Quitting caffeine wasn’t just about breaking up with coffee for me. It mirrored the same cycles I had to break in healing from narcissistic abuse.

The constant back-and-forth. The quick dopamine hit that made me feel like my needs were being met, even though underneath it was wrecking my body and my peace. The way it became a false “comfort” that actually kept me stuck in the very cycles I was trying to escape.

In this episode, I share my story of letting go of caffeine and how it became a practice ground for breaking toxic loops, learning self-awareness, and choosing real nourishment instead of empty fixes.

We’ll explore:
✨ How addiction cycles mimic the trauma bond in narcissistic abuse
✨ The illusion of safety vs. the reality of hidden harm
✨ Why we return to what hurts us (and how to stop)
✨ The power of replacing false peace with real healing practices
✨ Celebrating small steps as proof you’re breaking free

This isn’t just a story about caffeine! It’s about reclaiming your power, refusing to settle for bandaid solutions, and choosing freedom over false tranquility.

Books mentioned in this episode:

Who Am I? The 16 Basic Desires That Motivate Our Actions and Define Our Personalities

(I mispronounced his name in this episode - Steven Reiss is credited for the Reiss Motivation Profile if you want to learn more!)

Caffeine Blues: Wake Up to the Hidden Dangers of America's #1 Drug

You can email me at ashana@yournorthstarrising.com to register for our Weekly Women's Circle or to apply to be on the show!

thanks for listening 🧡