Quote:
Originally Posted by scaredandconfused
Hello hxlcyon, I see this is your first post so welcome to PC!   I hope you find your time here to be of benefit.
It sounds like your body is definitely dependent on caffeine, given the headaches and shaking. Have you thought about slowly tapering yourself down? It might be helpful to keep track of how many energy drinks you have on a daily basis, and what times you generally have them. Once you see your usual routine, you can create a plan to taper off slowly, so the side effects aren't as awful to go through.
I don't think energy drinks are a bad thing necessarily, in moderation. I personally have a 5 hour energy 3 times a week (on work days to help push through), and they are helpful. Some people rely on coffee. The trick is to find a moderate amount that won't affect your health negatively. I wish you all the best.
I also see that you suffer from depression. Have you thought of trying out an anti-depressant to help with your mood instead of relying on energy drinks to get things done? If you don't want to go the med route, you could always try therapy or healthy self-help activities like exercise and healthy eating. |
Thank you.
I think the main issue is my health- the caffeine does worry me and my anxiety is already pretty bad, so the health worries are difficult. I've tried tapering off them before, but I keep coming back. They are like a crutch and it's mostly psychological, in the sense I don't feel I can do work or function without them.
I've narrowed it down from what I used to drink, I have half the amount I used to so it's progress.. The issue is I have an addictive personality; I can get addicted to things extremely easily - more reliant. And I worry that once I stop drinking as much energy drinks, I'll find something else to cope with. I've already had close calls with both prescription painkillers and alcohol and I'm only 20.
Mhm, I have anti-depressants I'm supposed to take and anxiety meds but I don't take either. I have no motivation and my other issues take over (BPD etc). My anxiety also spikes and I stress about getting addicted to anti-depressants, which isn't ever going to happen but at least dependency or reliance on them.
The therapy/mental health services where I am from are abysmal. Honestly, I've been in and out of the system since I was 13 and even after numerous trips to A&E, the MH team still refuses to do anything helpful. They prescribe me more medication and send me off.