this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2026
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Ive been thinking of going caffeine and alcohol free for a while. Alcohol wouldnt be an issue but I really love coffee.

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[–] remon@ani.social 67 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I don't think I could make it through the day without oxygen.

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 30 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Dihydrogen Monoxide addict too aren't you?

[–] Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Wildmimic@anarchist.nexus 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Don't forget about your other acquaintances CaNaCl, it wouldn't be the same without them ;-)

[–] palordrolap@fedia.io 5 points 2 weeks ago

CaNaCl sounds like a card game you play with grandma.

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[–] LemmyFeed@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 week ago

I'm absolutely dependent on it, can't live without it. First thing in the morning and everything.

[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 52 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I have, in fact, been told I am a man of very little substance.

[–] Aneb@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago

I've been told I'm a man of very many substances

[–] pulsewidth@lemmy.world 28 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

Why go caffeine free?

I sadly figure the oil companies will make us all go caffeine free in the medium to long term, so may as well enjoy it now before it becomes a luxury of the wealthy.

[–] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

For one, to see if I can (been drinking coffee since I was maybe 7 or so)

For two, because maybe I'd feel better or sleep better !

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

withdrawals can be rough, but I think it's worth trying

[–] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Maybe I'll try only 1 cup of kaf a day to start then do every other..

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 2 weeks ago

yes, a gradual taper is a good idea - much better than cold turkey.

Eventually switching to black tea, then green tea, then white tea would also help.

Might also be good to keep a log as a way to ensure you know exactly how many mg of caffeine you're consuming, and to keep yourself honest.

[–] scytale@piefed.zip 3 points 2 weeks ago

I've been using decaf at home for a couple of years now. Then again I wasn't really dependent on caffeine so it wasn't hard for me to switch.

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[–] bluGill@fedia.io 5 points 2 weeks ago

You should try it - some people report various health benefits. Others report no effect. (and half from both groups are looking at what they care about and ignoring other evidence) Your doctors may have guidance on how it affects you.

I'm only asking for a 2 week trial. Then evaluate if it is worth going longer or not.

[–] chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Caffeine is enjoyable to me but it affects my mental state a lot, in some ways negatively. In particular I feel less able to think about things holistically, way more tunnel vision type thinking. It's worrying that so many people use it every day and I make an effort not to.

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[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I love my caffeine, as an undiagnosed but very high certainty person with ADHD. However, I like to go caffeine free every once in a while, for like a week or so, at minimum to reset my tolerance. I can see why someone would want to go without. You don't realize how it effects you until you don't have any. You'll have headaches for a few days, but the withdrawals aren't too bad.

It's a drug, like any other. You should try to understand how it effects you and your addiction/reliance on it. Sure, it isn't particularly dangerous, but I still think it's healthy to know how your body reacts. I think it's weird that people treat caffeine as if it isn't a drug, just because most people are addicted to it.

[–] LH0ezVT@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

Ah, the classic tolerance break. Beloved by stoners and coffee drinkers alike.

[–] nocturne@slrpnk.net 16 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

Alcohol, cannabis, and methamphetamine free since '95. Nicotine free since '03. Caffeine free since '15.

Now if I could kick sugar.

[–] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Good luck on the angel dust addiction.

[–] nocturne@slrpnk.net 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Thanks. I kicked sugary drinks with the caffeine in '15. But still have a hard time with it in general. I will go months with none, then I get an urge for something and before I know it I am Augustus Gloop.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago

To be fair, that one is a totally natural urge, and it isn't unhealthy on its own. We crave it because it gives us energy. It's great for a survival instinct. The issue is we have far too easy access to sugar now, where we trivially get an unhealthy amount. It's hard to fight biological instinct. It's like trying to drown yourself. Your body will fight back before you succeed. Luckily our craving for sugar is something that we can attempt to control.

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[–] tangible@piefed.social 11 points 2 weeks ago

nicotine free since 2016, cocaine free since 2019. But I'll keep my coffee.

[–] Nibodhika@lemmy.world 11 points 1 week ago (3 children)

One thing that helped me quit coffee was drinking tea. I know it's still got caffeine, but if you're drinking 4 or 5 cups a day that brings the amount of caffeine waaaay down.

