I wasn’t drinking much caffeine but I’ve alway had a sensitive system that reacts to it.
4 months ago I stopped drinking coffee, tea, matcha or eating any chocolate. I basically cut out as many stimulants as I could. Even a lot of sugar apart from fruit. I did this for health reasons as I was dealing with a chronic bladder pain, so that was my main motivation for doing this.
I have gone without caffeine many times before, for periods of time, but probably still been drinking some kind of stimulant like green tea, matcha, cacao etc..
This time round I wanted to really pay attention to the affect it had on my dopamine, as I have struggled with motivation and focus without stimulants in the past , so I wanted to see if it got better without them after withdrawal and if it improved after longer periods of time.
I am now 4 months without and I have noticed in the last few weeks that my focus has improved, I am able to finish a task more easily now. The anxiety I was experiencing is also better, not 100% gone but much more manageable.
Other things I noticed: I fall asleep more easily, my skin is more hydrated, and my energy is starting to even out. It’s nice to know what is my own energy - rather than coming from stimulants.
I will keep going as I am curious to see if it keeps getting better!
Edit: I would like to add that I have also been consistent with my meditation practise when I wake up and before I go to sleep.
I have also been microdosing psilocybin for a few weeks (which I have done before on and off over the last few years.)
I go for a walk every day with my dog - to get my daylight in.
I have been eating only wholefoods for this time period too and no sugars apart from berries.