What are some tips to manage caffeine withdrawal to stop feeling anxious?
By
PsychReel
This blog answers: What are some tips to manage caffeine withdrawal to stop feeling anxious? What are the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal that cause anxiety? What are some other ways to manage anxiety? What are the therapy options for anxiety?
What are some tips to manage caffeine withdrawal to stop feeling anxious?
In order to manage the anxiety that is caused by caffeine withdrawal, one must try and manage their caffeine withdrawal effectively.
Tips to manage caffeine withdrawal are as follows:
Don’t go cold turkey on quitting
Health professionals and scientists appear to agree that the best way to wean yourself off caffeine is to gradually reduce your daily intake don’t go from 100 to zero if you can help it which is also called the cold turkey method of quitting.
Quitting caffeine altogether will lead to increased levels of withdrawal symptoms which can be very overwhelming for an individual.
The more gradually individuals give up on over-usage of caffeine the more manageable their withdrawal symptoms will be.
Stopping caffeine for a single day is the most effective approach to reduce withdrawal symptoms, which include the following :
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Concentration problems
- Nausea
- Irritability Muscle ache
Look back on your intakes
To avoid drastic effects of caffeine withdrawal and resulting anxiety Individuals must change their habits, cut back on soda, coffee, tea, or other caffeinated drinks for two or three weeks.
You can do this by switching between regular and decaf coffee, or by reducing the number of cups you consume from three to two. If you’re a soda drinker, try substituting water or other cold beverages for your caffeinated beverage of choice.
If you’re a tea drinker, choose a less caffeinated variety that contains less caffeine than coffee in general
Keep yourself hydrated.
This is a simple one, but it is nonetheless significant. If you’re getting a strong headache and think it’s because of your caffeine withdrawal, drink a glass of water first, then reprioritize your hydration habits in general, because dehydration can produce headaches, lethargy, and other symptoms that are similar to caffeine withdrawal.
Simple strategies to convert a coffee-drinking habit to a water-drinking habit include drinking water with each meal and snack or taking sips while working at your desk.
When you’re used to grabbing a mug of coffee in the mornings, but your body is dehydrated from the night before, drinking water is extremely vital. Even if you’re not giving up coffee, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water.
Stay energized by eating well and getting enough sleep.
Caffeine seduces us by keeping us alert and awake, but other things determine how bright-eyed and ready to face the day we feel.
According to Healthline research, in addition to drinking more water, eating more nutrient-dense foods and sleeping more can help people feel more awake.
Food contains calories, which provide us with the energy we require to live, but some meals provide us with more energy than others.
Chia seeds and raw cacao are two meals that leave you feeling invigorated without the use of caffeine in the morning.
According to Healthline, eating more complex carbohydrates instead of simple carbs will give you a more consistent sensation of energy throughout the day.
Make sure you’re aware of how much caffeine you’re taking.
Caffeine can be found in a variety of meals, including chocolate, pre-workout formula, and other supplements, in addition to beverages like coffee, tea, and soda.
Before you decide to cut back or stop drinking coffee, take a look at your weekly diet to see how much you’ve been consuming, and then figure out what works best for you.
What are the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal that cause anxiety?
The symptoms of caffeine withdrawal are:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating
- Depressed mood
- Low energy
- Irritability
- Tremors
What are some other ways to manage anxiety?
Identify and acknowledge the triggers
The most significant strategy that can be used to control one’s anxiety is by identifying and acknowledging those triggers.
Being able to recognize what makes an individual anxious makes them better equipped to take action.
Relaxation techniques
Even though anxiety can be bought under an individual’s control it cannot be predicted. In such situations, it is necessary that an individual actively carries out relaxation techniques.
These might include meditation, yoga, and deep breathing which helps to reduce the intensity of anxiety within a short period.
Socialization
A key to reducing the frequency and intensity of anxiety attacks could be spending time with close family and friends.
The kind of emotional and practical support provided by these social and personal groups help the person feel connected and aid in distracting one’s mind from negative and recurring thoughts that lead to anxiety.
Apart from friends and families, individuals can also consider speaking to groups of people that are experiencing similar problems.
