My Caffeine Addiction

Gr8shotz asked me to post a video about my own caffeine addiction. This is my story.

[@noventar]

I remember watching Urgelt's video years ago...This is what youtube SHOULD be about, REAL people sharing bits and pieces of their lives, not the commercialized pop culture idiocy that's all over the website today =( Urgelt please make more videos!! I would love videos where you simply read from poems or storybooks. Your voice is very therapeutic.

[@god5535]

I completely agree! And this was 13 years ago. Imagine now.

[@Dewtart]

Been coming back to this video for years now; it’s oddly relaxing. Crazy to think this video is 17 years old now-your channel belongs in a museum! Hope you are healthy, and wishing you many more happy new years to come.

[@Taydrum]

Coffee itself is not just caffeine, there is a cocktail of other chemicals, namely Beta-carboline that acts as a potentiator for caffeine. Much in the same way tobacco contains harmala alkaloids and B-carbolines, that potentiate nicotine. Tea is a much more balanced array of alkaloids that smooths the caffeine effects, thanks to antioxidants contained in the leaf

[@Urgelt]

I was blind, and now I can see... I know the feeling well. That was me, 29 years ago. For seven years I had no clue what was happening to me. It was all unconscious. I think 2 cups of coffee is enough to establish a mild addiction in most people, and as you know, once you're addicted, drug tolerance comes into play, making your body seek higher doses. Understanding that, and putting your conscious mind in control while the addiction is still mild, is a good thing.

[@glitchynikki]

I miss you so much! I wish you'd come back.

[@GiffordMusic]

I struggled with caffeine addiction when I was in my teens and this video came out around that time and helped me over come it! hope you are still doing well

[@Urgelt]

The credit is 100% yours. And congratulations, by the way! You done good!

[@mr.misterioso9862]

@@Urgelt Urgelt still checks comments?!

[@Urgelt]

@@mr.misterioso9862 I do, occasionally.

[@UnificationNow]

Thank you so much for sharing your story :-) It's great to hear someone talk about caffeine in this way.

[@Urgelt]

I'm happy to hear of your success in getting off of caffeine and feeling better, iorixs. Well done!

[@thedukeofweasels6870]

People don't understand just how addictive caffeine really can be. People throw around the word addiction too lightly but when you are really both physically and psychologically addicted to it, it is kinda like being an alcoholic. Bad reactions to it are rare so most people don't understand what this like but for some people it is as horrible as hard drugs!!!! I'm both physically and psychologically addicted to it. Believe me it's really, really hard to give up! I started using a lot of caffeine to counteract the exhaustion caused by my depression. It made me feel awake, alive and almost positive at first which my brain couldn’t do on its own! But it really just makes everything worse and I still keep reaching for it because I have a have never been a strong person!!! I go through 1 to 4 cases of Diet Mountain Dew a day. That means I can reach up to 48 cans in one day!!!! I'm a brain dead zombie without it, feeling extremely disconnected and almost slightly drunk and too physically sick to function!! But with it my thoughts race and I'm edgy and irritable and sometimes kinda manic!! Either way I feel completely crazy!! I'm not blaming the caffeine I have mental health issues I’m working on but it's really not fair that people don't take it seriously! People with addictions or any mental health problems are already treated like crap but what does someone like me do? There’s no rehab for this, the world runs on dunk’n! Most people with more serious addictions just laugh at me thinking I'm somehow faking this. I have high blood pressure, heart issues, get dehydrated easily and the aspartame in it is rotting my brain making my depression worse! In most people it probably is a benign substance but I wish people would understand that it is still a drug and it can still be a problem for some people. I struggle against the urge to self medicate my mental health issues with worse things and I've managed to pull back my drinking so I don't become an alcoholic but no matter what I do I can't stop myself from consuming caffeine, I feel so fucking powerless to it!!!! I always say I’ll stop, or it is my last one but I know I’ll go back to it because I always do!!!! I hate what it has done to my life and who I am because of it but then all I can think about cracking open a nice cold can of dew and forgetting my problems for a few moments!! And then the guilt and shame and the cycle starts again! But when you try to tell people they just laugh at you because it can't be real! Maybe it is just me? Maybe I’m just some kinda freak with no self control at all! Maybe I just failed at this like everything else in my life!! I really hate the thing I have become!!!!!!

