Coffee Obsession . . . Addiction?

Ms. Haiku · October 2009

I was going to post this in the 12-step thread, but I didn't know if that would show disrespect as I don't go to 12-step meetings for coffee addiction. However, I just thought others who view that thread would know what I'm talking about.

I usually say the following about coffee:

My personality is better when I drink coffee
Life is more joyful with coffee
Life just drags without coffee

Last week I was wondering if that's what any addict would say about his/her drug of choice. If a drug is uppermost in my mind then that's addiction, right? I feel controlled by it. I haven't had coffee since Saturday, and my face hurt like all get all last night, but I view that as a reflection of my stress at work.

I think addiction to coffee, socially, may not be an issue, as there are many jokes about it, and I even have a calendar about a coffee lifestyle. However, it's like a love/hate relationship. Have you ever tried to stop?

I laugh more without it, my face looks less stressed without it, but life may drag and drag and drag without it. HMMMMM, it's truly love/hate.

Claireack · October 2009

I used to drink a lot of coffee but then after a bad bought of insomnia, packed it in. Now I'll have them occassionally. A couple of years ago I went on holiday and drunk normal coffee for 2 weeks, when I got back and stopped again I had terrible headaches and felt rubbish for a few days.

I am now addicted to chocolate though. :roll:

pandora · October 2009

Stopped when I was pregnant the first time- did not for my daughter cause I just couldn't take the lag.
I only drink a cup and a half each am but I'd rather give up my red wine(which I drink a shitload of) than my coffee.
Coffee is wonderful in the morning. Warming and soul satisfying

PearlOfAGirl · October 2009

I'd say it's an addiction... :shifty:

Steve Dunne · October 2009

abstention...by choice...can't stand the taste or smell.

he still stands · October 2009

it is more addictive than cocaine... much more addictive.

however, it doesn't cost $150 for a one nighter (for me it is more like $300 :shock: ) and it doesn't make you feel like crap for 2 days afterwards. Also, you don't act like a douchebag or try to hump everything that moves.

BinFrog · October 2009

If I tried to get going w/o coffee in the morning I'd be a somnambulant zombie...a total useless waste of space.

Poncier · October 2009

Steve Dunne wrote:

abstention...by choice...can't stand the taste or smell.

I like the smell, hate the taste. Never picked up the habit.

decides2dream · October 2009

why do you want to go off it?
do you feel like it is having a negative effect on your life in some way?
have you thought of decaf?
i know, most coffee addicts look like this

:shock: :wtf: at the suggestion, but it CAN be a wonderful compromise, even if not all the time. in fact, it has been suggested that it is the ritual/taste, more than anything, that matters...and if one gradually weans themselves off the caffeine, it won't be missed. try to mix in regular with decaf, a bit at a time, until 100% decaf. or, depending how much you consume, make every other cup, or every 2 cups, decaf and the others regular, etc.

many, many years ago i used to drink a TON of tea, and diet soda. there was nothing wrong with me, no ill effects, but my doctor had suggested it wasn't the greatest thing to consume so much caffeine. so, i simply switched to decaf for both. i was amazed at how easy my transition was. now, when i consume caffeine i know right away, it's amazing! i do occasionally have a caffeinated beverage, but 98% of the time i am caffeine-free. i still drink a lot of tea, i now also drink a lot of iced coffee....i love cappucino here or there, love coffee-flavored ices, ice cream, etc....and i usually drink caffeine-free diet soda when i do have it, tho will drink it with caffeine in a bar with bacardi.

i do not miss caffeine in the least.

bottomline, if caffeine is your only worry, i would strongly suggest trying the decaf route to some degree or another. and, if that doesn't work....just cut back on the consumption some. there is no reason to cut out your enjoyment entirely. and the smell of coffee is BLISS.

