Irritability – If you are one of those people who are grumpy in the morning before your first cup of coffee, that may be a sign of dependence. Caffeine can make you feel happy so when there is a gap in consumption, you lose that happiness and can get a little crabby.
Everything in Moderation
It is thought that consuming up to 400 milligrams of caffeine is safe for most adults. That equals roughly 10 cans of soda, 2 energy drinks, or 4 cups of coffee.
Consuming excess amounts of caffeine can have negative effects on the human body including irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, poor sleep, diarrhea, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.
It is important to remember that caffeine is fine for most healthy adults but not recommended for children and caution should be used in adolescents.
Kicking the Habit
If you do think that you are dependent or having some medical issues related to your caffeine intake, stopping use can be really hard. To make it a little easier, you might consider the following
Track your intake and do the math. Keep a log of your caffeine intake and figure out if you are exceeding the 400mg of caffeine that is thought to be okay.
Mix decaf and caffeinated to help decrease intake without going cold turkey.
In time, you should be able to use more decaf and less caffeinated until you have completely eliminated the caffeine or at least converted to an occasional user.