I used to be consuming 7 cuppas a day when the panic assaults began – now I’m tea-total

A comforting cuppa has been a part of my life for so long as I can keep in mind (Picture: Emmie Harrison-West)Goosebumps prickled my arms. My abdomen churned and I began to sweat.
My respiratory turned shallow, and my mouth felt dry. Anxiety rose as my coronary heart price quickened and my imaginative and prescient blurred.
You’d be forgiven for considering this scene passed off within the early hours, that I’d been clubbing all night time and an excessive amount of alcohol was enjoying havoc on my physique.  
But no. It was 3pm on a workday. And the reason for my terrifying signs? 
Too a lot tea. 
Like most Brits, I’m positive, a comforting cuppa has been a part of my life for so long as I can keep in mind. 
And, in flip, so has caffeine. 
So a lot so I spent most of my grownup years hooked on the stuff – an dependancy that had an unbelievable impression on my bodily and psychological well being.
And one which proved extraordinarily laborious to kick.
As a baby, I knew my mother and father’ tea orders by coronary heart – by the point I used to be a teen, I used to be spooning 4 sugars into my very own brew.
It felt like a defining a part of rising up.

I didn’t realise simply how dependent I turned on caffeine (Picture: Emmie Harrison-West)Before too lengthy, the drink turned deeply entrenched into my very existence.
Broken coronary heart? Tea. Hungover? Tea. Good information? Tea. Bad information? Tea Bored? Tea, tea, tea, tea.
But as I obtained misplaced within the forever-cycling tea rounds and low runs after I turned a trainee journalist in my early twenties – determined to maintain up with chaotic newsrooms – I didn’t realise simply how dependent I turned on caffeine.
Without fascinated by it, I used to be mindlessly gulping down three coffees a day alongside six or seven cups of tea.
Even on the weekends, my husband and I’d plan our walks round a espresso store. My complete life was constructed round my subsequent caffeine hit.
To put it into perspective, in your common cup of espresso there’s round 95mg of caffeine (relying on sorts of beans, and the way you serve it, it may be way more) – and round 47mgs in a cup of tea with milk.

I used to be mindlessly gulping down three coffees a day (Picture: Emmie Harrison-West)The really useful most caffeine consumption is 400mg – to not point out that some painkillers, fizzy drinks, chocolate, matcha and even inexperienced tea can have caffeine in, too.
It’s little marvel that caffeine was as soon as referred to in a examine because the world’s most generally used psychoactive substance.
It was firstly of lockdown in Spring 2020 after I began to note the impression of an excessive amount of of the stuff.
Even after a full night time’s sleep, I’d feel and appear exhausted. Haggard, even. 
I used to be tetchy till I had my first espresso of the day – and even then, I may barely focus till I shortly adopted it up with a tea. 
I used to be brief, snappy, and felt on edge for a lot of the day. I’d crave brief bursts of power, so binged on carbs – then would want extra caffeine to get me by means of the inevitable mid-afternoon stoop.

I used to be tetchy till I had my first espresso of the day (Picture: Emmie Harrison-West)I began having complications, felt sick and my bowel actions have been unpredictable.
Working from dwelling, my caffeine consumption went by means of the roof.
More: Trending

Getting as much as put the kettle on was one of many solely excuses I had for leaving my ‘desk’.  
Looking again, it’s no marvel that simply weeks later, I had my first panic assault. It was horrendous – at one level, I genuinely thought I used to be dying.
Once I’d managed to calm my respiratory, a curious Google of my signs instructed that caffeine would possibly’ve been the wrongdoer – so, I made a decision to attempt slicing it down. 

My complete life was constructed round my subsequent caffeine hit (Picture: Emmie Harrison-West)Over the following few weeks, I went from three coffees to at least one, and from seven teas to 4. Gradually, I minimize one out every day – changing it with fruit tea, or a pint of water.
Except, I felt no totally different. I simply wanted to pee extra.
So, I give up utterly. Went chilly turkey. I’d already minimize out some, how laborious may or not it’s? 
Extremely laborious, it turned out. Absolutely horrific.
The first 24 hours of being totally caffeine-free was the worst I’ve ever felt in my life. I had excruciating complications, was shaky, drowsy, nauseous and even began hallucinating. 
I needed to take the time off work.
I’d say it took me about three days to get better from the nausea, however the complications lasted all week. 
Simply from slicing out the UK’s favorite drink. I couldn’t consider it.

When I’ve an espresso martini, I discover I benefit from the buzz now (Picture: Emmie Harrison-West)After a number of weeks of being caffeine-free, I step by step launched one espresso into my routine – in addition to a single cup of decaf tea. Sometimes a fruit or peppermint one if I’m feeling fancy. 
Never caffeinated – it’s nonetheless the case at present.
But since sizzling drinks have been my crutch for thus lengthy, I felt misplaced with out one – so I made a decision to drink ‘good’ espresso. I spend time on shopping for and grinding beans, watching it slowly drip by means of a filter. Enjoy it.
It’s the identical with tea, selecting high-end decaf manufacturers – it tastes the identical to me because the common stuff, to be trustworthy.
Now, after I do have caffeine (particularly when it’s an espresso martini), I discover I benefit from the buzz extra, too. 
I get up feeling refreshed after deeper sleep. I really feel alert, brighter, and truthfully, my pores and skin, hair and enamel have by no means regarded higher. 
My bowels aren’t complaining, both.
Where I as soon as couldn’t think about residing with out tea, three years on I don’t miss it in any respect. 
It seems like wanting again fondly on a boyfriend from my youth. I wanted them as soon as, however couldn’t think about something worse now.
While going chilly turkey like I did is extraordinarily silly – and I undoubtedly wouldn’t advocate it – it’s value taking a step again from the kettle on occasion and going: ‘Do I want this?’ 
You would possibly by no means look again – I actually haven’t, and I gained’t ever remorse being tea-total.
Do you have got a narrative you’d wish to share? Get in contact by emailing [email protected]. 
Share your views within the feedback under.

MORE : Addicted to caffeine? Try these 3 espresso alternate options to wean your self off

MORE : Caffeine is a marvel ingredient in relation to puffy eyes with this top-rated serum wowing customers

MORE : Scientists assume they’ve discovered a delightfully simple method to beat your caffeine cravings

Sign as much as our information to what’s on in London, trusted opinions, sensible presents and competitions. London’s greatest bits in your inboxThis web site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

First seem at I used to be consuming 7 cuppas a day when the panic assaults began – now I’m tea-total