But first, coffee.

I couldn't remember when I started to get addicted to coffee. I don't know if it could be considered as addiction, but I am basically dependent on coffee to get me going through my daily tasks.

It probably started during college when I needed caffeine fix when reviewing for exams. Or, it could have begun when I started working to help me fight tiredness and sleepiness at work. I don't know anymore.

All I know is that I have to have at least a cup a day. It's actually lesser now than years ago when my body "required" me to have 4 cups a day. Also, years back, I need to drink coffee within an hour from waking up, otherwise, all hell would break loose as I would have a terrible headache all through the day.

I don’t have a particular preference in my coffee, as I can go for those instant coffee mixes to brewed to those overpriced lattes, be it hot, iced or frappuccino.

It was around mid-2017 when I decided to decrease my caffeine intake. Why? Because I’d been noticing that drinking coffee is no longer effective for me, like it stopped working for me altogether that it doesn’t give me the needed boost anymore. It’s like I have developed a caffeine tolerance as they call it. Essentially, it means that I am no longer susceptible to its effects.

Hence, I decided to quit. The thing is, I quit abruptly, because I knew that if I did it gradually, I wouldn’t be able to stop. So, I developed a coffee withdrawal. Fortunately, it lasted for only 3 days. Based on my researches, withdrawal would really take a few days as your body adjusts. Thus, in those days, I was nursing a severe headache, lack of appetite and I was constantly irritated. On top of that, I still had to go to work. The alternatives I have chosen, tea and chocolate drink, did not work during those days. Taking meds for headache was also futile.

On the fourth day of my withdrawal, I noticed that my symptoms have lessened until the symptoms are completely gone. I was able to have zero caffeine for 3 or 4 months, totally zero caffeine.

Then I decided to drink coffee again in the morning, so I could see if it will again work for me, plus I really, really missed it, especially its aroma. And fortunately, when I drank coffee for the first time in a long time, its desired result is again effective to me. Now, I only drink 1 cup of coffee every morning, then I have tea in the afternoon. I don’t drink coffee every day though, as I alternate between coffee and tea in the morning.

I just feel good that my caffeine tolerance is gone, that caffeine can again give me the energy boost when I really need it. If I will be tolerant again, then I am willing to undergo the same process that I have undergone before.

All photos are mine