[–] mech@feddit.org 7 points 1 week ago

It also reduces dependency because the caffeine in tea acts more slowly and gives you less of a kick.

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[–] proti@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago

I don't take anything (other than supplements, meds), still I could be eating healthier.

[–] YeahIgotskills2@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Nicotine, Valium, Vicodin, marijuana, ecstasy, and alcohol. Co-co-co-co-co-cocaine.

Definitely not 100%

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[–] super_user_do@feddit.it 8 points 1 week ago

I am 100% free. Not even alcool or coffee bro. I used to drink a lot of energy drinks and coffee but they almost killed me so I stopped and removed everything containing relevant amounts of caffeine (including coke) and similar thing such as non decaffeinated tea

[–] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The nukes are about to fly bro, just enjoy life.

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[–] JakoJakoJako13@piefed.social 6 points 2 weeks ago

I am. I grew up around drug and alcohol addiction. Tried it. Hated it. Decided none of this was for me. Drugs is easy. Everybody in my house usually scampers away like roaches to do drugs. Alcohol is very much a family thing. Can't watch a game without someone screaming shots or drink. I usually end up hiding in my room.

Coffee makes me nauseous and I'm not trying to feel like I need to shit before I got something to do. Plus the crash is way worse than the energy its supposedly supposed to give me.

[–] Mesa@programming.dev 6 points 1 week ago

I drink tea, but not like a "coffee drinker" drinks coffee, nor how the average American drinks soda.

The caffeine doesn't feel noticeable to me, but I am still mindful of drinking it right before bed.

I just like my oolong sessions.

[–] stringere@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

I was going to ask if you meant right now, or in general, but if coffee is included, I'm out either way.

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

what do you consider "substance free"?

I drink alcohol and caffeine both less frequently than once a week, but I do consume both occasionally (usually for fun, or socially).

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[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (22 children)

Coffee has never been proven harmful, and may be protective for the brain. I quit caffeine a couple times when younger for months and (once past the initial withdrawal headache) all that happened was I got more migraines and gained a couple of pounds, saw no benefits.

So no.

Alcohol I practice moderation, once or twice a week but never, ever, ever an everyday drinker. That I've taken years off and didn't feel better but not worse like when I tried no caffeine.

So usually no on that as well but I do sometimes go a month or two without.

I don't do any other drugs.

[–] Apytele@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

they're called hypertension and anxiety bruh just because a drug has benefits doesn't mean it has no side effects

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[–] davidgro@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

Lately I've been mostly avoiding caffeine, but probably for a different reason than OP.
My goal is to get to the point where if I need to stay alert, caffeine would have a significant effect. So far I believe I'm not there yet, if I ever will be. (Might be genetic)

I don't like the taste or smell of alcohol, so that's just never been a thing for me.

Never smoked or vaped anything. Can't understand why people start smoking nicotine, when it seems so obviously terrible.

[–] candyman337@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

As a corporate dev, I'll keep my weed and caffeine thanks

[–] wesker@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 2 weeks ago

Caffeine, no. Everything else, yes.

[–] Samskara@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 weeks ago (5 children)

I‘m not drinking alcohol. Once or twice a month I do LSD, 2C-B, magic mushrooms, GHB, ketamine. Psychedelics and ketamine help reset, defragment, and refocus my mind. GHB is for relaxed and passionate sex.

I stopped cannabis two weeks ago and still feel a yearning to use it. It makes me lethargic, worse sleep, mental fog. CBD helps quench the desire to use.

Elvanse (lisdexamphetamine) daily as prescribed. Stopped all other amphetamines two years ago.

Started drinking coffee every other morning recently. It is nice, but I don’t want it to become a habit long term. Stopping caffeine has worked for me in the past without much effort.

No nicotine.

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[–] gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Does this question mean "i consume substances and couldn't do without it" or "i consume substances for recreational usages"?

because these questions entail very different consequences. imagine your hobby is woodworking. your friend snarkily asks you whether you're ok or addicted and actually need therapy to learn to live without it. it would probably be a dumb thing to say because having hobbies is healthy, and i believe recreational drug use can be a hobby too. (within reasonable limits)

[–] Chippys_mittens@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Would if I could but I cant

[–] PeriodicallyPedantic@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago

I am a man of substance

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