Caffeine

I am trying to decide if I think/believe that caffeine truly affects me or if it is all in my mind. Now, don't get me wrong...I do believe that after enough caffeine, it does something...it gives me the jitters. BUT, I am not sure about the overall effectiveness otherwise.

Personally, I think it is more of a head thing and less of an energy thing. For 9 months, I went off caffeine. I drank camomile tea, decaffeinated soda and gave up my oh-so-present caffeine addiction (I was the person that single-handedly kept Red Bull in business!). I am not got to say that it was easy, because it wasn't. But, with the correct amount of sleep (in fact, probably too much sleep) I made it thru. In fact, by the end I didn't even really miss my daily Red Bull/coffee. Unfortunately, after Connor was born, I started on coffee again. And before you know it...I didn't have coffee the other day and ended up with a splitting head ache (and with a trip to Starbucks to mend the headache). This got me thinking...

I know caffeine affects me (HELLO, it cures my headaches!), but does it really give me energy to get thru the day? I don't think so. I think psychologically it makes me feel better. Those morning (then noon, then night) cups of coffee give me strength, energy and warm my body (and possibly even my heart). And personally, even if it is ALL IN MY HEAD (like most things), it makes me happy...and I am thinking, that is all that really matters!

If any of you care to share...I would like to know how present (or lack of) your caffeine addiction is and what you think it does for you.