[@Urgelt]

Duke, I've never heard of anyone drinking that much 'Dew in a single day. It's very likely that you are experiencing, not only addiction, but severe caffeine intoxication. (Look it up on Wikipedia.) Many of the symptoms you are experiencing are surely drug-induced. Most any human consuming that much caffeine will experience symptoms similar to yours. It's not just you; it's your human physiology responding to intoxication. If there are additional underlying mental health issues, they will be masked and dominated by intoxication and made all but untreatable. I urge you to see a physician. The dose you are describing is not merely addicting, and not just intoxicating. It could be life-threatening. I agree with your concern about aspartame. I refuse to touch the stuff, it's dangerous. One last point. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) used to treat depression are, according to a recent report, designed to a flawed chemical model of depression. SRIs are used to increase serotonin levels, on the assumption that low serotonin levels are causing depression. This model has been called into serious doubt; there is evidence that the reverse is true, that high serotonin levels produces depression, and that increasing serotonin is the exact wrong thing to do. If you are on an SRI, I suggest speaking to your doctor about non-SRI alternatives.

[@thedukeofweasels6870]

Urgelt I'm trying to step down and I don't have all four cases every day most days its about 2- 3 but when I get a bad mood I just stop caring and I go crazy with it! I really want to stop but having both a physically and psychologically dependency is ruff because it is an emotional crutch for me. it is a catch 22 I need to stop to fix my mental issues but those issues give me and addictive personalty that wants to suck in any vice I get near! it is just frustrating to hear people that try to quit their one or two morning coffee habit complain about being "kinda grumpy" or "a headache" and everyone assumes that is what I'm going through so no one takes it seriously! back when I was having all 48 cans every day for years I tryed to quite cold turkey once and it felt like street drug withdraw!!!! my bones hurt, I was stuck bed shaking and puking and it felt like my brain was exploding!! I was suicidal with in a week, it really was "drink" or kill myself so yeah I caved!! but I'm much better now and I'm determined to finally bet this! it is just a lonely addiction because no one understands or even believes me!!

[@Urgelt]

theduke ofweasels I hear you, Duke, and I absolutely believe you. Quitting for you is going to be nothing like quitting for the average caffeine-dependent user. If you have depression, that's a good reason to talk to a doctor about quitting caffeine before you seriously try it. Caffeine is a mood booster, though not a very good one, since the effects fade so quickly and you're right back to craving more. In other words, it's self-medication for depression. Cutting your caffeine intake suddenly could trigger a serious depressive episode. If your doctor can recommend non-SRI drug solutions for your depression, it ought to ease the strain of reducing your caffeine consumption. You may want to consider boosting your natural endorphin levels. Endorphins are mood-boosters, too. The primary means of boosting endorphins in your brain is vigorous exercise and athleticism. Long-distance runners, for example, get a 'natural high' out of their training; I think they aren't often the victims of depression.

[@thedukeofweasels6870]

Urgelt yeah my depression has just been found out to be part of a mood disorder. it's not quite bipolar but it is like I have two kinds of depression stupid, slow, blank, numb, exhausted, empty, detached, foggy, achy, lazy "I don't care, let me sleep." depression! Then there is the frustrated, cynical, sarcastic, angry, hyper, squirmy, antsy, jittery, crazy, self-destructive "my mind is a burring blender!" / "fuck life! pass the vodka" / "I really really really despise myself!" depression that makes me just want to rip off my skin to escape!! so yeah my going nuts, I just started a mood stabilizer so that might help. I know all the things I need to do to get better but it is really really hard to make myself do them! I failed at life, I hate it so much, I have no one to blame but me for my poor choice but I still can't make myself function! it really is self medicating!!! and I do it in lots other self destructive ways!!!(binge eating, drinking, self-harm and more) being this out of control is frustrating! it is like I was born with no willpower at all! I know my unhealthy lifestyle is making me worse but it is so hard to change my behavior. I just can't be the strong person I should be. I just keep failing at life! no matter what I try I don't change. it is a war with my self that I will never win!!! sorry for ranting I guess it is just a bad day.

[@thedukeofweasels6870]

Urgelt I'm backing off the caffeine slowly this time so I stay at a doable level of withdraw and it is helping it is just hard I crave it a lot and when I have a bad day or get emotional it is all I can think about! like I'll drool over the dumbest things like the coldness of the can or the sound of popping it open or the burn of that first sip of fizz! its a real mind fuck! I'll like even dream about it. this must be what it feels like to be an alcoholic because I so know better then slip up anyway and binge drink on it and then I wake up in the moring with a caffeine hangover and I'm "WTF did I just do to myself" so much regret and guilt! UGH! I will be working with my doctors and fighting this because I want a better life!

[@goldfire7]

I drink 4 monsters a day. Help!!!!

