Red bull - 12+ cans daily

[Addictedtoeverything]

12 cans at least for as long as I can remember. Started drinking them working long hours in an office, then kept increasing as I need more caffeine and it’s just spiralled out of control as I worked from home.

I am so ashamed of it, not to mention the money spent, living in fear of a heart attack etc etc - but apparently not too ashamed to stop.

I’m now hugely overweight, terrible teeth, aevil anxiety and I desperately want to stop. But every day I tell myself “tomorrows the day”.

I appreciate this isn’t an illegal addiction and some might even question if it’s an addiction at all but I’ve tried (and failed) to “cut down” and “just stop”.

I don’t know why I’m posting here really - part of me wants to post so I have somewhere to be accountable when I stop, but then I’ve tried so many times. I don’t know.

I used to be addicted to energy drinks and would probably drink about 6 a day. I reduced over about a week and gave up. I feel so much better for and the thought of having any now makes me feel Ill.

I felt better almost immediately, I was always thirsty but that was me craving them. I started sleeping better and feeling generally better all over.

Ooh that swap for lemonade is such a fantastic idea!! You could even use the old cans but gradually filled more and more with lemonade, and just power through with convincing yourself it isnt changing?! Although it definitely is. Every step forward will feel better a d better.

I feel excited for you @Addictedtoeverything , you've done the hard part of deciding enough is enough and facing up to it (and you did that all by yourself 💪) and now you have others to help with the next stage. Welcome to the start of being free from it 💪💖

Thank you ever so much.

You poor thing. I was in the same boat and now I haven't drunk them in just over ten years!

First of all, when you stop you're going to feel like absolute sh*t, I'm sorry but you will.
You will have headaches from the caffeine withdrawal.
But keep going because after a week or so you'll feel so much better.

Go to your GP and get a checkup - blood pressure, BMI, routine bloods. Get their support with stopping.
well done for deciding to change - that’s the hard bit xx

Thank you so much for sharing this! Ok so it can be done over a week that is really good to know - I don’t want this to drag on for months if I can help it. Did you have any withdrawals symptoms if you don’t mind me asking?

Wow!!! Honestly hope I’m as strong as you that’s incredible! Nope I hear you and I’ve convinced myself it’s going to be horrendous to the point it probably won’t be as bad as I’ve imagined it (ironically!). I’m so grateful for you sharing your stories and that you’ve cracked it; I honestly can’t tell you I thought this was just a “me” thing

Isn’t it?! I’d have never come up with that and I think it’s quite a clever “hack”. Thank you - I can’t lie it’s took me over a year to get here and if it wasn’t for someone mentioning this board in AIBU a while back I’d have been non the wiser! Cheesy as hell but after these comments I feel all empowered like “let’s do this” which absolutely hasn’t been me in a long time!

What do your friends and colleagues say

Can you persuade yourself you’re allergic to them ?

They don’t - I presume it’s like other addictions, I keep it very secret. The only people that know are my partner and parents, and I think they think it’s around 4 per day and likely not every day. I’ve not asked them but something a pp said has clicked - they could well think it’s drugs or know there’s something going on but not what. Honest truth, I’d deny or lie if they asked, which is awful.

I don't think it really works like that. Can you persuade yourself you're allergic to cigarettes or vodka?

My partner had an energy drink addiction and heart attack before he met me at just 40. It has led to all kinds of problems, he's currently waiting for an appointment with a vascular surgeon because the heart attack caused vein damage. Giving up is possible- he hasn't touched them in 4 years.

I am so, so sorry to hear that I can’t even comprehend what he’s been through and continues to go through, but thank you for sharing because honestly it’s the wake up call I need.

I mentioned in a pp but where I hadn’t heard of anyone having this kind of side effect I’d been naive to it or just ignored it.

I know he doesn’t know me but he’s just become a role model for someone - giving up for 4 years is something I can only dream of in this current moment - thank you again and I hope he makes a full recovery.

Go you @Addictedtoeverything! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
This is really good to read and lots of people have your back. I'm trying to cut down on drinking and any distractions or new routines are good. Just about to go down for my chamomile tea and prunes 😂😂😂😳 rock and roll but it's a good new routine instead of 'just the one' glass of wine...

You are welcome! If there was any advice that I could give- it would be to find a distraction or hobby. Instead of gaming and energy drinks he has taken up fishing.

I didn't get awful withdrawals this last time. I think I drank coffee so didn't get the caffeine withdrawal and then naturally cut down on caffeine after that.

You could try reframing cutting down in your mind. Replace a can with something else you enjoy. A cup of tea, snack, 15 mins of telly, a quick mindfulness session. Something that feels like a treat so you don't feel like you're missing out and instead you are gaining something. This is something I've found as I'm trying to diet that helps, getting excited about the healthy food, not feeling disappointed I can't have the high fat stuff.

Good for you OP.

I had a couple of friends in uni addicted to diet coke, drinking huge amounts a day. Both of them found giving up initially very tough but once they were through the worst of it it was life changing. The weight fell off them and they felt so much better.

I speak as the sister of an alcoholic. 2 years dry.

Did your sister convince herself she was allergic to alcohol?

Sigh.

yes. That’s why I mentioned it. She had treatment of course but that’s how she frames it to herself now. I’m allergic to alcohol.

Sigh. I'm going to regret debating this. But there's a massive difference between reframing your thoughts about alcohol or any addictive substance in time, and waking up the day after you've acknowledged said addition. You can't become allergic to it overnight.

Whatever.

it worked for her.

😒