THE TRUTH ABOUT CAFFEINE

Every day, the habit could be the same. After having only a few hours of healthy sleep, a person may instinctively grab a cup of coffee to help them endure the rest of the day. College students may seek energy drinks or pills to survive upcoming exams or presentations. Regardless of the ultimate goal, the truth is that caffeine is a permanent fixture in our lives. Some people find they cannot function without that coveted kick of energy this miracle drug appears to give. Based on this information alone, we need to consider one question: is caffeine addictive or potentially dangerous?

Caffeine is a stimulant chemical that naturally occurs in leaves or fruits of plants including coffee, cocoa, cola, mate, and guarana, as well as black and green tea. This substance is also a key ingredient in popular products like diet pills, chocolate candy, chocolate cake, energy bars, and energy drinks. Once consumed, caffeine stimulates the release of adrenaline and cortisol, offering a “boost” to the central nervous system. Symptoms begin to occur after 5 to 30 minutes and can last for 12 hours.

Ultimately, your reaction to caffeine depends on your factors including body mass, metabolism, and general health. Medical experts oblige people to limit their intake to no more than 400 milligrams per day to ensure physical and mental well-being.

By nature, however, caffeine is not considered an addictive drug, at least not in the same sense as other substances like heroin and marijuana.  However, it is important to note that frequent or habitual consumption of caffeine can result in a form of chemical dependency. People who consume unsafe amounts of the stimulant can experience insomnia, heart palpitations, nausea, and irritability amongst other side effects. Also, doctors advise pregnant women, AIDS patients, or individuals with severe behavioral, cognitive, or neurological disorders to avoid caffeine altogether. Still, within safe limits, this drug will not negatively affect the physical and mental well-being of an average person.

Likewise, people who immediately stop consuming caffeine can experience a mild version of withdrawal, particularly individuals who consume more than the safe amount (e.g. over two cups of coffee). Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal typically include headaches, mood swings, irritability, anxiety, and exhaustion. However, this process lasts for a short period and is not fatal. For this reason alone, health experts do not classify the drug as addictive. 

Remember that there is always hope for you. Drugs do not have control over your life. You do. If you are suffering from addiction or know someone who is suffering from this illness, get in touch with Asana Recovery. Counselors and healthcare experts can walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and help guide you to a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While it might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to keep you and your unborn child safe.

The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your addiction troubles today.