1 bang energy a day (300mg) plus pre-workout on days I exercised (~200mg). One morning I woke up hungover, consumed an extra amount of pre-workout (that'll help with the hangover surely, I'm very smart), worked out way too hard for 10 minutes and immediately lost my stomach contents. Without a chance to absorb caffeine, I went into withdrawal, this lead to a 2 week period where I couldn't go to work, couldn't eat for a week, couldn't do any kind of activity, I was bedridden with the worst mental/physical manifestation of anxiety I had ever experienced in my life. I don't pin it all on caffeine, I was drinking heavily and eating unhealthy while working out too hard to "improve my health", but I remember finally getting over it and thinking it was anything BUT caffeine withdrawal, so I started drinking it again. When I happened to go without it a couple weeks later and my extreme anxiety returned (thankfully just for a few days this time), I completely cut it out of my life, alongside alcohol. No doubt I am an extreme case, few people will ever experience it at the level I did, but I can't say I'm not at least somewhat thankful it happened, it fundamentally changed my views of health and self-care, it helped me quit 2 different addictive substances for good, and I can confidently say that chubbyemu/heme videos have scared out any few remaining thoughts of trying either again 🤣

[@Twitch_Moderator]

I stopped caffeine cold turkey 7 years ago. I wake up insanely energetic, I hold energy levels throughout the day, no more crankiness in the morning, no withdrawals, I save money and my breath doesn't stink like coffee breath anymore. Win, Win, Win!! Also, no fog-brain. Sharp as a knife, all day.

[@Annies40Winks]

You are a great t

[@Theineluctable_SOME_CANT]

Nonsense! Coffee, with HEAPS OF SUGAR, is the FUEL OF THE I.T. AND ELECTRONICS REPAIR INDUSTRY!

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

It’s not that I don’t believe you… I believe you… But I still find it hard to believe. Coffee, I want my coffee.

[@spsmith1965]

I'm severely addicted to caffeine. I stopped cold turkey twice in my life. Both times, I had a severe headache (migraine level) for a week. That was the only withdraw symptom for me. However, both times, I realized that I actually function better on caffeine, so I went back to it. I used to drink 8 to 10 cups of coffee a day with no side effects at all. However I am approaching 60 years old now, and I have noticed that I cannot tolerate as much caffeine as I used to. So I am cutting back. Caffeine rarely affects my sleep (I sleep great), but I do think it does affect my mood at times.

[@Joh-jf5kc]

It does effect your sleept in terms of quality even if don't feel it. Talking from experience.

[@conork325]

Hi. Any arthritis or joint issues? Caffeine can negatively affect some people that way.

[@spsmith1965]

@@conork325 No joint issues. Just puts me in a bad mood if I drink too much. Also can have uncomfortable rapid heartbeat. But it takes a lot for me.

[@bobboscarato1313]

Cut down to one cup early in the morning when you wake up.

[@spsmith1965]

@@bobboscarato1313 I've cut back to 2 or 3 cups the morning, which is a big change for me. I think I used to do 4 to 6 cups in the morning in the past.

[@frityrgryten]

Wow this just made me realize something. Since new years, i decided to quit nicotine and do a caffeine reset at the same time. After around 1,5 weeks i started experiencing pain and pressure in my left eye. I suspected it was because of the nicotine due to the vasoconstriction and started again with the plan of weaning off instead(starting again made the eye stuff go away instantly). But it was weird, since i had quit previously without side-effects. Now i realize it was because i abruptly quit two vasoconstrictors at the same time. Great video as always!

[@SteelSculptor]

If you're suffering with brain fog, quit caffeine. Brain fog has been my constant companion for the last 2 years, I was drinking 5to6 coffee per day to offset the fatigue. When I found brain fog was in part caused by restricted blood flow to the brain, I decided to quit caffeine. 2 weeks later a noticeable difference. This video explains the mechanism well, caffeine restricts blood flow to the brain. Nice work!

[@vvvios]

Have you tried decaf coffee? What do you think of it? I actually like it but I know I should stop since I depend on it.

[@SteelSculptor]

Update, decaf is hard on the guts. Now I'm addicted to coffee again 😞

[@nicechock]

Caffeine inhibits blood flow in the brain so much, it gives people ADHD because their brain suffers from a lack of oxygen caused by blood vessels being constricted.

[@CrackerSmith]

@@SteelSculptor Be strong brother, resist! Or at least try to keep it in moderation.

[@richtofen4888]

@@SteelSculptorAre you really?

[@nexaentertainment2764]

What I find most interesting about caffeine dependency/withdrawal is that everyone is affected differently. I know that's basically every drug, but caffeine is such a commonly used drug that it's especially surprising (to me at least). I've been at that ~400mg a day limit a couple times in my life, and each time I'd forget to or be unable to consume any caffeine, the worse I'd experience is a splitting hangover like headache and the worst mental fog imaginable. I never really had any stomach related symptoms. Honestly this is the first time I've heard of someone nearly vomiting over caffeine withdrawal. I'm sure it's common enough, I just personally wasn't aware it was a thing because of my own experience with it. E: I will say, caffeine used to give me terrible anxiety so I'd hardly ever consume it. Then I started anxiety meds and my caffeine consumption has skyrocketed. Probably at around 250mg a day for the past half year or so. Trying to keep it there :p. The worst part about caffeine is that eventually you become nearly fully tolerant to its effects so you're really just maintaining a status of not having withdrawal.

[@davidbarnes241]

Valid points and I enjoy the taste of coffee and the ritual too. Can I go without it, yes and no side effects whatsoever, even if I have 5-7 cups a day on average. I do feel much healthier and perform better without coffee, but when you enjoy it so much, just like smoking cigars, I carry in even though combined I spend £5000.00 a year on both.

[@jonesjermaine4387]

Holy Christ he stopped caffeine and it turned him Asian? I need to do this I have Calcuas and Linear Algebra this semester but I won't be able to drive my car to campus looks I have live in the dorms oh well.....

[@Swearengen1980]

@@davidbarnes241 Hah. You just described me. I can start and stop coffee at will with no effects. I also do overall better if I stay off coffee, but I enjoy first thing in the morning so I'll have 2, 3, 4 cups and done by 9-10am. I'm also a cigar smoker and feel the effects it has on my body when I'm in a phase of smoking daily compared to not. But it's my only vice and I enjoy my cigar time.

