Quitting coffee causes caffeine withdrawal symptoms, what are they like?

Caffeine is a stimulant substance most consumed by people. The reason is, caffeine is found in coffee, tea, chocolate, energy drinks, and medicines. Caffeine works by chemically increasing the activity of the central nervous system. Because caffeine tends to be consumed to increase focus and concentration, for some people caffeine is needed to be awake. This is why many people today can't stop drinking coffee.

Although safe for consumption, caffeine can cause addictive effects. If you stop drinking coffee or consuming caffeine in other forms, it will cause symptoms of caffeine withdrawal or caffeine withdrawal. This can range from mild to severe, depending on how much caffeine you normally consume.

Get to know caffeine withdrawal (caffeine withdrawal)

Caffeine withdrawal can be said to be a side effect of caffeine consumption. This is a symptom that appears when a person stops drinking coffee coffee suddenly. Although caffeine is safe, it can cause serious dependence.

At least 100 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day alone can make you addicted. Because the body is already dependent, stopping caffeine will trigger caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

You may still be able to carry out your daily activities despite experiencing caffeine withdrawal symptoms. However, this caffeine withdrawal condition is categorized as a mental disorder in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

This is what will happen if you stop coffee suddenly

Caffeine causes changes in the levels of the chemical responsible for transmitting information signals in the brain via neurotransmitters. These substances include acetylcholine, serotonin and norepinephrine. Because there is a sudden change in the chemical balance in the brain when you stop drinking coffee , caffeine withdrawal symptoms appear.

One of the symptoms most often complained of is a decrease in concentration when not consuming coffee. Some of the other symptoms of dependence that can also appear include:

• Headache
• Limp
• Not feeling well, like having a cold
• Muscle ache
• Constipation (difficulty defecating)
• Nausea
• Easily sleepy
• Depression
• Feel nervous
• Tend to feel bad mood

Some people have different patterns of withdrawal from caffeine. These symptoms generally appear 12 to 24 hours after the last caffeine consumption and can last in a matter of two to nine days.

The more often you drink coffee every day, the more likely you are to experience the above symptoms when you stop drinking coffee . Re-consuming caffeine when withdrawal symptoms appear will quickly relieve caffeine withdrawal symptoms. However, it becomes even more difficult for you to suppress the habit drinking coffee too much.

This is what causes a person to experience caffeine withdrawal

Not everyone experiences caffeine withdrawal when trying to quit drinking coffee . The appearance of these symptoms is influenced by the following factors.

1. Physical condition

The state of central nervous system readiness affects how caffeine withdrawal symptoms appear. Symptoms of caffeine are more likely to appear in people who have difficulty concentrating without consuming caffeine than in people who do not need coffee to concentrate.

Some people do not even experience caffeine withdrawal symptoms and only about 50 percent experience severe caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

2. How often to consume caffeine

The more often a person consumes caffeine or drinks coffee, the more likely it is that they will experience caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

3. Source of caffeine consumed

Coffee usually contains about 135 mg of caffeine, energy drinks about 160 mg, while tea ranges from 15-40 mg. Well, the greater the caffeine content of the drinks you usually consume, the greater your risk of experiencing caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

4. Addiction

If you are already dependent on coffee or caffeine, you will be more susceptible to experiencing coffee withdrawal symptoms. Even skipping a cup or two a day can make you feel the symptoms.

How to solve it?

If you want to stop consuming caffeine but are already dependent, you can no longer avoid caffeine withdrawal symptoms. However, here are some things you can do to get through this adjustment period:

• Don't stop right away. We recommend that you reduce the ration drinking coffee slowly until you can stop completely.
• Drink lots of water.
• Replace caffeine sources with lower levels of caffeine. For example, you usually drink energy drinks, replace it first with coffee. If you drink coffee frequently, replace it with tea.
• Start exercising regularly as a substitute for stimulants for the brain.
• Get enough sleep to reduce drowsiness and fatigue.