March 9, 2005

• I think my attempt to give up caffeine is catching up with me. Who would have thought that a side effect of caffeine withdrawal might be insomnia? That just doesn’t sound right, does it? lol

  
  

  Lots of interesting facts about caffeine I found online…  Did you know twelve grams or so taken orally would kill someone of my weight. They even suggest that caffeine might cause birth defects and low birth weight.

  
  

  All this time, I thought the worst I would have to deal with was a headache when I got rid of caffeine. I’ve dealt with headaches before, no prob. Apparently caffeine withdrawal can be very flu-like -aches, headache, stuffiness…

  
  

  DETOXIFICATION/WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

  
  

  
  
  • Anxiety
    
  • Constipation
    
  • Cramps
    
  • Cravings
    
  • Depression
    
  • Fatigue or drowsiness
    
  • Inability to concentrate
    
  • Inability to sleep
    
  • Irritability
    
  • Lack of interest or concern
    
  • Nausea or vomiting
    
  • Nervousness, shakiness, dizziness
    
  • Runny nose
    
  • Headache
    
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

  
  

  I don’t have all the symptoms, but I have enough to be irritating. Stupid legal drugs. Oh well, in the process of giving up caffeine, I’ll also be giving up all that extra sugar in the soda as well. Actually I think I’ve been jonesing more for sugar than caffeine. I was just thinking about making cookies yesterday. Maybe tomorrow when I have off from work. Mmmmmm, peanut butter cookies. I make the best, if I do say so myself. I have secret ingredients. Muahahahaha! I’ll never talk! And my cookies actually taste like peanut butter.

  
  

  The most annoying side effect of my caffeine withdrawal is not even the insomnia. I mean, I do fall asleep eventually. I’m just tired for a long time before hand, and when I wake up. The most annoying thing is how muddy my dreams are if I remember them at all. I don’t think the caffeine was making them unusually vivid or bizarre, but I’m sure getting the caffeine out of my system is affecting them. I did dream some in the last week and a half, and though there were some interesting parts, they were something of a let down in comparison to other dreams I’ve had. Frankly I think you all would find the majority boring.

  
  

  While I have managed to hold onto the key images (which is how I usually bring a dream back up to my consciousness when I wake), most of them don’t make much sense. About the most interesting dream featured me searching for an HR Block in the rain with two umbrellas which still failed to keep the water off my head. (Much anxiety over taxes, doyathink? heh) Then the Block people brainwashed me, clothed me as a villain, and next I knew I was robbing a bank in an iron mask and hard leather clothes. They shot me when they realized I’d regained consciousness and left me to be captured by the authorities. Now you know… HR Block is evil! lol

  
  

  Anyway, that’s why I haven’t been around much. Too tired… no dreams or boring ones… and anxiety over the taxes I haven’t done yet. heh

  • 11:44 am
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