[@kaileeborklund2817]

Caffeine withdrawal messed my stomach up so bad and I threw up everyday for 2 months and I lost 15 pounds. It’s absolute hell

[@fadzilicious4411]

I just realised my anxiety is caused by caffeine. I barely have coffee or energy drinks or caffeine stuff but I just linked it last night. When I have preworkput for a week I start to freak out hugely or energy drinks k get panic attacks. It’s crazy. I’m not 100 percent sure it’s caffeine but I’m pretty sure.

[@flyingfish6383]

I'm a pharmacy student and your channel helped me discover my passion. Thanks for being so cool and doing what you do!

[@flyingfish6383]

@@kali6651 very cool

[@bardofhighrenown]

I've been drinking massive amounts of energy drinks for about 17 years now but over the past 5 weeks I've been stepping down my caffeine intake. Currently I'm at 140 mg and in about 2 weeks I'll be at 0. I was drinking about 1200mg of caffeine a day at the highest point. I decided to step it down weekly and after watching the video I'm glad I did, mostly it was about not wanting to have to exert my willpower all at once and spread it out over time. I haven't experienced any withdrawal symptoms, probably as a result.

[@Dbb27]

I did the same to get off. Making a long term plan avoids all the side effects. Two years now and super happy I did it. Kudos!

[@Horace1993]

1200 wholey shit

[@Dbb27]

@@Horace1993 right? At 1200 I think I would be dead, lol!

[@ronmoore3987]

I'm 61 years old and used to take the yellow jacket caffeine pills, 357 magnums, after decades I QUIT them and found energy drinks, cold coffee, and bout a year and a half ago QUIT all that shit, now just a hot coffee in morning no harm Take it from me all those energy drinks do isWRECK your body

[@mikevanleeuwen4912]

i consume less energy drinks then you, your damn luck you haven't seen withdrawal symptoms. for me its screaming headaches all the way if i step down a single drink, and screaming headaches if i don't up the numbers every once in awhile. watching this video made me realize and i guess i'll just start suffering for a bit.

[@SgtRamen69]

The worst part of caffeine dependence for me is that my normal state (with coffee) keeps getting more sluggish and tired. Ideally, when you notice caffeine dependence, you should take a break from it for 2 weeks to 2 months depending on how much you want to recover. I did that like 2-3 times and only really noticed that I'm way more tired when I do that (maybe because I'm young and don't consume caffeine for more than a year at a time), but afterwards I feel better than with coffee. Highly recommend to do the same every once in a while.

[@Dbb27]

Just get off of it. All those negative effects go away. Wean yourself over four months. You’re delusional thinking this on the pony, off the pony routine is healthy or helping you. Been there done that. My days have no highs and lows, my wallet is heavier not buying caffeinated products as well. Tried cold turkey, didn’t work so set up a slow weaning plan and two years off now.

[@yoma2977]

@@Dbb27 There's no way it takes more than 2 weeks to completely detox from coffee. I got off coffee for 2 months, didn't notice any real, life changing difference, then the first time I drank coffee again the difference was like night and day, just better. I think it just depends on the person, either you agree with it or you don't. I definitely get side effects from drinking too much, so I only drink one cup most days, 2 tops if I feel like I need to, and maybe one day a week if I'm not being productive to not drink any caffeine. I never experience any caffeine crash because I'm not drinking too much, there is such thing as balance.

[@Dbb27]

@@yoma2977 I never stated how long it takes but if you dig into the research the changes to the brain aren’t resolved in two weeks. Everyone is their own little chemical factory so everyone’s experience is anecdotal.

[@jamesmcallister9645]

Were you getting the afternoon crash?.

[@jamesmcallister9645]

​@@Dbb27Thanks for sharing, i went cold turkey 8 day's ago, i had a decaf to settle my cravings. Caffeine is a nasty addiction, some positivity is a great encouragement, blessings from Ireland.

[@evankolpack]

I live in Seattle, coffee/caffeine is a way of life here. I realized a few days ago I had drank about 8 cups of coffee at breakfast, which didn't include my usual double shot in the dark (coffee with two added shots).....and I barely felt anything from it. I decided I'd stop caffeine on Monday, and while I didn't have the severe symptoms you describe, I got a splitting headache, which is pretty severe for me since I have literally never had a single naturally occuring headache in my life (ie. only get them from hangovers....and now, I guess caffeine withdrawal too). Today is my third day without caffeine and I'm already starting to feel better, energy is coming back, more steady energy, better sleep. I'll probably fall off the wagon sooner or later, but so far, so good.

[@darcevader3769]

Hows your caffeine use going ? How much better is everything off caffeine ! It's too accepted. Hard to quit I relapse so often on tea and coffee

[@evankolpack]

@@darcevader3769 It's okay....been about a month. My energy level is more consistent and I sleep a little better, but honestly, it's not all that significant. I'll probably give it another month and if there's not much improvement, I'll be back on the sauce 🤣

[@89kilemal]

@@evankolpack And now?

[@okamijapan4482]

@@evankolpack and now? (x2)

[@therealdealoneill]

going this long only to start again is not the best idea sir

[@LockyDragon]

I was drinking energy drinks from 7th grade into my junior year of high school, My tolerance was so high i could consume upwards of 1000mgs and go to sleep immediately afterwards my headaches were so bad i went to neurologists and begged for them to do something for the pain. My body constantly hurt all over and I was in agony, I felt sharp stabbing pains in my kidneys and then finally decided to quit, Quitting cold turkey like i did was probably in hindsight not the best way to stop, but now im so glad i finally did stop, i have caffiene occasionally when i really need it now, i dont use it unless im desperate

[@_Circus_Clapped_]

I also started in middle school, but I already knew the effects, once every week, twice if you want to gamble.

[@dubbayabird6680]

I have , let's call it extreme, acid reflux. I have been unable to consume more than minute amounts of caffeine for several years now. But I remember the days of quitting caffeinated sodas. My addiction is sugar. I have kicked it before but the thought right now literally gives me fear .

[@shaunhumphreys6714]

pleaase make more of these behind the scenes type ones. it helps us connect to the story, seeing the patient is real, and all the effort you put into making it.

[@Brendawallingbear]

Thank you for this! You answered several questions I've had, and I didn't know where to find out, or didn't understand what I found... This makes so much sense.

