LoveToKnow Recovery:AllComments

From LoveToKnow Recovery

Comments

Luis,

Thank you for your thoughtful comment. There is help available for addictions, when people want to seek it.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JC Redmond

I drink coffe a lot, and i know the effect it has on me and recognize that caffeine addiction is real. Unfortunatley people do not take it seriously since it appears that the majority of people are ok fine with their consumption. This although does not negate that caffeine addiction does exist.

If you know of a caffeine addict and they reach out to you, listen to them, be their sponser, help them by visiting a trusted physician, make sure they are hydrated, also involve yourself and them in physical activities such as sports, music and any type of non sedentary activitiy that bring joy, meaning and a sense of meaning to their lives.

Our society tends support the notion that we are defined buy the material things we own, this why advertisers refer to us as consumers. It is my belief that we are defined by what we produce and create. A life of creative output and interaction with other people is vital to overcoming addiction as well as spiritual and whole organism intervention.

My teacher once said it this way, if you are all in your head you act intentionally, or in other words you are self conscious and more prone to becoming addicted. When you are not thinking totally about yourself you are extensional, out of your head. You are involved in activities, healthier and not dwelling on your addictions. I am only a simple person but I have found this to be true for myself. This has been my experience.

-- Contributed by: Luis Littlecreek

Longwinded,

Thank you for sharing your experience. There are many things that we enjoy that can become addictive; you are absolutely right there.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JC Redmond

I was able to recognize in myself at an early age that I had traits of an addictive personality, and was careful to avoid those behaviors that I understood to be addictive. The "classic" ones like smoking, drinking, drugs, were obvious and easily avoided by me. I'd been raised with strong messages against smoking and using drugs, and was on a long-term prescription I had to take that was dangerous if mixed with alcohol. But at the time (mid-80's), I wasn't hearing much mention in the popular media about other addictions. Over the decades since, it seems like concerns have been voiced that people can become dependent on virtually anything...and in turn I've reached a point where anytime I enjoy something too much, and it becomes important to me, I start to second guess myself. Can you be addicted to worrying? (That was a joke).

All joking aside, I'm certain at this point that I do have some addictive behaviors, which I'll post more about soon. But for now, on the subject of coffee...it is a stimulant, and honestly I suppose that makes it a drug. It has been like one for me, certainly. I can say that it only became really important for me after I recovered from a brush with terminal illness. My recovery left me weak and tired much of the time, made worse by having sleep apnea, and some neccesary prescriptions that cause drowsiness. In order to return to work, and be functional, I had to keep myself constantly dosed on espresso. I cut back considerably after my Doctor warned me that my heart rate was dangerously high, but I still depend on it often.

-- Contributed by: Longwinded

Eddie,

It sounds like you are trying to be supportive of your girlfriend, which is great. If she suffers from migraines, why don't you suggest that she see a doctor to ask whether there are any pain medications she can use that don't contain caffeine? There may be something she can take that won't put her right back into the cycle of addiction.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JC Redmond

Yeah, my girlfriend is a caffeine addict. It got so bad, she was doping on pain medication just to get the caffeine fix out of them. She now has Ulcers in her stomach and is trying so hard to stop. I'm doing my best to help, but the migraines she endures all day? It's so crewel I can't bare to watch. Thanks for the tip on Dr.Pepper... I'll try it. I've started her on an exercise program now, she jogs along with me on my daily run through the suburbs. The exercise releases all kind of endorphins, adrenaline, etc. into your system, and it seems to be working. The worst part of all is this all happening in the first place. Neither of us knew any better, not until it was too late.

-- Contributed by: Eddie

Brent,

I hope that you told the ER doctors that you have been taking benzos and drinking coffee. Giving up caffeine is probably a good choice in your situation.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JC Redmond

I drink coffee, but I also take benzos. they work against each other. It is insane. I think my body is finally sick of it as I had had 2 ER visits in the last 10 days for psychiatric symptoms. I think I am done with stimulants of any kind, regardless of what they do for my early morning concentration. The price is too high. Good luck to us all.

-- Contributed by: brent

Kyliegh,

I'm glad you found the article helpful, but it sounds like you are ingesting a lot of caffeine during the day. You may want to consider cutting back on your consumption levels.

Jodee Redmond LoveToKnow Editor

-- Contributed by: JC Redmond

Since i was four years old i have been consuming atleast one cup of coffee a day every day of the week, on weekend i drink 3 to 4 cups, not to mention the 6 to 8 cans of diet pepsi max(contains double the amount of caffeine than a regular diet pepsi and it also has Ginseng)in one day. This week i wasnt able to get my fix in the morning and throughout the day became very lethargic, dizzy and had the WORST headache of my life. I wasnt sure what was causing it until i asked my mom what could be wrong. She asked me if i had drank my coffee that morning. At 16 years old I had no idea that this could happen...i did some research and found your article. I found it very helpful, and i really wanted to thank you. ~Kyliegh

-- Contributed by: Kyliegh
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