[@Urgelt]

Dalton Labensky The help you need can come from only one source: you. First step: inform yourself. Read the Wikipedia entry on caffeine, for starters. Use search engines. Second step: if you deny you are addicted, there can be no solution. Third step: carefully weigh pros and cons of quitting. Some addicts decide the pain of quitting exceeds the damage of not quitting. I decided the opposite for myself. But I am not your decider; you are. Fourth step: make a plan. Some folks find tapering easier. Some prefer cold turkey. (I chose the latter.) Lock in your plan on the calendar. Understand that if you quit, there's going to be a period of unpleasantness and fatigue. Might want to avoid quitting when you are working or attending school, when you need your wits about you. You can include drink substitutions in your plan. Water is good, but it may leave you feeling unfulfilled if you've been drinking a lot of soft drinks. Herbal teas sweetened with stevia extract powder are just as tasty as any soft drink, and healthier to boot. There's a lot of variety available - at least one herbal tea I enjoy is similar to cola. Fifth step (if necessary): it's not at all unusual for addicts to backslide, for their plans to fail. If you still want to quit, pick yourself up and try again. There's no rule that you only get one shot at it. Caveat: 4 Monsters a day is probably enough to addict many people. But I doubt it's an extreme addiction. In extreme cases, or in cases of poor health, you can incur serious health risks by quitting abruptly. In such cases a consultation with a doctor is wise before you start. Good luck, Dalton.

[@kalani4ever359]

Do you drink 4 monsters back to back? If not you shouldn't be too worried...people take pre workout drinks that contain 700mg of caffiene in one scoop in one sitting...that's more than 3 monsters at once....and people who do that tend to use more than one scoop a day...you're not that deep yet...it's gonna be ok

[@cosminblk8359]

Hey, Dalton ! Did you solved your problem ? 'Cause I have a similar one. May you help me ?

[@circe9153]

How inspiring. You are a smart man by figuring it out on your own. Thank you for sharing. I am a 1 or 2 cup in the morning drinker, but convinced to quit now😮

[@nestorcortez6829]

I lost count of my years with caffeine addiction.im now30 and I started taking caffeine in different forms as a teen.i know I would take pain killers with caffeine such as Excedrin with a coke or even energy drinks.im now out of control taking 4-10pills a day every single day!!!to keep going with my chronic migraine issues.doctors don't help at all.i cut caffeine cold turkey about 5 times up to fifteen days in a row.but then I get back involved with things I have to do like work as and chores little by little I get hooked up again in Excedrin.i feel miserable hopeless and helpless.i want to know what it feels not to have a migraine again.ill like to take back control of my life,and not pain controlling my life.

[@Urgelt]

Life is not a bowl of cherries, even without an addiction like this one. It took something like six months after I quit before my migraines were mostly abated. I quit out of desperation; nothing the doctors suggested had helped at all (and one thing they suggested, which was an ergot medication *with* caffeine in it, probably made things worse). I didn't know in advance if the migraines would decrease due to quitting caffeine, then. But they slowed, and their intensity dropped, and then stopped entirely. In subsequent years I would sometimes get bad headaches, but nothing like the headaches I had while using caffeine heavily. And not nearly as often, either. There were some peculiarities about those caffeine-fueled migraines. Perhaps the most peculiar thing about them was that I found I could trigger them through heavy physical exertion. If I hadn't had a migraine in a week or more, playing a pickup basketball game or doing anything similar would bring it on within a few hours. That was just nuts. Not a happy time in my life. Freeing myself from caffeine took me into a better place in my life. Other ailments eventually rolled in; aging does that to us. But even now, I place a high value on being free of those incapacitating migraines. Quitting caffeine was the right thing to do. Other benefits accrued from quitting: I slept more soundly. Awoke feeling more rested. Didn't approach life as frantically. When in the grip of my caffeine addiction, I suspect my ability to think clearly was impaired. It's no longer unknown to medical science that migraines can be (but are not always) connected to caffeine consumption. If you are using caffeine heavily and suffering from migraines, ending caffeine consumption is really the *first* thing to do. And you know this. That's more than I knew when I was a serious migraine sufferer. You're ahead of where I was. So, quitting is hard. Caffeine is a lot more addictive, especially at high doses, than is widely understood. It's harder to quit than is widely understood. But there are rewards for those who can do it. That's a promise. You might benefit from a talk with your doctor. I think your consumption is much higher than mine ever was, and so it could be a good idea to talk over your options. Quitting an addicting drug when high doses are involved might trigger undesirable physiological effects - especially with respect to your heart. A discussion of approaches - tapering versus cold turkey - and of diet, exercise and pharmacological aides could prove fruitful to you. Best of luck to you, Nestor.

