As most of my client know, I've stopped drinking coffee. This came after a little trip away, where I didn't have coffee for 3 days and didn't use to toilet for those 3 days. I realised my body was dependent on coffee to regulate my gastro-intestinal system and didn't like that at all. I also noticed how exhausted and hazy I felt, as well as a niggling headache. I decided that my body was too reliant on coffee to make it through each day so when we got home I decided to quit cold turkey.
Days 1-3: the worst
What ensued--during the busiest work week of the year for me, Christmas week--was severe migraine-like headaches, irregular bowel movements if any, and fatigue. I was near tears every day at the thought of having to work 8-10 hour days like that, but with the help of ibuprofen and a nap, I made it through. Super rough though.
Week 1: getting better
I still had headaches, however less intense, and felt tired and hazy rather than all out fatigued. Going to the toilet was still a struggle but I started drinking more water and non-caffeinated tea to help that process. Waking up in the morning was pretty hard still.
End of Week 2: thank the lord
I finally have kicked the withdrawal headaches--yay! I've been focussing on getting a better nights sleep rather than not caring about my sleep and just reaching for coffee in the morning. I've been able to get to sleep better too. I've been using light exercise to wake myself up if really needed or just moving my body. I have also noticed my desire to eat more sugar as my body's way of trying to wake itself up (and trying not to give in to that temptation has been le challenge). Feeling virtually back to normal, just not hyper-alert or not as anxious/excitable as I was on coffee.
Not Completely Quitting
Now that I've kicked the withdrawal symptoms and my body's dependency on it, I'm allowing myself to a coffee a week, if I even need it that week. I had a coffee yesterday, as I had a 6:30am - 10:30pm day, and BOY that was awesome. I felt the coffee waking me up, making me more excitable and alert. I stayed that way even when I got home at 10pm. The effects seemed to hit me way more because I don't have it regularly anymore. I'll be utilising this for days that are really long and need super-productivity.
What has been interesting about this whole ordeal is the addiction my body had to the coffee. I thought I could go without coffee for a day or two, but my body reacted in a way that tells me otherwise. This whole experiment/detox has been insightful. My fiancé did the same however he only had headaches for 2 days, which tells me his body depends on it less than me.
We can be dependent on anything--coffee, sugar, drugs, alcohol, people. It's important to check in once and a while and take a break from those things you feel you can't live without.
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