Ive heard I should stay away from things like caffeine, sugar, and alcohol while withdrawing. Why?
Caffeine is a stimulant. Most find they don’t need any more stimulation! If you are not suffering symptoms that you feel are being aggravated by caffeine, then there is no reason to abstain. If you are having trouble sleeping but still want a morning cup of coffee, then have one! You can also try to limit your caffeine intake to earlier in the day. Be aware that many soft drinks also contain caffeine. If you are used to having caffeine on a daily basis, to suddenly abstain can cause its own set of withdrawal symptoms. If you want to cut out caffeine, you should gradually reduce your intake. The same advice applies to sugar. Some feel it exacerbates withdrawal symptoms; others have no problem with sugar. Eating too much sugar at one time can cause a fluctuation in blood sugar. These dips in blood sugar cause levels of adrenaline and cortisol to rise, leading to symptoms like anxiety and palpitations. Many have found following a basic hypoglycemic diet helpful, limiting their intake of t
