How Do I Get Rid Of Anxiety After Coffee
While there is a connection between caffeine consumption and anxiety, moderate caffeine intake is safe and has significant health benefits. If you happen to overindulge in the sweet elixir of lifeyoure not alone. Heres how to get rid of anxiety after coffee:
Its no secret that coffee is a staple in many lives. In this case, looks, scents and tastes can all be considered deceiving if you arent listening to your body and giving it the essential nutrients it needs. If youre someone who deals with anxiety, you may want to try a more natural form of caffeine, such as green tea . I would recommend sticking to one coffee a day, but if you give a human a coffee, chances are, theyre going to want another.
What Is Decaf Coffee
Decaffeinated coffee, in short, decaf coffee, is like regular coffee with at least 97% of the caffeine removed. One serving of decaf coffee contains about 2 to 5 milligrams of caffeine, as opposed to 50 to 75 milligrams in regular coffee.
The nutritional properties of decaf coffee are almost similar to regular coffee, except for the caffeine content. The taste and smell of decaf coffee may not seem that good as regular coffee but it is a good choice for people preferring less caffeine.
What Exactly Is Anxiety
Before jumping into how coffee affects anxiety, its important to define the condition. For that purpose, anxiety can be broken into two categories: general anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder . General anxiety is a natural awareness that comes and goes as your body reacts to everyday stress.
Someone who has GAD, on the other hand, will have chronic anxiety for possibly no reason at all and cant help feeling worried and stressed. This is diagnosed by a doctor.
Symptoms of anxiety include:
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Digestion issues
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Frequent urination
These effects can kick in as soon as 45 to 60 minutes and last as long as 4 to 6 hours, but are rarely dangerous. Side effects can vary from person to person as it depends on their tolerance, sensitivity, and how much caffeine theyre used to. Body mass and genetics also contribute to this.
Be sure to avoid having any caffeine in the evening since this can cause sleep disruption. Other stimulant drugs, like or drugs containing ephedrine, should not be taken at the same time as caffeine as this can make side effects worse and cause high blood pressure. Some antibiotics like and stomach medicines like have a drug interaction with caffeine where they slow down the bodys process of getting rid of caffeine. Taking them together can cause unwanted side effects. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist to prevent any drug interactions.
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Can Decaf Coffee Cause Anxiety
Coffee, especially caffeine doesnt cause anxiety itself however it may worsen symptoms in people already having symptoms of anxiety.
Caffeine is a stimulant that increases your heart rate which can contribute to anxiety. However little, decaffeinated coffee contains a small amount of caffeine. No method of caffeine extraction can remove 100% caffeine from coffee.
However, it totally depends on your total intake of caffeine a day. Excessing caffeine may intensify anxiety and lead to panic attacks.
People with a generalized anxiety disorder are recommended to limit the amount of caffeine they ingest to contain the intensity of the symptoms.
Remember: every individual responds to caffeine differently. Therefore, the effects depend on how well your body tolerates caffeine.
Heartburn And Stomach Upset
Caffeine can aggravate the production of stomach acid, Czerwony says. The result: uncomfortable heartburn symptoms.
Acids in coffee can add to the problem, but coffee isnt the only culprit. Caffeine in soda and other sources can also trigger acid reflux. Too much caffeine can cause stomach issues, she adds.
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Caffeine Is Rocket Fuel For Anxiety
I saw a post about coffee down the sub, and think it’s worth an even broader discussion here.
I’ve had anxiety issues for thirty years. These days I’m far better now than ever before. Almost free of it.
The biggest factors were seeing a shrink, doing the Landmark Education … and quitting caffeine.
Of these three things, the caffeine was the biggest, most tangible game-changer.
I have a cup of caffeinated tea in the morning. That’s it. No soda, no coffee, no Red Bull or any other energy drinks not even coffee ice cream for the rest of the day. I’m also a 4-hour-per-night insomniac, so I thought dropping caffeine would kill me.
Truth is, I’d feel perkier with caffeine in my system. But I’d also be anxious a lot more. It’s physical: the crawling-up-the-back sensation. The buzz. The sweating and nerves. It’s mental: can’t stop ruminating about things, worry about remote possibilities, dwell on past failures.