[@djmatt1]

For years I've noticed the same thing with my own caffeine intake, so I limit myself to 1 or 2 cups of coffee in the morning and avoid caffeinated soft drinks all together, while also staying well hydrated with water or other beverages throughout the day, and simply never get headaches. 4pm is my cutoff time that I will have anything caffeinated, otherwise I tend to have trouble sleeping. excellent video, keep them coming.

[@justbreakingballs]

That's sounds shite, 4pm is way too late to still be drinking caffeine and thi king it's not going to upset sleep.

[@djmatt1]

@@justbreakingballs if I happen to have any caffeine after 4pm then I would have trouble sleeping, otherwise I'm fine.

[@justbreakingballs]

@@djmatt1 you think you're fine but your sleep won't be good if you are consuming caffeine at 3.30in the afternoon regardless of if you can fall asleep OK.

[@92AlexanderS]

No it’s actually 2:33 and it doesn’t matter at all when you go to bed.

[@hanskazan7403]

​@@justbreakingballsexactly

[@suecharnock9369]

I had to have a heart test, which meant no caffeine for 24 hours before the test. As a Brit I knew I was truly addicted to tea! I started about 10 days before the test and gradually went from black tea to green tea, as I understood green tea has less caffeine than black tea. I then stopped all 48 hours before the test. I felt soooo bad in the first 28 hours of totally no caffeine that I thought I would be too ill to make the test! I have not gone back to the same amount of tea since, but man was that a rough couple of days!

[@confusedredditor1660]

yikes, I drink like 3 cups of tea a day

[@flagmichael]

@@confusedredditor1660 The first time I had iced tea I liked it so much I drank 3 quarts of it. Around 3:00 a.m. I realized why I was still awake.

[@boofe7206]

I thought green tea had more caffeine, just like how coffee has more caffeine in light roasts vs dark.

[@ColbyJacked]

Sorry for the late reply but do you have any suggestions for drinks, that still have some flavor to them, to replace tea. I only say the flavor thing because the obvious answer tends to be sparkling water but I hate it

[@boofe7206]

@@ColbyJacked Most herbal teas don't have caffeine if that's what you're after. Otherwise, fruit juices and milk? There's also a lot of water additives available, such as powders or the liquid squirt bottles.

[@1980rlquinn]

Hearing about others' caffeine withdrawal symptoms is wild to me. I've been a regular coffee drinker for most of my life, as well as sodas and energy drinks at various points. I've occasionally stopped cold turkey-largely because I could feel I wasn't getting the effect and wanted to give my body a chance to reset-but have only once experienced a mild headache. I tend to be sluggish for a day or two, and within that time find any ability to focus slipping away. By the time I get back to consuming it again, it feels like a huge relief to be productive again. This is entirely anecdotal, and last I saw there wasn't strong support in research for the idea, but I often wonder if I have ADHD and rely on caffeine as one of my coping mechanisms. I'm not currently in a location where I can see a doctor about the possibility though, so I can only guess.

[@shart8008]

Can relate with the adhd bit. Coffee helps me focus! I tried convincing my dad to get me checked but he flat out said no :( and just chalked it up to exam stress

[@taylorg8509]

I don’t drink coffee on The Weekends but always during the weekdays Never had any withdrawals but I always sleep in on the weekends so I think that helps

[@fireblaze6837]

Yes, people with adhd are much more likely to use substances that increase dopamine, which caffeine does through blocking adenosine. I drank mountains of coffee a couple years back to function but it wasn’t sustainable as it was negatively impacting my sleep (even if drank during the morning), worsened my inhibitory control, and due to neurological changes can make it worse in the long term. If you want a long term solution I would highly reccomend cordyceps, as it increases your baseline dopamine production through upregulating tyrosine hydroxylase (which creates dopamine) as well as vmat2 (which releases dopamine), I get mine from NootropicsDepot and it’s pretty good. Panax ginseng also helps me as well.

[@pricklycatsss]

@@shart8008 You don't have to be diagnosed with ADHD to get ADHD medication. I've only been diagnosed with autism but I eventually got prescribed Wellbutrin and methylphenidate (extended release but I wish it was IR). I just had to find the right psychiatrist. The one I had before refused to prescribe me anything other than SSRIs, which I never needed. ADHD medication is extremely expensive though compared to a lot of other medications especially if you don't get a generic version. So there's that

[@BayLeafff]

@@pricklycatsss Crazy that you can get prescription stimulants without a diagnosis, holy shit. Seems like a great positive and a great negative to me. You must be in the US, right?

[@lucva]

i really thought i was immune to caffeine dependence bc "coffee doesn't affect me THAT much, it's just a habit to have it everyday. it's like showering." and then i started my first day of internship. i was beyond sleepy, moody, uneasy, headaches, hated everything and everyone and was just about ready to resign. then i went and got my coffee the next day and finally got the wake up call i needed to realise how bad it's going to get, seeing how i reacted to missing out on coffee for one day

[@incognito595]

It can get REAL BAD. EVERY SYSTEM IN YOUR BODY "BAD." BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, BY ACCIDENT. NEVER GONNA MAKE THAT MISTAKE AGAIN!

[@zach4283]

I’ve been working full time since I was a senior in highschool to support my family. And developed a huge caffeine alcohol and nicotine addiction. I’m ready to change!!

[@MartinHarbison]

You can do it ❤!!!!

[@papabell4831]

7 months ago I went full stop of everything that had caffeine in it after a decade of high caffeine intake, about 2000-2500mg daily average. I didn't have any symptoms for the first 3 days. After 3 days I couldn't sleep at all and I got really hyper, the hyperness lastest about half a day then thats when the headaches hit. The headaches for the first 24 hours basically made it impossible for me to do anything, the slightest about of movement, light or sound made my head hurt so much i'd want to throw up. Physically I looked really bad, my eyes at the headache period turned red like I was high, and around my eyes were black like I had been given a hardcore beatdown. That all last for about a week. When the headaches started to go away I became more tired than I have ever been in my life, I couldn't really do anything other than lay down and I was falling asleep every few hours, my skin got very cool, very pale and the bloodshot black eyes went away but my eye lids turned bright red. That lasted about another week.

[@Suzanne-goes-Carnivore]

Same! But that's also why I am never going back, coffee now scares me haha I now enjoy my vivid dreams and deep sleep so much its like a precious gift every night You still off coffee?

