RedCandle

One of my alcoholics has been sober for almost a year. When they first started AA there was almost a magnetic attraction to the coffee pot.

Not surprising. ALL of my alcoholics started drinking coffee heavily once they stopped drinking.

However, over the months, I can't help but notice how MUCH coffee he is downing daily. I drink a lot of coffee...but his consumption is jaw-dropping.

Most recently, over Thanksgiving, I saw it over several days.
Wake up: drink a pot (one percolator full) of coffee.
Exercise
Drink another pot while eating
Coffee throughout the afternoon
Another cup (16 oz. or two) before bed.

He sleeps like a kitten - I was AMAZED.

And while he has never liked to "go out"...now...he makes the suggestion...but it's always to "go for coffee."

Now, I have read in the other forums about how coffee is what KEEPS them sober. Without it, the cravings would be intense and constant.

So, I am THRILLED that he is still sober...but there is just something about this that bothers me. I know caffeine wont kill him...am I over-analyzing?

Windancer

I used to drink that much coffee. Yupp. I cant believe it. I cant now, it gives me a terrible panic attack so i try and stick to one or two cups in the morning. I also blew my adrenals, so coffee is NOT good for me. I am a caffeine addict. One thing at a time though. Next I will stop coffee for good, then cigarettes.

RedCandle

Ok...maybe I'm freaking out too much....
Thank you for the reply!

onlythetruth

That is a lot of coffee. I would be plastered to the ceiling...the BATHROOM ceiling!...if I drank that much coffee.

I drank a lot more coffee when I quit drinking (a pot every morning) than I do now (1 cup). Perhaps he'll slow down too.

Ghostly

I do not think think this is cause for concern, especially with them sleeping well. Caffeine in that amount can have negative effects, but if they are doing well otherwise the caffeine intake would be at the bottom of the list of things to worry about. My opinion anyway.

DoubleBarrel

I was eating a ton of candy and cake and cookies and ice cream.
I cut down on that and was drinking a ton of coffee.
Now I'm drinking less coffe, and some decaf.
Slowly had to edge off all the junk my body was used to.

djayr

I drink that much coffee, 45 years old, not an A, healthy exercising and sleeping fine, I suggest detaching with love as far as his coffee addiction. :-)

Chris1000101

I’ll have that much and have no problem sleeping, my son, who is now 11, will fall asleep after having a mountain dew.

lizatola

Isn't that funny how caffeine can affect some people and not others? My 14 year old won't touch anything with caffeine, it keeps him up past midnight. I stopped drinking coffee when I started having stomach problems from the acidity in it. My AH drinks about 12 cups or so a day. He's been like this for 20 years so I don't think much of it, I just know that I can't do it myself!

Chris1000101

I have not done much research into it but I have found articles that show southpaws respond differently too many drugs, my son and I both are southpaws. My initial research was the mortality rate from using tools only made for right-handed people. Statistically, 2,500 left-handed people die each year because of right-handed only tools. While finding that I also found we react differently to some drugs. I decided after three days that there are just some things that don’t really matter. Yes, it is interesting how caffeine can affect some people and not others.

FireSprite

This is kinda fascinating! I'm always amazed by how much we DON'T know about our bodies. As a redhead, I've found a few things over the years that are different for me/fellow mutants vs. my blonder or darker-haired friends.

WarEagle87

Is your RAH ADD? First off ADD is a major contributor to alcoholism and addiction (I just found that out last week) Second ADD can cause stimulants to react way different than most people. It makes sense if you think about it an ADD child is put on small amounts of amphetamines. It doesn't wire them up but causes them to calm down and think clearer. On the flip side if you give a normal person amphetamines (see every college campus library at midnight) it wires them to the ceiling and keeps them there for hours enabling panic inducing levels of focus and drive.

RedCandle

No WarEagle....no ADD (that I know of).

My concern peaked when I brought it up to him...that I was worried about the constant caffeine intake...and the conversation went like this:

Me: "I'm just worried that coffee....."
RAH: "...is my "new alcohol?" My new addiction?"
Me: "...Yes."

Maybe we are just good at anticipating eachother's thoughts....
...but he seemed to already know what I was talking about.

My father drank coffee like a manic when he quit drinking.
When the coffee wasn't enough (I guess?)...
...he started abusing prescription drugs...and never stopped.

So for me..."coffee" in and of itself isn't bothersome...but in the hands of an alcoholic? It worries me...

BrokenHeartWife

While coffee may be fine for non-addicts, when drank to extremes by addicts then it does become a "new drug". Caffeine is a drug. In modest amounts, it can be fine. In extreme amounts it's a mood-altering drug.

That's why many addicts also drink a lot of things like Red Bull, etc. They want the drug experience in another venue.

My AH is the master at consuming "other" non-alcoholic products and won't admit that they are part of his addictions: Red Bull, lots of coffee/caffeine, nicotine gum (he's a non smoker!), Vicodin, Adderall (for ADHD), etc. He also got some idiot doctor to prescribe him Testim (testosterone cream) which also "energizes" him (but he takes it to help build muscles).

Michael59

My AW seems to get as drunk on these energy drinks as if she is actually drinking.Sometimes she uses both and its sure to be a crazy night.

PohsFriend

There's a lot if that going around... It really gets exhausting huh?

Oh - coffee helps with that ;-)

PohsFriend

Lol... So I used to joke about having... What were we talking about? Oh yeah, ADD. As it turns out, my doc - wait, did I tell you guys about fishing off the dock the other day? ....huh? Oh yeah, so ADD...
My doc thought I may be ADD - my job would drive me crazy if constant interruptions and putting out fires all day.... Oooooooh fire, cold out tonight, fire might be nice..l oh yeah so ADD... The doc had me take a test and sure enough, I gots lots.

So he writes me a scrip for adderall and I ask about it, I don't like meds period. He explains that it is straight amphetamine. So I look at him like he's nuts... Nuts, hmm, wonder if there are any brownies left? Oh yeah so I say he's nuts, give someone who already runs nonstop speed and they'd be scraping me off the ceiling.... Hmm sealing, need to caulk that window...
Oh yeah - amphetamines and ADD... So he says try it, if it makes me spastic let him know...

So I take some that afternoon, just about one year ago. It chilled me out completely. I spent the next hour sitting on the floor untangling, testing and repairing 27 strings of Christmas lights. It has been great for me because it has a reverse effect on me and slows my brain down...

Only problem is now I wonder what else would have reverse effects? Would a Viagra give me ED for four hours? Yikes!

Ok sorry guys, goofy mood, figured I'd share it.

An ADD poem..
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Violet... Did I tell you about that girl viol... OOOOH SHINY!

...nice to be frivolous instead of serious around here sometimes

Taking5

What does this mean? Are you a Dr. or something?

I quit a very severe alcohol problem and I haven't had any coffee in weeks. I literally have maybe 2 cups a month.