There’s no question it’s the caffeine. I experimented with it, going cold turkey for several months, then adding it back in at gradual increasing doses. Plateaued several times to make sure it wasn’t a temporary response to the increase. Sure enough, even at very low doses, the caffeine popped my anxiety. Three cups of coffee over the course of 18 hours would have me climbing the walls.
Does Not Truly Relieve Constipation
Coffee only momentarily breaks the constipation cycle, with high chances the condition will recur or reoccur. While it stimulates peristalsis, pushing food down the food tract and out, coffee also dehydrates. This means that it will most likely leave bowel movements hard and dry and not solve the real problem as it is neither a good source of dietary fiber , nor does it hydrate, so it doesnt actively contribute to soft and easy to pass bowel movements.
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Signs Of A Secretly Anxious Introvert
There can be other negative health effects: Caffeine at long-term high doses can encourage mineral loss like magnesium, which is an important co-factor for brain neurotransmitters. Coffee may also contribute to fluctuations in blood sugar, which can raise anxiety levels. I have learned with my patients, if he or she is too depleted, and takes in too much coffee, they will burn out even more.
As you probably already know, caffeine-sensitive individuals may experience more insomnia. As we learned earlier, poor sleep will promote both anxiety and depression in predisposed individuals. If a patient is not sleeping, I will recommend they stop coffee until the sleeping issue is solved.
How Much Coffee Is Okay, Then?
As far as dosing coffee, I find for most people who do well with coffee, two cups a day, sipped slowly works well. More tends to make people who tend to anxiety become anxious and experience heart palpitations.
Oh, one more note it is probably healthiest to skip all sugar. And if you are sensitive to dairy, switch to a natural non-dairy creamer or better milk . Some of my patients do find adding a little fat like butter or dairy/non-dairy creamer also slows the “hit” of the caffeine, creating a more balanced boost to mood.
Again, whether coffee is best for you really depends on your particular situation. As I discuss in my book Put Anxiety Behind You, it is most important to lay down a healthy foundation to truly work through anxiety. Main ways to do this are:
Overuse Of Coffee Booze And Over
Its no secret that living through the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2020 in general, has been emotionally exhausting. People have been isolated and social distancing, many struggling with losing a job or income. Some are treating extremely ill patients on the frontlines, dealing with the loss of friends or family members and so much more, all while trying to process an endless barrage of disasters, political turmoil and bad news unrelated to the pandemic. All this strife can be especially hard on anyone already coping with depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.
Taking care of yourself right now may include understanding how a daily coffee or cocktail habit could be influencing your wellbeing. Everyday substances like caffeine and alcohol, when consumed in excess, can exacerbate underlying mental health issues like anxiety and depression. And seemingly harmless drugs in your medicine cabinet, like allergy or cold meds, can interact with medications used for treating mental health to bring about serious consequences.
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How To Cut Back On Caffeine Without Withdrawal Headaches
Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. If youre swallowing less than 400 mg per day and arent bothered by side effects, you may not need to give up your morning latte or your afternoon soda fix.
But what if you wish your cold brew habit had less control over you? Step one is to recognize how much caffeine youre consuming. The stimulant is found in many food and non-food sources, including:
- Tea.
- Weight loss supplements.
- Over-the-counter medications, including some pain relievers.
Once you know where your caffeine is coming from, make a plan to cut back, Czerwony says. To avoid a headache or other withdrawal symptoms, cut caffeine down gradually over several weeks. Czerwony recommends swapping your usual coffee for half decaf. Or try replacing every other can of soda with fizzy water or herbal tea.
With some trial and error, youll find a balance that leaves you alert and energized, but without the unpleasant side effects. There are benefits to caffeine, but it can really get away from you, Czerwony says. Too much of a good thing is still too much.
Medications Plus Caffeine Can Increase Anxiety
Caffeine is so much a part of our culture that its easy to forget that its a psychoactive drug and, consequently, doesnt always mix well with other drugs.
Drugs.com currently lists more than 50 medications that should not be taken with caffeine.
Sometimes caffeine enhances the effects of some drugs its often added to over-the-counter painkillers to make them work better.
But this same property also increases the number of side effects as is the case with asthma medications, antidepressants, and some antibiotics.
