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Comment by bts327 | Hacker News Reader

Funny, I was addicted to nicotine for around 10 years. I got tired of smelling like smoke and I became really tired of the taste. Decided to quit one day and just stopped and have no desire to go back. It was incredibly easy. That was around 20 years ago. Caffeine/Tea/Coffee I am fiendishly and hopelessly addicted to; having tried numerous times to quit or cut back intake and I always fail.

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My experience is similar. I started drinking coffee when I was around 15 and only took two very brief breaks like <2-3 weeks through my 30's. The acute withdrawal was hell. A few years back I decided to quit caffeine for one year and get fully past the acute withdrawal. The withdrawal was hell and so was the long withdrawal. I never felt normal for a full year. I slept great but felt mentally and physically sluggish, esp. mentally, for the whole year. The drug docs call this long withdrawal PAWS for "post-acute withdrawal syndrome". Most doctors are oblivious that it applies to caffeine too. I made it a full year and resumed drinking coffee and my mind and energy improved immediately. I only drink about 2 cups in the AM now but I am very slowly weening myself off by by gradually reducing the number of scoops of coffee in my brew to protect my sleep.

I smoked for about 2 years in grad school but had no problem quiting. One day I just stopped and like you I had no desire after the initial urge was gone. Maybe I was not fully addicted yet.

I have the exact same experience when I quit coffee for any lengthy period of time. Short term withdrawal is hell, then boost of energy and the best sleep of my life consistently every night. Feel great for several weeks then realize how mundane and boring everything is without the buzz, have a cup of coffee and WOW, Im alive again! It's a brutal cycle and I fear I've done irreparable damage to my brain at this point.

As an aside, I highly recommend the Audible book "Caffeine" by Michael Pollan if you haven't already heard it. It's quite brilliant.

That is basically where I am at with my relationship to caffeine/coffee. Sleep much better without it. But life feels a little duller without it as well. And then my first cup back after a long period of abstinence is absolutely magical. That feeling quickly fades after about a week of use though.

I tried limiting it to just once a week to see if I could capture the magic, but my discipline was lacking a bit, and even when I was able to stay on that schedule, it still felt like my tolerance was building.

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