[@nestorcortez6829]

Urgelt I highly appreciate your reply I've felt alone and misunderstood for a long time.i have family thinking I'm lazy, antisocial, and even faking my symptoms.ill soon come up with a plan to be able to quit this toxicity.thanks for your video and thanks for the feedback,it gives me a sense of hope/light at the end of the tunnel.

[@jacekwaasiewicz716]

Damn right caffeine is bad for you...i don't drink it for 2 weeks now and i am feeling so much better! (note: i am having strong social anxieties) The only problem i experience is with gym motivation, i was used to drink strong black before a training seasion.

[@Urgelt]

Jacek Wałasiewicz You didn't mention if your social anxieties came during withdrawal, or during regular caffeine use, or are a phenomenon unrelated to caffeine. During withdrawal, it's normal to feel fatigued and listless for a time. Drink lots of water and sleep as much as you are able. You might also reduce your gym time and instead substitute walking as a less stressful way to enjoy physical activity during withdrawal. Parks or country roads are ideal. Studies have found that social anxieties and depression are countered by walks through natural settings; it's actually better than prescription drug treatments, I think, though I am not a physician and my opinion doesn't count for much. Your fatigue will get better gradually as your adrenal glands recover from the beating they took from caffeine. Good luck to you!

[@jacekwaasiewicz716]

Urgelt First of all id like to inform that my english language skill is not very good so i apologies for that. It appears that i had social anxiety from the beginning of my life but from what i have noticed so far caffeine especially directly after drinking it boosted strongly the negative effects of my anxieties (the effect was really strong in really crowded places). Id like to note that back in the day i was also abusing strong preworkout supplements which had a lot of caffeine in it... It seems that during withdrawal i have hard time waking up but after that i dont experience energy drop down during the rest of a day like i had on caffeine usage. I really doubt i will ever again touch anything with caffeine. ( my mind is strong i barely drink alkohol and i dont smoke :) Have a nice day

[@Urgelt]

Jacek Wałasiewicz No need to apologize for learning a second language. It's an achievement worthy of pride, not a source of embarrassment. And your written English is quite good - better than many native speakers can manage. It's great that you have made the connection in your head between the drug and your symptoms. Making that connection is a stumbling block for many caffeine consumers; they don't understand how using the drug produces their symptoms. I know; for years, I had no idea what was causing my symptoms. I didn't think it could be caffeine, since mainstream media - then and now - insists it's harmless, just 'extra energy.' And many doctors ignore caffeine's effects on their patients; they are often caffeine addicts themselves and deeply in denial about it. Thanks for contributing here for the other readers!

[@Urgelt]

I'm glad it's working out, Pete. Best of luck to you.

[@Urgelt]

I couldn't agree more, James. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@Urgelt]

Congratulations on your success, Minnie; I think you've done well. Thanks for putting in your two cents, too.

[@Urgelt]

Wonderful, iorixis. Simply wonderful, and congrats to you!

[@Urgelt]

Thanks for sharing your story, MissMeAm. I think you hit the nail on the head.

[@Urgelt]

It's tough to cut down, but it can be done. I think in the long run you'll find your quality of life will improve. Good luck!

[@Urgelt]

I congratulate you for your insight, Christopher. Hope the rest of your step-down program goes as well.

[@ssips720]

you are a GREAT story teller! please do more like this

[@cooliscool]

Great video. I don't see myself breaking my coffee habit any time soon, however. I'm glad you were able to. :)

[@Urgelt]

I'm glad you understand your addiction. And I respect your decision not to end it. My main purpose is to inform. Many do not seem to grasp what caffeine is - an addictive drug - nor how it might affect them. I'll advise you to keep an eye on your dosage, and keep the other eye on how it affects your health. You know what to look for.

[@xXGuitarMuffinsXx]

Definitely inspires me to totally quit caffeine for the rest of my life. It's hard. It's not just the effects of caffeine that I enjoy, it's just the whole thing about holding a cup of hot, black coffee in your hands. But it's getting to the point it's making my anxiety go crazy. It's not going to cure it, but caffeine definitely will make me anxious/nervous for reasons I never would be before, and things that do make me nervous, it just escalates it to a whole different level.

[@Urgelt]

Sounds very similar to my experiences 30 years ago, m1ms. I'm glad you caught on to the connection between soft drinks and your symptoms.

[@Urgelt]

Best of luck with that, HR123. I'm rooting for you.

