I'm addicted to coffee

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

I'm addicted to coffee

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

I was playin it cool - sticking to 2 cups in the morning - then a cup in the afternoon.

Then I started sneaking one in around 5pm before heading out to the meeting. Then since I already had one and was gonna be up late - I may as well have one at the meeting too... then the next morning, I figured I had so many yesterday - I may as well just had a lot today too and switch to tea tomorrow. But then tomorrow comes and I put like 9 tea bags of 'awake' tea in my cup and that doesn't do much so I hit starbucks on my way out...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAahhh I'm such a fool. I am SO addicted to coffee and chocolate now, and if I truly want to mellow out, I know I need to go back to just drinking green tea... I'm so normal on green tea...LOL

(I'll never be normal)

RubyTues · MIP Old Timer

Oof, me too. Need coffee. Must have coffee.

Frodo · MIP Old Timer

I've given up the booze, I've given up the smokes, I haven't drugged in years, I even stopped hanging around with *sniff* woman of dubious moral character.

But I'm keeping the coffee.

Neophyte · Senior Member

Caffine.... in all its glorious forms!!!

http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database

Tomas · Senior Member

someone at a meeting once said they were addicted to Ice cream so his sponsor told him to eat all the ice cream he wanted...He did,..gallons and gallons.. soon got sick of ice cream and lost his supposed addiction

About 10 years ago I thought I was addicted to sex...So I joined a sex and swingers club in Tampa..got all the sex I wanted at the non-alcoholic parties.... in multiple imaginative configurations with women.. after a few weeks it became more like a sweaty sports endeavor..Found out I wasn't really addicted to sex..just an active imagination hetrosexually played out at Club Relate..Today I got things pretty well in perspective..particularly my perspectives regarding women...Well at least some women...I love the attitude particularly of Columbian woman while in Cartegena..I enjoy sexy women, there a national trait..... myself quite geneous very relaxed and self assured..with a good sense of humor...why on earth people have guilt and hangups I don't know..Maybe associated with the alcoholic past or too much religion..Life is to be enjoyed ..follow your own measure..be careful and use protection...

If you remember Bill experimented with drugs in the 60's..during Tim Leary's days of influence..

I consider myself pretty well adjusted no hangups, no frustrations..but then again I have the 10th 11th and 12th step...Which keeps me sober..and happy...I get hit on all the time by women.,,who know I'm alone on my boat....I let them know I got to much work to do to fuss over some woman..Even today 2 teenage girls looking to make a few bucks..I told them to stop smoking..it's bad for your health.

Excesses of coffee will soon lead, if you are like most people to excessive heart burn ..then you will stop

mikef · MIP Old Timer

Yes addicts and alcoholics both continue to use drugs, including myself.. Nicotine and Caffeine yes they are both used as drugs and both are additive. Both are alkaloids that provide a stimulant to the systems. Ours is a journey of progression ,not perfection.I drink Green Mountain Dark Magic and Starbucks and anything less seems very diluted.Four years in the U.S Navy ,drinking coffee for the 4 to 8 morning watch also primed my system,spoon used to stand up in them cups...Fortunately I put the cigs down around time of my total surrender to the other drugs that took over my life(alcohol plus...).........Like I had said previously I never did get arrested for smoking cigs (doesnt include other smoke)or drinking coffee,,,those drugs came after my arrests!!!! Ahhhhh each day ,God given, affords another opportunity to keep working smile smile

flipper · Veteran Member

Reminds me of a scene from the Simpson's movie.........

John · Admin

I'm a avid coffee drinker.. and yes, there is a difference in my mood that takes place in the aftermath of a strong cup.

I become the bright eyed, bushy tailed guy that says.. "Good Morning" to everyone without looking like Charles Manson.

It is one thing that I'm not willing to give up TODAY.

No coffee related jail sentences, no coffee related DWI's, no coffee related black eyes, no coffee related 911 calls to my home, no coffee related blackouts...

just a big smile on my face for no good reason at all other than I am a extremely grateful that I'm not drinking alcohol and today I can actually sit, relax and enjoy a cup without wondering where the next one is coming from, or if I have enough in the house to get me through the weekend.

