For years I was a Mountain Dew Addict. I'm not sure how it happened, but I found myself easily drinking a six pack of 16 ounce bottles every single day. Most people crave coffee in the morning - for me it was good old Mountain Dew!

Many people do not think that Mountain Dew is addictive, and it certainly does not have any disclaimers on the bottle that addiction may occur after prolonged or excessive consumption of this soft drink manufacturered by Pepsi.

Before I learned about sugar addiction I didn't ever think that I had a problem with Mountain Dew. Oh sure, I knew I craved it, got headaches without it, was tired or lethargic a lot of the time - but I never thought it had anything to do with Mountain Dew!

But after learning that for some people sugar can be an addiction, and that a 12 ounce can of Mountain Dew has 46 grams of sugar...well, it made sense to me pretty quick!

The signs and symptoms of Mountain Dew Addiction may be difficult to recognize and many people may not realize just how much Mountain Dew they drink or that they are becoming dependent on it.

Here are some signs to help you recognize if you could be addicted to the soft drink:

1. Friends and family will automatically order it for you at restaurants, knowing it is your favorite thing and the only thing you drink.

2. You consume more than 24 ounces of the beverage each day

3. You wake up wanting a Mountain Dew.

4. You are VERY grumpy if you do not get it.

5. You seek other sweet foods if you do not get Mountain Dew, such as cookies, candy bars, doughnuts, etc.

6. You keep an emergency reserve stash in your car and in your home so you never run out of it.

7. People shake their heads and laugh when they see you with Mountain Dew because you always have it with you.

8.Despite the high caffeine content in Mountain Dew, you are often tired or groggy, which is a result from changes in your blood sugar.

Drinking Mountain Dew for a prolonged time or excessively can lead to many potential health problems. Here are just a few to be concerned about:

1. Cavities: Nobody really enjoys going to the dentist, but the sugar content from the Mountain Dew can cause cavities and other teeth and gum problems, even with the best of dental hygeine practices.

2. Drowsiness: Drinking high sugar content beverages can cause a quick change in your blood sugar from your body releasing insulin to help stabalize it back to normal. Unfortunately, this can also cause you to become extremely drowsy or sluggish. Being drowsy can make it dangerous for you to operate a vehicle, as well as affect your ability to concentrate, focus, and perform.

3. Health Problems: Many people may develop health problems from drinking too much soda. Obesity and weight gain is one concern - another is the way the body deals with sugar and releasing insulin to control gluclose levels.

4. Cost: It is very expensive to keep up a habit. A six pack of Mountain Dew retails for $4.49 and a 2 liter bottle is around $2.09 in some areas. If you are drinking this much every day, you could be spending $60-$140 a month on your favorite beverage. Meanwhile, water is free and much healthier for you.

5. Mood Swings: Going from lots of caffeine and sugar to no caffeine and sugar can cause crazy mood swings. You may find yourself being happy and excited one minute, screaming at someone the next.

If you believe you may have an addiction to Mountain Dew or other soft drink, the good news is that it is much easier to quit than marijuana, alcohol, cigarettes, and heroin. There are no dangerous withdrawal symptoms that anyone is aware of (though you may be awfully irritable for a few days!)

Here are some things you can do to get help:

1. Stop Buying It: This is difficult, we know. Don't walk down the aisle that has it in the grocery store. Do Not Under Any Circumstance go into a convenience store. In fact, if possible for a week try not to go anywhere that has it.

2. If You Do Buy It: If you find yourself unable to control yourself and the craving, buy the diet version instead. Everybody knows diet Mountain Dew tastes terrible in comparison to the real thing, so this is a good compromise to help you not want to drink it as much but while still weaning yourself from the sugar. If you make the switch to diet, it's not really a whole lot healthier for you, but at least it will help you avoid all the extra sugar.

3. Avoid Other Sweets: You may crave other sweets when you stop drinking Mountain Dew. Arm yourself with some other snacks and plenty of water to help avoid the sweets until you've overcome the addiction to the soft drink.

4. Speak to a Professional: You can always speak to your doctor or a therapist if you have severe concerns about your dependence on Mountain Dew. They may be able to give you medical advice or the resources and tools to better help and understand your situation.

5. Ask for Family and Friends Support: Your family and friends can help you stay on track. Ask them to make sure you never, ever drink it. Give them explicit instructions on what they can do to help you overcome your cravings and dependence.

Remember: You do not have to face addiction alone! Help is always just a phone call away, no matter what your situation may be.