Cannot imagine starting the day without a mug of steaming hot coffee or a glass of cold brew? You aren’t alone. Caffeine acts as a much-needed energy booster – probably why the ritual becomes so addictive in the long run.
Caffeine addiction is real, and you cannot ignore the effects.
Around 75-80% of the global population consumes caffeinated beverages daily. For most, coffee is where they get their caffeine. Regular or excessive consumption of your favorite brew, though, can increase the risk of caffeine dependency.
Studies show that over a quarter of caffeine users satisfied the criteria mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Substance Dependence list.
While caffeine addiction is not a formally recognized condition yet, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) lists caffeine-related issues like withdrawal and intoxication, which points to caffeine being an addictive substance.
If you love drinking your coffee, don’t panic. Instead, taking things slow and identifying the warning signs to watch out for can help you.
The Top Symptoms Of Caffeine Addiction
Common symptoms of caffeine addiction link to the over-stimulation of the nervous system. These include:
- Sleep disturbance
- Shakiness
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- High blood pressure
- Heartbeat abnormalities
These symptoms often come on gradually, so they might be undetectable. One has to be alert and report the symptoms while there is still time to recuperate. As the caffeine addiction grows more severe, the effects also become more intense and damaging.
Effects Of Caffeine Addiction
Caffeine addiction can have harmful, damaging effects on the consumer’s health, and the adverse effects might trickle into other areas of their lives. Caffeine has a host of benefits to offer, but the negative effects can be overwhelming in comparison.
One of the main reasons caffeine addiction is so dangerous is that it is difficult to stop drinking coffee even when it starts disrupting your life. Even when one knows that the coffee is causing long-term damage to one’s physical and mental health, it is tough to stop consuming it altogether. It can even be hard to control the amount of coffee consumption. Caffeine intoxication can sometimes have a similar effect as a panic attack.
Caffeine users experience intoxication, withdrawal, anxiety disorders, and sleep disorders. Other side effects associated with caffeine include:
- acid reflux
- cardiovascular issues
- depression
- irritability
- stomach aches
- muscle twitching and pain
- nervousness
- difficulty concentrating
Caffeine addiction can have serious, irreversible consequences for one’s personal and professional life.
Dealing with Caffeine Withdrawal
If you are used to drinking copious amounts of caffeine every day, you will experience withdrawal when you eliminate it from your diet altogether. Most people develop a mild to severe headache and feel sleepy initially. These symptoms can be tremendously impactful for caffeine addicts.
The symptoms grow more extreme with people having less mental alertness, slower reactions, and worse memory power. Other withdrawal symptoms can include mood disorders and nausea. Do you relate to any of the symptoms listed above as an avid caffeine consumer? Get in touch with our team if you’d like to discuss.