More than 50 percent of people in the United States drink coffee everyday, according to CBS News, and many others drink other caffeinated beverages such as tea, soda or energy drinks. The caffeine in these beverages give individuals a quick energy boost, but consuming large amounts of caffeine on a regular basis may lead to caffeine addiction. This addiction may cause unpleasant side effects, such as fatigue and irritability, when you stop consuming caffeine.
Addiction
Individuals who regularly consume more than 500 mg of caffeine daily may develop a physical dependence on the substance. Instead of feeling a quick energy boost, over time the caffeine only helps these individuals maintain normal energy levels and prevents withdrawal effects from occurring, explains Aetna InteliHealth. The only way to beat this physical addiction is to let yourself go without any caffeine for several days to allow your body to get used to functioning without caffeine.
Withdrawal Symptoms
If you have become physically dependent on caffeine, you will most likely notice withdrawal symptoms within 12-24 hours after you stop consuming caffeine. These withdrawal symptoms often include fatigue, irritability and headaches. Although these symptoms can be unpleasant, they are only temporary and typically begin to go away on their own within a few days, according to the American Heart Association.
Coping With Withdrawal Symptoms
Although the withdrawal symptoms are temporary, that doesn't mean you have to idly sit by and wait for them to go away on their own. There are things you can do in the meantime to make coping with the withdrawal symptoms a bit easier. Taking a nap, sleeping in or going to bed earlier may help you manage feelings of fatigue. Call up a good friend or loved one or make plans to do something enjoyable to combat feelings of irritability. Doing yoga, visualization exercises or other relaxation exercises may also prove useful. Although pain medications can help to ease headaches, be careful that the pain medication you take do not contain caffeine as one of its ingredients. Taking medication that contains caffeine can cause rebound headaches and lengthen the time it will take you to overcome your caffeine addiction.
Considerations
If you are not in a hurry to break your caffeine addiction, consider slowly tapering off on the amount of caffeine you consume each day instead of quitting cold turkey. You can do this by simply drinking less of your favorite caffeinated substance or by replacing highly caffeinated beverages with ones that contain less caffeine. Gradually reducing your caffeine intake in this way reduces the likelihood of you experiencing withdrawal symptoms like fatigue and irritability.
Warning
The fatigue and irritability from caffeine withdrawal should only last for a few days, according to the American Heart Association. If you experience tiredness or mood swings beyond this time, consult your doctor to rule out other potential medical conditions that may be to blame.
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