[@willashland]

Thank you for posting this. I was a heavy Mountain Dew and Diet Mountain Dew drinker for years, and I found it made my anxiety and depression much worse. Now I only have caffeine on a sporadic basis and my symptoms are much improved. I think there's a lot of truth in what you say about questioning medical professionals, because many pharmaceutical companies pay lobbyists to convince gov't officials to allow certain drugs, when they may not be safe. We have to be careful and trust ourselves

[@tigermonkey2]

Thanks alot!! you saved my project. For my biology class we needed to make a presenation about caffeine addiction. Thanks to you im gonna get a good point. Once again. Thank you!!

[@Urgelt]

I think that's a valid hope. Good luck with it, Basaltq.

[@Urgelt]

Hi, Katharina, thanks very much for sharing your story. I was never a big fan of gym class, either. Long walks are awesome, and so is bicycling. You're very fortunate that your psychologist addressed your caffeine consumption and helped you with it. Not every psychologist pays attention to that aspect of their client's lives. By the way, your colloquial English is excellent. Kudos!

[@user33housecats]

this is an interesting story, my ex husband was plagued by mirgraines in the same frequency and duration you describe, like a couple days of every week were migraines - I asked him to consider his diet/food choices. He refused. He just wanted a drug and like you, the drugs were full of caffeine. . . He honestly thought the caffeine was helping he drank coffee all day long

[@Urgelt]

Thanks for contributing your experience, HERPINGinWALES, and congrats on getting through cold turkey. Your advice is solid.

[@Urgelt]

Congrats, SOUPRUNO1. You've done well for yourself. For me, the worst symptoms of withdrawal were over within a few weeks, but like you, I didn't feel "right" immediately. I still felt cravings when I smelled coffee brewing, for example. And my migraines diminished gradually, not really coming to a complete end for several months. I chalk that up to profound changes caffeine makes in the brain. Ending the addiction is just the first step; then your brain needs to heal the damage.

[@alistairproductions]

okay, i like the way you put that. and congrats on your overcomings- soon there will not be 7 tea bags in my tea each afternoon and maybe i wont drink coffee equivalent to a big ass bowl of soup eeach morning!

[@cooliscool]

Absolutely, I couldn't agree more, especially on the fact that most of society is ignorant to just how powerful, and addicting, caffeine can be. Sadly most people don't understand that it's a "drug" at all!

[@Urgelt]

It's very, very good that you are able to connect your symptoms to the cause. It took me seven years to connect those dots... because I just couldn't bring myself to regard caffeine as harmful. My head was full of the 'common wisdom.' It couldn't be that. Could it? It could, and was. I'm not on a crusade to get people to do what I think is good for them. For me, the name of the game is accurate information, so people can make up their own minds how to go forward. Good luck, GM.

[@aaron1719]

I like the perspective in which you present caffeine. It is so socially accepted that people don't even think about it as an addictive drug with side effects that have such a negative impact on ones quality of life. Thank you for posting this video.

[@Urgelt]

Great job, SonofSilas. Withdrawal is tough. You have every right to be proud of what you've accomplished. And thanks for letting me know that you succeeded. You made my day.

[@Urgelt]

Wonderful, Inzanex1. I think it takes months, not weeks, to recover from the physical addiction, and the cravings can persist for several years, honestly. I cringed every time I smelled coffee for a few years after I quit. But if you can tough out the first two weeks, you're definitely in the category of people who can get through the entire withdrawal period. You've got the strength of will for it. Good on you!

[@danmac0]

About how coffee makes me feel: irritated, unhappy, depressed,I don't tolerate when someone does something stupid,I sleep badly and my stomach gets inflated. thank you for your video, maybe it will help me now..

[@saschabraband4528]

Dan Mac the same

[@3dscott]

Thank you for your video! I watched the whole thing for my Chem 121 class! Thanks!!

[@Wellsian]

Hey thanks for the great vid Urgelt. Alot of the stuff you spoke about I can see in my own addiction Mine started with coffee but now I am using No-Doz as well, because my body got used to the caffine from the Joe, and I now need something stronger. Its weird though, because I also have some mild anxiety, but when I am wired on caffine, the anxiety goes away. Hopefully I am going to cut down soon, but your video was very inspiring. Cheers

[@Urgelt]

Thank you for sharing your story, Subcarpathian. Much appreciated.

[@Urgelt]

Exactly so, songcovers, you put it very well, and have made impressive progress.

[@Meritumas]

Thanks for sharing your story! I quit coffee some time ago. One of best decisions I have ever made.

[@Urgelt]

Know the feeling, JJ. Good on you!

[@B455PL4Y3R]

Epic story telling skills and beard.

[@CantWeedThis]

Urgelt, i hope that you will have more free time in the future to share your knowledge and experiences with us. This video helped, and inspired me to put down the bean. Its been 4 days now. Its also been 4 days of a constant nagging headache that is only relieved by sleeping. On a good note ive noticed a slight reduction in anxiety which is a great relief to me.I was also less scattered and reckless at work. Caffeine seems to have been overstimulating me to the point of not being a good thing.

