Am I addicted to caffeine?!
About 54% of American adults drink coffee daily. And in recent years, researchers have come to discover that caffeine is likely one of the most abused substances in the world. Could you be addicted?!Most people use caffeine pretty responsibly by drinking a couple of cups of coffee daily (about 3 to be more specific). But if you have found yourself wondering if you're consuming too much caffeine then this post might just be for you.Broadly speaking, any kind of traditional addiction includes the principles of intoxication, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Again, most people do not have a serious problem with caffeine, however if you find yourself increasingly irritable throughout your morning because you couldn't get your morning cup of joe, it might warrant further investigation.Intoxication by caffeine looks like the following, according to the DSM (Diagnostic Statistical Manual):
- restlessness
- excitement
- difficulty sleeping
- muscle twitching
- stomach discomfort/intestinal issues
- rambling thoughts or speech
Does that sound familiar? I thought it might. So maybe you've likely went a little overboard on caffeine before but could you really be "addicted" to it? If you also have withdrawal symptoms, then the answer just might be yes. Here are some symptoms that you may have experiencing caffeine withdrawal:
- Headache
- Fatigue and sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritable or agitated mood
If after reading those two lists you find that you see yourself in a lot of those items then it might be time to take a look at your daily caffeine intake and see if you want to make changes. Who knows, you might even end up saving a lot of money! If you decide to cut back just make sure you do it gradually so you can minimize those really uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms listed above. You can even consider replacing some cups with herbal tea as you wean yourself off of coffee. And of course, if you think that your caffeine use may be way more than normal, seek out the help of a licensed mental health counselor who can help you develop strategies to manage your intake effectively.