[@papabell4831]

​@@Suzanne-goes-CarnivoreUnfortunately not anymore, I lasted right until I started working in a factory, 12 hour shifts and a mix of days and nights each week made it hard to stay off. But I do regulate my caffeine intake, no coffee or energy drinks on my days off and no more than 2 caffeinated drinks during my shifts.

[@Suzanne-goes-Carnivore]

oh wow, that sounds really hard. I can not do nightshifts, it messes up my rythm so badly...but I don't know what options you have though, so respect to you! I can imagine you need your coffee...good luck@@papabell4831

[@capy_official]

2000-2500mg of caffeine would kill you. I call bs

[@housemana]

This will go down as one of your most important and valued lectures. thank you. i feel empowered and for once in a long, long time - hopeful - to face the wolf at the door. I know my relationship with stimulants - specifically caffiene - is something I neglected to learn about and as a consequence, it has taken over parts of my life that I felt powerless otherwise to regain control of. thank you... there's simply nothing else to say other than gratitude.

[@speculiardu2611]

Holy meatballs. I am really amazed that you had such a withdrawal from caffeine. I remember getting headaches when I suddenly stop drinking energy drinks, but never have I ever had the need to vomit, or did I start sweating because of it. I guess depression made up for the part where my body just doesn't care/react.

[@Reboot7080]

thank you for sharing your personal experience with caffeine with us, but also citing and referring to research on the dependency on caffeine. It's helped me reflect on my consumption of caffeine, too. In my personal experience, starting drinking coffee or substances with caffeine in them has the tendency to shift my mood in a positive way. I'd end up becoming peppy, confident and happy and I used to refer to coffee as the "happy bean juice". when I'm trying to drink less per day, or stop cold turkey, I don't get headaches, nausea or other types of illnesses. I'd end up getting in an extreme slump instead. sadness, depression and endless worries would storm my mind and those would be the only things in my presence unless I took something with caffeine in it. for me, it's proven to be mentally taxing and challenging to wean off of coffee and stay off of it because of the emotional assignment or attachment to it, without me even realizing I had built a dependency on coffee, similar to your experience not realizing the problems you face are because of a dependency on caffeine. your video has helped me realize realize how dangerous it is to reverse the effects of caffeine dependency, at least to me. so, thank you for personally helping me by making and publishing this video.

[@lazypeon9158]

When I'm on a very low/no caffeine diet, caffeine also makes me really happy. However, I've come to think of it as borrowing happiness from tomorrow. Any extra happiness I get that day will be subtracted from the next day (or two). I still do it but almost always regret it later.

[@ChooseLoveToday316]

This describes me to a T. I am ordering chicory dandelion coffee to wean off. You are describing potential indicators for several mental health traits btw. I suspect you deal with many of the same issues I do, the most obvious being Codependency and People Pleasing.

[@jonstewart5386]

Nice video! I quit coffee during the pandemic and after a few months, my sleep cycle totally changed - never knew I was a morning person! I also had more control over the time I went to bed and fell asleep, so getting up early became much easier due to that. When coming off, I was advised to drink alternating black and green teas throughout the day and I attribute that to not having any migraines and far easier withdrawal symptoms overall. After I felt like I no longer needed the coffee, cutting back the tea was incredibly easy. Originally I was drinking about 6-8 cups of coffee per day and I would use about 200mg caffeine in my preworkout, which was about 5-6x/week.

[@jacksonrelaxin3425]

Me me me me me me. Is that all you talk about?

[@jonstewart5386]

@@jacksonrelaxin3425 You have an issue with coffee or what?!

[@phudlow]

When I was young, I had to be given adenosine several times at the ER via IV due to cardiac arrhythmia from an extra electrical node in the heart. I've since had surgery and it doesn't happen anymore, but it felt VERY intense when they administered the drug. It was basically a heart attack; it stopped my heart for several seconds to reset it. It felt like a very intense tightening in the chest, like a sumo wrestler was placing all his weight on it.

[@pancakesgo7995]

Same, but I thought adenosine was great. In my case it felt like a brief but very intense cannabis hit. I felt so chilled, as though I was sinking through the bed. If you've ever seen the movie 'Trainspotting', you'll get the idea. The doctors thought it was hilarious that on the adenosine bottle was printed, "WARNING - MAY CAUSE A SENSE OF IMPENDING DOOM".

[@phudlow]

@@pancakesgo7995 Oh wow. Yea I wasn't taking it recreationally. It was administered at a careful high dose by doctors to reset my heart. It was a profound and intensely uncomfortable experience each time. The warning of sense of impending doom is absolutely accurate. In my case, there is no "sense", it's just what you feel as your heart stops.

[@omegahunter9]

I don't think I've ever experienced caffeine withdrawal. I usually drink tea, I had energy drinks before but I don't enjoy them. I can definitely tell that the caffeine keeps me awake, but the effect is really mild, and I sleep with caffeine in my system as if it's a regular thing. Conversely, I suffer from horrible insomnia on occasion, regardless of my caffeine intake.

[@kencarp57]

My experience is similar to yours in several ways, and different in others. I drink about 4-6 cups of coffee daily, every day... and in the evenings I will often have a big mug of differing types of tea. I can't stand energy drinks, and I rarely ever drink any sodas of any kind. Caffeine just doesn't seem to have much of an effect on me... I don't suffer any withdrawal symptoms if I don't drink it for a day or two, and it doesn't keep me awake at night. I have started getting sleepy around 10 to 10:30 nearly every evening over the last several years as I've gotten older, whereas when I was younger I would often be wide awake and active at 1:00 AM. I too suffer from insomnia occasionally, but it's not common for me... maybe 2-3 nights a month. But, it doesn't seem to correlate with my caffeine intake, which rarely varies much. We humans are WEIRD!

[@tessaPMpro]

@@kencarp57 do you have ADHD? Because if so then that's why, caffeine and stimulants in general have very little effect on people with ADHD.

[@freesoftwareextremist8119]

Tea for some reason makes me more tired. Coffee makes me alert.

[@kencarp57]

@@tessaPMpro No, I don't have ADHD.

