Its Returned :(

NIRELANDGUY · Post by **NIRELANDGUY** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:23 am

After going through the program a couple of times, I thought I was cured 3-4 months ago when I packed the CD's all away, I suppose I still am to an extent but I just feel depressed, the anxiety hasn't come back thankfully. I don't know but I think it may be something to do with caffeine. In the past month I'm back on regular coffee and coke and if your wife is anything like mine the cupboards will be full of chocolate bars which I have been helping myself to

My good living over the past 3-4 months has made me gain 12 lbs, But this past 2 weeks I have no energy, I can't get up out of bed in the morning, when I do pull myself out of bed I am like a Zombie, I am irratable, bored, I get a sore head if I don't have a coffee or chocolate bar by noon.

I do think its the caffeine, Have you guys any advice?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:46 am

Yes, for about three to four days you will have a headache you can't seem to shake (if you go off caffeine). I used to get a tic in my eye and couldn't understand why until I thought back to what I had to drink for each meal. For breakfast I had coffee; for lunch I had a cola of some sort; and for dinner I had iced tea. At every meal I had caffeine. It can make a difference if you go to decaffinated coffee and tea and also sugar-free desserts and drinks. Caffeine, sugar and chocolate make anxiety worse. I am a chocolate lover from the word "go". That is one of the hardest things I had to give up. I have a heart condition also and caffeine is not good for that. If sometimes I slip up and have something with sugar in it, I can tell because the anxiety revs up. Seems like it takes until the second day for me to really feel it. I guess we have to give up something to really feel better sometimes. Hang in there. You can do it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed May 21, 2008 9:14 am

Hi, Nirelandguy
Sounds like the caffeine. I had the same withdrawals when I started giving the coffee up two years ago and then the chocolate a year ago. The clincher for me with regards to giving it up, was realizing how lousy I felt if I didn't have it! I didn't want that dependence! AFter a while I just lost the craving for it. I liked the smell but when I tasted a few sips it just didn't appeal to me. I switched to green tea and enjoy that without the side effects of caffeine.

Regarding your other comment about thinking you were cured...I think we have to approach this as we have anxious tendencies, much like an alcoholic has alcoholic tendencies, and we really can't be "cured" of it. We have to manage it and make sure we are living this commitment to our selves everyday. It's a lifelong commitment. If not, then we slump again and the anxiety returns. This is the hardest thing for me to get thru my head. I am the way I am, but I must do the best I can everyday indefinitely. Yes, we can have a cup of coffee or chocolate every now and then, but if we know what it does to us, it really should only be every now and then.

I encourage you to get back on track...I'll do the same with writing my postive statements!

Peace to you on this precious present day!