5 short term but significant symptoms of caffeine withdrawal

So, you’ve been trying to quit caffeine for a while now and still haven’t succeeded? Does it mean you’re an addict?

The truth is, caffeine is a psychoactive drug and too much consumption can make you dependent on it much like other substance abuse — alcohol and tobacco. Widely across the coffee consumption regions, across the globe, 400 mg of caffeine per day is considered to be safe. However, a higher dose above this could lead to severe anxiety, also called as caffeinism.

Here are the 5 top withdrawal symptoms to identify if you feel challenged to shake off the dependency:

1.Headaches/pain

Of the many symptoms, headache is found to be the most obvious one. Caffeine acts as a stimulant for the central nervous system. When you consume too much caffeine, the blood vessels in your brain become used to caffeine’s effect and when you try to suddenly cease consuming caffeine, it causes a headache.

2. Drowsiness and fogginess

Another common symptom of leaving caffeine is feeling of drowsiness. This can cause lack of clarity in thinking and hard to concentrate. This is because caffeine has been part of your system for a while, as a stimulant, to boost your energy and enhance your mood.

3. Mood swing and cognition

The morning motivation may seem dull without your regular caffeine. Interestingly, studies have shown that caffeine do not have any nutritional value to boost alertness or cognition, however, quitting does affect the cognition and mood swings.

4. Irritability

Caffeine withdrawal can make you feel irritable. Your mood may alter because of the agitation. This could make you feel demotivated and anti-social.

5. Flu-like symptoms

This is also a valid symptom of caffeine withdrawal where you can develop muscle pain or stiffness. Or experience nausea or vomiting. Needless to say, kicking a habit as addictive as caffeine isn’t a pleasant one. The withdrawal symptoms would greatly discourage your efforts. But persistence is the key here! The good news is that these (withdrawal symptoms) do not last too long. If you can stay determined for a stretch of 10 days then you are well on your way to success.