u/ProbioticGhost

I relapsed and upped my caffeine amount after tapering it down to 80mg. Ive since stabilized back to about 120mg.

I have realized ive given caffeine too much credit, and my brain was still convinced I was depriving myself of something, that I was giving away strength. But I have to realize that consuming caffeine again will just remedy the poison that caffeine is causing itself.

That's the mindset I have to have anyway.

I am not certain I will cut it out forever. But I need to succeed in this experiment and cut down to 0 caffeine and then give my body and mind time to see what it is like without it.

I really dont want to use it as a crutch anymore. I would prefer better nutrition, and I dont want it to interfere with sleep. Either way I will have control over this. If I gain control over it I may determine it will be of benefit someday to have caffeine but only for certain occasion. Maybe a slight boost to a social gathering or a day when I have to extend myself further. But still it would be good to depend on the natural self as much as possible.

The mental side of caffeine is tough for me. It has been used to override or block certain emotions with the euphoria it brings. This simply means while I taper this time I will have to stay on top of my emotions. Ive also been reducing screen time and I think last time I did both at the same time and caused myself to be thrown off balance a bit too quickly. I will journal and use other emotional regulation techniques to make sure stress and other emotions dont stop me this time.

My first goal will be to make it to 0. Then make it to 0 for a week. And then two weeks. And then 3 weeks. Then a month, and see where I am at. Most likely multiple months and see where I am at. I also have replacement hydration beverages to overcome the problem of missing the good flavors of energy drinks. And I will start eating natural sweets like fruit more.

This time I will succeed, believe it.

Alright decaffers. Ive failed many times. I failed and documented my last attempt here, which ended when tapering down to 80mg for like 10 days and then I gave up.

Ive realized the psychological/mental impact of caffeine is what has me hooked most.

The taste is a big thing too, but its not what's holding me most. I mightve got cocky and focused too much on the taste aspect (I am and energy drink user, zero sugar) and didnt pay mind to the psychological part and then it hit me too hard.

One thought of mine is that I tapered too fast. For example I maybe should have stayed at 120mg for a bit before dropping to 80. Id like some feedback from other people that tapered, what stages of tapering worked for you?

Id like to try cold turkey but I cant afford that, too busy at work right now. I was able to taper but the stress from work amplified and I didnt have the caffeine to negate this stress build up/mood drop/ psychological shift, and i caved. I was feeling less confident, anxious without it. Something was missing, I was not myself. Not enough dopamine.

Is there any other strategies to try and negate the confidence loss and added anxiety? Should I extend my taper?

Ultimately I just want more control over my caffeine intake and I really want to experiment dropping to zero but I give up when I start getting close.

Doing laps around the house so i can make pit stops

Dammit I want more caffeine. I have been tapering but I am feeling flat. I know it is natural. But I dont know.

Also is it me or once you reduce caffeine you feel more stress? Like a different kind of stress. Don't get me wrong, I feel some more peace and sleep is easier. However, its like I am facing a new level of stress.

Uh oh, relapse incoming. Help guys.

After today, I will officially start tapering down. The past few days I have held at my baseline of 160mg.

I have failed as many times as spongebob failed the driving test. That's okay. I feel optimistic about it this time, like I finally have the proper mindset going in, have learned from all my past failures, etc.

I just have to hold steady. It normally goes south once the stress of daily life is introduced. Its why I am going to be cautious when tapering, and not be reactive with caffeine use. I dont need a boost from caffeine, I can handle anything with my own power. In the long run, caffeine just causes a crash, and a dependence cycle.

Caffeine has no nutritional value. It messes with my sleep. It makes me more stressed and anxious. I use it as a crutch, if I keep using caffeine I will continue neglecting hydration and proper nutrition and any other healthy habits.

Now is the time.

Here we go again.

How many days are yall at

He attacked Oliver first and said Oliver wasnt one of them, because he is in such denial.

*spoiler* Oliver ends up turning fully white. So Thragg not being purple makes sense.

Also, Thragg starting with a "Thra" just like Thraxan. Not so subtle. And it explains why he doesn't try and impregnate any earthlings.