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I Withdrew From Caffeine for 3 Months. This is What Happened.
It’s March 2017 in Sydney Australia, and I am addicted to cappuccinos and strong cappuccinos. I would often have a second cappuccino at lunch. Occasionally, I would splurge on affogatos, which is a shot of espresso poured over vanilla ice cream. I needed to be sociable for the clients, and caffeine does the job.
I thought on my upcoming mountaineering expedition of Denali in Alaska, I would have more energy if I withdrew from coffee for 3 months. Then drinking coffee again on the mountain would give me extreme energy. 3 months before my expedition, I stopped drinking caffeine cold turkey.
Day 1: Exhausted
I am very tired from the first day without a cappuccino, but it is not unbearable. It is very difficult to stay engaged in conversations. I am less interested in the work, and I feel mentally drained before I even start. My mind is on a constant feedback loop “this would be a lot better with coffee.”
Day 2: Flu-Like Symptoms
The initial withdrawal period is the worst. I would not recommend cutting off caffeine suddenly like I did. I had constant headaches and was…