Research indicates 9 in 10 people in the U.S. use some form of caffeine on a regular basis. And according to numerous independent studies, over half of the people who use caffeine regularly are dependant.

The American Psychiatric Association clearly defines the withdrawal symptoms individuals may suffer when they stop using caffeine after prolonged consumption. These symptoms indicate physical and psychological addiction to caffeine.

Caffeine has also been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, panic attacks, stomach and GI issues, and a number of other very real health issues. Aside from the major risks, anyone with a coffee habit will tell you about the irritability, fatigue, insomnia, and high levels of nervous tension caused by regular caffeine consumption.

The fact is, caffeine is a very powerful, highly addictive substance. And it’s readily available to people of all ages in a very wide range of forms.

Coffee, energy drinks, a variety of black teas, and even diet supplements are consumed in large quantities by the majority of the population in the U.S. and other nations. In many ways it is both surprising and disturbing that an addictive substance has grown to such rampant levels of use and even acceptance in our society.

Caffeine is not associated with health risk in the minds of the average consumer. Most people truly believe several cups of coffee every single day is a harmless habit.

And this fact makes the problem all the more serious! Because people fail to grasp the very real danger of using caffeine very liberally, there is no real incentive to decrease intake or stop altogether.

Caffeine floods the bloodstream with adrenaline and stress hormones. Additionally it increase heart rate significantly while at the same time constricting blood vessels.

These facts alone make caffeine a substantial health risk. Add to this the confirmed findings about the addictive nature of caffeine and we have a severe issue on our hands.

It’s interesting that caffeine is the most commonly consumed beverage in a nation where heart disease is the most common terminal illness. It is highly unlikely these statistics are mere chance.

It seems clear that modern culture is knowingly condoning mass consumption of a chemical that has been proven to instigate or worsen heart problems, nervous disorders, digestive issues, and high blood pressure. Caffeine addiction, while not a problem that typically results in fatal overdose, is as lethal in the long-term as many other chemical dependencies and it’s crucial that Americans (and citizens of other nations with high usage of caffeine) wake up to this clear and present danger!

When faced with this suggestion, the average coffee drinker will scoff. However, if caffeine is not an addictive substance why do most users report severe headaches, irritability, and even depression after only 12 to 24 hours of abstinence?

Extreme discomfort as the result of not consuming a particular substance is a clear sign of addiction. We should all shudder to think that we are virtually pushing products loaded with caffeine on young children and teens on a daily basis!

Caffeine addiction is serious business and until it is viewed in the proper perspective millions more people will suffer needlessly. Like all addictions, there is help and there are proven methods in place to help individuals overcome.

But the first step is accepting the fact that a problem exists.

Caffeine addiction can be overcome more easily when you find something to replace your obsession. This article will help you identify ways to quit caffeine more easily by filling the void.

We drink caffeine for many reasons. Many of us like the rush of adrenaline it gives us. Some of us even like the taste. In many cases, we just keep drinking whether we want to or not because we are addicted.

Any habit becomes comfortable after a while. Caffeine addiction actually starts to play an important role in our daily lives.

We find comfort in having our coffee, tea, or energy drinks at the same time and in the same place day after day. This ritual becomes a normal part of every day.

Before we can break away completely, we must have a replacement lined up to fill the inevitable void.

For some people, it’s important to replace the physical act of drinking an energizing beverage. In this case there are a variety of herbs that will give you a healthy lift and allow you to go through the motions of having your hot or cold beverage on time each day.

Other individuals can replace their daily caffeine regimen with an exercise program. Physical exercise like walking or stretching elevates the heart rate and releases adrenaline and endorphins into the blood stream. Adding a light session to your day at the time when you previously relied on a dose of caffeine is a very progressive, healthy replacement measure.

Perhaps the simplest form of replacement is conversation. It’s very helpful to talk about the way you feel when you are missing your daily caffeine.

Get your feelings out in the open and address them. Keeping your cravings and disappointments inside is dangerous, and will eventually lead to a relapse. Being open and honest about the fact that you miss your caffeine is a healthy way to meet the challenge at hand head on.

The key is not to simply refrain from drinking caffeine, but to find a new way to spend your time and energy. Many addiction therapists say the chemical use is a symptom, not the actual problem.

In other words, there may be some emotional or psychological reasons behind our obsessive use of caffeine. This clearly does not mean you are sick or crazy if you get hooked on coffee; it simply means that in order to quit successfully you need to be fully aware of what you are thinking and feeling when you miss your caffeine.

People deal with boredom in different ways. It’s often difficult to sit alone with your thoughts and not occupy your mind or your hands with something idle.

How many times have you found yourself pouring an extra cup of coffee even when you really had no desire for the effects of the caffeine? You may have just wanted something to do.

Many people find this realization discouraging. But getting bummed out will likely lead to your throwing in the towel and getting right back into your regular caffeine use.

Just accept the fact that you need to occupy your mind and your time with new, healthy activities to improve your chances of successfully quitting caffeine for good.