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Caffeine's is a serious addiction. Ever reasoned why some people have a harder time quitting it?
It was only few years back when the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders considered caffeine intoxication and withdrawal as a diagnosis for mental disorders implying that people under caffeine intoxication or withdrawal may experience symptoms similar to signs of other mental disorders.
So what exactly is caffeine withdrawal? It obviously suggests a person to have been consuming high doses of caffeine on a daily basis - more than the recommended 400mg requirement in a day - and a sudden tapering of it, which in most cases leads to triggering a host of physiological symptoms.
Usually people experience caffeine withdrawal symptoms within a day of stopping or reducing their caffeine intake, some of which would include the following:
- Splitting headaches
- Difficulty in sleeping or insomnia
- Feeling fatigued and drowsy
- Lack of attention and focus
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Symptoms similar to flu
- Depression
- Muscle cramps or pain
- Nausea
Experts suggest a person must experience at least three of the above mentioned symptoms or an inability to carry out daily activities. No two people can process and metabolise caffeine in a similar fashion; while some may find it easy to gulp down multiple caffeinated drinks in a day and still feel fine, others may end up spending the entire night wide awake after having a strong cup of coffee.
How to avoid caffeine dependence
- Do not make it a habit, avoid consuming it daily or consume in irregular intervals
- Also try decaffeinated versions
- Alternating between tea and coffee may help
- Monitor your overall caffeine intake that may stem from other caffeinated drinks, chocolates, medication, etc.
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