Caution: Do not get coffee at a drive thru window, put it between your legs and then go really fast over speed bumps.

(I don't like coffee favored roasted nuts) smile

lady eli · Senior Member

LOL John! Pappy! All! Oh Justa...you are doing great, WITH coffee!!! Me: No alcohol...No drugs....No cigarettes...No nicotine...No sugar.... They are gonna hafta pry my coffee from my cold dead hands! "Slurp! Slurp! Yummy! Sigh!".......... EYEW! John! I remember my cigarette quit date...looming! ominous! ooooooo shudder! Please smoke a carton for me..sigh.....felt worse than my court date, for my second DUI!!! Deepest sympathies .....sending mega-super- uber-prayers! Bless you! Bless you!

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

John wrote:

Caution: Do not get coffee at a drive thru window, put it between your legs and then go really fast over speed bumps.
(I don't like coffee favored roasted nuts)

Awwww man, great mental image to start the day with ... Thanks John ...

I will never think of roasted nuts the same way now ... ... ... Down here, boiled peanuts are very popular ... (Don't know if President Carter was in on that or not ...)

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

switch to tea, that's what I did.

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

Right Dean .... much better than roasted nuts ... I agree ....

Mom2Samalways · Member

Don't most Alcoholics have some form of an "addictive personality"? I say coffee is way better than picking up a drink. You guys have been teaching me to use whatever I need to use to not pick up a drink today.

I say stick with the coffee...that Monster Absolutely Zero addict is me. :)

Tracey C · Senior Member

Iced coffees were mine for a while there until I realised my body was craving it. I couldn't stand hot coffee but my body loved/s ice coffees. The down side with it was I'ld end up tired and cranky about an hour afterward which was not real good when I had little ones to look after....

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

caffeine shuts down our adrenalin glands which causes all kinds of problems. This is from an amazing article I found here http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/adrenal_burnout.htm .

"Stimulants damage the adrenal glands. They whip the adrenals. Caffeine, sugar and alcohol are among the most common stimulants.
Less obvious but no less important stimulants may include anger, rage, arguing, hatred, loud music, fearful news and even movies full of suspense or violence.
Other activities that may act as stimulants and must not be overlooked include vigorous exercise, sexual preoccupations, recreational drug use or other thrills. These often provide a temporary high, which is caused in part by the secretion of high amounts of adrenal hormones. However, over time, this weakens the adrenals and can eventually lead to adrenal depletion and insufficiency.
Stimulant use, however, can also be a result of adrenal burnout. While stimulants can cause or contribute to adrenal weakness, some who use stimulants do so because they are in adrenal burnout already.
Stimulants are attractive to one in burnout to provide temporary energy. This is an important appeal of the drug culture, both legal and recreational. It is also the appeal of loud music, sexual addiction, and even anger.
These activities or attitudes can provide enough adrenal stimulation to allow a person to feel better temporarily. This is an important reason why giving up ones addictions can be difficult. When one gives them up, one must face the fact that one is exhausted, depressed and often just feels awful due to adrenal burnout. It is safe to say that most people addicted to stimulants or other drugs including cigarettes, cocaine, marijuana, and others has some degree of adrenal insufficiency."

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

Great info but what can we do then naturally if we're in burn out???

Pythonpappy · MIP Old Timer

I heard someone drank some 'jet fuel' once Tasha ... ... ... fixed them right up ...

but there was one bad 'side effect' ... when they farted, they ended up on the other coast line ... ...

StPeteDean · MIP Old Timer

justadrunk wrote:
Great info but what can we do then naturally if we're in burn out???

read the article at the link posted. it talks about detoxing and allowing the adrenaline glands to recover. The reccomendations about lifestye are very similar to what we need to do as recovering alcoholics.

AlcoHater · Senior Member

Now THIS is a thread we can all agree on!

Neophyte · Senior Member

StPeteDean wrote:
switch to tea, that's what I did.