[@Urgelt]

Good luck, R1D. It's not easy giving up an addiction. If you can hang tough for six weeks, though, you'll be past the worst of it, and it becomes easier.

[@testing4echo]

I needed to hear Ur story right now as I'm suffering from a bad caffeine headache. Tomorrow,I'll be fine.Last year I realized that my "weekend headaches" were due to not consuming coffee over the weekend.My realization took some time because I never thought 1 cup a day could equal addiction.I quit. Last week I had a heavy workload & decided a cup of Lipton tea a day shouldn't hurt.Boy,since Sunday evening, my head has been pounding & I can't eat. I'll never do that again. Thanks for this vid.

[@Urgelt]

I most sincerely wish you luck, BigDane417. It will be rough- maybe very rough, if you've been a heavy user. But if you can hang in there, it will get better. You should notice it getting easier within 30 days or so. I got echoes of cravings for years after I quit, but they were easy for me to resist. All I had to do was remember the migraines. Your body will want rest - lots of rest. Your adrenal glands will need time to recover. Heavy caffeine use is very hard on them.

[@Urgelt]

Your English is good enough, Shay, I understood your comment. The first step to ending an addiction is awareness, and you've completed that step. You understand exactly what caffeine is doing to you. The second step is the decision. You've made yours. Now comes the hard part. Withdrawal is no fun. But if you can get through the first 30 days, I think you'll start to feel better.

[@Cafeeine]

Food for thought. Congratulations on overcoming your addiction. As my username denotes, I was heavily into coffee for a long while. My choice is instant ice coffee, starting in my teens and I was heavily into it with over 200g of coffee a month, and this was never filter coffee so most of it went down, always black I have greatly diminished my intake (at 31) and Iwas fortunate not to suffer any debilitating effects as you did. Your testimony is a great urge not to get back on that train

[@Urgelt]

Wonderful, SA. Life will never be a flower-strewn parade of joys, of course, but it's a heck of a lot easier to enjoy when your mind and body are not being harmed by an addictive drug. Not to mention all the other nastiness they put into soft drinks. Good luck to you!

[@Loblod]

you are 100% the most interesting deep and cool person i have seen on the internet

[@Urgelt]

It's terrific that you were able to connect symptoms to cause, Carl. Good on you. I'm retired. During my career I was occasionally called upon to teach others in my field, but it was strictly a sideline. My speaking skills are far from professional caliber. But that's ok. If we let the pros do all our talking for us, it's going to be a much more boring world.

[@OZRIC1985]

Your story about your caffeine addiction is very interesting. Thanks for sharing it! For many years I have been aware of the hardcore negative effects of caffeine, and I stopped drinking caffeinated beverages about 20 years ago. During the 80s I had started suffering from panic attacks and somehow I knew that caffeine either brought them on or exacerbated them. Caffeine is a scary drug and it's unfortunate that it is so widely abused since it causes so many problems such as migraines, etc.

[@cdawg9320]

your voice is incredibly soothing for some reason

[@Urgelt]

I'm glad you found it so easy to end your addiction, SS. You've reinforced the notion that tapering off works for some. I felt I had no choice but to go cold turkey (migraines can make one desperate), but tapering is a reasonable tactic for many, I think.

[@Urgelt]

Like you, I just didn't recognize what was happening to me as an addiction. I'm glad you are aware now - it's the first step to taking back control from the drug.

[@petebaily]

ok thank you very much ive cut caffeine out for 3 days, last night got about 10 hours sleep after being awake for around 38 hours, i feel so much better, thank you very much all the very best to you.

[@Denisehealthnut]

Wow! I Have to thank you for posting this, I have a girlfriend who has constant migraines and I will share this information with her. I drink a lot of yerba mate which has caffeine too... I can't drink coffee at all, I start shaking and my mom told me she drank it during her entire pregnancy with me, this was before women knew better I think... thank you! I've learned a lot.

[@12v]

I really enjoyed this video! I'm 17, and I've been drinking coffee somewhat regularly for about a year now. I've always had concerns about it's effect on health, but have not found much negative information. I'm certainly going to try and cut back, and keep my coffee drinking to a minimum. My mother also drinks coffee and is a self described "addict" requiring a cup of coffee each morning. (continued in reply to this comment)

[@Urgelt]

I'm constantly amazed at the number of people who believe that the truth about a thing - in this case a drug - is established by consensus. Nature is indifferent to our opinions. The properties of drugs in humans don't change at our whim; it matters not what laws we pass, or what consensus we form. A drug's harm or addictiveness depends on our physiology and the drug's chemical nature, and only on those things. It's a lesson we all need to take on board. I'm glad you have done so.

