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A comment on Ask HN: Novelty addiction is ruining my life and career. What should I do?. Parent comment

Re:Ask HN: Novelty addiction is ruining my life and career. ... by badpenny on Sunday December 13, 2015 @06:23AM (#10726067)
There are probably a number of causes, but coffee may be one of them. Don't be radical, but if you're having too much coffee, I'd suggest cutting down to just one coffee in the morning. It will take a bit of effort but may help you concentrate.

I'd suggest gradually cutting down to none. Apparently the alertness and general cognitive enhancing properties of caffeine don't really exist and all that people are noticing is the effect of the caffeine on their caffeine withdrawal symptoms.

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Re:Ask HN: Novelty addiction is ruining my life and career. ... by randallsquared on Sunday December 13, 2015 @08:56AM (#10726347)
Given the way that first cup of coffee in months can affect a person, you seem to be suggesting that caffeine withdrawal is a permanent condition. ;)
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Re:Ask HN: Novelty addiction is ruining my life and career. ... by lomnakkus on Sunday December 13, 2015 @11:22AM (#10726725)
OPs point is that your brain adapts to the level of caffeine you're ingesting. So if you're used to drinking coffee then you're basically at the same level of alertness/functioning that you were before you first started drinking coffee (i.e. before it became habitual). The effect you notice from the first cup of coffee in the morning is really just the coffee counteracting the withdrawal you feel after ~6-8hrs of no caffeine.
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Re:Ask HN: Novelty addiction is ruining my life and career. ... by Fishman343 on Sunday December 13, 2015 @09:52AM (#10726468)
This is clearly unsubstantiated - the benefits of coffee are very clearly outlined. Maybe some people who drinks too much are experiencing the withdrawal, but if you do not over-do it, there is a 90% chance of feeling more alert when you drink coffee.
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Re:Ask HN: Novelty addiction is ruining my life and career. ... by badpenny on Sunday December 13, 2015 @11:31AM (#10726757)
This is clearly unsubstantiated - the benefits of coffee are very clearly outlined.

No they aren't.

http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/156/9/842.short

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20182035

These are just two of the first studies I found. There are plenty of others.

if you do not over-do it, there is a 90% chance of feeling more alert when you drink coffee.

90% of statistics are made up on the spot. If you're going to acuse me of making shit up on the spot maybe you shouldn't do it yourself? Feeling is the operative word in your statement.

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Re:Ask HN: Novelty addiction is ruining my life and career. ... by DanBC on Sunday December 13, 2015 @11:34AM (#10726776)
> the benefits of coffee are very clearly outlined

No, what we know about benefits of caffeine is quite weak.

http://www.evidentlycochrane.net/caffeine-and-health-evidenc...

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Re:Ask HN: Novelty addiction is ruining my life and career. ... by jayarcanum on Sunday December 13, 2015 @07:52AM (#10726209)
This
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