AIBU to think coffee is affecting my sleep and anxiety?

[Canwaitforaholiday]

Early 50s; introduced coffee a few months ago to help with energy, one early afternoon; which seems to help; then one in the morning. It does help with energy levels but I seem more anxious. Waking up around 3am for the last few days and crying. My appetite isn’t massive either.

I take magnesium, Ashwaganda, vitamin D.

I looking awful and tired with these bags under my eyes.

Advice please? What keep you going, strong and healthy.

I feel like quitting my job to focus on my health, going to the gym and helping my teens through a tricky time.

I work 4 days per week, job a bit boring but not stressful which is what I need.

Should I cut down completely? Does decaffeinate coffee help? Just want to go home to sleep l

caffeine can definitely affect both those things so it wouldn't hurt to cut it out again.

If you only just started drinking coffee a few months ago, yes, just cut it out. I didn’t drink coffee for years and felt like my energy levels were great during that time. I’ve recently had to cut coffee out again due to it interfering with a chronic health condition and meds. Now I do feel fatigued because one of the symptoms of my condition is fatigue, but not drinking coffee, I definitely still feel less fatigued than I used to!

That said, what’s your drinking like? Alcohol has a much bigger impact on sleep, anxiety and overall health than coffee. If you still drink, I’d definitely cut that out first.

If you introduced coffee to help with energy then drinking decaff will be going back to pre coffee state.

If you have persistent energy problems then the person to see is your GP, if only for blood tests to check the basics. Are you also losing weight if you have a poor appetite? If so that is something else to mention to the GP.

Thank you. It got worse after I started having one in the morning on an empty stomach. I cut it down today but felt a bit tired on the morning. I was feeling calmer though. Got one midday and my concentration improved but now feeling anxious and tight on my chest.

Seems like I may have to cut it completely but how do I keep my energy going. Feel like going home already

I cut out coffee for exactly the symptoms you mentioned. I didn’t even drink much, maybe 2 cups max same as you, but I noticed my anxiety levels were creeping up. When I cut coffee and chocolate out they returned to normal.
I’m not sure if it was contributing to poor moods as well or if that was the chocolate - either way I decided it’s all unnecessary muck and I feel so much better for ditching it!
I now focus on drinking as much water as I possibly can - boring but literally life changing!

Stop drinking caffeine - I have the same effects, I rarely drink caffeine now. I had one this morning whilst out and I feel awful now. I usually drink decaf.

If your energy levels are that bad I’d see your GP and ask for bloods, or focus on sleep and exercise rather than using stimulants :)

I don’t drink alcohol, weight is fine and my appetite was fine when I was on holidays a few weeks ago. Blood tests every year and are fine. Maybe due for another B12 injection

Does decaf help? I don’t really enjoy the taste of coffee anyway.

I think I need to do more excercise

I drink a lot of coffee but never past 1.30pm. Anything after that keeps me up.

But I need a strong morning coffee, never on an empty stomach though. You need at least a piece of toast or yogurt.

Thank you. Will stop coffee completely and focus on water and excercise. Yes, I think the morning on an empty stomach wasn’t a great idea

What do you drink in the morning to keep you going? I used to drink tea so may go back to that.

is it 6pm yet? 😅

Thank you all. My heart is certainly raising after the midday coffee. If I wake up again at 3am. I am going for a run around the block. Hope I do look crazy 🤪

Tea has plenty caffeine in it too, so there's little point swapping coffee for tea unless you're drinking really really strong coffee!

Try herbal teas, some are really refreshing and others calming. There's so much choice.

Herbals teas it is, plus water an excerciae. My heart is racing and my breathing shortener after the middy coffee. I already drunk 3 glasses of water; will keep drinking

Definitely, yes coffee can make you anxious.

I remember this article from Caitlin Moran struck a chord, it has stuck with me

https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/caitlin-moran-why-am-i-so-anxious-t32pmzm7dp8

Thanks for sharing

What do people do to keep energy levels up

How much do you have? If instant try half a teaspoon only? Or tea?

Chocolate and coffee 😂🙈

Caffeine takes over 12 hours to leave your system. And it doesn’t just disrupt the hormone that helps you fall asleep, it also disrupts the hormone that helps you stay asleep.

I love my black coffee but I just have 2 cups between 7-10am and no caffeine after that.

No idea; It is from a coffee machine so quite strong I guess.

I am going to stop it altogether. The effects are awful.

Problem when drinking lots of water is that you have to stuck the toilet to you. 🙈

May re introduce a morning one later on. Will see

Trying to keep together in the office but a couple of people already asked me how are you and us everything ok. So they can probably notice it on my face.