Drinking a lot of coffee
 

Is it common to start drinking a lot of coffee?
I'm talking both hot(in the morning) and ice coffee in the afternoon and early night. Probably drinking about double what I used to drink on a daily basis.
I'm coming up on 17 months sober in a few weeks.

I actually cut way back on coffee once I quit drinking, the caffiene really started affecting me in a negative way anxiety wise.

Slightly more in the morning, 2 cups more, nothing significant.

But I down mineral water like there is no tomorrow.

I have some anxiety, but more awake and aware than anything.
I'm drinking lots of seltzer water, like 6-8 cans a day.

i have maybe 2 cups of tea a day

So you've doubled your coffee intake and are drinking a lot of seltzer water. Probably more than the demand of thirst. So while there is little harm in drinking water and coffee, you might ask yourself, "Why so much?"

There must be a need that is being met. One that isn't be met by a moderate intake of these beverages.

Omg... So much coffee!!!

I drank a little more when I first got sober. I now drink 1-3 cups per day. I'm also drinking tea, but mostly in the evening.

I used to be a very heavy coffee drinker but as my alcohol intake increased, I cut that down. After getting sober, I started drinking more coffee again but I had to moderate it because it made my anxiety worse and interfered with my sleep that was pretty crappy to start with. Now I drink 1-2 cups most days and never after 4-5 pm. I really like coffee and am personally not a fan of the idea that we should only eat and drink what we need for nutrition and cut every indulgence out; coffee for me at this dose does not hurt me in any way.

Congrats on the immpending 17 months! My coffee consumption varies. Sometimes I drink none at all for months or longer and sometimes I choose to indulge. I am indulging right now lol. I tend to drink coffee more in the winter, for me it's more warming than herbal teas. If it's affecting you adversley or you're concerned I would be a little more careful.

I was worried a couple months ago and tapered down to 2 big strong cups every morning. I'm now back up to 3/4 pot and and pitcher of iced tea in afternoon. It's what I like. I generally don't go carbonated unless its an energy drink. I SHOULD drink more water- Tell my kids to. No health problems I'm aware of from it. I go back and forth.

I do drink more coffee when I am sober. I told my doctor I drink 4 cups a day and she didn't have a problem with it.

I've always been a big coffee drinker. Used to be coffee and then booze. Then it was a combo. Now just coffee. but lots of it. tea, soday, seltzer. But I'm less than a week in. Congrats on your time. that's awesome

I have 1-2 cups of coffee per day. I will usually have a diet pepsi in the afternoon as well. I have no plans to change this unless anxiety becomes more of a problem or my sleep is disrupted.

At 17 months of sobriety, I would be doubtful that your increased coffee consumption has anything to do with quitting booze (unless you have been drinking that much coffee for the whole 17 months)...

For me, caffeine seemed to create a cycle where I wouldn't get to bed as early, therefore, would get less sleep, and then I would drink more coffee to get through the next day. I don't drink it anymore...

I've started to think that caffeine has been the main catalyst in my alcoholism, ocd and that kind of chemical compulsiveness all along.

Stopping its use hasn't permanently seemed to affect my mental shape or acuity, memory. Stopping it has been rather unpleasant and real work, like alcohol but never need it anymore.

Drinking too much can and will most likely have unneeded consequences, such as diarrhea and agitation or/and restlessness. Have you ever noticed feeling depressed without coffee? I used to drink a ton and liked it very much. But now stopped, for at least a year. Just getting off it, has told many things about it.
If you're worried maybe you could try cutting back on your caffeine? Maybe easier said than done. And indeed the question why so much coffee at this point in recovery. 17 Months is really huge and congratulations about that.
Well, don't know if it's normal but too much is too much, of anything.

I think it's probably more to do with worrying and free time Bob.
if you're concerned, it's not going to do any harm to cut back?

D

When I first quit, I went from drinking 1 cup of coffee a week to drinking 2 cups a day. As someone mentioned earlier.. maybe there is a need being met with all the caffeine. I've definitely noticed that. My caffeine intake has at least quadrupled. Energy drinks, coffee, tea.. I just can't get enough. Makes me feel good. While there's nothing wrong with drinking coffee, definitely take a step back and see if you're replacing the buzz of alcohol with the caffeine (like in my case).

I drank large amounts of coffee during my drinking years. I gave up alcohol recently mainly due to anxiety and severe panic attacks. I decided to cut back on the coffee at the same time because I was drinking a lot of it - maybe 1.5 liters a day.

I drink virtually no coffee now.