Set realistic goals
When an individual is feeling overwhelmed, setting goals and targets keeping in mind priorities can help resolve overwhelming feelings of fear or panic.
Setting goals provides structure and routine to an individual’s life reducing space for uncertainty which can be a major trigger for anxiety in many cases.
Take up new challenges
Apart from doing activities that an individual is usually fond of and has expertise in, trying new and challenging activities that put an individual outside their comfort zone in a healthy manner may help reduce the stress and anger temporarily.
Signing up for new activities also provides a path to meeting people with similar stories and concerns.
Lifestyle changes
An individual’s lifestyle plays a major role in their experience of anxiety. An unhealthy and busy lifestyle usually leads to unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, lack of adequate sleep.
A combination of a well-set diet, exercise, and sleep can help to regulate an individual’s mood and equip them with a favorable coping mechanism.
These coping mechanisms in turn help to get control over once anxiety concerns in a more adaptable manner.
lack of proper diet, sleep, and exercise can make an individual sluggish, dependent, moody and vulnerable to anxiety attacks.
Making journal entries
Last but not least having a journal to write down how a person is feeling and thinking when they are anxious helps them to reflect upon their thoughts and feelings.
Putting down one’s thoughts and feelings onto a paper helps to provide a sense of temporary relief.
In the case of journal entry, a person does not even have to fear being judged by another person regarding their thoughts and feelings.
What are the therapy options for anxiety?
Cognitive-behavioural therapy
Cognitive-behavioural therapy helps an individual to control their anxiety by using strategies like relaxation and breathing. It works on the principles of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.
Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy is a kind of therapy in which an individual is exposed to a particular stimulus that they usually fear or are anxious about in a graded order.
As and when the individual gets comfortable with the situation or stimulus introduced or exposed to them with each session, individuals get more comfortable with a real-life situation that might have otherwise been a source for triggering anxiety.
Group therapy
It is based on the principle that when an individual interacts with other people who are suffering from the same fears they might not feel left alone or isolated. Group therapy usually involves a group of individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms and problems.
Medication
Anxiety can also be treated with the help of medication prescribed by a health care professional.
Though medication alone cannot help in reducing persistent anxiety it can help in restoring a sense of control and bring temporary relief.
Online therapy
In cases where reaching out physically to a professional is impossible or discomforting an individual can opt to seek help through the online medium.
In this, the therapy sessions are carried out one-to-one over a video or audio call. Some individuals also prefer interacting with the therapist through text as well due to various reasons. One of the most common is the fear of being judged by the therapist or some personal hesitation.
Online therapy can help individuals to regulate some aspects of their anxiety that aids individuals in carrying out a stress-free life over time
Conclusion
While caffeine is frequently consumed, there may be health benefits to lowering or eliminating caffeine from your routine, especially if you are experiencing unpleasant side effects from it like anxiety.
Caffeine withdrawal, fortunately, is usually something that can be safely treated with a careful tapering method.
If you find that your caffeine use is becoming excessive and uncontrollable, there are several management techniques as well as professional help you can opt for to change your lifestyle. Further, there are also substitutes to keep withdrawal symptoms at bay.
Frequently asked questions: What are some tips to manage caffeine withdrawal to stop feeling anxious?
How long does it take to recover from a caffeine hangover?
Withdrawal symptoms appear 12 to 24 hours after the last caffeine intake and can continue anywhere from two to nine days.
Caffeine can be helpful for adults who are having trouble waking up and concentrating. However, if you’re not careful, it can cause difficulties.
What are three of the most typical signs and symptoms of caffeine withdrawal?
The researchers discovered five distinct groups of withdrawal symptoms:
- Headache
- Weariness, or drowsiness
- Dysphoric moods,such as depression and irritability
- Difficulties concentrating
- Flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and muscle soreness or stiffness.
What does it feel like to have a caffeine headache?
A caffeine withdrawal headache is characterized by pain and pressure that radiates from the brain. It might start behind the eyes and progress to the front of the head.
Caffeine withdrawal headaches might include migraine-like symptoms as well as generalized throbbing pain.