An anonymous guest post from a colleague…
Is it OK to mix caffeine and anxiety?
It’s a question I ask sometimes and tend to rationalize by telling myself that it’s ok to do absolutely anything I want (gosh darnit!), and I’ll be fine. Yet, halfway through the cup of (admittedly delicious and ecstasy producing) coffee, I’m organizing my inbox and writing pages long emails to friends about my plans for the summer, completely ignoring my to-do list for work. Once the coffee is gone… I want more. And, I wish I had my time back. Anxiety, hello again.
Why is Caffeine Bad for Anxiety?
Well, it’s a drug for one, that doesn’t make your relax, but rather gets you going in a very short-term hyper speed. When it comes to anxiety and coffee, less is more. And none is even better. In a recent study, scientists found that caffeine in small doses did increase alertness and help with performance at work and with athletics. Yet, this is caffeine in quantities of less than 400mg. And, it had specific notes detailing that this excepted highly sensitive people.
So, let’s unwrap this… A venti coffee from Starbucks contains 475mg, a grande contains 310mg. A Red Bull contains 398mg. That’s tiptoeing the line of anxiety producing caffeine levels and over the line in those of us who identify as being sensitive. Not to mention…. That’s just coffee cup number one of the day! And, for work-at-homer’s, who here is guilt of drinking an entire pot in a day…. ? Me for one. Don’t judge me. (Please?)
Does Caffeine Make Anxiety Worse?
Let’s pour gas on the fire and see if it explodes. Yes, the answer to this question is yes. Caffeine can make your anxiety worse. Or, at least make it extremely uncomfortable. First there are the physical effects. Your heartbeat, already fast from anxiety, quickens. The time… it takes time to obtain or make said coffee, and this cuts out time from your day, leaving you with less than you had, which is already usually too little time for most people to accomplish what they need to. On top of that, the effects from the caffeine are short-lived. The burst of energy often causes us to focus on tasks we don’t need to, like organizing (but only getting half done, making a bigger mess).
And, we haven’t even gotten to the crash! That inevitable 2pm crash (at least that’s when I get mine). It makes the early and late afternoon nearly unbearable. You can’t focus, you hate everyone (or is it just me???), and you just want to leave work or whatever situation you’re in…. now. The crash also steals our time and causes us to drink more caffeine, but just like everything else in life… “ain’t nothin’ like the first time.” And, so, it just doesn’t work the same. Cycle repeat. Here we go… and then the day’s gone. Cue worry. Worry that you didn’t do enough today. Stress that you’ll have to wake up even earlier tomorrow (to get everything done, and guess what… you’ll “need” coffee). It’s anxiety producing for sure.
How Do I Get Rid of Caffeine Induced Anxiety?
Can caffeine calm anxiety? Some people think it does, but if you’re asking yourself that, you probably know it isn’t. Then, how can I get rid of my caffeine habit, you may ask. There are a few ways, but truly it comes down to a decision. A decision that the pain is worse than the joy of the habit. And, there are ways to taper down too. If you absolutely need your coffee, try a “half caff” and work your way down to decaf, then off completely. Or, try to replace your morning cup with a run instead and ditch the joe completely. You’ll have more energy than you could have imagined, making your morning a total crush session. The benefits abound.
“Need” soda? This one’s hard. I know a lot of people totally addicted to sugar and soda. Yet, my friend, there is a way! I promise, there’s a way. You can try fruit-infused water (yum = cucumber + mint, strawberries + basil, lemon + lime). Let the water soak up the fruit and herbs overnight and enjoy the next day. Sparkling waters can help give you the carbonation you seek. If it’s difficult, try celebrating your successes by tracking your progress on a calendar. Challenge yourself to go a whole week… And then, a whole month! You can do it! I promise.
Bye Anxiety.
It won’t solve all your anxiety problems, but for me, reducing and then eliminating caffeine opened up a world of time. And, to me, time is all we have, so this open space was completely joyous. I wasn’t basing my day around that first cup of coffee. My dog was happier because he got more morning walks (I mean, that alone!!!). And, I was getting more done, being more authentic, and had less sweets to go with the coffee. Overall, caffeine wasn’t helping me, or anyone else (my pup says: ruff ruff, you’re right). If you’ve been overdoing it with caffeine, and you’re sick of the anxiety, I hope you’ll give it a try and see if you too can create more time, joy, and balance in your life with less stress to boot. My results were sweeter and smoother than any latte I’ve ever had.
To your success,
“K”
Resources on caffeine and anxiety:
Journal of Psychopharmacology, Nawrot P, Jordan S, Eastwood J, et al. (2003) “Effects of caffeine on human health,” Food Addit Contam 20: 1–30.
Center for Science in the Public Interest, “Caffeine Chart.”
Healthline, “How you can die from a caffeine overdose.”
