Does coffee actually affect mental health?

[Whatsthatspookynoise]

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.

It can provoke anxiety. I find that if I have too much caffeine I feel really existentially anxious late afternoon time (I'm on citalopram which usually holds it off).

It can definitely trigger anxiety, I think because of the physical effects such as increased heart rate (?) which are a bit like you get with anxiety. So if you're prone to it, it sort of sets off those processes and thoughts.
I have read it's linked to lower depression levels though.
Can you cut down a bit and see if that helps, maybe try being a bit more active as a way of discharging the negative effects.

Green tea has L Theanine which is good for ADHD. I can only do 1 cup of caffeine a day. Do. Not. Go. Cold. Turkey. Unless you want to feel terrible for a week.

Caffeine is a drug, which like any drug can interact with other drugs such as sertraline. It is possible that the caffeine is affecting the absorption of your sertraline. If it makes you feel worse, cut down (gradually lol speaking from experience!) and see if you feel better.

Just an update. I cut down to one or two INSTANT coffees a day rather than the super strong machine ones I was guzzling and I've noticed that mentally I do feel a lot better. I really, really miss drinking so much of it, but thank you to everyone that replied. It all helped me.

I find a huge difference in anxiety and paranoia with coffee. I’ve moved almost entirely to decaf but probably ought to give up tea too as love strong tea.

I honestly see a huge difference as coffee triggers definite anxiety In me and it took me much too long to make the connection

Yes! Any more than one coffee and I’m so anxious. My thoughts race and can become unbearable!

I didn't drink tea or coffee until my late 30s. I have found drinking one coffee a day stimulates me in a positive way. More than one and it makes me edgy.