I was addicted! Addictions come in many shapes and sizes. The definition to addiction is:
A dependence on a substance or behavior that appears necessary to preserve what appears as normalcy in disregard to the adverse consequences.
TV and Movies often focus addictions on drugs or alcohol but often they can be sugar, food, or other behavioral type things. One of the most common in our society today caffeine.
Symptoms or side effects of addictions is the feeling of a compelling need to continue the negative activity. This then can lead to feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and anxiety. As addictions are addressed withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability, headaches, nausea, etc. can develop.
In my area, we finally got a Starbucks. People were celebrating on social media with pictures, countdowns, etc. It cracked me up but also made me think. Don't get me wrong, I like a good cup of coffee in the morning. I also love a great Latte but over the years, I have really cut back on my caffeine intake. Pregnancy will cause you to cut back since it is reccommended to have no more than 2 cups of coffee per day. My body adjusted and now I just can't seem to go back to more without feeling really jittery.
According to the Mayo Clinic an average adult will have no adverse affects with moderate caffeine intake. What is moderate? 200-300 mg or about 2-4 cups of brewed coffee per day. What does that look like if you aren't a coffee drinker?
Heavy (500-600mg) use can result in a host of unpleasantness.
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Stomach upset
- Fast heartbeat
- Muscle tremors
So how do you cut back and not feel awful…..well honestly, you probably will have some sluggish days but there are lots of tools to help you. First, drink a ton of water! Hydration solves many of life's ailments. Flavor that water with Grapefruit oil or the Metabolic blend. These options are also good for those who are sugar addicts as well. Personally, I use Mito 2 Max as well. You can take up to 4 per day but I only need 2. Works great to help feel I have my stamina all day.
Grapefruit oil can help you conquer the cravings of those energy drinks on the market. They are loaded with lots of junk and can be quite dangerous for you. I love all the citrus oils in my water. Just make sure you are using glass or metal containers to drink your citrus water.
Now if you are dealing with another type addiction, there are oils that can help as well. Laura Jacobs has some general guidelines for recovery:
The Grounding Blend – restored sense of solidity/grounded in life
Bergamot – self love
Frankincense – restore connection to divine love and acceptance
Peppermint – sense of recovery
The Cleansing Blend – cleansing and detoxifying both physically and emotionally
The Calming Blend – calming and quieting
White Fir – if passed on generation to generation
Vetiver – get to the root of it
The Detoxing Blend – detoxifying
Specific addiction use:
Alcohol – Helichrysum
Alcohol, Sugar – Helichrysum
Appetite Suppressant – Grapefruit, The Metabolic Blend
Appetite Stimulant – Ginger, Myrrh, The Metabolic Blend
Cravings – Grapefruit, The Metabolic Blend
Drugs – Grapefruit, Roman Chamomile
Entertainment – The Grounding Blend, Serenity, Vetiver
Pornography – Frankincense, Helichrysm
Sex – Geranium, Sandalwood
Smoking/Tobacco – Clove, The Protective Blend, Black Pepper
Withdrawal – Grapefruit, Lavender, Sandalwood
Work – Basil, Geranium, Lavender, Wild Orange, Ylang Ylang
Adopt the habits and make the choice of a healthy lifestyle!
Your body will thank you….maybe not days 1-3 but it will thank you.
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