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I quit 18 days ago and I already feel better than ever. "Caffeine doesn't perk you up, it just keeps you from calming down." I feel like a little child -- the

I quit 18 days ago and I already feel better than ever. "Caffeine doesn't perk you up, it just keeps you from calming down." I feel like a little child -- the days are longer, my emotions are a lot richer, when I'm nostalgic, I remember most details, not just the "gist". I'm not mentally "spinning my wheels" and running in circles anymore. It's a little harder to bring myself to do stuff that I don't really want to do, because I'm not running around, looking for stuff to do but am intentional about what I want to be doing. Energy is unsurprisingly much more stable, it comes from exercise and whole food. My acne and problems with digestion disappeared. Expect to be essentially dead for all purposes for the first 7 days. I'd recommend taking L-Tyrosine (or NALT) during withdrawal, optionally with 5-HTP, it's a natural dopamine precursor and makes the anhedonia much shorter. I'm 20, coming (cold turkey, usually not recommended) from 2 espressos daily.

_leo 6y ago
> "Caffeine doesn't perk you up, it just keeps you from calming down." I have a slightly different experience. I stopped having regular coffee (never had much, only a daily capuccino) about 2 years ago (improved sleep, etc). Every few months now I have a coffee, and when I do it's the best day of my life. I feel invincible, I can keep going for hours without feeling tired (I also have trouble falling asleep later :P). Maybe I'm too sensitive to caffeine, but I'm amazed at how strong the effect is (which is why I try to be careful with it).
- tcldr 6y ago
  I’ve noticed the same effect; if I’ve been off the caffeine for a while and have a coffee – it’s great. But there appears to be a negative counter-effect that compounds when it becomes routine.
- fzil 6y ago
  For me it’s different. Even a slightly stronger tea makes me anxious and seemingly decreases blood flow to my brain. I don’t know how to explain it but I can feel the veins in my head tightened up. Even a sip of tea wake me right up. I don’t understand how people gulp bunch of french press and espressos like it’s nothing and go about their day.
cameronh90 6y ago
Ever since I quit caffeine, I'm tired every day until about 2pm. However, my crippling anxiety is mostly gone, so that's a bonus.

_leo 6y ago

> "Caffeine doesn't perk you up, it just keeps you from calming down." I have a slightly different experience. I stopped having regular coffee (never had much, only a daily capuccino) about 2 years ago (improved sleep, etc). Every few months now I have a coffee, and when I do it's the best day of my life. I feel invincible, I can keep going for hours without feeling tired (I also have trouble falling asleep later :P). Maybe I'm too sensitive to caffeine, but I'm amazed at how strong the effect is (which is why I try to be careful with it).

tcldr 6y ago
I’ve noticed the same effect; if I’ve been off the caffeine for a while and have a coffee – it’s great. But there appears to be a negative counter-effect that compounds when it becomes routine.
fzil 6y ago
For me it’s different. Even a slightly stronger tea makes me anxious and seemingly decreases blood flow to my brain. I don’t know how to explain it but I can feel the veins in my head tightened up. Even a sip of tea wake me right up. I don’t understand how people gulp bunch of french press and espressos like it’s nothing and go about their day.

cameronh90 6y ago

Ever since I quit caffeine, I'm tired every day until about 2pm. However, my crippling anxiety is mostly gone, so that's a bonus.