[@primerpure8660]

Same here, sounds surreal to me to hear about nausea or intense headaches or sour saliva and stuff, i usually drink maybe 2 to 3 cups of coffee and at one given point i was drinking maybe a liter daily, could sleep just fine and never got that caffeine rush or anything, my withdrawal is maybe an ever so slightly headache and tiredness but thats it, can handle it if i wanted to, suffer from insomnia from time to time but after experimenting with it doesn't seem to correlate with caffeine intake

[@spaceman4286]

I used to drink coffee daily and it got to a point where i just couldn't sleep at all. The final straw was when i went to sleep and i just couldn't drift off. My eyes were heavy and sleepy but 3 hours later i was still conscious and awake, all i've been doing was rotating sides in the bed. The following day, after that sleepless night, i decided i would go cold turkey on coffee. The withdrawal symptoms hit 3-4 days later and it was 10 days of headaches much like you explained in the video. I completely quit caffeine 7 months ago and it was the best choice i made. Lots of headaches during the withdrawal period? Yes. But i can actually go to bed and sleep now. Anecdotally, the frequency of headaches IN GENERAL has dramatically reduced those last 7 months. Come to think about it it's been a while since i last experienced a headache.

[@Malephex]

I used drink a pot of coffee before noon, and caffeine soft drinks after lunch at work. But I drank tea at home in the weekends, so when vacations rolled around, I wouldn't start to get the withdrawal headache until the first Monday. One weekend wasn't enough, but the 3rd and 4th day sucked, and on 5th day the withdrawal was over ... until I got back to work and started drinking coffee again. Somehow I never realized that was a bad cycle :D

[@no.7893]

The explaination of how caffeine withdrawl develops in the brain was super interesting, I'd love to see a similar type of video of how other common drugs that humans regularly take affect the brain if at all (such as tobacco or alcohol). I've never really given caffeine much thought; I can't really remember ever having anything rich in caffeine and really feeling much of an effect from it other than the few times I've had multiple red bulls within the span of an hour, but now that I think about it I drink a lot of tea and a fair amount of coffee (albiet not on a regular basis) and I do not shy away from energy drinks when I need a pick me up while doing busy work and I wonder if this inconsistent yet high consumption could explain some of the long lasting problems I've had which are scarily close to the symptoms for withdrawl.

[@EdwardViaTomato]

I've had a caffeine dependence for like two decades (I'm mid 30s), because I've had migraines since childhood, and it largely keeps them at bay. I'd also say it helps my mood, but after such a span of my lifetime, I don't actually know that I'd be better or worse.

[@richardkinsey7062]

Same boat. The migraines stopped with a cup of coffee a day. Been that way since 16 (now 29). Haven't tried cutting caffeine to see if they come back. Might experiment with it.

[@Fr0sTADHD]

I use to have Migraines when i was young. We couldn’t figure out what was causing them. I even went to the hospital from one because i threw up 7 times and was very pale. Went to a chiropractor and he said to stay away from Caffeine and Red dye(Red 40 is usually the name). Sure enough that is what it was. I couldn’t have a lot of things like hotdogs and things like that. Luckily i grew out of them when i was 16. When i get headaches to this day(i am 40), i still get scared it is a going to be a Migraine.

[@Whole-Milk]

I learned about caffeine headaches when I really really young. My mom used to drink 3 large pots of coffee daily for decades, so when she went without we all knew we had to figure how to get some asap. We lived in the middle of nowhere and the nearest store was a tiny gas station a few miles up the road. She’d send little me on my bike to get some. She drinks a lot less now and it taught me to be mindful of my caffeine intake.

[@TheRcDrake]

I cut out coffee cold turkey from a habit that included something like 6 cups a day. Initially I suffered through headaches that lasted for about a week and a half. What I wasn't prepared for was the absolute depression which followed. It came on maybe 2 or 3 weeks following quitting coffee and I initially had no idea what was going on. I became more depressed than I have ever felt in my life and totally emotionally raw. It helped when I realized what was happening, but holy crap was it surprising and powerful.

[@relwalretep]

Super appreciate your work on this second channel. Thanks!

[@askmiller]

I've always been erratic with caffeine consumption. Then when I started my job, I got into a pattern of having a cup of coffee every day at work because of office culture. What I noticed was that every single weekend I'd have a weak headache. I eventually pieced together it was the coffee. Now my caffeine intake is back to it's erratic pattern of some days having a lot, some days having near 0, etc. This has worked to keep me from forming a dependency again. Though honestly, caffeine dependency isn't all that bad for me. The only real reason for me to include coffee in my diet is because I never am able to drink enough water consistently and coffee displaces sugary drinks which are worse for me. Plus it offers a break from work which is socially acceptable.

[@vitalis]

As someone who takes modafinil with coffee, I just have to point out that headaches could be caused because most people don’t drink enough water. I also take cdp-choline, which is a high quality choline that can be found in eggs. Like everything, it’s all about the dose, but what should also be talked about is the reason for taking anything. If you are not sleeping well at regular hours and are trying to use substances to make up for biology needs then it’s like not saving money and using your credit cards, on credit. Sooner or later you are gonna have to pay it back, with interests. I also work out at the gym several times a week to make sure I keep the human machine in tip top condition if I’m making it run in turbo mode.

[@PFMediaServices]

Having tried to ease caffeine withdrawal (and other types of) headaches with overall increased water intake, I can say this doesn't work for everyone. BUT you're almost certainly right that we generally don't drink enough water, and I've now got a system to ensure I'm drinking much more of it every day than I used to. ✌️🍍

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

In my experience caffeine withdrawal can be pretty bad, not nearly as bad as opiates, but plenty bad enough. But the worst of it only lasts a few days. Then over about 2 weeks it tapers the the point where I can’t tell if I still have some dependency from over use or if I’m just not built for mornings. I tried to quit cold turkey from about 1,200 mg per day to 0, but by half way through the second day I was so exhausted, disoriented, and had such a bad headache I couldn’t leave the house. So I gave up because you can’t just not go to work. Twice since then I’ve gone from about 900 mg to 80 mg, which can be done easily, allowing for a few Ecederin for the first couple days.

[@SomeShavedSheep]

Thanks for sharing your story. I’m a stimulant addict, and (once again) fairly early in my recovery. I’ve been trying to be cognizant of my caffeine intake as of late, because… well, withdrawal sucks. But it does get better.

