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Caffeine - a major contributor to anxiety and depression

Posted , 9 users are following.

pete1066
pete1066

I was fairly convinced I was drinking too much coffee and was damaging my health. Caffeine raised my anxiety, stomach problems, sleep problems, felt exhausted with low energy, as well as a number of horrible dependency related side-effects. I gave it up cold-turkey recently and felt horrible for 3 or 4 days - I actually feel great now and not missing it! No alcohol, no caffeine, healthy food, I feel great!  Depression much lower, energy way up, emotional health feels good too. Took inspiration from many others who have given it up and put video diaries on YouTube. Has enormously helped to hear other people's experiences. I wonder if caffeine is not good for some of us who get depression/anxiety and makes these conditons worse.  Coffee is common place but it effects are considerable on the nervous system. Given up; no regrets!!! :-)

3 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • deb44437
    deb44437 pete1066

    Posted

    Hi pete 'WOW' you have given me such thought towards caffeine.  Never realised that it had such an impact on our bodies..   Will take your inspiration & give things ago..  CHEERS champ!

  • wayne1962
    wayne1962 pete1066

    Posted

    Hi Pete - yes, there are so many mixed messages about our diets. I read somewhere that caffeine can 'prevent' dementia. It is a drug, and like most drugs, it can affect everyone differently. Still, it's wise to experiment with ones diet, to see what works and what doesn't. Caffeine isn't crucial for good health.

  • pete1066
    pete1066

    Posted

    Have a look at some of the Youtube diaries of caffeine dependency and giving-up. Very inspiring!!!  The coffee drug has become a national dependency I think.  You have seen people queuing-up for their caffeine fix at the huge number of coffee chains. If they dont get it they feel horrible and get really bad withdrawal symptoms. Too many people rely on it to give them a 'boost' when in fact it robs them of energy longer term and damages their health (both mental and physical). A lot of people with depression/anxiety drink buckets of the stuff as it makes them feel temporarily better, but in fact it makes their situation worse - heightening anxiety, increasing depression, robbing them of natural energy.  They get in a cycle of smoking-alcohol- coffee-smoking-alcohol-coffee....  Does it turn out well? Nope...  All nervous system stimulants have a price to pay.  In the case of coffee and caffiene it can make many people even more depressed & anxious and dependent.  More suspectible people probably very vulnerbale to its effects.  Add to that; brown stained teeth, digestion issues,  jitters, smelly coffee breath, huge expense, skin ageing, adrenal damage, brain and body dependency (try stopping and see how ill you will feel!)... At higher levels its highly toxic. I'm happy not to have low levels of toxic substances in my system.  On a psychological level, I think stimulants give many people the confidence and energy to lead rediculously stressful lives. They then get depressed&anxious bcos they cant keep up the level of commitment and so drink more coffee/alcohol/sugar to compensate, when in fact putting their lifestyle first would be the route to a happier healthier and more fulfilling life. We need to listen to our bodies more; not pumping them with stimulants. Alcohol and coffee and bad food causing more damage to our health as a nation than we like to acknowledge I think.

  • amber67855
    amber67855 pete1066

    Posted

    Coffee is my 'go to' for comfort when I feel depressed or anxious, a nice cup of hot coffee comforts me, I have no idea why lol

    • pete1066
      pete1066 amber67855

      Posted

      I think this it what drugs do... We feel we need them, our brains get a small reward, the cycle goes on and on.  Maybe a very easy temporary fix, but likely actually makes anxiety and stress feelings worse in longterm (have a look online  about effects of caffeine on our bodies).  I would guarantee you pretty much 100% that if you cut out the coffee and replace with something else your depression will get much better. I know you dont believe me and will dismiss this suggestion. But you have the option to give it a try. Message me if you want to try it.
  • BT_Says...
    BT_Says... pete1066

    Posted

    Pete

    That's really interesting, thanks.

    To keep it in perspective, and understand this phenomenon better, could you please share with us how much coffee you were drinking previously? And was this always 'coffee bean' coffee, eg Costa etc.? - or sometimes / always 'instant' coffee?

    • pete1066
      pete1066 BT_Says...

      Posted

      250mg Costa caffeine cappuccino, plus 200mg tea caffeine per day. Sometimes a soft drink with caffeine content. Probably 300-400mg per day on average.  Now on day 10 totally caffeine free in drinks and food. Feeling pretty good still. No cravings for coffee but occ habitual thought of having a coffee goes through my mind, but its nothing and easily overcome. 
  • Chris8968
    Chris8968 pete1066

    Posted

    Everything in moderation. Nothing wrong with caffeine.
  • arthur62818
    arthur62818 pete1066

    Posted

    Hey Pete,

    I can't agree more with you on that. Yes, coffee, alcohol, drugs, poor diet and etc...can trigger anxiety. One should always get at least 8 hours of good night's sleep and stay physically active. Oh, and negative people too.

  • ellebi
    ellebi pete1066

    Posted

    So true, if I have too much caffeine my anxiety goes crazy. Have ended up hospitlised before from an energy drink
  • Aspinan
    Aspinan pete1066

    Posted

    If you like your coffee try decaf coffee, I can't tell the difference in taste. 

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