I gave up coffee at the end of October 2006; prior to that I drank about fifteen cups or so a day for around ten years. I realised giving up would be for the best when I noticed I was okay in a morning until I had my first coffee and after that I didn't feel too good at all and had horrendous tired spells if I didn't have frequent coffees so one day I just decided to give up.
'Horrendous' didn't cover it. I had the lot: a headache that lasted for nigh on a week, feeling very down, mood swings, the flu-like symptoms, intense, extreme tiredness and lethargy and goodness knows what else. It is something I never wish to experience again. I was over the withdrawal symptoms in about a month but still felt a bit funny for a while after. I feel a lot better now though for giving it up. I don't have those sudden drops in alertness and the 'mid afternoon crash' and so on.
It wasn't easy and it wasn't pleasant but I managed to get through and I haven't touched a drop since.
). I went a whole 2 weeks without one, but after I realised it wouldn't kill me, I had the occasional one, only once a week though. This past holiday week it's been about 5-6 a week though. 
