Coffee Addiction: How Can Caffeine Intake Affect Your Life?

If you love your daily cup of Starbucks (or three), can't stay away from that Coca Cola, or consistently chug energy drinks down and believe you won't be able to stay awake and alert without them, you probably don't consider yourself an addict. You're a world away from people who abuse heroin, cocaine, prescription painkillers, or alcohol, no?

Let's start with some key facts about caffeine addiction that you should definitely be aware of:

• Caffeine is, actually, the most widely-used behaviorally active substance (or "drug") across the world!
• More than half of the US population enjoys at least one caffeinated beverage each day. 
• Older people are addicted to caffeine in larger numbers than younger people — 50 to 64 year old people collectively consume more caffeinated drinks than younger ones, which also means caffeine use is declining.
• Nearly all of the caffeine people consume comes from coffee, tea, and soft drinks. 
• Most people get most of their caffeine from that favorite Cup of Joe, coffee.
• While energy drinks, chocolate beverages, and energy shots do have caffeine in them, they aren't nearly as popular as you might think. 
• The effects you experience from caffeine last around four to six hours.
• Older people have a more intense reaction to caffeine.

Is it possible to be diagnosed with a caffeine addiction?

Yes. 

Approximately seven percent of US citizens frequently experience caffeine intoxication. While anyone can get addicted to caffeine, some people have a higher risk. Research has shown that people with mood disorders, eating disorders, smokers, prisoners, drug addicts, and alcohol addicts are more likely to be addicted to caffeine. 

How can being addicted to caffeine affect your life and health?

Caffeine addiction can have some serious effects on your health and life. People who have recently consumed a high dose of caffeine — 250 mg or more — can:

• Feel restless
• Become excited
• Suffer from insomnia, especially if they drink caffeine before they go to bed
• Have an increased need to urinate, since caffeine acts as a diuretic
• Experience muscle twitching
• Become nervous
• Experience gastrointestinal upset
• Have a flushed face
• Experience tachycardia — a fast heartbeat — or other types of irregular heartbeats
• Become physically agitated, which means your movements speed up
• Experience cognitive disturbances like rambling thoughts and speech, as the DSM-5 says.
• Find that they need to keep as busy as the Duracell bunny, because of excess energy. 

What happens when you stop drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages?

You might think about quitting caffeine cold turkey right now, but be careful — when you stop drinking caffeinated beverages, you'll likely go into withdrawal if you've been a heavy coffee drinker for a long time.

Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include:

• A headache. Half of people who stop using caffeine experience this symptom.​
• Fatigue or drowsiness.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• A depressed mood, dysphoric mood, or irritability.
• Flu-like symptoms, for instance, muscle stiffness and pain, nausea, and vomiting. 
• Not being able to complete regular daily activities.

So, how can I stop drinking too much caffeine?

If you drink a lot of coffee and then stop, you will probably feel the effects. They will pass quickly, though. You can avoid caffeine withdrawal symptoms by not drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages or only using them occasionally. You can also reduce your caffeine intake gradually over time, something that'd be referred to as "tapering" if you were dealing with antidepressants or alcohol instead. For instance, go from five cups a day to four, then three, until you reach zero. Or just cut your caffeine intake down to more responsible levels but keep enjoying that morning coffee and that cola at lunch — it's up to you.