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Original poster

Does coffee actually affect mental health?

34 replies

Whatsthatspookynoise · 15/01/2021 14:04

I've always been a coffee drinker, but for Xmas I got multiple coffee machines which can make very strong coffee and I've been drinking a few of these a day. I'm on Sertraline and it's helped my anxiety SO much. Recently I've started to feel anxious over nothing again. Paranoid everyone hates me. Worried about something, but don't know what it is, feeling a bit down etc. The only thing I have changed is my increase in coffee.

This may seem weird, but it's the only thing I can think of.

OP posts:
Jetatyeovilaerodrome · 15/01/2021 14:06

Following with interest.

lemorella · 15/01/2021 14:06

A colleague of mine told me he gave up caffeine about 15 years ago because he really notices a dip in his mental health when drinking lots of tea and coffee, I think there could certainly be a link!

Dundundunnn · 15/01/2021 14:07

I'm surprised it's helped your anxiety as if I have more than one cup a day I feel very uneasy, twitchy and panicky.
This isn't to say it hasn't helped you and it may well interact with sertraline in that way. Great news if so 😁

Dundundunnn · 15/01/2021 14:08

Sorry I've just realised I totally misread your post... Yes, it defo makes me anxious! It's a stimulant...

MrsFluffyMuff · 15/01/2021 14:10

It's the Caffeine! I switched to decaf and noticed a huge difference, i couldn't give it up altogether :)

Original poster
Whatsthatspookynoise · 15/01/2021 15:28

@Dundundunnn Haha, I would LOVE it of coffee made anxiety better. I would drink 10 times more 😆

I think I'll cut down then switch to decaffeinated coffee to see if it helps. Just wanted to know what others thought about caffeine and anxiety.

OP posts:
WhatsTheTea · 16/01/2021 16:49

Cut out the caffeine first (or down) you might get terrible headaches to start with.

If no improvement it could be the dose of sertraline has plateaued and you might need an increase.

GoldfishParade · 20/01/2021 06:37

I've noticed coffee can trigger the beginning of what feels like could become a panic attack in me.

I used to be able to drink five or six cups of coffee a day, now after one my body starts feeling twitchy and breathless so I'm thinking about cutting it out entirely as much as I love it

Mistigri · 20/01/2021 06:39

My daughter suffers from anxiety and can't drink much coffee as she would like.

I think that because excess coffee consumption mimics some of her anxiety symptoms (jitteriness, upset stomach), it sets off her anxiety - kind of a vicious circle.

Aquamarine1029 · 20/01/2021 06:41

Coffee/caffeinated drinks 100% affect your anxiety. I drank coffee every day, loads of it, since I was a teen. When I got older, around 39/40, it became my enemy, and this is not unusual.

Cut out caffeine for at least two weeks and see how you feel.

jendifer · 20/01/2021 07:03

Yes- it’s a stimulant.

You can manage it sometimes by having food just before or by making the coffee weaker/lots of milk.

Fluffyunicorn1 · 20/01/2021 07:25

There’s a strong link between caffeine and anxiety. It’s not the coffee itself it’s the caffeine in it - same with tea but tea doesn’t have as much caffeine in as coffee.

I suffered with anxiety very bad after an abusive relationship and break up. I couldn’t eat very much without feeling sick so I was getting through the day on mainly coffee. Now I have 1 cup in a morning and then drink water or squash for the rest of the day and my anxiety has lowered dramatically.

There is definitely a link

Darklingthrush · 20/01/2021 07:29

Yes! I limit myself to one cup a day now because of this.

Porridgeoat · 20/01/2021 07:29

Just have one cup first thing daily

Hagster · 20/01/2021 07:34

I cut out caffeine a few years ago and I'll never go back! Still drink tea and coffee, but decaffeinated. Just a warning though, if you go cold turkey you might well notice some serious withdrawal - I felt exhausted and headachey for about a week. But then after that all good!

squishee · 20/01/2021 07:46

I have a job that puts me on the spot. I soon worked out that I need to have tea instead of coffee before going out on duty, otherwise I get jittery.
Love a strong coffee though!

NoPupIsTooSmall · 20/01/2021 07:51

This is so interesting! I don't think I've ever noticed a link but do suffer feelings of stress, generalised anxiety, low mood and can't always pinpoint why. I have noticed palpitations lately from coffee which I've ever had before. I've drink multiple strong coffees daily from early teens to my late 30s.

ParadiseLaundry · 20/01/2021 08:31

If I have too much coffee I definitely feel noticeably more anxious and dare I say paranoid.

Greenmarmalade · 20/01/2021 08:33

Yes! Caffeine can trigger panic attacks on people with anxiety. Definitely cut down and then go totally decaf.

MerryDecembermas · 20/01/2021 08:44

The type of coffee makes a difference too. I noticed feeling paranoia and despair linked to a new coffee which was barista style. I've gone back to the milder old fashioned instant and much improved.

User38385463 · 20/01/2021 08:47

I've heard that caffeine can work for ADHD/ADD. Though it's one of the very few (or only?) MH disorder that responds well to stimulants and many people find symptoms improve. I have ADD and find my mind is calmer and clearer after drinking coffee. I don't get as easily distracted and have a 2 hour window of actually getting things done productively.

Candiscophonous · 20/01/2021 08:48

Oh 100% . I’ve given it up entirely now. Makes me feel anxious/ angry /stressed.... can’t do it.

Fallox · 20/01/2021 08:56

Agree with the above! Caffeine can almost trick your body into anxiety. Your body works on feedback so sometimes will mistake something like increased heart rate for anxiety and give you a nice dose of panic to go with it. It can put you into a "fight or flight" mode

Its similar to those people who can't do breathing exercises because thee holding their breath mirror's the start of a panic attack and triggers one, or equally one of the medications for anxiety mostly works by simply regulating your heart (thus tricking your body into a state of calm because everything must be fine if your heart beat isnt raised right?)

For me too much caffeine gives me restless energy (the same I get with anxiety) that can increase dark thoughts

I guess it also is probably linked into other things like sleep. If you are drinking caffeine then your sleep might be poor, or you might be trying to compensate and force your body to work on bugger all sleep.

I did once have far too much caffeine and began to hallucinate but I'm pretty sure that was also partly due to the fact I was drinking it as I hadn't slept in days

Candiscophonous · 20/01/2021 09:00

I also think the crash/ down makes me get fat, or at least sabotages any effort I make to diet.
So although the initial high/ appetite suppressant effect is powerful, the crash down/ after effect makes me want to eat vast amounts of sugar. I noticed this when low- carbing. Coffee always ruined my efforts.

Newfor2021 · 20/01/2021 09:04

OMG yes!!

I’ve never been a coffee drinker but I can’t even drink green tea now, or anything more than say 2 sips of coke as the caffeine is too strong.

What happens (before I realised it was the caffeine) was I’d suddenly start feeling anxious and have heart palpitations..... then I’d sit there and go what am I anxious about?
And realise it was the caffeine! 🙄