[@woosix7735]

good luck man

[@yankydooo6474]

you will make it

[@haleyb.1341]

Keep at it dude. I don’t know exactly what stimulant you are referring to and if you mean illegal stimulants, but if it’s that type of addiction, I know it well. Just take it minute by minute, you can get through it!!! I have almost 4 yrs in recovery and I was using for 13 years. Sending you loving and healing energy

[@ulogy]

Man, relative of mine got hooked on the euphoria you get from Rx stimulants, gradually slid into amphetamine use disorder and a full-blown methamphetamine habit. He got his affairs in order a few years ago after he lost three of his new friends kick the bucket during a particularly cold month (he had family willing to take him in, at least during the brutal cold times, his friends were not so fortunate and shelters have pants-on-head stupid requirements for those most in need of help) but he got hooked on coffee for a bit there. Shook that off after a few months, at least, and is now on some non-stimulant meds (and antipsychotics at night, because otherwise he STILL has terrors.)

[@jemmrich]

I really really really want to stop my intake of energy drinks. I was recently diagnosed with ADD and now that I am on medication my life has dramatically changed for the better. It seems like my need for energy drinks came from me trying to self medicate by finding something that could get me moving through difficult tasks but became an everyday (sometimes multiple times a day) requirement. At this point though, I feel like I don't need it anymore--but my body does. If I could do just one thing to dramatically improve my health, it would quitting energy drinks for life. Especially now that I am in my 40's. I've found that even just a single sip causes me to fall off the wagon. It is incredible how sugar can stimulate your senses so fast that even a gummy vitamin can rewake my craving. It is almost solely my only source of sugar and definitely my only source of caffeine and I treat it like any smoker treats their addiction. I've managed to limit to 1 per day, sipping on an energy drink for roughly 5 hours every single day between thoughts and tasks. Some have a morning coffee--I have my morning Monster. It's like a smoke break for me. But now, with my medication I have zero issues with attention, motivation, drive, and I have so much clarity of thought that I feel like energy drinks are now holding me back from achieving so much more....

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Might be worth transitioning through coffee. None of the added sugar, but still the caffeine. Basically taking off one power source at a time.

[@DocBB]

Interesting. Around 7 years ago I stumbled on the info that adult men should consume 30-36 grams of sugar a day, and realized I had been ingesting way more. Like 100 to 140 a day. I realized that would obviously impact my long term health so I threw all my sugary drinks and snacks out and went cold turkey. About a day and a half passed where I felt quite "off", but figured it was fine. Awoke the next day and felt like I was actually dying. Full on panic attack, sweating bullets/chills, migraine from hell, had crazy tremors even when the anxiety had passed. I went to my doctor and I explained my symptoms. He queried about various things to find a reason for my symptoms, but nothing lined up. He said "are you sure you don't use something like heroine? You can tell me, I'm your doctor" and I said no. He asked what I had been doing for the past couple of days and I mentioned the sugar thing, so he said "Ah. I think I know what's happening. Sit tight." He left, and returned a couple minutes later with a Coke and some cookies and said "wolf those down". It was mind blowing, I felt 100% good and normal again within 20-30 minutes. Had no idea something as innocuous as sugar could have withdrawal effects THAT bad. I don't know how sugar affects the brain on a chemical level like you explained with caffeine, but it's cool to see the parallels. Great vid.

[@choanlpoto]

Bullshit story lol

[@DocBB]

@@choanlpoto Yea man google is hard to use, you'll figure it out.

[@kitnfall]

dude I had the same thing lol. I don't usually drink soda but I LOVE chocolate. I have some sort of chocolate everyday, without even realizing. It was just something I did. Some time ago I decided to go for groceries once a 2 weeks and didn't get enough chocolates to last the entirety of 2 weeks, and I remember not having it for one day and definitely feeling off. The day after that was so bad. The symptoms you described are super familiar, the person above saying that it's bullshit knows nothing lol. I had a terrible migraine to the point I was throwing up constantly, I couldn't take advil for a pain relief because I'd go right out. The lights and sounds were so painful, I was feeling hot, then cold, then hot again. And somehow I couldn't link it to chocolate at all. Eventually I took painkillers that you need to dissolve in water and they worked, sort of. My migraine wasn't completely gone but it was somewhat tolerable and I decided to go to store to get some sweets. And after I had a reese cup or something, my migraine was GONE. It was mind blowing to me. I used to vape nicotine for quite a while but then had to quit due to prescription, and I had no withdrawals whatsoever. But sugar withdrawals is something else holy cow... Suffice to say I'm still eating chocolates everyday :c I want to quit one day but gotta mentally prepare myself for hell lol

[@18_rabbit]

@@kitnfalldunno about mentaly preparing for it, but weening down the amt of the candy is the idea. AND i'd strongly recommend getting some cocoa powder (it's pure cocoa) and having that with water and some milk or even yogurt i use sometimes. That's serious nutrition and nutrients. And u could put a tiny bit of sweetness in the cocoa drink, even via fruit like banana, or blend it all together and then u r getting real nutrition and food. Try to use as little as possible of actual sugar. You will very rapidly auto-adjust your sense of sweet/taste. Can also put cocoa powder in your food/sauces, braises, marinades, etc.

[@minesadab]

How do you know it wasn't caffeine withdrawal? Most sugary drinks (that you said you cut out) contain it, and the coke you drank at the doctors certainly does.

[@elleno1921]

I’ve never had any caffeine, nicotine, alcohol or drugs. Best decision I’ve ever made. ❤ I’m proud of tween/teen me for intuitively knowing something about it wasn’t right.

[@SonyaKhanOfficial]

No wonder you are so beautiful!!!!😍

[@kurisichin]

I have a similar experience~ I've been drinking coffee since I was 12, so by the time I started working I was drinking around 8+ cups of strong coffee every day. I started to notice that if I didn't have coffee for a day, I would be absolutely sick the next day. I researched withdrawal symptoms from drug abuse and I had a quite a few of those - I got scared 😨 So I decided to slowly lessen my intake. Took a while, but I'm good with just one cup a day now and I don't get severe withdrawal symptoms anymore when I skip a day. 😅

[@elomoreloR6]

I personally don't have that problem. I drink coffee everyday, but from time to time i skip a couple of days(maybe I'm out of coffee and cant buy it rn, maybe just forgot about it in the morning) and have no withdrawal symptoms. Maybe I just drink less, but that's the first time I'm hearing about this. Definitely will keep this in mind and not get in the habit too much

[@XSemperIdem5]

Recently I stopped coffee for about a week to avoid aggravating some anaphylaxis symptoms (it takes me days or over a week to be clear of symptoms after each reaction). I didn't notice any withdrawal symptoms but just missed the flavor. I just drink one cup (12oz size) a day.

