Caffeine and Nicotine - have you been able to remove them from your life?

[Natasha0717]

I just thought I'd share this little tid-bit with you all, last month I got very, very sick with what I guess was a really bad cold, but I still think it was something a little worse because I was stuck in bed for a week and I couldn't even go shopping (I can normally still shop and do my daily jobs, even with a cold - it's just a lot more difficult, but I can do it.) This time, no. I was in bed and couldn't do much of anything. During this time, I wasn't able to get my usual Diet Coke from my local convenience store and was too sick with the chest cold symptoms to smoke (I occasionally smoke, I'll admit that. I'm one nervous chick!) But while I was so sick, I was just eating oranges in bed and staring at the ceiling. I noticed a strange shift in the way I felt. As sick as I was, I was strangely calm. Even my Dad noticed. He asked me if I was still on my meds, almost hinting at maybe I took too many. But the truth was, I didn't take any of my meds (anti-anxiety) - I simply didn't need them. WHY? I know one thing, I'm usually extra-anxious when I'm sick...I always have this terrible feeling of doom like WHAT if this cold actually kills me, what if I can't fight it off? But not this time. The only thing different in this scenario: No Diet Coke, no cigarettes. And guess what, I would say I felt completely anxiety-free. But as soon as I got well enough to leave the house, you can bet I went back to both "crutches". I guess the question that is bothering me here is: Why would an anxious person be so attracted to two stimulants? They only add to the problem. Yet, I love them both, especially the Diet Coke(s). I'm just wondering why we do the things we do...
Any thoughts? Are you addicted to things that make your anxiety worse? Maybe even people? Some people - you can't help but be attracted to them or just want to be around them, yet they are heightening your anxiety...

 

[Concernedgal]

As sufferers of anxiety, "crutches" come with the territory. My husband used to be a smoker and he got really bad sick one time "Hong Kong flu". He didn't smoke a cigarette for 2 weeks and when he was well again.. he never smoked again. You know.. i think i'm going to research this and get back to you.... . Ok, from my research i've determined that it is because anxiety requires energy. You mentioned that you suffered a bad illness and chances are that you have no energy. You may have had an unusual calming feeling g because you haven't felt better in a while . Your half right when you say that caffeine and nicotine could br involved because both of them do increase adrenaline in the body and at the time of your illness your adrenaline was far from being stimulated. Let's face it. Having an anxiety disorder is exausting and when you fell ill.. you were oddly at peace because for the first time in a long time.. you could relax.. genuinely relax. I bet that did feel odd huh? . Lol

 

[janemariesayed]

Even if caffeine helps to make me anxious, I don't think I could ever go without it. At least not for evermore anyway. There have been times when I have run out of coffee and not bothered to go to the store to get some more. The next day I had to drink something else for my morning cuppa. But never tea in the morning, I don't like tea in the mornings.

I do smoke, and I think that it helps with my anxieties. Or at least it helps with my temper. When something goes wrong, instead of having a tantrum, I would have a ciggy and then feel much more relaxed. So I think that ciggies and caffeine don't make me feel any worse.

 

[Vycky]

I do smoke, and I think that it helps with my anxieties. Or at least it helps with my temper. When something goes wrong, instead of having a tantrum, I would have a ciggy and then feel much more relaxed. So I think that ciggies and caffeine don't make me feel any worse.

It happens to me too. A cigarette and a cup of coffee help me a lot in moments of stress. I'm trying to quit smoking though, and any flavory chewing gum seems to help me as well

 

[janemariesayed]

In the old days, if someone was stressed they would give them a cup of hot sweet tea. That would calm them down and also maybe give them a drop of spirit in it too.

I like drinking chamomile tea or hibiscus tea. That is so like blackcurrant and to think it comes from those beautiful huge red flowers. They call it Kakaday in Egyptian and they give it to their women to calm them down all the time! lol, It is a really nice flavour though!

 

[Rinka]

I dont smoke myself, but i love my cup of coffee in the morning or lunch or afternoon.
I feel however, that if i drink too much, i am getting much more anxious.
My therapist advised me to reduce my coffee consume, but it seems that i am really addicted to it and have a hard time getting a grip in the morning without it.
I was able to reduce it in the afternoon though. That's something.