*takes sip of decaf iced coffee*

Ms. Haiku · October 2009

decides2dream wrote:

why do you want to go off it?
do you feel like it is having a negative effect on your life in some way?
have you thought of decaf?
:

My face is more relaxed when I don't drink it, and I bet it affects other muscles the same way. I'm concerned that I'm at a point that I get coffee headaches when I don't drink it. It's like I lost control of something that is so minor, it's embarrassing almost. Also, even though I start the morning better with it, because work is not good, I'm a bear by the time I get into work. The caffeine seems to exacerbate the bad feeling. Also, the ritual, I'm buying a luxury item, even that part of it is addicting.

With that said, though, I didn't even consider decaf. Great suggestion! It probably has enough caffeine so that I don't drag, but not enough to overshoot the goal of a pick-me-up. My work coffee isn't bad, so I'll probably just start with caffeine there.

decides2dream · October 2009

Ms. Haiku wrote:

decides2dream wrote:

why do you want to go off it?
do you feel like it is having a negative effect on your life in some way?
have you thought of decaf?
:

My face is more relaxed when I don't drink it, and I bet it affects other muscles the same way. I'm concerned that I'm at a point that I get coffee headaches when I don't drink it. It's like I lost control of something that is so minor, it's embarrassing almost. Also, even though I start the morning better with it, because work is not good, I'm a bear by the time I get into work. The caffeine seems to exacerbate the bad feeling. Also, the ritual, I'm buying a luxury item, even that part of it is addicting.

With that said, though, I didn't even consider decaf. Great suggestion! It probably has enough caffeine so that I don't drag, but not enough to overshoot the goal of a pick-me-up. My work coffee isn't bad, so I'll probably just start with caffeine there.

given all this, i definitely suggest decaf!
let yourself enjoy the flavor, the aroma, the ritul...just remove what is not working for you - the caffeine. however, if you are getting the withdrawl headaches, again, i strongly suggest you wean yourself to decaf. given yourself at least a week to wean down to no caffeine. too many people think they so *need* their coffee/caffeine fix, but really....it's simply the ritual to get you started. or, at least one cup of caffeine would suffice. it IS an addiction. i wish i could get my husband off it, i think he would feel better.

good luck and enjoy your coffee!

dcfaithful · October 2009

I enjoy coffee in the morning...but I don't drink it in excess. I keep it to a morning thing for the most part. During the winter I sometimes drink it at night...I've never had a problem with caffeine keeping me up. I used to be able to wake up in the middle of the night, drink a Coke and go back to sleep...but I don't drink soda anymore.

Somedays I pass on coffee, and just have some caffeine-free tea when I get to work...I notice that if I drink coffee nonstop, I begin to have bad mid-day crashes. Also, it loses it's element of special if I drink it all the time. There are certain foods that coffee goes great with though. I'm a sucker for coffee on rainy days too.

Bathgate66 · October 2009

i'm heavily addicted.
Light with half and half & 2 Sweet n Lows or Equals .

Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla in particular.
I do not mean the ones you buy in the store by the cup ,
( they now use regular coffee with flavored syrups added as opposed to actually brewing the flavored coffee grinds )
I mean buying it by the bag , and brewing at home/ and at work .
At work , we all chip in, and we drink it all day long .( up till about noontime )
yummy.

Architect and Builder · October 2009

dcfaithful wrote:

I enjoy coffee in the morning...but I don't drink it in excess. I keep it to a morning thing for the most part. During the winter I sometimes drink it at night...I've never had a problem with caffeine keeping me up. I used to be able to wake up in the middle of the night, drink a Coke and go back to sleep...but I don't drink soda anymore.

