Looks like I'm hooked on caffeine again.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

Though I could handle it. Though I could control my intake of it. I was wrong.
As my roommate pointed out, I was hooked again. They pulled out the recycling and it was full of energy drink cans. I have been going threw 1 large jar of instant coffee a day. And all the little 5 hour energy drinks that was also in the recycling, and the 8 four packs in the cabinet.
And I know why, trying to keep up, physically, with my younger coworkers. Going through the stuff I have through life has taken a toll on me. So I ended up going back to my old college friend caffeine.
And I have ended up doing the mistake of thinking I could control it.
And now being 40 with a family history of heart disease. I know I have to beat it again and stay off it. This is going to be rough.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

1. It's going to be ok.

The ice is broken, and the cats out of the bag. There's worse things to be addicted to. Easy does it. Good luck.

[3Hotdogs]

2. Energy drinks are worse than coffee.

There are cases reported of heart attacks in young adults, caused by the sudden, high jolt of caffeine.

Coffee will deliver a smaller, longer absorption rate. Pour the energy drink down the drain.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

3. Already gone.

And my roommate is in charge of the coffee. No more large jars of instant. And the amount will be watched.
The real fight is going to be at work. I work at a fuel center for a grocery store. A store that has a Starbucks in it.
And we carry all sorts of energy drinks out in the fuel center, that I have to stock.
It is going to be a bit of torcher not to buy a bunch after work.
But I've beat the beast before, I can do it again.

[Freddie]

5. Trying to cut it all out or just reduce the amount?

I have a MDR of caffeine. When I was pregnant (eons ago, she's 32) I eliminated all caffeine and was miserable. Tea? A pleasant beverage but not enough caffeine! Doc said one cup of real coffee a day was fine and that's really all I needed.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

7. Reduce the amount .

Tried cold turkey once. It was bad. Headaches, worn down , just all around bad.
Add tea to the cutting down might help with the edge. Thank you for the advice!

[3Hotdogs]

10. I believe tea has more caffeine per cup than coffee.

[joshdawg]

4. Ok, I think I see the real problem here.

You drank "instant" coffee?! Ugh! That's got to be the worst addiction of all.

I've been drinking coffee since 1968. Hi test. Now that I'm 21 years sober from alcohol, I still drink at least two pots of coffee a day.

Hang in there. If you truly want to quit the caffeine addiction, you can. Those five hour "fixes" are a scam, wouldn't touch 'em.
Good luck to you.

[packman]

8. Instant coffee is juiced up coffee to deliver a caffeine jolt -

SLOOOWWW DOWN - get a regular coffee pot and some low caffeine , low acid (Dark roast) beans . Enjoy coffee as it was meant to be enjoyed. Brew your own and get into the whole Zen of the thing with beans, brew times, delivery , waters, etc. Savor it rather than devour it. You'll find out that the brew is the thing.

[3Hotdogs]

12. That's my treat. I have a roaster and grinder. Smooth delight.

I have about 2 to 3 cups (not pots) per day.

[joshdawg]

14. If I slow down

I'll be at a complete standstill.

I'm too old to stop, or slow down, but thanks for the advice.

[Laffy Kat]

6. Wow, that's a lot, LFR.

Too bad you can't just stop at a couple of cups of joe in the a.m. Good luck climbing back on the ole wagon.

[JayhawkSD]

9. Reducing the amount is not the best plan.

It will prolong the difficulty, and usage will creep back up. You think not? It will creep back up to the level that prompted you to quit. Guaranteed.

If you have a problem, you have get rid of the problem. A "little bit" of pneumonia does not solve a lung problem.

I cut back to one pack per day of cigarettes a dozen times. I was always back up to four packs per day before I knew it. I quit smoking in 1984. Cold turkey. Quit. It was hard, you bet. I am alive today because I quit smoking. If I had continued the up and down of "cutting back to one pack a day" I would probably have died twenty years ago.

I cut back on drinking even more times than that. I would, I said, just have two beers. (Haha, I always told the cops I only had two beers. Never tell a cop you only had two beers.) I would only drink beer. I would only drink beer on weekends. Somehow weekends lasted seven days and beer came in whiskey bottles. I quit drinking in 1982. Cold turkey. Quit. It was hard, you bet. I am alive today because I quit drinking. If I had tried to keep "drinking only beer and only on weekends" I would probably have died thirty years ago.

If you have a problem don't just reduce the problem, solve the problem.

[3Hotdogs]

11. I am not sure I agree with you on this one.

Cold stop on caffeine can lead to severe headaches for some people. Slow withdrawal does not.

[JayhawkSD]

13. Absolutely. Also moments of memory loss. And panic events.

Stopping drinking does much the same thing. As does stopping smoking.

Everyone wants the gain without the pain. Everyone wants "the easier softer way." But if one really wants to stop, there is no "easier softer way."