Coffee Withdrawals? Here's How To Cope.
Studies show that approximately 50 percent of individuals experience caffeine withdrawal symptoms when they eliminate or cut back on caffeine consumption, while around 13 percent experience withdrawal symptoms so severe that they cannot go to work.
Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Lethargy
- Irritability
- Flu-like symptoms
- Constipation
- Nausea & vomiting
- Lack of concentration
- Insomnia
- Muscle pain, stiffness and cramping
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Depression
- Heart rhythm abnormalities
So, if you're planning on cutting back your caffeine intake for health reasons, budgetary constraints or otherwise, here are some recommendations on how you can help manage your withdrawal symptoms.
- If you get your caffeine from coffee, you can reduce your intake by half a cup a day, or by drinking a blend of decaf and regular coffee, or by slowly switching to decaf.
- For tea lovers, you can gradually reduce your intake, start drinking decaf teas or try teas with minimal caffeine levels
- If you like colas, consider drinking smaller sizes or gradually scaling back on the number you consume every day
In addition to reducing your daily caffeine intake or replacing caffeinated beverages with herbal ones, you should get enough sleep to overcome fatigue and dizziness.
Also consider the following:
- Starting an exercise or workout routine to help boost your energy levels naturally (through the release of dopamine) without caffeine
- Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated
- Improving your diet so it contains plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
- Taking pain relievers like ibuprofen, Tylenol, or aspirin to ease a caffeine headache and muscle pain symptoms
Keep in mind that withdrawing from caffeine is hard and needs patience. With the right kind of support, you will soon be able to carry on with your life normally without needing caffeine to give you a push.