Here’s my story.
I don’t remember how I came to the conclusion that I needed to quit caffeine. Lately I feel like my intake had increased because I’d been more tired, but then why wasn’t I any less tired? I’m pretty sure I saw an article somewhere by someone who said they quit and ended up having more energy. What the hell, I thought, I’ll try anything at this point.
I’ve been consuming caffeine in some form for almost 40 years. When I was around 4, my mom started letting me drink what she called “cocoa coffee” (which was just half a mug of her weak-ass coffee filled up with chocolate milk), and of course I drank Coke and such growing up. But it was in university that I really started making it a daily habit. For more years than I can remember, my days have started with a big 22 oz mug of strong coffee, then maybe another one in the afternoon, maybe a Red Bull or two if I was driving for a long time, the occasional bottle of pop, etc.
For at least the last 6 months (probably closer to a year tbh) I’ve been sleeping really poorly. I’m in bed for 8 hours most nights, but I wake up multiple times during the night, and thus I’m not getting enough deep, restorative sleep. (Incidentally, I very rarely dream anymore, but that’s been a thing for years, ever since I started (and subsequently stopped) antidepressants.) It was starting to impact every area of my life. I thought I was waking up due to pain from the arthritis in my knees, and sometimes it is that, but not always. I live rurally and there are always things I need to do outside, and the lack of energy was really making it hard to get shit done.
So, on Saturday when I went grocery shopping, instead of my usual cheapo instant coffee, I got the cheapo *decaf* instant coffee. On Sunday morning, I did a half/half cup of coffee, and a black tea in the evening. Monday morning I only put a tiny bit of the caffeinated coffee in. Yesterday and today it’s been all decaf. I’ve also avoided soft drinks, but I can’t possibly give up chocolate (and I know even decaf has a bit of caffeine), so while I’m not fully zero caffeine, I’ve cut waaaaaay back.
How am I feeling today? Genuinely, I’m tired. I’m really tired. But this is not much different from how I was before, so this particular symptom is manageable. I haven’t gotten any really gnarly headaches yet, but that could be because I take naproxen twice a day for my arthritis, and maybe that’s getting out ahead of the headaches. I do seem to be sleeping a bit better already; I still wake up during the night, but I feel better in the mornings. I never really had trouble falling asleep, but the last couple days I don’t even remember ny head hitting the pillow, I’m just right out. I think I’m going to be tired until I repay the sleep debt that’s built up (which will take a while since I’m paying in installments).
Overall, I feel worse right now, but also somehow better? I’ve noticed a huge difference in my stress response already. Because I was constantly on stimulants before, when I got acutely stressed I barely noticed it (other than mentally); now when I have acute stress I feel it in my whole body. Is this what I’d been doing to myself this whole time?? Madness. I’ve been making more mistakes at work this week, and everything feels like it takes more mental effort, but it feels temporary, like if I just push through it I’ll come out the other side in a better place. Overall, though, it’s been easier than every article I’ve read has made it out to be.
Thanks for reading! Hopefully this was useful to someone.