/ck/ - Food & Cooking

Caffeine is an addictive stimulant that causes involuntary psychological and physical dependence with habitual use. The fact that so many people here are reacting with absolute fury at this being pointed out is pretty telling.

The three Cs of addiction:
>Loss of control over the amount and frequency of use
>Craving and compulsive using
>Continued use in the face of adverse consequences

Physical signs of addiction:
>Withdrawal symptoms (fatigue, anxiety, depression, insomnia, poor concentration, poor memory, headache, dizziness, heart palpitations, nausea, stomachache, etc.)
>Appetite changes
>Damage from using a substance
>Insomnia from use of substance
>Increasing tolerance

Psychological signs of addiction:
>An inability to stop using
>Mood swings
>Lack of motivation
>Irritability/Argumentativeness
>Defensiveness
>Inability to deal with stress
>Denial
>Rationalizing – Offering alibis, excuses, justifications, or other explanations for their using behavior
>Minimization – Admitting superficially to the problem but not admitting to the seriousness or full scope of the behavior or consequences
>Blaming – Placing the blame for the behavior on someone or something else
>Diversion – Changing the subject to avoid discussing the topic

Common withdrawal symptoms of caffeine:
>Strong cravings to use
>Irritability or anger
>Lethargy and extreme fatigue
>Depression
>Hyperactivity
>Insomnia and erratic sleep
>Poor concentration
>Tremors
>Psychomotor agitation or retardation
>Vivid, unpleasant dreams

Common withdrawal symptoms of cocaine:
>Strong cravings to use
>Irritability or anger
>Lethargy and extreme fatigue
>Depression
>Hyperactivity
>Insomnia and erratic sleep
>Poor concentration
>Tremors
>Psychomotor agitation or retardation
>Vivid, unpleasant dreams