[spoiler]Hello my name is JCP and I have a coffee addiction. It’s not as bad as it used to be but still, I’m addicted. At one point I was drinking up to almost two pots of coffee a day – MYSELF. Now I have two cups a day, maybe four or five cups in one day on the weekend. To an outside observer, it looks like I drink way more than that. The ugly truth is that usually I have a half-empty cup in front of me, the other half filled with barely lukewarm coffee. I will reheat my coffee numerous times throughout the day, but rarely seem to get to the bottom of it in one sitting. Thinking that this was somehow out of the addiction tag, I was rudely reminded that no, I’m fully addicted, after going for a full morning and afternoon without it. Only after the headache and crankiness escalated to the point that even my cat told me off, did I admit that caffeine was the source of the problem and gave into it. Sure enough, I felt much better after a cup of coffee. Why I love coffee so much: It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. It greets me each day with a warm mug and some sugar. It has a lovely dark brown colour that makes me feel secure. It lets me put sugar into it and then consume it. It gives me something to sip on all day that is warm and yummy. It's great to have a cup after a nice big meal when you're out for the evening. It's fairly cheap and easy to make. It's available almost everywhere. It fits in "to go" mugs that fit in my truck's cup holder. Most places I've worked for had available for free to it's employees. People bring it to you in the winter for no reason other than it's cold outside. It's nice to go for a cup with a friend and discuss nothing. It listens to me when I'm sad and makes me feel better. Coffee mugs can be really funky and sometimes come in baskets full of mugs, coffees and funky stir things. Mike Patton apparently has the same addiction, so when we meet it will give us something to discuss before I chain him up my basement and force him to sing whatever I tell him to. (I also plan on keeping him alive with coffee.) It talks me out of my rage for other humans and gets me to put down the weapon. I can drink it with my left hand and still use my mouse with the right. It helps me stain my teeth a horrible yellow colour so I can gross people out when I'm 70. It gives me something simple to be addicted to without the stigma of other additions. It's strong but silent. It has CAFFEINE in it. Useful information. I was told recently that caffeine is a pain inhibitor, and that got me thinking about what else it does, seeing that I’m fully addicted to it and might want to know what it’s doing to me. So here it is : Wikipedia - Caffeine / Coffee MayoClinic - How much is too much? And here are some random bits of info about caffeine for those who are too lazy/busy to read the full Wikipedia article: Caffeine is a central nervous system and metabolic stimulant, and is used both recreationally and medically to reduce physical fatigue and restore mental alertness when unusual weakness or drowsiness occurs.Humans have consumed caffeine since the Stone Age.Caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance, but unlike most other psychoactive substances, it is legal and unregulated in nearly all jurisdictions.Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system first at the higher levels, resulting in increased alertness and wakefulness, faster and clearer flow of thought, increased focus, and better general body coordination, and later at the spinal cord level at higher doses.It takes less than an hour for caffeine to begin affecting the body and a mild dose wears off in three to four hours.While relatively safe for humans, caffeine is considerably more toxic to some other animals such as dogs, horses and parrots due to a much poorer ability to metabolize this compound.A reduction in serotonin levels when caffeine use is stopped can cause anxiety, irritability, inability to concentrate and diminished motivation to initiate or to complete daily tasks; in extreme cases it may cause mild depression. Together, these effects have come to be known as a "crash".Caffeine makes pain relievers 40% more effective in relieving headaches and helps the body absorb headache medications more quickly, bringing faster relief.It is commonly believed that caffeine consumption causes stunted growth in children, but this is not supported by scientific research. However, just as with adults, there is legitimate reason to limit the amount consumed by children. [/spoiler]