Last week, I weaned myself off caffeine before a minor medical procedure. I wouldn’t be able to eat or drink anything that morning and didn’t want a caffeine-withdrawal headache. I dreaded doing this because I love caffeine. It gives me spunk and get-up-and-go when I don’t have any. I’ve relied on it for decades.
I’ve never been interested in caffeine-free living. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, I would have thought that idea was no fun and stupid. A day without caffeine would be like living without laughter. I could do it, but why would I? I have precious few vices in my life; I wanted to keep this one firmly in place. Little did I know that my caffeine consumption was actually making me feel anxious.
A Long Relationship
I discovered the magic of caffeine in high school with Diet Coke. Like many teenagers, I didn’t get enough sleep and was chronically tired. I didn’t like coffee, but Diet Coke tasted good and I was thrilled it wouldn’t make me fat. After that, Diet Coke became a good, albeit demanding, friend. If I ignored her for a day, she gave me a wicked headache. I kind of knew that she probably wasn’t the best for me, but I didn’t care. I was young and “you are what you eat” didn’t matter to me.
Over my adult life, I’ve consumed caffeine in a variety of different forms: coffee, lattes, tea, diet soda and caffeinated chocolate candies. About 10 years ago I was at work in the break room when I discovered coffee. Life was especially hectic those days – we had three teenage daughters at home and I was working full-time. I was exhausted.
As I poured my coffee that bleary-eyed morning, my manager and her manager stood behind me. One of them said, “I didn’t know you drank coffee.” I told them, “I just started today.” We laughed. If I added some milk and sugar to the hot liquid, it was delicious. I loved its warmth and how it coaxed me to life at a time when I perpetually had too much on my plate.
Intermittent Breaks
Over the years, I’ve taken short breaks from caffeine, but they have never lasted long.
A few years ago, I was seeing an acupuncturist. She would start the appointment by measuring several of my different Chinese medicine pulses. She did not want me consuming caffeine. I respected her a great deal, but thought she was off the mark on that one. When I slipped up and had some, she could always detect it right away, saying that one of my pulses was “brittle.” I didn’t care; I needed it.
Creating My Own Problems
I’ve now not had any caffeine for over one week and am shocked by what I’ve found. I feel serene every day, not just on the days when I go to yoga. I feel sturdy.
Every New Year’s I vow that this is the year that I’m going to get really calm inside. I’ve thought I could do this by not over-scheduling myself, meditating, going to yoga, etc. And those things make a tremendous difference. But only to a certain point. I didn’t realize that at the very same time I have been trying to ward off low-grade anxiety, I was actually creating it for myself with my minimal intake of caffeine!
I assumed after my caffeine hiatus, I would get back to my normal habits. But I don’t want to. I’ve tried giving it up before and always relapsed. However, I’ve never had the realization before that I was creating problems for myself with caffeine.
Quite often, the best solutions in life are the simplest and most obvious. This is all I needed to do to feel calm? So for now, I’m living the caffeine-free life. It sounds boring. But I choose peace. I might be sleepier at times, but that might be a small price to pay for an improved sense of well-being. We’ll see.
And after a poor night’s sleep, if I get desperate to find some caffeine, somewhere, anywhere, I’m going to notice my fatigue and then wait for it to pass. It always does, even without caffeine.
17 Comments
Nice piece. Worked for me also. About two months ago I noted that a tremor in my right hand was getting worse. My doctor suggested cutting out caffeine and “boom” within a couple days a calm set in, including a steady hand. After drinking coffee all morning in my office everyday for many years this change has been a miracle. Thanks again.
That is AMAZING! What good news for you. Such a simple fix. It’s amazing how no caffeine = calm. Thank you for reading!
Hmmm, might try this
I didn’t want to try it, but am glad I did. 🙂
I don’t think I’m ready for this yet Jennifer! I feel that I should be doing this same thing, but oh how I love my coffee ????
I completely understand! I wasn’t ready for this yet either!!
I quit last fall, because of stomach pain and thought giving up a few things including coffee would help. After going through the coffee withdrawals, my stomach feels better and I also feel a lot calmer.
Oh, that’s so good to hear!
I stopped drinking caffeinated coffee about 30 years ago. I had a headache for 3 days. That in itself was enough to keep me off the stuff–if it was going to have that effect on me when I didn’t drink it.
It also took me about three months to be fully awake when I woke up. What a gift to finally get there and now, to stay there.
I drink decaf now, which has some caffeine in it, I know. I can do without it, so I don’t feel addicted in the way I did before.
It sounds like you’ve known about caffeine-free living for a long time! Decaf sounds like the way to go. Thank you for reading!
Not ready. Love it so much. Maybe someday.
I hear ya! I wasn’t ready either – didn’t think I’d ever be ready, actually. 🙂
I don’t know whether to respect you or think you’re off your rocker. What’s next? Chocolate??!!
Ha! Maybe some of both is true! And god forbid, chocolate is *not* on my list. 🙂
I tried tea, but the hot chocolate might do the trick eventually. I have drunk about 2 fairly strong cups every day for decades and have not noticed any tremors or lack of sleep. Perhaps it’s because I’m Italian.
Lots of good reasons to be Italian!
I am also trying to get off caffeine, but then there are those days….So, this was a good topic for me. Inner calm is a great motivation!