April 14, 2008
So about a year ago I gave up caffeine. This was a big step for me. I had been a caffeine junkie for a long, long time. I was having some problems with anxiety and a few smart friends suggested that maybe the giant barrel of Diet Coke I was drinking every day was contributing to that. I listened and switched to drinking a giant barrel of caffeine-free Diet Coke every day and what a difference it made! My overall level of anxiety dropped quite a bit. I started drinking more water. My skin improved. I felt better. I slept better. I had more energy. It was difficult at first. I really felt sluggish in the afternoons there for a while but overall it was a pleasant experience. And I felt stronger in my walk with God because I gave up one of my addictions (I’m still working on the other ones. I’ll get there.)
Once in a blue moon I’ll have a cup of hot tea in the morning but otherwise it’s none for me, thanks.
That is until yesterday. I was visiting with my mother and she offered me some iced tea. Without really thinking about it I had two large glasses. This was at about 8 in the evening. Big mistake. Later as I was trying to fall asleep I felt some of that old anxiety creeping back and nearly had a minor panic attack. I couldn’t figure out why it was happening. I prayed and held on and it slowly went away. I was so confused. Why was I so anxious? Why were these horrible old feelings returning when everything was going relatively well?
It wasn’t until today that I put two and two together and realized it was the caffeine in the tea. It’s amazing how much of an effect it had on me. We are so used to it. It’s everywhere. And we forget (or at least I forgot) that it IS a drug and a pretty powerful one at that. This isn’t to scold anyone who likes their caffeine. There’s nothing wrong with it if you have it under control. But I wonder how many of us are addicted to it without realizing it?
April 14, 2008 at 4:15 am
So many of us do not ever look very carefully at the stresses our current lifestyle choices are putting us under so it’s nice to hear you are taking positive action for your mind and body!
I give Gold Stars for any who go a day without caving in to the caffeine cravings - you get 365 all at once ! :-)
Inspiring that you made the connection between the iced tea and anxiety. Dr John Tickell (an Aussie like me) tells us there are four ‘legal’ drugs that literally ‘blow’ our minds and brain cells.
Caffeine (as you have proven)
Alcohol (who’da thunk it?)
Nicotene (and the 2999 other poisons and addictive drugs in cigarettes); and
SUGAR!
i am So ‘dead’ ;-)
<B
April 14, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Thanks for the stars! The alcohol I only have in moderation and even then only about once or twice in a month. Sugar I don’t eat all that often. I’m not a big sweets person and I stay away from white bread and pasta that isn’t whole grain so I feel pretty good there. I’ve cut wayyyyy back on even the caffeine free diet soda but I still get more artificial sweetener than I should so I need to work on that.
The biggest thing for me though is smoking. I really, really need to quit. It’s by far the worst of the four and it’s the one I’m still on. I must stop.
April 15, 2008 at 3:56 am
The C and the A of the four above i also am comfortable with - only very limited moderate consumption.
I am forever grateful i was not enamoured of cigarettes that my mother and father both enjoyed at the dining table (and elsewhere) until i was around 12 years old.
Dad died seven years ago from complications of Lung Cancer (inoperable) even though he gave them up 15 years before (died age 75 so he had a ‘fair’ innings). Mum gave up (with difficulty) shortly after he gave up.
That just leaves … Sugar…
like i said - i’m so dead ;-)
i’ll stop if you do!?
Besides the fact that they make them addictive so you’ll buy more - why else do you smoke - do you feel? Are there substitutes for some of those reason(s)? (non-fattening ones? ;-) )
<B
April 16, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I smoke because I am addicted, mostly. I admit I do get a bit of enjoyment from it but I really think that it’s more the relief of anxiety (brought on of course because of withdrawal from an addictive substance — it’s a vicious cycle) and something to do with my hands. I actually quit before with the help of an online support group, cross stitch, and lots and lots of sugarfree gum. I really do want to quit though.
April 16, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Less want-ing, more do-ing :-)
Hey - that’s a great motto for life! I just might copyright that! Could you print up a few thousand bumper stickers for me - with your new dream job and all? (Congrats btw) :-)
It’s probably more important i adopt my own motto first! ;-)
<B
April 17, 2008 at 6:30 am
Less want-ing, more do-ing :-)
I am going to paint this on my ceiling so it is the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning!
April 17, 2008 at 11:15 pm
OK - see that’s what i like in life!
people inspiring others to Great Idea’s!
I’m ‘borrowing’ yours! ;-)
I’m also going to create a JPEG file and place it as my PC desktop! - that Windows Vista ‘Aurora’ is geting OLD :-)
<B