Rather than sitting in the provided teacher’s chair, I was standing in front of a hip-high table, teaching a math lesson to my students. The overhead projector shot the equation onto the front board, making it easier for every student to see what I was doing. As I took a step back, allowing them time to work the problem, a slight headache began to form. I reached up and gently rubbed both temples before bending over the table once again, writing numbers and symbols as students called out the steps to solving the displayed math expression. I could feel the headache gaining strength as I continued working with the kids; yet, I masked my pain. Unfortunately, as the school day progressed, so did my aching head, regardless of trying to tame it with a piece of fruit and a handful of almonds.
At home, Rudy’s homemade chili enticed me as it bubbled in a pot on the stove. I figured my aching head was simply calling out for some substantial nourishment. Wrong. The aching continued to antagonize me. Advil also failed to rescue me, I noted, as I buried myself under a heavy pile of blankets.
Suddenly, it dawned on me. I was experiencing coffee detox.
For the past several months I had been indulging in six cream-and-raw sugar-filled cups a day of hot coffee, without the side effects of wide-eyed wakefulness. I knew I was overindulging, not caring about the consequences of the caffeine’s non-health benefits; I was addicted. I was enjoying two cups here, two cups there, two cups everywhere. Daily. Two plus two plus two equals six. Six cups of coffee on a typical day.
The night before I had felt sluggish, tired, and wasn’t sure why. But, when I awoke the following morning I decided to curb the overindulgence of sweets, and to completely rid coffee from my routine, figuring they were the culprits of my afternoon fatigue.
Caffeine withdrawals hadn’t been considered. The consequences foreign to my radar. It wasn’t until that moment, when I was curled under the covers, hidden in the darkened room, experiencing a kind of detox first hand, that I understood coffee will get the best of you if you take it too far.
I spent the entire evening and early, early morning hours in bed, holding my head, caressing my temples, dealing with an excruciating headache; until, finally, it simply disappeared.
I returned to the classroom, to continue with more math equations to stimulate the students’ sponge-like minds. With a clear, headache-free head.
BonaFideAffairs 
I can’t drink more than one or two cups without getting all jittery and paranoid.
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Hi Matthew. Coffee just tastes good to me. I don’t get any side affects, except for when I overdo it. 🙂
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But tea is caffinated as well so I don’t understand how you gave up caffeine ? You gave up coffee but you are still getting your caffeine right?
Maybe because I am so sleep deprieved right now i am just confused.
I gave up coffee once and the headaches were so bad. I get it. I gave it up for 18 months but then I started again.Bad me.
I admire your strength.
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Tea does have caffeine, you’re right Peg, but I make it so mild or drink herb tea that caffeine isn’t an issue at all for me. But, thanks, though, because after reading your comment I realized I didn’t even need to mention the tea, so I deleted those references from my writing. 🙂
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Coffee… Every morning with nonfat milk (2-3 cups) ~ no sugar. This has been my morning beverage since I was 17. Only exception, I didn’t drink coffee when I was pregnant or nursing. I thin I would be afraid to detox!
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Daph, I posted the last comment (your sister-in-law) Sandra 😊❤❤
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Oh boy, Sandy, that is a lot of coffee, for many years. I prefer going through the headache than feeling addicted. 🙂
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Can you imagine what it would be like to go off of crack or another hard drug? When I got pregnant I went off caffeine for the 1st time and I felt like my head was going to crack, literally. Thank goodness for my extended breastfeeding, if it weren’t for that I would still be addicted. After many trails, and at 50 yrs old, I can finally say that coffee no longer has a hold on me.
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That is exactly what I was thinking, about drugs, Jeanine. And, like you, my head was killing me, but I refused to give in to another cup. I will allow myself a cup here and there, on occasion, when I am really desiring its aroma and tastes. Otherwise, tea is fine. 🙂
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I experienced that at one time. Now I drink a lot of coffee every day. Some days 4 and some days more, I don’t count, I enjoy. I’ve never had a problem with it and hated the pain without it! Easy choice for me. I have cut out many sweets though. I still enjoy one from time to time, but I don’t crave them as I once did.
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It’s hard to give in and give it up, Jo, but, for me, I feel so much better. Healthier. Sweets are harder for me to stay away from. 🙂
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