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However, it's not addictive like many other drugs. Sure you'll suffer withdrawal for a day or too with some bad migraines, but afterward you're off it. I just m

However, it's not addictive like many other drugs. Sure you'll suffer withdrawal for a day or too with some bad migraines, but afterward you're off it. I just make sure if I'm gonna miss a day to pack some aspirin to combat the headache.

dionidium 7y ago
Modern addiction specialists don't fetishize physical addiction the way many lay people do. What really characterizes "addiction" is problematic usage, i.e. continued use in the face of adverse consequences. Most (all?) caffeine users do not suffer adverse behavioral or physical consequences. That's really the distinction that matters.
- beckingz 7y ago
  Don't talk to me until I've had my morning coffee. \s Don't talk to me until I've eaten this mug.
- s_y_n_t_a_x 7y ago
  Stimulants, including caffeine, cause irritability among other bad side-effects. The only reason it's not characterized by these "modern addiction specialists", whatever that is, is because of both $$$ and how socially acceptable it is. Since you can get your caffeine fix in anyway for really cheap (or not so cheap if you want) and you can drink it at work without any weird looks it doesn't destroy your social life. Just because it doesn't destroy your social life doesn't mean it's not addictive, but I guess that's just the layman in me.
  - dionidium 7y ago
    > The only reason it's not characterized by these "modern addiction specialists", whatever that is As a sort of meta point, every time I use the phrase "modern addiction specialist" in a thread somebody responds expressing skepticism that such a thing exists or that the definition of addiction I've provided reflects consensus opinion. This is...weird. The American Psychiatric Association leads their "What is Addiction?" page with the following text: "Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence." https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-is-addiction https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-...
- LeoTinnitus 7y ago
  Yes and thats my rationale as well. People get so uptight about the phrase addiction that they assume it means it's bad. Addiction is only bad when it interferes with other parts of your life that it shouldn't. Also I've found most people rely on it for its performance enhancing aspect which I'd argue is why it can be addictive for most people. I for one am more prone to quit coffee in the summer than in the winter simply because of the temperature outside.
s_y_n_t_a_x 7y ago
What?!? It's one the most addictive drugs there is. Those migraines you mentioned are one of many terrible withdraw symptoms. It is the only drug I truly have been unable to quit. Despite weeks of being off of it, I always relapse after the cravings get too much. It was easier to quit cigs for me than it is to stop drinking coffee. If it's a stimulant it's going to be very hard to quit. The only reason it's not considered an addiction by experts is because you don't destroy your life when you run out, BECAUSE IT'S EVERYWHERE and super accepted (you can do it at work), also because I assume $$$. So it's sort of like mobile/social media addiction but worse because it's more acceptable and it has physical withdrawal/cravings. Now I'm going to go have a coffee because I have a headache and I'm irritated.
- LeoTinnitus 7y ago
  Sugar is addictive too. Should we cut that entirely out of our diets too? The fact that it isn't bad for you doesn't make addiction a bad thing. It's when addiction consumes your life and you forgo the good things in life that it becomes bad.
  - s_y_n_t_a_x 7y ago
    Didn't say we should cut it out, just was replying to the GP that it's not easy to quit, it's very addictive. I didn't say it would consume your life and make you forgo the good things.
codingslave 7y ago
I've met very few people in my lifetime who went from heavy caffeine usage to non.
- LeoTinnitus 7y ago
  People do it out of habit and because it tastes good. It becomes ritualistic in a way. I'm not sure how disiplined most people are, but I can just stop (and have several times). I choose not to because I enjoy it. If I'm super busy in the morning, I'll just go without. I don't treat it like a performance enhancing product that some may which I'd argue may be why it's harder for those types of people to quit. They rely on it to make up for other places in their life they are failing with.

dionidium 7y ago

Modern addiction specialists don't fetishize physical addiction the way many lay people do. What really characterizes "addiction" is problematic usage, i.e. continued use in the face of adverse consequences. Most (all?) caffeine users do not suffer adverse behavioral or physical consequences. That's really the distinction that matters.

beckingz 7y ago
Don't talk to me until I've had my morning coffee. \s Don't talk to me until I've eaten this mug.
s_y_n_t_a_x 7y ago
Stimulants, including caffeine, cause irritability among other bad side-effects. The only reason it's not characterized by these "modern addiction specialists", whatever that is, is because of both $$$ and how socially acceptable it is. Since you can get your caffeine fix in anyway for really cheap (or not so cheap if you want) and you can drink it at work without any weird looks it doesn't destroy your social life. Just because it doesn't destroy your social life doesn't mean it's not addictive, but I guess that's just the layman in me.
- dionidium 7y ago
  > The only reason it's not characterized by these "modern addiction specialists", whatever that is As a sort of meta point, every time I use the phrase "modern addiction specialist" in a thread somebody responds expressing skepticism that such a thing exists or that the definition of addiction I've provided reflects consensus opinion. This is...weird. The American Psychiatric Association leads their "What is Addiction?" page with the following text: "Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence." https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-is-addiction https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-...
LeoTinnitus 7y ago
Yes and thats my rationale as well. People get so uptight about the phrase addiction that they assume it means it's bad. Addiction is only bad when it interferes with other parts of your life that it shouldn't. Also I've found most people rely on it for its performance enhancing aspect which I'd argue is why it can be addictive for most people. I for one am more prone to quit coffee in the summer than in the winter simply because of the temperature outside.

s_y_n_t_a_x 7y ago

What?!? It's one the most addictive drugs there is. Those migraines you mentioned are one of many terrible withdraw symptoms. It is the only drug I truly have been unable to quit. Despite weeks of being off of it, I always relapse after the cravings get too much. It was easier to quit cigs for me than it is to stop drinking coffee. If it's a stimulant it's going to be very hard to quit. The only reason it's not considered an addiction by experts is because you don't destroy your life when you run out, BECAUSE IT'S EVERYWHERE and super accepted (you can do it at work), also because I assume $$$. So it's sort of like mobile/social media addiction but worse because it's more acceptable and it has physical withdrawal/cravings. Now I'm going to go have a coffee because I have a headache and I'm irritated.

LeoTinnitus 7y ago
Sugar is addictive too. Should we cut that entirely out of our diets too? The fact that it isn't bad for you doesn't make addiction a bad thing. It's when addiction consumes your life and you forgo the good things in life that it becomes bad.
- s_y_n_t_a_x 7y ago
  Didn't say we should cut it out, just was replying to the GP that it's not easy to quit, it's very addictive. I didn't say it would consume your life and make you forgo the good things.

codingslave 7y ago

I've met very few people in my lifetime who went from heavy caffeine usage to non.

LeoTinnitus 7y ago
People do it out of habit and because it tastes good. It becomes ritualistic in a way. I'm not sure how disiplined most people are, but I can just stop (and have several times). I choose not to because I enjoy it. If I'm super busy in the morning, I'll just go without. I don't treat it like a performance enhancing product that some may which I'd argue may be why it's harder for those types of people to quit. They rely on it to make up for other places in their life they are failing with.