when people use caffeine every day their bodies get used to it and they don't get the "good effects" of feeling more awake and able to concentrate unless they use more of it. this is called "tolerance. " some studies show that caffeine causes a physical dependence or addiction. if a person gets withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop using caffeine then the person has a physical dependence on caffeine. withdrawal symptoms can include severe headaches muscle aches temporary feelings of depression and irritability. when people experience these symptoms they often just take in more caffeine to make them go away. this cycle is hard to break. if you are trying to cut down on your caffeine intake as a way to manage your incontinence symptoms here are some helpful tips: * learn which foods and drinks commonly contain caffeine so you can remove them slowly from your diet. * cut down on caffeine-containing food and drinks very slowly which should decrease any withdrawal symptoms. * as soon as you start cutting back on caffeine-containing drinks and foods increase your water intake and spread it out throughout the day. this may decrease withdrawal headaches. * if you get a headache take pain relievers that do not include caffeine (check the labels. ) * try to get as much or more sleep than you normally would. * exercise may help you feel better too.
how can i minimize withdrawal symptoms while cutting back on caffeine?