Over the decades, I keep switching between caffeine times and caffeine-free times.
It’s like this:
- need an extra boost for morning or afternoon, and it is really important
- it becomes a regular thing again, at least 1xmorning, 1xafternoon
- ups and downs are too strong, switching to guarana
- it works, even boost now
- It turns into madness, e. g. not enough sleep, and it prevents me from napping, or even night sleep is not good anymore. Also, completely dysfunctional in the morning.
- optionally increase up to double dose
- unpleasant withdrawal
- back to start after a month, year or two years
Right now, I’m on day 3 or 4 of a very unpleasant withdrawal again. Headaches, poor sleep quality, muscle and joint pain. Also, the Elvanse boost is really diminished, a lot. Tragically, in terms of productivity and mood, it worked really well with caffeine, just too much madness.
Do you think just staying off for good is the way to go?
I’ve gone back and forth. I’m doing well sticking to 2 rules. No more than 2 normal caffeinated drinks per day and never after 2pm.
Edit: and I drink 2-3 cups of decaff coffee per day but there is no limit on that.
I’ve never heard this, but it is pretty much where I’ve landed (though I will sneak a third in on farmers market days because one of the stall has the good coffee, but it’s later than I want to have my second dose).
Love when a parenthetical is longer than the original sentence.
FYI there is still a wee bit of caffeine, and there are other rando stimulant chemicals in decaf btw
Yes, I shouldn’t say ‘no limit’ but a sensible limit is fine.