How to give up coffee

[buma]

I'm aware this is going to sound ridiculous to most people but...

I have 1 coffee a day. I appreciate that is way less that other people. I only started to drink it after my 1st Daughter because I was so exhausted.

The problem is, is that it really affects me. It's probably the equivalent to someone else drinking 6 coffees. I get the worst anxiety, my brain falls apart (it literally makes me stutter, makes me forget things, can't hold a conversation properly, forget what I'm saying half way through). My work really suffers. I make so many mistakes and I can't concentrate. It affects me for most of the day. It really does cause problems when I drink it.

The thing is, I use it to sort of relax. I look forward to going into work and having 1 straight away because it's been stressful getting the kids ready in the morning. Or on a weekend, it's like a treat to chill out in the morning with one. I think it's the routine and habit, so I'm struggling to stop.

I don't even like the taste of it, but I love that initial buzz and feel all lively and funny etc, whereas I feel like I'm a bit boring without that.

Anyway, how do you manage to stop drinking it?? How do you break that habit? I went on to decaf for a few weeks, but I know I'll always go back to drinking normal.

I had to give up caffeine for heart health reasons, drank 7 or 8 cups of strong coffee a day easily... and I just gave up, it's not that hard honestly.

I replaced with herbal teas as the decaf coffee was not going to be a suitable substitute tbh.

I haven't drank a cup of coffee in 5 years now, but always have a cup of herbal tea in my hand.

I think that's probably the best route. Change it for something else. I don't like tea and only drink water, so I'll have to find another substitute 😩

Just use decaf. I don’t see why you’ll ’always go back to drinking normal’ if it gives you awful side effects - that makes absolutely 0 sense. I switched to decaf a few years ago as caffeine was worsening my anxiety at the time. There is no difference in taste.

I switched to hot chocolate

I always go back to drinking normal because I get that 'buzz' initially, and every thing feels more fun, then it goes downhill as the day goes on. I've tried sticking to decaf and I just can't. It doesn't have the same initial effect.

@GoodVibesHere good idea with the hot chocolate

Hi
why don’t you try half a spoon normal and half a spoon decaff to start with so you still get some of the effect and then reduce it to quarter of a spoon etc.

I think chocolate also contains caffeine though, so would be best to check if it affects you very badly.