prillalar | Caffeine: the miracle drug

About two years ago, I was drinking two or three cups of coffee a day, plus iced tea and the occasional Coke. I was jittery and my stomach hurt. So one day, I decided: enough!

I cut down to one cup per day for a week, then went off caffeine entirely for a month. After that, I started drinking decaf coffee.

I felt so much better without the caffeine. No more hurty stomach. No more irritability (well, less irritablilty, anyhow). I slept a lot better -- something I've always had trouble with.

And then I discovered the amazing benefits of caffeine as a medicinal and recreational drug.

When I'm not taking it in on a regular basis, a little caffeine gives me an amazing buzz. If I have a bad headache I can't shake, a hit of caffeine will often cure it. If I need a burst of creative energy, a little coffee will give me the jolt I need to think, think, think and write, write, write.

One half-caf americano and I have super powers!

So I did that tonight, to try to burn through more of my WIP. And it worked.

Does anyone know how to shut it off now? Else I'll have to go out and see if any crime needs stopping.

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I was sans caf for four years because of a heart arrhythmia. Then I figured out that caf had nothing to do with the problem-- no effect on my arrhythmia at all. I learned this after falling off the wagon in the UK, where decaf is hardly acknowledged--along with artificial sweetener. 1,000 cuppas and 5 pounds of sugar later, I was once again an addict. I have remained so ever since. Caf is goooood shit. But I know what you mean about the crankiness. I am a freaking wreck before my morning Pepsi One. And if I don't have caf by noon, it's a full-blown migraine for me.

I've got to say, that's the thing I like best about the no-caffeine thing: I can get up in the morning and be awake, regardless of whether or not I've had anything to drink.

I learned this after falling off the wagon in the UK, where decaf is hardly acknowledged

[g] That sounds familiar. Though when I went to the UK (1999-ish), I was a serious addict and had fun going to coffee places and ordering a 4-shot mocha. The baristas would look at me for a few seconds, then hold up four fingers and repeat, "Four shots?" in their lovely London accents. "Four? Are you certain?" Yes, love, I'm certain. Gimme four shots of your strongest. Then

lexin, with whom I was staying for the trip, introduced me to the wonderful English custom of tea with milk. [happy sigh] That's been my drink of choice for the past 3+ years; I keep the local import shop in the black with my tea purchases (no pun intended).

I drank tea for years and years. It was what we drank at supper when I was growing up. I wonder why I was able to sleep *then* and not now. *g*

Caffeine: the miracle drug

From the realm of sad but true....

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