Life After Coffee: A Case for Caffeinelessness

For any coffee fiend worth their beans, the words you see above are likely blasphemous and horrendously nightmarish to imagine as an actual self-imposed life choice. What kind of creative decides to drop coffee and opt for tamer, less hyped beverages that are associated with Brits? Who trades in the electrifying high of a cappuccino for the mild comfort of tea? Is it even possible to (gulp) live a full life without a cuppa java?
Well, it is possible, and I’m here to tell you that I haven’t snapped at anyone, had any emotional meltdowns or even felt the need to walk back on my vow to do away with a substance that was a good friend to me, but an even greater trigger of my anxiety. The decision to go off caffeine was a personal revolution and something I met with more excitement and joy than panic and disgruntlement.
I’ve always loved coffee, so much so that many people I know associate me with it. At lunches with friends I’d sooner order a cappuccino than order a cocktail. I never considered my day fully started until I’d indulged in a cup, and sometimes I’d partake at night (bad idea). Once I’d gulped down the last of my cup however, I found myself jittery, jumpy and dealing with an upset stomach.

In recent months, this escalated into full blow anxiety, and the feeling of being subjected to an uncomfortable mild electric current. Even though I got a bit of energy from the coffee, what I gave for it made it rip off. I couldn’t concentrate and the peaks and valleys of energy left me spent and lethargic. That’s when I realized that I had to call it — coffee was not making me any better and I needed to choose a more soothing alternative.
I expected that taking caffeine away from my existence would result in an drop in energy and sanity at best, and an unprecedented identity crisis at worst. Neither happened. My moods have improved, my sleep has improved and my anxiety, though still a bit of a battle, has gone from a 9 to a 3.
In hindsight I feel like I was poisoning myself for what was basically a momentary buzz. So far, life after coffee is happier, healthier and more hydrated, so there’s no going back!
Days without coffee: 17
