I just think it's a bit sad how "don't talk to me before my morning coffee" and etc. is normalized just because so many people have that problem.
Some people legitimately need the caffeine just like some people legitimately need ADHD medication, but some people became dependent on caffeine when they didn't necessarily have to be.
> Sure. But shouldn't it be left to the individual?
Honestly, if someone chooses to be dependent on caffeine because they know and consent to it, that's fine I guess, though unfortunate. The problem is that caffeine use is so normalized that people seem to have forgotten that one even can become addicted or dependent on it—I would say "glorified" but that's a bit far.
FWIW, I have some friends who are trying to quit caffeine. Not because I told them it was an issue, but because they independently decided that. I am somewhat biased by seeing cases of actual caffeine addiction and dependence, whereas most people only see the benefits of taking it. This is probably how the normalization happens, some people just don't know any better.
>The problem is that caffeine use is so normalized that people seem to have forgotten that one even can become addicted or dependent on it—I would say "glorified" but that's a bit far.
Seems like the solution is better education on the effects of caffeine and not putting it into the same category as drugs and alcohol. So far I'm yet to hear of people who's lives were ruined by coffee addiction.
The fact that it makes you uncomfortable that people are dependent on coffee is kind of irelevant IMHO. We live in a free society. Let people have their coffee if they want it.
Once you get harassed or mugged by someone on coffee withdrawal who needed a fix, then we can talk about regulating it.
> Seems like the solution is better education on the effects of caffeine and not putting it into the same category as drugs and alcohol.
I... regret to inform you that caffeine is literally a drug, stimulant class.
> So far I'm yet to hear of people who's lives were ruined by coffee addiction.
I'm not really sure what your point is here, as I'm not saying caffeine addiction ruins lives, just that it's a thing that could be avoided more than it is now.
> The fact that it makes you uncomfortable that people are dependent on coffee is kind of irelevant IMHO.
>I... regret to inform you that caffeine is literally a drug, stimulant class.
I regret to inform you that not everything classified as a drug is equally bad as all the other drugs, in fact many drugs are useful in certain situations.
It's not black and white, "drugs are bad m-kay", as you want it to be. Which is why coffee is tolerated.
So I don't get your hissy fit on people consuming this particular drug. If you don't want it, then don't drink it, just let others enjoy it, since it has no negative effect on you.
Yup. Adderall is probably better for you than coffee. Especially if you are drinking copious amounts of coffee because you have undiagnosed ADHD and are self-medicating with caffeine (which, again, properly belongs to the category of stimulant medication) without even realizing it.
Regularly consuming large amounts of caffeine while barely feeling any effect (beyond getting jitters / bowel issues) or feeling calmed by it, is actually indicative of ADHD.
So I'm almost 40 now, was prescribed to ADHD meds from around ages 10-28, mainly Adderall as that just worked best.
At 28 I stopped Adderall because I honestly don't care for the side effects, and felt like I had good enough habits to do without it.
That worked for a while, but I was at a job that wasn't too challenging for 6 years (and very underpaid as a result of not being more ambitious/focused)
Switched to another job, ended up getting promoted to lead, then everything came crashing down. Couldn't focus, and as I fell further behind I'd feel more stressed and overwhelmed constantly.
I had been drinking coffee the whole time, but it wasn't helping that much. Irritated my bowels pretty badly though (I ended up needing surgery for a complication of what turned out to be Crohns, though my symptoms are incredibly mild when I'm not drinking over 4 cups of coffee per day).
Finally got back on Adderall after ~10 years unmedicated and was able to just stop coffee. My entire life has improved. I can focus during work hours and even have some free time during the day, since I'm not spending the entire day struggling to get work done.
I can honestly say that Adderall is much more helpful for me, and has minimal physical side effects compared to copious coffee (though I do have mental/emotional side effects, which are honestly less negative than the stress that accompanied being constantly overwhelmed, exhausted, and sleep-deprived)
The process to get my prescription in Canada took almost 2 years (in part because of my poor ability to navigate the labyrinthine health care system due to said ADHD)
But wow, has it already improved my quality of life significantly in the ~1 month I've been back on it. I agree with other posters here that we should just let people get it OTC or allow diagnosed individuals to just get a lifetime prescription
> It's not black and white, "drugs are bad m-kay", as you want it to be. Which is why coffee is tolerated.
You clearly haven't been paying attention to my comments if you think I'm saying anything like "drugs are bad".
I'm saying undue dependence on something that you didn't need to be dependent on, is unfortunate. As in, it's unfortunate how people can accidentally fall into caffeine dependence without knowing what they are getting into, because it's not that people don't think caffeine is evil, it's that people think caffeine is completely harmless.
