12 Signs of an Energy Drink Addict
People can be addicted to practically anything and energy drinks are no exception. Energy drink addiction is real.
The caffeine found in energy drinks, as well as the sugar, can form a strong dependence on these products in order for people to feel as though they are functioning normally.
If you think you may be an energy drink addict, below is a list of clues that can let you know how addicted to energy drinks you truly are.
12 Signs of Energy Drink Addiction
- You have to have an energy drink as soon as you wake up in the morning.
- You consume multiple energy drinks throughout the day.
- If you don’t have your usual energy drink, you become irritable and not fun to be around.
- You are sometimes late for work because you have to stop at the store for an energy drink.
- You spend at least $20 a week on these beverages.
- You drink energy drinks with most or all meals.
- You use energy drinks in place of getting a good night’s sleep of at least 7-8 hours.
- You get a caffeine withdrawal headache if you miss a day of normal consumption.
- Your friends and family are constantly nagging you about how many you consume throughout the course of the day.
- You can’t concentrate and be productive at work without energy drinks.
- You never drink plain water, but only energy drinks and sodas.
- You still feel tired even after drinking an energy drink due to your huge tolerance to caffeine.
Get expert help to break your addiction to energy drinks here.
Were any of these true for you?
If you could identify with several of these, then there’s a good chance you are addicted to energy drinks. There are certainly worse things to be addicted to, but it’s good to assess your level of addiction and then decide whether it might be a good idea to cut back or not.
If you feel that this addiction is creating more of a negative impact on your life than the benefits energy drinks seek to deliver, it may be a good time for a detox in order to break the addiction entirely.
Negative Consequences of Energy Drink Addiction
Here are some of the consequences energy drink addiction can have on your life and health.
- The cost of these products can create a financial burden.
- The sugar found in most traditional energy drinks can contribute to weight gain and the risk of type II diabetes.
- The caffeine can interfere with a quality night’s sleep which is vital for both good physical and mental health.
- Energy drinks can sometimes serve as a gateway drug to more powerful stimulants.
- They create both physical and chemical dependence in people, which can dictate a person’s level of functionality.
- Unsafe daily quantities of caffeine can be consumed that can potentially lead to dangerous overdose symptoms.
- The safety of using energy drinks long-term isn’t yet fully understood because they haven’t been around long enough to establish enough health data concerning long-term use by humans.
The bottom line is that addiction to energy drinks can be dangerous to your health and it can be financially burdening.
If you want to break your addiction, make sure you read about the caffeine withdrawal symptoms that can result in order to be prepared for the detox process as well as seek out help from those that can provide support and encouragement throughout the detox process.
References
- Reissig, C. J., Strain, E. C., & Griffiths, R. R. (2009). Caffeinated energy drinks—a growing problem. Drug and alcohol dependence, 99(1), 1-10. study link
- Pohler, H. (2010). Caffeine intoxication and addiction. The journal for nurse practitioners, 6(1), 49-52. study link
- Seifert, S. M., Schaechter, J. L., Hershorin, E. R., & Lipshultz, S. E. (2011). Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatrics, peds-2009. study link
- Pereira, M. A. (2006). The possible role of sugar-sweetened beverages in obesity etiology: a review of the evidence. International Journal of Obesity, 30, S28-S36. study link
- Lohsoonthorn, V., Khidir, H., Casillas, G., Lertmaharit, S., Tadesse, M. G., Pensuksan, W. C., ... & Williams, M. A. (2013). Sleep quality and sleep patterns in relation to consumption of energy drinks, caffeinated beverages, and other stimulants among Thai college students. Sleep and Breathing, 17(3), 1017-1028. study link