[@Urgelt]

Thanks for sharing your story, Krista.

[@danmac0]

Since I posted here, you have been an inspiration to me to quit caffeine. I know the race is long, but at the end its only with myself. Thank you, I have been ''sober'' for a week.

[@plutoplatters]

well put,well spoken,so true.

[@Urgelt]

Well said, Matt. People seem to be largely oblivious to the risks and consequences of these addictions. Awareness is a good first step.

[@Urgelt]

That does sound delicious. Hang in there, and good luck!

[@Urgelt]

True. In my total ignorance about caffeine, I abused it. There was no moderation in my habits back then. It's my hope that if we can inform people, they'll make better consumption decisions. Alas, mainstream media isn't interested in educating people about caffeine. They would not wish to upset their advertisers.

[@steven1990v]

Thank you for the advice.

[@cooper91]

I really enjoyed your story man. It was really well told. I'm at University at the moment (that's what we call college in the UK!), and have had had periodic times where I have been consuming 600-800mg a day in the form of caffeine pills. It usually goes up when I have tough assignments due, and lasts for a couple weeks, and then goes down to a baseline 300-400mg a day.

[@Urgelt]

And thanks for sharing yours, applecineman. Well done!

[@ShmexiiAllen]

You're an awesome story teller =)

[@Urgelt]

Good points, Sam. I'm cautious about caffeinated teas, because of my history of addiction. I do drink green and black teas, but no more than 3 or 4 cups per week. There's so many herbal teas that I love, I don't feel I'm missing out.

[@Urgelt]

You have a point. That's why addictive foods and beverages are so dangerous to us, they exploit our weakness. I think the only counter to that weakness is to be aware of it and exert conscious control over ourselves. It's not effortless.

[@Urgelt]

It's good that you understand your situation, 2pawd. What drives me nuts, looking back, is how long it took for me to realize that I was abusing a drug and addicted to it. I was totally oblivious. Like everyone else around me, I believed caffeine was completely harmless. I don't believe it now. Science doesn't think it's harmless, either. I hope more people will get the word.

[@chloroformo]

wise words, You know what youre talking about. I enjoyed listening :].

[@Urgelt]

Well said, PA. You have clear vision. Tapering off an addiction is an alternative. It works for some, not for others. I don't honestly know if it's better than cold turkey, success-wise. I went cold turkey. I wanted to get it over with, not stretch out the withdrawal process. I don't regret it.

[@valtttu]

Hey Urgelt! Great video, and an interesting story! I have had a difficult depression for 1,5 years now, and it just keeps getting worse. I started drinking coffee a year ago, because I noticed that I couldn't keep my eyes open in school! I was so tired, every day! Well, it's been a year since I started, and nowadays I drink crazy amounts of coffee. My heart beats fast, I sweat, I tremble, everything feels unreal. In other words, I have panic disorder! But still, I just want MORE caffeine. Damn!

[@Urgelt]

Making the logical connection between symptoms and cause is surely the hardest part. Our information environment is saturated with messages to the contrary, assuring us that caffeine is "harmless energy," rather than the psychoactive, addictive drug it really is. Good luck to you, MWC.

[@KevBounce]

Thanks for posting this! I usually stop and get an energy drink on my way to work and almost always have soda with meals. I recently started getting heart palpitations, panic attacks at night, depression, mood swings, problems concentrating and chest pains. After doing some research on the internet I found out that these can be side effects of caffeine. Today I have decided to start my new life caffeine free including chocolate. We'll see where this takes me.

[@ctk1234]

I stopped consuming caffeine two days ago. Ironically, I was finding myself always exhausted and always stressed when I was on caffeine. I'm experiencing terrible headaches and feeling extremely lazy, but much more calm. I hope this will be the right course of action to feel better. You certainly had an interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

[@Urgelt]

Oh, absolutely. The notion of migraines continuing - and mounting in intensity and frequency - for the rest of my life was a real motivator. I wasn't sure it was the caffeine doing it until I quit cold turkey, and they tapered off and ended. But I had strong suspicions. Once that was confirmed in my mind, there was no chance I'd ever resume high-dose caffeine consumption.

[@Urgelt]

Thank you for contributing your caffeine story, Lisa. I know you will find it hard to quit. But the first stage of recovery - full awareness of the addiction and what it is doing to you - is the most difficult. You've passed that stage with flying colors, and have realized that most drug addictions are about self-medication, not mere recreation. I hope it goes well for you.

