If you have started to purge caffeine and are experiencing caffeine withdrawal right now, then you are in the right place. Help has arrived!
Did you know that the withdrawal of caffeine is now a recognised disorder according the latest version of the (DSM-5) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders?
Caffeine Is So Addictive Because...
Caffeine is addictive because the caffiene molecules fit so perfectly into our brain's adenosine receptors. Adenosine is responsible for signaling the brain that it is time to rest or sleep. Since these receptors are blocked with caffeine molecules, dopamine (the feel good chemical) works more efficiently.
The brain keeps adding more and more adenosine receptors to compensate for the continual upward intake of caffeine, which causes the caffiene resistance/tolerance to build up over time. When you miss or decide to quit your usual caffeine 'hit' the brain then proceeds to flood with adenosine, enabling dopamine to stop doing its' job of making us feel good naturally.
Withdrawal Symptoms You May Experience...
Lethargy, headache, lack of concentration, constipation, depression, sleepiness, muscle pain/soreness, flu like symptoms and irritability. Damn, no wonder you are irritable...You are tired, can't concentrate, are in pain and can't poo!
The Good News Is...
These withdrawal symptoms, although they may be chaotic and wildly unpleasant right now, they WILL subside and quickly. There are so many ways to get caffeine out of your system, but I find that the fastest and most efficient way is with a quick, clean out the system, detox.
Substitution Can Save You...
If you haven't already, start substituting one of your daily coffees with a cup of organic green tea. Continue substituting little by little, the cups of coffee for cups of green tea. I know, it sounds boring, I hope you start to look forward to this refreshing drink once your taste buds adjust :) (The insiders tip on tea is that white tea has 600% more antioxidants than green tea!)
Addressing Social Habits...
Now you've stopped the caffeine, a big part of the coffee drinking experience has been torn from you; That of sitting in good company, at the local cafe and enjoying the different coffees on offer. Somehow paying $5 for someone to bring out a cup of hot water with a limp, small tea bag hanging over the side of it just doesn’t cut the mustard :(
There's an easy solution to this...Find cafés and tea houses that offer pot and infused tea! I’m referring to the cutsie little tea houses that bring out small pots and cups and saucers of real herb tea in infusers.You will find that lots of herb teas are caffeine free.
If caffeine consumption is linked to a routine, you will need to rewrite your routine, at least for a while, to keep the caffeine monster at bay. Reducing your cravings, little by little.
Use Other Milky Drinks...
For many people, coffee means a tall milky latte. There’s something about clutching that particular hot drink that is linked to alertness and 'waking up' in the morning. But it's not necessarily so! You can play with substituting for hot Chocolate or a chai latte. Unfortunately hot chocolates tend to give you a good dose of sugar too, so go easy on them!
Please Remember! ... Be Careful With Carbs...
You know that awful time, a bit after lunch where you cannot concentrate on ANYthing or ANYone and you struggle to stay awake and alert? This can happen when you eat too many carbs for lunch.
Do NOT eat a carbohydrate heavy lunch. That's what's dropping you on your ass every afte
oon! Blood sugars spike, quickly, and then you feel like you couldn't even lift a pen half an hour later.
Make sure your lunch has a strong protein component in it. Something like a small piece of salmon or other fish, or a handful of walnuts, peanuts or other nuts.
The Argument FOR Power Naps...
Napping at work is not a good look ahem ;) If you work at home or are otherwise in an environment where it is possible, make sure you try it.
There has been much research done on power naps and it always points to the power/nana nap being more helpful over and above any 'hit' of caffeine. They say the power nap is best over a 20 minute siesta enjoyed between 2 and 3pm. Enjoy!
If You Think You May Have A Problem...
Please see...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine_addiction
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