Ive been thinking of going caffeine and alcohol free for a while. Alcohol wouldnt be an issue but I really love coffee.
I’m as vapid as can be
Caffeine and sugar are my two big vices. It would be healthier to drop the sugar than the caffeine, but it generally isn’t considered a drug. But I get my simple carbs (and caffeine) every day.
Does this question mean “i consume substances and couldn’t do without it” or “i consume substances for recreational usages”?
because these questions entail very different consequences. imagine your hobby is woodworking. your friend snarkily asks you whether you’re ok or addicted and actually need therapy to learn to live without it. it would probably be a dumb thing to say because having hobbies is healthy, and i believe recreational drug use can be a hobby too. (within reasonable limits)
Never abused substances
Or even used if you don’t count caffeine
I am a man of substance
I have, in fact, been told I am a man of very little substance.
I didnt drink often and much, maybe once per two weeks, and max 3 beers or something. But since I stopped completely, and I drink 0 per year I can feel much better. My diet didnt change, I spend less time outdoors, but I feel better…
I don’t think I could make it through the day without oxygen.
Dihydrogen Monoxide addict too aren’t you?
I’m absolutely dependent on it, can’t live without it. First thing in the morning and everything.
SPONCH are my friends!
Don’t forget about your other acquaintances CaNaCl, it wouldn’t be the same without them ;-)
And an assortment of minerals.
CaNaCl sounds like a card game you play with grandma.
Oh you
Why go caffeine free?
I sadly figure the oil companies will make us all go caffeine free in the medium to long term, so may as well enjoy it now before it becomes a luxury of the wealthy.
Caffeine is enjoyable to me but it affects my mental state a lot, in some ways negatively. In particular I feel less able to think about things holistically, way more tunnel vision type thinking. It’s worrying that so many people use it every day and I make an effort not to.
Totally fair enough, thanks for entertaining my curiousity. It is psychoactive which would be concerning about its widespread use if it wasn’t so clearly studied. Kicking the alcohol is definitely a far more impactful improvement to holistic health. Good luck in your efforts.
I have ADHD so caffeine is a useful tool for me, and I do love the flavour and scent.
Thanks, I agree alcohol is way worse (I feel so much better in general since I stopped drinking on a regular basis), caffeine isn’t likely to do major harm to a person using it, it’s just got that subtle influence, which may be a positive thing for you, I just think people should give it more consideration and not let it become an automatic choice.
Pretty sure there is some caffinated tea leaf that is native to the USA.
Edit: Ilex vomitoria
Very cool, never heard of it… What an unfortunate latin name due to colonial misunderstanding.
I’m sure more enviromenally-hardy caffeine producing plants like this will become more popular and economically relevant as time goes on.
For one, to see if I can (been drinking coffee since I was maybe 7 or so)
For two, because maybe I’d feel better or sleep better !
I don’t drink coffee after 3pm for that reason, and it’s definitely helped with settling for sleep at night. Good luck with your efforts.
withdrawals can be rough, but I think it’s worth trying
Maybe I’ll try only 1 cup of kaf a day to start then do every other…
yes, a gradual taper is a good idea - much better than cold turkey.
Eventually switching to black tea, then green tea, then white tea would also help.
Might also be good to keep a log as a way to ensure you know exactly how many mg of caffeine you’re consuming, and to keep yourself honest.
I’ve been having caffeine for about a decade, around 400mg a day. It has changed my brain, so tapering slowly seems like the only sustainable solution.
If I go cold turkey I’m just too miserable and cognitively incapable. I think my sweet spot is around 5% reductions every 4-7 days.
Just wanted to let you know that maybe your target reductions could be even smaller.
If 5% every couple of days is too slow, I’ve heard people doing up to 15% every couple of days. Of course, the only way for you to know what works for you is testing it.
I’ve quit twice to see the effects. Crushing headaches start in 24 hours and can’t be relieved with anything but caffeine. Yet mere sips of coffee/tea taken daily can stave off withdrawal. With < 2 cups of coffee total, you can wean yourself off completely symptom free.
Day 1 150ml
Day 2 125 ml
Day 3 100 ml amd so on.
I’ve been using decaf at home for a couple of years now. Then again I wasn’t really dependent on caffeine so it wasn’t hard for me to switch.
You should try it - some people report various health benefits. Others report no effect. (and half from both groups are looking at what they care about and ignoring other evidence) Your doctors may have guidance on how it affects you.
I’m only asking for a 2 week trial. Then evaluate if it is worth going longer or not.
nicotine free since 2016, cocaine free since 2019. But I’ll keep my coffee.
I have yet to evolve beyond my corporeal form, so not me.
I’m living without alcohol and caffeine (except in tea and chocolate) and really never have the feeling of missing anything. Can recommend.
I am. I grew up around drug and alcohol addiction. Tried it. Hated it. Decided none of this was for me. Drugs is easy. Everybody in my house usually scampers away like roaches to do drugs. Alcohol is very much a family thing. Can’t watch a game without someone screaming shots or drink. I usually end up hiding in my room.
Coffee makes me nauseous and I’m not trying to feel like I need to shit before I got something to do. Plus the crash is way worse than the energy its supposedly supposed to give me.
Alcohol, cannabis, and methamphetamine free since '95. Nicotine free since '03. Caffeine free since '15.
Now if I could kick sugar.
Good luck on the angel dust addiction.
Thanks. I kicked sugary drinks with the caffeine in '15. But still have a hard time with it in general. I will go months with none, then I get an urge for something and before I know it I am Augustus Gloop.
sugar isn’t really an addictive drug and shouldn’t be compared to nicotine, alcohol, meth, etc.
Even if food can function as a reward and lead to compulsive behaviors, you can’t live without food, and eating food (even sugary foods) doesn’t lead to addiction the way we think nicotine does.
So, yeah - incorporate healthier diet and all that, but know that as long as you’re not eating too much sugar it’s actually fine in moderation.
I mean, what’s your point? OP says they struggle with it and want to curb what they see as a problem, that’s the bottom line. Sex and porn aren’t addictive drugs, you wouldn’t walk into a meeting and “um ackschully” it.
Don’t sex and porn release hormones that can act as drugs?
If I remember from my psych degree, it’s technically possible to get addicted to anything that dumps dopamine. Has to do with reward schedules and how much dopamine that reward gives (is the juice worth the squeeze)
I would believe so, same with food, particularly sugar.
👍
I quit alcohol 11 years ago. Haven’t smoked weed or nicotine since early January. I do drink coffee and will never let it go. Also I haven’t completely quit weed, I think. I just haven’t been arsed to get any in a while. Might be that I never will but I haven’t made a conscious decision to quit it.
