zlacker

I’ve switched to decaf full time and a my generalised anxiety basically went away. I love coffee and still drink it ritualistically. I probably drink more coffee now, at all hours of the day (caffeinated coffee after 12 really messed my sleep).

Also once per week I allow myself an espresso, and I get a nice buzz from it that lasts the entire day.

>>erikro+(OP)
That’s cool. I’d like to quit again sometime but right now caffeine staves off migraines for me. And with a baby in the house I really don’t have the resources for that battle.

>>ycombi+l5
When(ever) I quit coffee, I got strong migraines after a day or so. However, they subside and go away after a few more days.

I wouldn’t claim it works the same way for everyone, but the difference between coffee being a treatment for migraines and migraines being a symptom of coffee withdrawal may be indistinguishable in immediate term.

>>strogo+0i
Ah yes. I do get those, but also just get migraines (as well as hypnic headaches) which caffeine is a wonder at ameliorating.

I quit caffeine for about 2 years and the headaches never subsided (except the caffeine withdrawal ones of course).

They are just a fact of my life I’m afraid.

As much as I’d like to get off of caffeine I am very grateful to have is as a remedy.

>>erikro+(OP)
This hits home. For me stopping coffee (and caffeine) consumption was also one building block of taking care of my generalised anxiety disorder. I enjoyed the morning ritual, but it stopped with quitting drinking coffee. Maybe I should give decaf a shot, but I also miss just grabbing a coffee when out with friends (usually tea does not scratch the same itch and is not worth it when everyone else around you is enjoying a great smelling coffee). All I want to say is “Thanks for sharing” I guess. I was able to connect with what you said.

>>idkwha+5G
I went to the US recently and was fully prepared to drink caffeine on the trip because of all the cool coffee shops and roasters. But I was amazed that decaf was basically a first-class citizen there. The hotel breakfast had one giant brewer for regular and the same giant brewer for decaf. It was amazing.

And it’s pretty important to realize that well-made decaf doesn’t have to taste worse than regular coffee. James Hoffmanns decaf project proved this for me, and his video about decaf sold me on the idea: decaf drinkers are the OG coffee drinker, drinking it purely for the taste, even without the drug-induced high that caffeine gives you.

https://youtu.be/yYTSdlOdkn0?si=V0xKFGCZR1-YgGmO

>>ycombi+l5
My gf has a migraine head and she’s tried going decaf but it just doesn’t work. Apparently caffeine does a lot to reduce the risk of migraines? So I’d probably just try to lower the dose until you find what works for you.

>>erikro+2k1
I love the term “migraine head”. I’ve never seen that before. It’s gets across the idea that it’s just the way one’s head is quite nicely!