Sometimes caffeine undermines the effectiveness of medications.
Anti-anxiety medications, sleeping pills, and lithium for bipolar disorder fall into this category.
Pharmacist Suzy Cohen, RPh, reveals some alarming interactions between caffeine and prescription drugs in her book Drug Muggers: Which Medications Are Robbing Your Body of Essential Nutrients and Natural Ways to Restore Them.
She reports that caffeine can cause tremors, panic attacks, and insomnia when taken with antidepressants that are SSRIs .
Caffeine should be avoided when taking breathing medications that contain the stimulant xanthine.
When taken together, they can cause anxiety as well as dangerous heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and arrhythmia.
When caffeine is used with ADHD medications like Adderall and Ritalin, it increases nervousness, irritability, insomnia, and heart rhythm abnormalities.
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How Does Caffeine Affect Anxiety
As mentioned earlier, the side effects of caffeine can be very similar to symptoms of anxiety. And although caffeine doesnt directly cause anxiety, it can make symptoms worse.
One study showed this by giving 72 patients with anxiety disorders and 26 patients without anxiety a 480 mg dose of caffeine to see if it would cause a panic attack. A panic attack is a symptom of GAD. They found that close to 61% of the patients with anxiety disorders reported a panic attack where none of the patients without anxiety had a panic attack.
Another small study supported this by giving 38 patients a 10 mg dose of caffeine and found that up to 71% of patients reported that effects of caffeine were similar to ones experienced with panic attacks . Again, patients without anxiety did not report any panic attacks.
People with anxiety should consider avoiding coffee and other caffeinated food and drinks. People who do not have anxiety seem to tolerate caffeine better, but everyone is different.
Caffeine May Aggravate Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar drops too low.
A low blood sugar attack can leave you feeling jittery, sweating, irritable, and confused, with a pounding heart a lot like an anxiety attack.
Caffeine stimulates the release of the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine, causing blood sugar levels to drop.
If you suspect that your low blood sugar is exacerbated by caffeine, try going without it and notice if you experience any improvement.
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How Do I Feel About My Caffeine
First and foremost, I think its important to point out that I dont think that its fair to draw any conclusions about how this might impact someone elses health. This experiment was also only run for seven days and was almost certainly impacted by variables such as changes in my eating habits and the weather.
Nonetheless, I DO think that going caffeine-free has a positive impact on some of the symptoms of my anxiety. Especially some of my negative thoughts and notably my nervous energy. The results from Bearable back this up pretty strongly too.
Ive also learned that drinking caffeine and especially coffee mostly just makes me feel less tired rather than more alert or focused. An insight that I also came across in this article that, similarly, takes a look at the impact of caffeine on anxiety.
Most importantly, this experience made me realise how inaccurate it is to guess the impact of something like going caffeine-free. The first-hand experience seemed far less positive because of how tired I was left feeling, but the data underlined how significant the impact on my symptoms had really been.
Ultimately, Ive made the decision to continue to live without caffeine and track the results.
However, Im also interested in testing other everyday activities to discover how they might be negatively impacting the symptoms of my different health conditions.
Negative Side Effects Of Decaf Coffee
Remember how I told you the decaffeination process usually involves chemical solvents? Well, if not adequately treated after, traces of those chemicals can remain in your decaf coffee. Some of those solvents, such as methylene chloride, are used for paint thinners and nail polish. So you can see how that may pose a health risk if ingested, right?
Of course, decaf has to go through several tests before being cleared to put on shelves. Still, the risk of the chemicals entering your body is severe. The consequences include affecting the central nervous system, organ irritation, and severe cases, triggering rheumatoid arthritis and being carcinogenic.
However, the possibility of being harmed by those chemicals from decaf coffee is minimal. Still, there are other risks you need to be aware of. The most significant risk is raising the cholesterol levels in your organism.
The decaffeination process works better on beans that can take more moisture in. Thats why beans with a higher fat content are used to make decaf. Instead of arabica, the companies use robusta beans with a high level of diptenes compounds that stimulate the production of fatty acids in your body.
Consuming them regularly and in high amounts can cause a significant rise in cholesterol, eventually leading to heart health problems.
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