[@chestumania]

Your story reminds me of my own experience with coffee. I never was much of a coffee drinker, but the following summer i finished my degree, I had aquaintances with Mr. Migraine almost every weekend. The cafeteria where I worked stored free coffee and it was surprinsingly good. The coffee machine was empty? Just make another batch! It was a weekday job and I could easily drink 2 to 3 coffees a day.

[@Urgelt]

Agreed, Marlsa. Thanks for contributing your thoughts.

[@Urgelt]

Your options are: 1) Do nothing. At the dose you are taking in, likely your symptoms will worsen. 2) Quit cold turkey. Withdrawal is very tough to get through, but this option lets you do it in the shortest possible time. I think it will help with your sleeping within a few weeks. 3) Taper off gradually. You can't avoid withdrawal symptoms by tapering, but you can ease them somewhat. The downside is it takes much longer; you stretch out the discomfort.

[@Urgelt]

You're most welcome, Stephen. As you work through withdrawal, I'll be rooting for your success.

[@Urgelt]

Glad you found it useful, Santosmentos. Obviously you're good at using search engines to find what you want to know. It's truly a valuable skill to have.

[@abvmoose87]

Thanks for posting this Urgelt. People need to take caffeine addiction more seriously. Ive been heavily addicted for the last 10 years. I went cold turkey 2 months ago. No caffeine since. The first 4 days are the worst. Extremeley strong headaches and severe fatigue. I could sleep 14 hours a day. Cravings went away after 1st week.First 2 weeks i was very fatiuged then it went down. Now 2 months later im still somewhat chronicallay fatigued but not as much as before. hope it will go away

[@Urgelt]

You're absolutely right. Because media treats caffeine as harmless - which they do to benefit advertisers, their life's blood - there's a reality disconnection in our minds. It's a rare caffeine addict that realizes their addiction is a health problem, and an even rarer one who decides to take action. Most of those go it alone, as I did. I think if you look hard enough, though, you'll probably find a forum.

[@omgharajuku]

Two years ago when I was 15, I was addicted to caffeine. I drank a big thermus of coffee every day. This was only on weekdays, though, so on the weekends I would experience headaches and irritability. After five months of this, I began to get cramps and diarrhea. I had to go to the emergency room because my mom thought I had appendicitus, but once I stopped drinking so much coffee, it stopped. So I totally agree with this guy. You have to be really careful about how much caffeine you consume.

[@Urgelt]

Fruit juices are a good alternative. I drink them highly diluted with water, so that the flavor is still there, but the sugar content per liter is low. Have you considered using stevia instead of sugar for sweetening?

[@Urgelt]

I surely do wish you luck, Inzanex1. Quitting won't be pretty. But if you can stick it out for a couple of months, the worst will be past.

[@dachhh]

I've read that gradually reducing your caffeine intake can prevent the headaches experienced with cold turkey withdrawl, although I haven't tried either. Any thoughts on that?

[@SOUPRUN01]

Thankyou sir, I am off caffiene for first time in 9 years, Thankyou for mentioning 6 months, cause I did'nt feel right for along time, that was usefull information.

[@esmeraelillywing612]

This is a thought provoking and very interesting topic that little attention is paid to. Thank you for sharing your story. I know it's serious, but I have to share a pretty funny story with you about my dad. He went to Canada for work, and was unaccustomed to coffee drinking in it's usual form, much less the "jet fuel" that this place made. lol! (That's what he called it.) He said it was delicious, and that first morning, he drank the whole carafe himself. Shortly after, he was attacked by a vicious pain across his chest and he thought he was having a heart attack! The dr at the hospital laughed at him after finding out Dad had drank all that espresso, he said no wonder my dad thought he was dying! lmao!! You know, before that, I never even stopped to think about something like caffeine poisoning. It just never occured to me.

[@GrasshopperKelly]

it's aviation fuel alright!... but its sooooooooo good...

[@Urgelt]

You're right, it is tough, and a week isn't long enough to get past withdrawal symptoms or cravings. But hang in there. The worst will soon be past you, and if you're like me, you'll feel better than you did while addicted. Good luck, Chris.

[@bigDB4]

It would be great if u made more vids mate cause your vids are Awsome and helpfull

[@Urgelt]

Your story mirrors that of many of the viewers who left comments. It's easy to fall into the trap. We are taught to "just say no" to drugs which don't profit industry, but the message for caffeine is "no worries, drink up." Advertising targets a younger audience these days, too. That isn't helping matters. Good luck with your cold turkey, Rez. Won't be much fun, but you'll feel tons better once you're gotten through it.