Yerba Mate (pronounced yerba may) all the way! http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/6-health-benefits-of-yerba-mate-tea.html#b

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

Well, I finally read the article - bad thing is, I don't plan on putting my children up for adoption, so there isn't any way to not be in burn out for a while. Oh well - maybe later : )

pinkchip · MIP Old Timer

Someone said in a meeting this week that the miracle of AA is that they turn alcohol into coffee...

justadrunk · MIP Old Timer

LOL - Awww - wine coolers!! The first thing I ever drank - my dad bought it for me of course for my graduation party. I was SO COOL to have wine coolers ALLOWED at my party... and the legal age wasn't 18 at that time, and I was 17 when I graduated...

I remember drinking them later on and thinking - what the heck is the point of this suuuuuuuuuuper sweet liquid that does NOT get me drunk! lol

I like to brew my own coffee as well... when my husband makes it - it's worse than drinking wine coolers. I used to use it for the 'mix' with my vodka lololol. I have to keep packets of starbucks instant coffee around to add to my husband weak coffee. It tastes awful. I have considered just buying caffeine tablets - but of course, I am NOT addicted to the caffeine... I just like the taste LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL breathing - stomach hurting... give me a minute.... LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL................

I started researching white coffee last night - and I think I might be in love. More caffeine - maybe no stained teeth??? High antioxidants... oh just pinch me!

I ordered some from amazon today - I'm pretty excited. I swear I'll switch back to green tea soon... tomorrow maybe... maybe when I'm 35... maybe when my kids are out of the house... yeah... that's the ticket!

-- Edited by justadrunk on Thursday 14th of February 2013 03:22:04 PM

barisax · Senior Member

I have what I guess you could call a stable addiction to coffee. If I don't have it - or caffeine in some form - I will get a fierce headache that is tough to get rid of, even if I do take in some caffeine after the fact. But the actual amount of caffeine I consume daily isn't that huge, and it has been constant for decades.

When I was drinking, and in my early work career I would sometimes drink office coffee all day long, maybe 8-10 cups and get jittery... and then came evening and it was time to drink the jitters away. Twice while I was still drinking I went off caffeine for extended periods of time, blaming it for various problems... mainly anger and fear. I think I once went almost 2 years without caffeine, drinking decaf coffee and decaf soda. At the time I got sober, I *think* I was in the middle of a no-caffeine period but not sure. After I had been sober a few months and hanging around meetings with the smell of coffee always in the air, I went back to drinking coffee. Decaf coffee is generally horrible. It burns up in 15 minutes sitting on a warmer - regular coffee lasts hours unless it's down do just a dribble in the pot. Decaf burns and turns into this asphalt-tasting much if you don't get it off the heat immediately. So being a decaf drinker means always having to insist on a restaurant or gas station to make you a fresh pot, which is a huge pain.

Anyway - at some point around a year or so sober, I went back to coffee and started making my own. I take a 40-ounce thermal mug with me in the morning - with half & half and no sugar. When its gone its gone, and I don't get any more. The only time I don't make my own is if I'm out of town. Many times I never finished the 40-ounce before it went cold and ended up dumping the remainder. In the past 3+ months I've taken to drinking only about half of the 40-ouncer and dumping the rest. I do drink caffeinated soda off and on (diet) but not in great quantities. So for over 20 years I drank no more than 40 ounces of coffee a day, never had the urge to go higher, and now I've cut back. For one thing, it no longer has the same stimulant effect on me it used to have. I still enjoy it, but I find myself sometimes at work nearly dozing and I'll take a gulp of coffee and doze some more. I think that comes with age... my first sponsor was in his 60s and he'd drink coffee all day, more at the 8:30 meeting and then go home and fall asleep in front of the TV.

I love coffee, but I really prefer to make my own. On weekends I can use my vintage vacuum brewer and whole bean coffee from a local roaster, and I look forward to that. Probably less caffeine content than the canned stuff I use on weekdays. When I'm on vacation or out of town I go to Starbucks and get one large with shots and that does me for the whole day. I couldn't deal with having to pay 4 bucks a day every day, or multiple times per day, running out, standing in line etc.

One coffee phenomenon I just don't get is the "K-cup". They are the most overpriced, ridiculous things I've ever seen. Coffee for people who don't like coffee I guess, sort of like the stupid "cognac dipped" cigars that were the rage in the 1990s so snobby yuppies who didn't really like the taste of cigars could still look cool and smoke one And of course we know drinkers like that too... wine coolers.... beer for the girlfriend

Barisax