[@aadityadatir6456]

Same with me, the most I ever felt was a headache which go away after sometime by itself

[@glowerworm]

I skip coffee on the weekends for this reason

[@KavonAlOkkin]

I really like these videos that get down into the science behind what's going on when you do this, that, or the other. I watched this particular video because I'd decided to go cold turkey on coffee after attempting to gradually reduce the amount I was drinking and failing. At lower doses of any addictive substance I've ever gotten rid of (alcohol, nicotine, sugar, and now caffeine), I've always found my addiction beats my resolve to quit. But if I just quit, I'm able to overcome any withdrawal symptoms.

[@raven4k998]

you see even he has experience with mistaking things but he got lucky

[@Vroomfondle1066]

But can you beat your air addiction?

[@yellowcatmonkey]

💖same

[@marshmallowblaster]

I quit caffeine entirely for a while as I realized I was consuming so much that it was unhealthy, but I still felt sick with none at all after a few months without. I now drink one small cup of coffee every day and feel better than ever. I think it is helpful in moderation.

[@elcoollow5955]

I tried the same thing but for 2 weeks. I have 1 cup of day. I might try to skip a day or two on the weekend.

[@Koroistro]

I remember, when I still didn't have my ADHD diagnosis, I used to consume the equivalent of 6-9 espressos per day. Strangely enough, when I got my methylphenidate prescription and I stopped coffee cold turkey I had no meaningful withdrawal symptoms, the even more surprising thing was that the compression headaches (from muscle contraction) I routinely had twice a week were completely gone, I got one around a week after starting ritalin/stopping caffine, but then they were absolutely gone. Now If I indulge in a bit too much caffeine (lets say above 150mg) I realize how tense I become and I start feeling the shadow of an headache.

[@Astaroth752]

I have a similar experience with caffeine. I don't have ADHD but I was prescribed at first 300mg of modafinil to aid my studying sessions, and at first, I had some migraines, but then the dosage was lowered to 100mg. The point is that those migraines were not nearly as bad as the ones caffeine made me feel back when I used to drink 5 espressos a day.

[@TheBlanketGhost]

My dad had to quit caffeine for a while since he became dependant on it on his job, he never complained about any headaches (probably because we're latino lmao) but he was much more groggy and seemed to loose a lot of energy quicker. It was also quite difficult to get him out of it since coffee is such a deeply ingrained part of our culture here in our country. Eventually, he found that the best way to treat his withdrawal symptoms was to switch from coffee to tea, that way he would slowly be able to cut back to a healthy amount of caffeine

[@congruentcrib]

Honestly this is something I didn’t know I needed. During covid, we ran out of water in the auto-shop I worked in. It was super hot, and the face masks made everything so much worse. I started getting soda then, and that’s where I started drinking soda instead of water. Fast forward to 2022 and soda is getting expensive. So I’ve kinda stepped back and over the past few months I’ve been different. Depressed, anxious, can’t focus, and sleeping a lot. I think ima try n ween off caffeine and start drinking more water.

[@RcFlashDriver]

How do you run out of water in an auto-shop unless you mean bottled water? Wouldn't you just drink from the sink if you got desperate enough? I work at an auto-shop and always have a 32 pack of water bottles in my trunk. It's only 7$ and will last you a while. I would feel so bad if I drank just soda for the entire day.

[@congruentcrib]

@@RcFlashDriver so the water we get is not good drinking water; it needs to go through a purifier and the only water fountain we have is 1 dusty and dirty as hell, and 2 got closed off to help “stop the spread of covid”. Im in one of the areas that got hit hard with covid. We were also one of the first locations in the United States to get covid reports.

[@jonesjermaine4387]

Holy Christ he stopped caffeine and it turned him Asian? I need to do this I have Calcuas and Linear Algebra this semester but I won't be able to drive my car to campus looks I have live in the dorms oh well.....

[@SongwritingDeconstructed]

I would hazard a guess that the sugar would have something to do with that too (unless it was diet soda)

[@buggerlugz6753]

That thumbnail made me think you'd turned into the guy from "no country for old men".

[@deanevangelista6359]

I'm a "bean head," and drink 3-5 cups of coffee per day. A few years back, I quit cold turkey, and my withdrawal symptoms were mild. I had mild headaches, fatigue, and lower back and pain in the back of my legs. After three days, I had no symptoms.

[@ToastbackWhale]

Crazy that caffeine does this to people. I thought “caffeine wakes me up/makes me wired/is literally necessary” was just kind of a cultural joke that I didn’t understand. Coffee, several cans of Coke a day, didn’t matter what I had, I never noticed *any* changes with it. And then, one day, when I went to see my sister off at the airport, we thought it’d be fun to get like 11 year old me a double shot of espresso. I downed it in one swig (because gross), and by the time the plane was lifting off the ground I had the shakes. Turns out that it takes absurdly high concentrations to do *anything* to me, and when it does, it doesn’t last long. During undergrad I would regularly drink a 20oz Red Bull and go straight to bed.

[@literalantifaterrorist4673]

do you have ADHD? In people with ADHD, caffeine has very diminished or even opposite effects as for normal people.

[@ToastbackWhale]

@@literalantifaterrorist4673 Not officially. I suspect that it's a genetic thing; certain genotypes of CYP1A2 result in high production of the CYP1A2 enzyme, which breaks down caffeine.

[@TechnoRacerX]

I'm.currently going through it. I forgot to ease-out and went full on cold turkey. It's been a week now and I still haven't felt normal. 8 years ago I did the same but my symptoms were fairly connected more to anxiety, this time around though, migraines and other symptoms are definitely more acute. After I get out of this, I don't plan on doing coffee anymore. The thought of knowing that millions of people inject caffeine as their first food source after sleeping is beyond bonkers.

[@Jesse-ri5ud]

i hope you're doing well in quitting caffeine and i wish you the best of luck with forming healthier habits going forth! ❤

[@TechnoRacerX]

@@Jesse-ri5ud Thanks! I'm doing quite well after a month. It's been a great experience, so far the results have been nothing but great. Thank you and all the best to ya. 🙏💪

[@Pragnantweggyboard]

And they do it in the high cortisol period, real wise.

