I got diagnosed with adhd last September aged 33. I've chosen not to take medication at this point, but have recently stopped drinking caffeine for health reasons. Since I've stopped I think I feel much more symptomatic than normal, and finding it much harder to focus on things, or find flow state.
I just wondered if anyone else had been through a similar thing before? And if anyone has any tips on how to cope or things to do to help? I exercise daily, and that's good, but it's not enough at the moment.
Would love your thoughts and any advice!
Written by
scaterbrain101
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I say withdraw gradually. I cut coffee from two 16 oz cups a day to two 12 oz cups and sometimes one 12 oz cup. And no coffee after 12 noon for sleeping. Abrupt stops lead to withdrawal pains in my experience. You may need a distraction such as sugar free gum.
Caffeine upregulates dopamine receptor growth, so it generally has a positive impact on (helps with) ADHD symptoms.
Why did you stop drinking coffee? If it was because of anxiety, then it makes sense.
Otherwise, if you're sleeping badly, it may be the way you're using caffeine, not the drug itself.
If you drink coffee before 10am, the caffeine accelerates then suppresses the body's natural waking process, which is adrenergic. The result is that you start needing coffee to wake up, instead of waking naturally. Also, caffeine has a half life of up to five hours, which means it can still be affecting you ten hours after your last cup. The time of day that a coffee offers the most benefit is early afternoon, after the worst of the postprandial slump has worn off. If that is about 2pm, then caffeine should be completely cleared from your system by midnight, which means it probably won't seriously interrupt your sleep. More or less...
Instead of giving up coffee, maybe limit drinking it to between morning and afternoon tea time.
Also, to get better sleep, try to get some sunlight for ten minutes, as soon as you wake up. Also, make your bedroom as dark as possible. There's a ton of other sleep hygiene tips you might try, if any of this applies.
Thanks, I'm trying for a baby and caffeine reduces fertility, so trying to do everything to improve it. I'm also conscious that if I get pregnant i'll need to be without caffeine while pregnant and reduced breastfeeding.
I think it will just take some time to get used to.
I ended up finding some focus with binaural beats yday and that calmed me and helped me to focus for a while.
Know all the benefits of caffeine, so wasn't a decision I took lightly...
Will check out the huberman lab podcasts as not seen them before.
I gave up coffee when I was doing ski field work, with very early starts, long, physical days, and needing a lot of focus. I decided I needed a good nights sleep more than I needed the caffeine, so I started drinking a herbal energy tea. I think it was Healtheries Energize, but I don't have any in the house to check the ingredients, sorry. Anyway, it was a good alternative.
My ADHD wasn't a problem with the job, since it was enjoyable and there was always a lot going on.
Hi Scaterbrain ?Scatterbrain, you've taken yourself off one of the most effective home treatments for ADHD, the other being Nicotine. This makes no sense. Go back on Coffee, have as much as you want and forget about health issues. There's absolutely no evidence that Caffeine is harmful in otherwise healthy people, on the contrary:
Why this myth of "must come off coffee" is spread by so many people is beyond me. It seems to me that it has to do with life being more fun on it than off it. If it would affect your sleep you'd have written about it (presumably). If it happens deal with it as you naturally would (common sense). Or as per previous comment if you'd rather use instructions. Strongly reconsider - or at least keep a very open mind about - medical treatment. It's indicated and you find this confirmed as you do your online scientific research. If you'd rather live with ADHD then do! It's not only doom and gloom after all. I had a great time for many years despite it and not aware of it whilst on Citalopram 40mg daily for anxiety for many years and used my aquired coping strategies to good effect until events triggered an exacerbation of anxiety which ultimately led to the diagnosis of comorbidity with ADHD mixed type. Now I love being on the combi of Lisdexamfetamine and Venlafaxine but would probably have felt and functioned sufficiently well on just the Venlafaxine. Or Citalopram. With or without psychological therapy and/or change of focus. But the Lisdexamfetamine gives me a kick, makes thinking, reading, moving, feeling, just existing and being creative so much more enjoyable and positive I wouldn't come off it now. And just if you wonder: It's slow release and after a year on it I don't think I'll ever get addicted to it. But it most definitely enhances my sense of wellbeing on several levels.
Sorry to be a pain but I see some of myself in your going off caffeine decision. There are thousands of factors that affect pregnancy and fertility and quality of life and on and on. I would say that caffeine is probably #2,041 on the list of three thousand bad factors. I've done what you have done.
But just keep in mind: you are human. And if caffeine gives you some focus and a bit of a mood life, that focus and mood lift will likely dwarf any negative effect. You'll eat better with better focus, think better, act less impulsively and on and on.
So stay with your program--because it seems to fit you. But in the future, I say keep an eye on the big picture. There is nothing worse for any goal than untreated ADHD, which impairs our basic ability to think clearly, makes it harder to make good decisions and thus interrupts our ability to take care of ourselves.
Untreated ADHD is a major hit on life longevity because we can't take good care ourselves. Untreated ADHD is a hit against the basic infrastructure of our bodies. Impair the brain and impair human thinking and decision-making and mood, and you can disrupt everything.
Pregnancy goal #1: let that parent take care of themselves! ... Hugely! ...
I am in healthcare related to maternal/child health (I don't want to violate my own confidentiality w too many details, sorry!) and would strongly recommend getting off as much caffeine as possible, ideally all caffeine, before conceiving. I know you are human, and definitely discuss your diagnosis with your healthcare provider. You want to take care of your mental health, too! Pregnancy and new parenthood are very stressful and require self care and executive functioning, too. I am sending you hugs--it is not easy, but your baby will be worth it, I promise. Please discuss any and all medicines, including anything herbal/vitamins etc, with your ob/gyn before taking anything while trying to conceive.
I cut caffeine because it was exasperating my symptoms. Already hyper and caffeine was making me extra jittery and impulsive.
I take Cognitive once a week to once every other week from Nordic naturals. It helps but it is expensive.
Have you tried meditation and/or yoga? I find these two help me stay focused and centered.
It sounds like you brain also became acclimated to using the caffeine to stimulate you and now it’s going through withdrawal/trying to figure out how to function without just like any drug. When I quit drinking coffee I had headaches, was tired, and my bowel movements became irregular for about two weeks. Since then, no problems.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Careers suited for ADHD?
ADHD professor support group
First time on adhd medication.
Character flaws or ADHD? 
ADHD and Excessive sweating? 
