Why I Stopped Drinking Coffee

I feel like this is a let down, but despite my blog name I no longer drink coffee. I came up with the name during the time of my life when I was addicted to the hot breakfast drink. However, I have since stopped drinking coffee, but I kept the name because it sounds better than "Tea Drinking."

My coffee addiction first began my Sophomore year of college. I started hanging out with a new group of friends and so that meant I was hanging out on school nights. I know that sounds so middle school, but I was never someone who liked to plan things on week nights because I was too focused on school work. My friend, Katy, always drank coffee and whether it was her mission or not she eventually got me hooked. I remember shaking terribly the first time I had a full cup. I couldn't resist, it was free at the church we were attending.

Once I began drinking it I couldn't believe I went through high school and Freshman year without it. I kept me awake longer, which meant I could get more done later into the night. This came in handy my Junior year when I would be writing papers all the time and needed the coffee in order to get them done.

By my fifth year in college I was student teaching. I would drink coffee every morning. But things started happening. I was no longer enjoying the coffee. I was starting to feel drained and tired all the time. No matter how much coffee I drank I could never really wake up. My body just didn't feel good. I'd feel dehydrated all the time. I also started drinking Diet Coke as another substitute because I knew if I stopped I would get terrible headaches from the lack of caffeine.

Coffee was no longer becoming enjoyable, and I think my body was starting to reject it. I never really put anything in my coffee, besides creamer, but every so often I would get flavored creamer or add sugar. Eventually the thought of flavored creamers, even my absolute favorite Pumpkin Spice, made me sick. I wanted to throw up every time I thought about adding sugar to my coffee. I just couldn't do it anymore.

Although I knew I needed to stop drinking coffee I couldn't bring myself to do it. First, I didn't want to deal with the headaches of slowly taking myself off the caffeine addiction. Second, I loved the idea of drinking coffee. I liked thinking of mornings reading blogs with oatmeal and a cup of coffee.

Then one day I started drinking tea again. I have always been a huge tea drinker, but this time I was introduced to Earl Grey. I realized tea could be my substitute, my delicious substitute. After I graduated it became easier to take myself off my caffeine addiction because I didn't have to stay up late. I could sleep when I wanted and mostly woke up when I wanted.

I feel so much better too. I no longer feel groggy all day. I feel more awake than I have since I started drinking coffee. I love tea. I drink a cup every day and I have yet to become sick of it. I can even drink it plain or with sugar! I'm not saying I'll never drink coffee again. I do love iced coffee and I have drank it since I really cut it out. I just don't think I will ever go back to that coffee addicted stage in my life.

I'd like to know, what is your relationship with coffee?