Caffeine is a natural stimulant most commonly found in tea, coffee and cacao plants. It works by stimulating the brain and central nervous system, helping you to stay alert and preventing the onset of tiredness. Caffeine’s main effect is on the brain.
It functions by blocking the effects of adenosine, which is a neurotransmitter that relaxes the brain and makes you feel tired. Normally, adenosine levels build up over the day, making you increasingly more tired and causing you to want to go to sleep.
Caffeine helps you stay awake by connecting to adenosine receptors in the brain without activating them. Caffeine is considered the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the world. A majority of adults consume it on a daily basis.
What is Caffeine Addiction?
Caffeine Addiction
Caffeine addiction is the excessive and/or harmful use of caffeine over a period of time, which has negative effects on your health, social interactions, or other areas of your life. It is one of the most widely used addictive substances, and it is heavily marketed to adults, teens, and even children. While coffee is probably the most frequently used source of caffeine, it is also present in many common foods and drinks, so your caffeine intake might be higher than you realise.
Symptoms of Caffeine Addiction –
Nervousness
While caffeine users may enjoy the increased energy and alertness that caffeine gives them, unpleasant symptoms experienced by many consumers, especially those who are addicted, include:
Restlessness
Nervousness
Excitement
Difficulty sleeping
Agitation
Muscle twitching
Rambling flow of thoughts and speech
Flushed face
Increased heart rate
Stomach upset
Increased urination
How Caffeine Can Affect Your Health?
Anxiety
Caffeine has various effects on the body, which are potentially harmful to health. Caffeine increases heart rate and can cause abnormalities in the heartbeat, so is not recommended for people with cardiovascular problems. It also increases blood pressure and affects bone density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
Caffeine intoxication produces symptoms that can easily be confused with anxiety disorders, such as panic attacks. Using too much caffeine can also worsen symptoms of anxiety disorders in people who are affected, intensifying feelings of worry; increasing racing thoughts; making it difficult to quiet the mind; increasing agitation and shakiness; and preventing relaxation and quality (or any) sleep.
What to do if you have Caffeine Addiction?
Addiction involves not only excessive use of caffeine but also relying on caffeine to cope with life, typically in spite of negative effects. There are several steps you can take if you have Caffeine Addiction-
1. Assess your intake: Calculate how much caffeine you are actually having including gourmet espresso, lattes, and cappuccino, which are typically much stronger than regular drip or instant coffee, soda, and other common caffeine-containing foods and drinks.
2. Pay attention to how you feel: Make a note of any side effects of caffeine, as well as withdrawal symptoms that happen if you miss a regular dose of caffeine.
3. Consider the effects: Think about the effects of caffeine or withdrawal symptoms you experience if you miss a regular dose, and how they have affected your feelings, functioning, and relationships.
The vicious cycle of addiction happens with caffeine, just as it does with other addictive substances. As the effects of caffeine wear off, you might feel a crash in energy and that you can’t keep going without another boost of caffeine. As withdrawal can make you feel worse, it is important for most people to reduce your caffeine intake gradually rather than abruptly to get the maximum benefit from quitting or reducing caffeine.