However, it's not addictive like many other drugs. Sure you'll suffer withdrawal for a day or too with some bad migraines, but afterward you're off it. I just make sure if I'm gonna miss a day to pack some aspirin to combat the headache.
Those migraines you mentioned are one of many terrible withdraw symptoms.
It is the only drug I truly have been unable to quit. Despite weeks of being off of it, I always relapse after the cravings get too much.
It was easier to quit cigs for me than it is to stop drinking coffee. If it's a stimulant it's going to be very hard to quit.
The only reason it's not considered an addiction by experts is because you don't destroy your life when you run out, BECAUSE IT'S EVERYWHERE and super accepted (you can do it at work), also because I assume $$$.
So it's sort of like mobile/social media addiction but worse because it's more acceptable and it has physical withdrawal/cravings.
Now I'm going to go have a coffee because I have a headache and I'm irritated.
The fact that it isn't bad for you doesn't make addiction a bad thing. It's when addiction consumes your life and you forgo the good things in life that it becomes bad.
I didn't say it would consume your life and make you forgo the good things.
The only reason it's not characterized by these "modern addiction specialists", whatever that is, is because of both $$$ and how socially acceptable it is.
Since you can get your caffeine fix in anyway for really cheap (or not so cheap if you want) and you can drink it at work without any weird looks it doesn't destroy your social life.
Just because it doesn't destroy your social life doesn't mean it's not addictive, but I guess that's just the layman in me.
As a sort of meta point, every time I use the phrase "modern addiction specialist" in a thread somebody responds expressing skepticism that such a thing exists or that the definition of addiction I've provided reflects consensus opinion. This is...weird. The American Psychiatric Association leads their "What is Addiction?" page with the following text:
"Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence."
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/what-...
Don't talk to me until I've eaten this mug.