[@Retronize84]

Be careful because your brain will do all types of tricks to get you back on it. "I miss the taste" or "Life is boring without it"

[@Heazeh]

I have one cup of coffee in the morning then go about my day just fine. If I'm unwell I skip the coffee and I'm fine. Not sure if bonkers is the right word.

[@kwedd5823]

It’s has been 341 days without caffeine and I’m finally starting to feel like I did before I started drinking coffee. I did not imagine that caffeine would have such a profound hold on my brain like it did. Truly bizarre

[@rvnmedic1968]

Did you mean "without" caffeine?

[@kwedd5823]

@@rvnmedic1968 yes

[@joshuaboulton36]

How did you feel before and after caffeine, and how’d you feel on it? Thanks!

[@iamtheiconoclast3]

I am extremely caffeine sensitive. Used to experience severe bradycardia if I drank too much; on a couple of occasions it got so bad that I had to spend an hour speed walking around my neighbourhood in the middle of the night in order to keep my heart beating, because every time I stopped moving it would fizzle out. Unsurprisingly, quitting caffeine has been miserably difficult for me. I've never been a coffee drinker, but going from one can of Coca Cola plus one cup of cocoa per day, to just the cocoa, leaves me with moderate withdrawal symptoms which so far have never fully resolved. Even after about five weeks of this reduced intake, I still feel tired, sluggish, apathetic and depressed. I want to go all the way and completely quit caffeine, but I expect it will take a long time to get to that point.

[@ForeverMasterless]

I don't think it's physically possible for caffeine withdrawal to last that long. You probably have some other medical issue causing the exhaustion which the caffeine was helping you compensate for.

[@darcy434]

Love this video. About 18 months ago i cut out caffeine cold turkey and experienced all of the same symptoms described in this video. The most surprising thing was that while the negative symptoms only lasted up to 2 months, I didn't start to recognise and feel the BENEFITS until 8-9 months later. Much like quitting smoking, the thought or taste of caffeine now disgusts me and my natural energy levels are at an all-time high. Naturally feeling mentally sharp, consistently good sleep and no trouble focusing even when slightly drowsy. One of the best decisions I ever made.

[@wendym2544]

excellent. Great job.

[@harmlesshabit5053]

9 months? Sheesh, that's long... No wonder why I didn't feel very different after I cut out caffeine one day. I didn't feel worse or better. I stopped for a month, and then came back to it, since I didn't feel any positive results. But maybe it was because I normally ever drank only 1-2 coffees a day?

[@Slavik-qh2xo]

I drink coffee my whole life, i am active, i sleep like a baby, and i never had any problems with coffee whatsoever. I think coffee is a personal thing and affects people differently.

[@JonDeth]

I stopped caffeine abruptly about 12 years ago, and I had the most brutal headache having not had a headache in literally 20 years! I checked Dr. Google and sure enough, I was informed death was eminent and I would turn into a pile of blood blisters before taking 400 hours to slowly die! 😂🤣 On a more serious note, England performed a caffeine test through one of their universities, and sure enough the technician gave the test subjects lethal doses of I think 4 grams of pure anhydrous caffeine. *They did, however, survive. They didn't give the protocol, but it was caught immediately and they were taken to the emergency room and treated successfully.* My bet is it was supposed to be 40mg, and the fool mixed up the buttons on the scale and dosed 4 grams!

[@Bertuzz84]

I'm on my fourth month of being caffeine free. The main difference that i noticed is that i feel instantly awake and ready to go in the morning. Instead of starting to wake and getting a buzz from my second cup of morning coffee.

[@jeromedenis4754]

I've quit drinking coffee at least 10 times because of the never-ending situation you've described. After a year or two, I'll have just a half cup and I'm fine, this continues for months, and increasing amounts of coffee intake until I'm out of control at the end of my rope and know it's time to face no coffee, no caffeine again. This situation has also happened from drinking black tea, which does contain caffeine. I hope never to drink it again. Pure poison in the long run.

[@a64738]

I feel zero of the caffeine effect from black tea, but coffee even a half a cup I feel it instantly...

[@corpsiecorpsie_the_original]

Heads up, if you are getting off caffeine and experience symptoms that you may describe as "like dementia", you may have undiagnosed ADHD. I've always been "smart", but I felt myself better understanding things when I was in my 3 year college. I also had started guzzling caffeine. Fast forward to 2020 where working from home (aka less external stimulation), and tapering off caffeine (from 1300+ mg per day) led to the perfect ADHD release that felt like dementia. I would be working, go to the kitchen to get a snack, then 4 hours later find myself on the couch goofing off without recollection of the time in between.

[@MinionTheThird]

So strange I feel I lose my brain when I am off caffeine. I was diagnosed as a child with ADHD and wondering if it has followed me into adult hood

[@joncell7582]

So what do think the way to attack this ? I do have bad memory bud I also think it’s the 🍃and sometime I be doing both caff too due to the longer high and feeling good but slowly quitting

[@bpz8175]

Same. I did get an ADD diagnosis later on, but as I started reaching the latter end of middle school I was dependent on it to get anything done - I kept the dose mostly down because of regular breaks. But during high-intensity periods like exams it wasn't uncommon for me to take >800mg/day. But I'm caffeine-sensitive too, so I took those exams looking pale and sweaty with palpitations and a resting pulse of 130. When it was time to take a break I'd get stuck staring at a wall for minutes at a time, forget what I was going to do on the way to my kitchen and oftentimes have to pause mid-sentence to recall words. All of which no longer happens after getting proper medications for ADD treatment. Now it's just a much reduced attention span. This is rather subjective, but I've also had the dubious pleasure of quitting smoking. Nicotine withdrawal is much more dysphoric but the effects on my cognition are minor in comparison.

[@corpsiecorpsie_the_original]

@@MinionTheThird - I not sure it ever goes away

[@illusiveamy]

Eh. I have AuDHD. I will indulge in a cup of coffee worth of caffeine maybe once a week these days. I used to drink a lot more of it, however. An energy drink in the morning, and a strong cup of coffee a few hours later. Sometimes I'd have coffee in the afternoon as well. I quit cold turkey for six months and I did have a massive headache and fatigue at first, but no sort of dementia. I think it varies, and doesn't necessarily mean someone has or doesn't have ADHD. But you did say that it only "may" mean you have undiagnosed ADHD. It's interesting to view the experience of others.