Caffeine withdrawal is what happens when your body has built up a physical dependence on caffeine, and you drop below your standard intake.

Surprisingly, caffeine addiction can happen very quickly. In some cases it can happen in as little as 3 days. And that is with a daily dose of 100mg. That's the equivalent of 1 cup of coffee or two Mountain Dews. So with very little effort on your part, caffeine can create this physical dependence.

"Individuals who consume as little as a single 6-oz. cup of brewed coffee (100 mg of caffeine) each morning are at risk for experiencing headache and other withdrawal symptoms should they omit their daily single cup of coffee."

Research has also shown that after just 7-14 days of working on your caffeine addiction, that the withdrawal symptoms get worse.

The severity of caffeine withdrawal varies based on your level of caffeine intake and the duration you have been taking it. Basically, the more your daily intake, the rougher it will be to quit. If you are over 300mg a day, I recommend cutting back to 50 - 100 mg a day before going cold-turkey. It will give your body time to adjust better.

The most common withdrawal symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Drowsiness
• Impaired Concentration
• Anxiety

• Anti-social Behavior
• Irritability
• Feelings of Depression
• Decreased motivation
• Decreased Self-Confidence

And being a recovering caffeine junkie (hrmm.. Mt. Dew... why must you taste so good!?), I can tell you that I pretty much hit all those symptoms. Not fun.