Addiction to Drugs/caffiene

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Expert: Gareth Stubbs - 4/20/2009


Question
Hello, my name is Edward.
I am doing a project about caffeine.
I have a few questions about it.
1. Is it possible to get addicted to caffeine?

2. If so, do you know any of the side effects?

3. Are there a lot of people out there that are addicted to caffeine?

Thanks for your answers.
sincerely edward

Answer
Hi Edward

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

In answer to your question, yes it is very possible to become addictied to caffiene and the side effects can be pretty much the same as most drugs out there - the shakes, nausea, headaches, severe depression when not taking any and so on.

It is not very common, but in the past, I have worked with a few people with this problem and it has, to be honest, been quite difficult to help them because normally with drugs, you have an image in your head of drugs being bad so it is easy to understand the problem, but when you become addicted to something like caffeine, it can be quite hard to come to terms with as it is readily avaialble and a lot of people struggle with this.

Hope that helps you a bit and if you need any more info, please do not hesitate to get hold of me.

Gareth

Addiction to Drugs

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Gareth Stubbs

Expertise

Given that I am not a “medical professional” I cannot answer questions on medication and the like, however, I can offer my experiences thereon. I am able to offer answers to questions on the effects of most drugs (street and prescription) as well as advice regarding halting the use of and recovery from active addiction, which plays a very important role in the recovery process as well addressing underlying issues and reasons as to why drugs and the like are abused. I am also able to address any questions regarding dealing with depression, suicide and self-harming, recovery from these and advice on creating a different lifestyle without these afflictions. I can also answer questions from families, friends and partners of drug users and depressed persons, and in addition to this, I have a very good understanding of the 12-step recovery program.

Experience

With a long history of severe clinical depression, self-harming and substance abuse (since the age of 12) I “successfully” managed to lose all that I owned (marriage, home, children) as a result of suicide attempts, numerous hospital visits and severe drug use for 18 years, ranging from street to prescription drugs. I am now about to enter my 8th year free from substance and depression and my 4th year free from cutting myself. I know what it is like to be suicidal and in the grips of active addiction and self harm, how difficult it appears to reach out to people for help, and at the same time, I know how I managed to free myself from the lifestyle and how I continue to create a happy life without the use of medication and constant therapy and the like

Education/Credentials
Life Change Consulting, Master Practitioner of NLP, Advanced Neurological Repatterning, Ericksonian Hypnosis, Master Hypnosis, Performance Consultant, Master Result Coach, as well as a Masters Degree in Life Experience.

Past/Present Clients
Have spoken to school and groups (ages 12-16), ranging in size from 50 to 200 attendees at a time, as well as speaking to parents of school children. Have also worked one-on-one with young adults with successful and continuing results. Currently working on creating and presenting a development program encompassing all areas of change in lifestyle, as well as a magazine and book publication.

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