Somedays I pass on coffee, and just have some caffeine-free tea when I get to work...I notice that if I drink coffee nonstop, I begin to have bad mid-day crashes. Also, it loses it's element of special if I drink it all the time. There are certain foods that coffee goes great with though. I'm a sucker for coffee on rainy days too.

you sir, hit the nail on the head. EXACT same with me.

dcfaithful · October 2009

Architect and Builder wrote:

dcfaithful wrote:

I enjoy coffee in the morning...but I don't drink it in excess. I keep it to a morning thing for the most part. During the winter I sometimes drink it at night...I've never had a problem with caffeine keeping me up. I used to be able to wake up in the middle of the night, drink a Coke and go back to sleep...but I don't drink soda anymore.

Somedays I pass on coffee, and just have some caffeine-free tea when I get to work...I notice that if I drink coffee nonstop, I begin to have bad mid-day crashes. Also, it loses it's element of special if I drink it all the time. There are certain foods that coffee goes great with though. I'm a sucker for coffee on rainy days too.

you sir, hit the nail on the head. EXACT same with me.

I aim to please.

decides2dream · October 2009

dcfaithful wrote:

I enjoy coffee in the morning...but I don't drink it in excess. I keep it to a morning thing for the most part. During the winter I sometimes drink it at night...I've never had a problem with caffeine keeping me up. I used to be able to wake up in the middle of the night, drink a Coke and go back to sleep...but I don't drink soda anymore.

Somedays I pass on coffee, and just have some caffeine-free tea when I get to work...I notice that if I drink coffee nonstop, I begin to have bad mid-day crashes. Also, it loses it's element of special if I drink it all the time. There are certain foods that coffee goes great with though. I'm a sucker for coffee on rainy days too.

funny, back when i was a heavy caffeine consumer, i too had NO problems drinking copious amounts of caffeinated beverages, at all hours, no ill effects. it was not unusual for me to occasionally in dulge in 3-4 cappuccinos after dinner when at our fave italian restaurant. granted, this is all well over a decade ago at this point. :P now, if i have ONE coffee with caffeine, i feel it! i really can't even consume really good coffee ice or gelato, b/c of the caffeine. :wtf: amazing the change there. but sure, i can still eat chocolate (thank bejeebus! :shock: ), have an occasional caffeinated tea or soda, etc....np.

comebackgirl · October 2009

coffee is more of a ritual for me than anything else I think...part of my morning routine, but only on days I work. On the weekends or days off I don't even think about it or notice if I don't have it. I have a 60 minute commute, so drinking some yummy Wawa coffee on the way just seems to make the drive go by easier. I also have it when I go out to dinner and it never seems to disrupt my sleep no matter how late it is. I tried to make the switch to green tea last year, but it just didn't taste as good.

Phantom Pain · October 2009

comebackgirl wrote:

coffee is more of a ritual for me than anything else I think...part of my morning routine, but only on days I work. On the weekends or days off I don't even think about it or notice if I don't have it. I have a 60 minute commute, so drinking some yummy Wawa coffee on the way just seems to make the drive go by easier. I also have it when I go out to dinner and it never seems to disrupt my sleep no matter how late it is. I tried to make the switch to green tea last year, but it just didn't taste as good.

Wow..you're courageous

60 minute ride while downing coffee

I would need a diaper for the car ride :thumbup:

Who Princess · October 2009

I will give up my coffee when they pry my mug from my cold dead fingers! :crazy:

Ms. Haiku · October 2009

whoprincess wrote:

I will give up my coffee when they pry my mug from my cold dead fingers! :crazy:

That is the only laugh I've had all day.

Who Princess · October 2009

Ms. Haiku wrote:

whoprincess wrote:

I will give up my coffee when they pry my mug from my cold dead fingers! :crazy:

That is the only laugh I've had all day.

Happy to oblige.

Srsly, years ago I was going to an allergist and he suggested I cut back on my coffee. I pointed out that I'd never smoked, I had to give up alcohol due to some health issues, I have some food allergies (dairy being the worst), and I seldom eat sweets. So as far as coffee, it was the only vice I had left! I had to hang on to something! :wtf: He agreed.

I enjoy my coffee a lot. :thumbup:

Coffee Obsession . . . Addiction?

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