Caffeine Withdrawal

By Mariella Neri

Photo from Lindsay Love

Like most people, I have an unhealthy obsession with coffee. Whether it’s a nice warm cup in the morning or ice cream for dessert, I am a fiend for the flavor. Caffeine was my daily stimulus that jump-started my mind for the duration of the day. It was clockwork: wake up, click "brew," and a couple of hours later, have another cup—or two—before work. I had become so dependent on caffeine that I didn’t realize the heightened effects it had on my anxiety. It reached a point where I constantly felt the need to be doing something. The wheels in my head were spinning a million miles a minute, making it nearly impossible to sit down and relax. It wasn’t until I traveled abroad that I recognized the chokehold my caffeine addiction had on my mental state.

A caffeine withdrawal hits hard—something I hadn’t considered before. The pounding headaches and the desire for another cup midway through the day constantly surfaced. I turned to substitutes like matcha and tea, which created a placebo effect, calming my mind rather than keeping it wired. This caffeine withdrawal journey coincided with my travels to Europe. As I let go of my dependence, I began to feel the stress and anxiety that I had dealt with for so long slowly dwindle away. It felt as though this new chapter of my life was coincidentally tied to lowering my caffeine consumption. Taking the opportunity to embrace spontaneity, explore new countries, and finally stop obsessing over small tasks. This transformed my perspective, allowing me to appreciate the present moment and live off the mentality that everything happens for a reason.

Don’t get me wrong—I still absolutely love coffee. I’ll  spend an unhealthy amount of money on Nespresso pods. However, learning to live without being bound to caffeine has significantly improved my dopamine and stress levels. Where my addiction to espresso drinks is maintained and I can enjoy my morning cup of joe while being satisfied for the rest of the day. All in all, although a caffeine withdrawal sucks in the moment, the outcome is well worth it by being able to take control of anxiety and life in a way that might not seem possible.