To give up coffee!

[babayhaga]

I remember the first cup of coffee I had - I was young and couldn't sleep for a long time that night.

Since than I have been a lifelong coffee drinker. However I know it could be bad for my moods/anxiety etc.

Has anyone successfully given up caffeine and has it made their lives better?

Very reasonable.

I don’t notice a difference between caf and decaf personally so it’s easy for me. Decaf tea on the other hand is revolting so have to do decaf green tea, peppermint tea etc instead.

Cutting caffeine makes a massive difference to DH’s anxiety for sure.

I’ve tried. I’ve been on a health kick since the start of the year and was drinking about 5 cups a day (more in cold weather) and a couple of cans of coke a day as well. I cut down to one a day and no cola at all. Utterly horrifying how much functionality I lost. I can only describe it as the same as those first few weeks with a newborn/no sleep, literally a fog descended on my brain. I did manage to mostly push through, I’ve completely stopped drinking all fizzy drinks and cut down to two cups of coffee a day. But I forget to drink water so still constantly fatigued.

I don't find that coffee has a negative effect on mood or anxiety, except when I haven't had any.

I also started coffee at a young age and I wouldn’t give up if you paid me, however, I now have a cup or two of cafetière coffee in the morning, and don’t usually touch it again for the rest of the day.

In my last job I was mainlining 6 or 7 cups of instant before lunch.

I only drink about two cups a day, I wouldn’t give it up because it’s so good for the liver, loads of antioxidants in it.

I can't give up coffee
Have 2-3 a day and feel like shit If I don't.
It doesn't affect my sleep

I gave up caffeine almost 2 years ago now and I genuinely notice a massive difference.

It wasn't through some health kick, I just started to notice how irritable I was without my morning coffee and I didn't want to be that person. So switched to decaf, changed my milk a the time so it felt like a whole new drink, moved to oat/soya etc. again not health kick just more of a tricking brain into new drink to enjoy. The start of giving up was brutal, almost gave in but around about day 8/9 I noticed the difference and actually started to enjoy not feeling dependant on a drink for my mood. Switched to decaf too, can only take twinnings though, can't stomach any other one.

I would do it again and my husband has now followed suit after seeing my change in moods. Just found something else to irritate me instead 😆

Try it and see how you feel. Won't be for everybody so only one way to find out.

Oh and get pain killers in for the inevitable initial headaches!

I cut my caffeine down over the years but still like a large latte every morning but after that it's mainly caffeine free hot drinks for the rest of the day, I find this a happy medium for me. Tea including green tea and matcha too still has a fair bit of caffeine. I really like Red bush tea later in the day, with milk, so soothing!

I can't drink it post covid. Tastes awful, like it did when I was pregnant.

Used to have a strong cafetiere each morning.

Over two years in and the only difference is I'm grumpier in the morning.

Switched to decaf 20 years ago. Tea and coffee. I can't stand any brand of instant coffee, so can't advise on that. PG Tips is tolerable, Twinings everyday are my favourite. I drink more herbal though TBH. (and fruit teas, which are mostly devoid of taste if you have them hot, but aren't bad if you leave the bag in to go fully cold.)

Just to say, different brands of tea or coffee will taste very different depending on what your water is like. I hate my regular teabags when we go on holiday - our local water is soft & peaty.

Coffee - assuming it’s black without sugar or anything added - is incredibly healthy! No need to cut back on coffee if you’re on a health kick. I love coffee and can’t see any reason to quit because I drink it black and sugar free so feel confident that it’s a healthy part of my diet! If caffeine affects your anxiety maybe switch to decaf.

I have full fat milk and two sugars, definitely not healthy. And I don’t have anxiety or jitters, quite the opposite in fact. Like many people I use caffeine to manage adhd traits…

I don't know if it's all psychological or not with me :/

Could be. My husbands definitely was as he didn’t have a set routine around it.

you have nothing to lose by trying it if you want.

Caffeine yes, due to medical advice regarding my heart arrhythmia.

But not coffee (although it's not QUITE the same...). I don't drink or smoke, don't do drugs, have to be careful what I eat, and good coffee is my absolute pleasure.

Caffeine itself is actually beneficial in many ways (in moderation, of course). My doctor agreed when I mentioned this, but unfortunately it does set off my palpitations. I think recent research shows it can be protective against a range of harmful conditions - I think diabetes and some cancers, but it's a while ago that I read this and haven't got a link - sorry.

I gave up coffee 6.weeks ago, partly on a health kick, partly as I was drinking about 7 cups a day WFHH. I genuinely feel more alert and find it easier to get out of bed. I've just come back from holiday where I usually love coffee with hotel breakfast but didn't have one cup. Completely lost the taste for it.

I gave up caffeine in Feb. I always drink decaf tea anyway but was having caffeine in the form of full fat coke! I’ve definitely felt the benefit - I sleep a lot better - but I think it’s half no caffeine, half not hyping myself up on sugar. I do sometimes fancy a can of coke but I have a sparkling water instead. I know that if I had just one I would go back to having several cans a day really quickly!!

I worked for a boss who managed to give it up. On coffee, he was a shouty and terrifying to junior staff. Once he had quit for good he still wasn't the easiest person, but was ten times better to work for, and his work got a lot better because he was more rationals and less irritable.

So think about doing this not just for your own health but because you may become a nicer person to be around.

As PP have said, you need to make sure you drink a lot of water to compensate. Or herbal tea.

Why would you be unreasonable? You’re the only one who it affects so give it up if you want, or don’t if you don’t want. I feel no different with caffeine or not, and coffee has many health benefits so I drink it.

@AllAboardTootToot yes it's very much about routine as well. I'm trying to think why I like it so much..... the thought of a coffee with breakfast is amazing. I don't know if I do feel any affects from it. I'll drink decaf in the afternoons but I'm not sure if I can mentally switch to non decaf in the morning.

I'm so addicted to it I think..... every thing about it!

I gave up caffeine and also decaf drinks 4.5 years ago and it’s had a massive positive impact on my anxiety. It’s also great not having the energy skimps I used to get.

I wouldn't give it up, but the amount I have doesn't seem to have a negative effect.

I drink half decaf/ half caffeinated (I just mix it together). I have two cups in the morning but with this mix it's the equivalent of one cup of caffeinated coffee.

If I had a lot more and made a habit of drinking afternoon coffee, I think it would affect my sleep. I do get a buzz from it if I have more than a couple, it increases my heart rate and anxiety.

I have one cup of caffeinated coffee at breakfast and then only decaf for the rest of the day. Any more caffeine and I can't sleep that night

I wouldn't give it up, but then I have one good sized mug of really good filter coffee in the morning and then nothing caffeinated the rest of the day. I have it black with no sugar.

Mind you, I used to drink lots of builders' tea so a lot more caffeine. Giving it up was easy though, I got pregnant and the smell made me feel sick. Never stopped the one morning coffee though.