Very occasionally, if someone offers me one, I will drink a coffee. Almost every time it will lead to a panic attack. Not a bad panic attack, but its still unpleasant.

So for me now, coffee and anxiety are related.

But I am fairly sure, if I didn't have a problem with alcohol in the past, then coffee would be fine for me now.

i drink tea till it comes out of my ears
the way i look at it is this
i am not going to wake up tomorrow with a hang over full of guilt shame and remorse after tea drinking

if i could drink booze like i can tea then i wouldnt have a drink problem
if i have a tea problem well its not hurting anyone else i dont think if i was married or had a partner that they would want to divorce me over my tea drinking habbits ? although you never know in this world today : )

I drink coffee all day every day but I drink decaf. Regular coffee sends my anxiety levels up and gives me the feeling I used to have when I badly wanted a drink. Should drink more water. Some of it is psychological. I feel naked if I'm not holding something in my hand. Always have done, even before my drinking career.

Unless caffeine affects someone negatively, I see no
problem drinking more coffee than just the morning cup(s).
Sometimes, at work, I'll have 1-3 cups in the afternoon.
It sure beats swigging vodka from the half pint I'd carry
around in my pocket. Ahem, make that a full pint when wearing
a jacket with bigger pockets. I'll take the coffee, thank you.

My coffee intake has gone up....again I don't see this as a problem. ...hubby moans about it tho.... though je moans about a lot of things. .... o drink decaff in work as someone I work with has problems with caffeine.
Again....like rubbish food consumption I will deal with it when I'm good and ready xxx
.... one thing at a time. ...

I love coffee and always have. I didn't drink so much when my alcohol intake was out of control these recent years but since quitting I have drank a lot more. It has never interfered with my sleeping and also it has never given me anxiety in the past.
In Starbucks terms (since we all know those measures) I would be on a Venti Americano in the morning, a grande in the afternoon and probably a double espresso after dinner.

The way I look at it I just really enjoy it and no way I am cutting it out. If I started shaking through too much caffeine then definitely I would cut down. But life is life and you need to have some fun.....

I love coffee. I have an espresso machine and I love the ritual grinding the beans and frothing the milk. I drink 2 - 4 cups a day. Beats the hell out of two bottles of wine.

My wife bought me a Keurig in honor of me quitting drinking and I seriously look forward to my 3 cups a day. It is a huge treat for me and almost every cup I think about the significance.

I started drinking alot of coffee after getting sober. Too much I think. I'm at 14 months and want to start cutting back. I've been trying to cut out the afternoon/evening cups. I do love my coffee!

When I quit nicotine almost 6 years ago, I realized my addiction was largely a psychological one. I loved the act of smoking: lighting the cigarette, holding it, puffing it, taking 'breaks.' I had to get over that eventually.

Same thing. I think a huge part of alcoholism is just the act of drinking: holding and sipping/guzzling a comforting beverage. This is something I will have to deal with eventually. MAYBE.

Coffee is a comforting beverage, too! I can drink a whole french press to my head no problem. And I've recently started drinking it in the evenings too. It doesn't really mess with my sleep--at least, not even close to how booze did.

I don't even mind if I'm substituting addictions for now. If I'm drinking coffee in the evening instead of booze, at least I'll be sober. At least I'll be conscious, and productive, and remember things. That's what matters most.

So like you Steffie, in honor of my own quitting drinking, I bought my partner and I a huge french press (like, family of 8 size, so the two of us can share, or so I can just drink it all!) I also made a little card stating the significance of this gift, that it signified my lifelong commitment to my sobriety. It's a gift to myself mainly, but also to both of us. I too feel the significance when I drink it. I feel the significance of the commitment I made, not just to myself, but to the person I love and want to be with for life. And that's a HUGE double-commitment for me, as an alcoholic former commitment-phobe.

(Wow, who knew coffee could be so serious?! LOL.)

Funny story about my coffee intake...after getting sober and starting to drink tons of coffee, my husband said "You are drinking too much coffee, seriously, that's not good for you". I had to laugh as he rarely would comment on the two bottles of wine I would drink, but had no problem commenting on the coffee!

I do need to cut back, but like Pipping said I figure it's better than wine.

17 months that is a WOOT WOOT WOOT... congrats... coffee kiddo our Grandmothers did that to us. hahahaha.. the Zombie in me goes Coffee Coffee at 4:30am to 5:30 do about 3 cups and that is it.. unless out somewhere and there is the Holiday coffee find I do Tea in the afternoonn my lavendar teas with fruit or spice flavors.. its good for the system helps wash out junk.. ardy