I suffer with depressive episodes and generalised anxiety disorder. I had a bad episode last September and I made some lifestyle changes which included completely cutting out alcohol and also caffeinated coffee (I still consume caffeine if it is in something like coke zero for example).
I certainly don't miss drinking alcohol but I do miss having a caffeinated coffee in the morning just to give me a little boost.
My problem is that since last September, any little change I feel in my body I catastrophise and convince myself that I am about to have a panic attack which then of course causes me to have a panic attack. I very much panic over panic! So I am concerned that if I drink a caffeinated coffee that my heartrate will increase and I will be in a bad place again. (I felt so rubbish in September I'm just concerned of ever feeling like that again).
I guess I am just wondering if anyone else has/is experiencing something similar and if/how they reintroduced caffeinated drinks?
Thanks!
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LJB98
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nothing wrong with a single cup. It has antioxidants. The uplift is actually psychedelic not caffeine. Over doing the coffee which most Americans do, is when you go wrong. All you get in Coke is caffeine.
Honestly, I think some caffeine is natural and needed. My mother is in end stage Parkinsons and when she was diagnosed at age 50 (early) one of the questions they asked were do you drink caffeine and red wine. My mother stayed away from both her whole life. They said one glass of red wine and one cup of coffee could have pushed the onset out (maybe it's true). Her older brother just died from Parkinsons and he ate, drank and was happy until it hit him at age 70. Who knows! Just a random comment. I have one 10 ounce coffee a day. I do not tolerate any alcohol. I restrict more due to GI issues.
they said red wine helped heart disease but they eventually reversed it because they didn’t take into account typical lifestyle. Could be wishful thinking. Coffee does have some value on its own though. I also limit it to one cup.
Have you tried pour over or cold brew? They might be easier.
This is a pretty legit study in 2020 done by the NIH on Parkinsons/caffeine which may be considered soon as autoimmune. My only point was that a single cup a day is just fine. I don't have issues with my one cup and if I miss a day I no longer have a headache.
that’s about caffeine not wine. My comment about wishful thinking was about wine. They seem to regularly come out with studies on the benefits of wine and then backtrack. In moderation…for your mood for sure. I love wine but it doesn’t take that much to overdo it. They’ve backtracked with other foods too. I think eventually they will say it’s your lifestyle not a particular food although some are better than others. Just my opinion.
I wholeheartedly agree with one cup as stated. That said I couldn’t resist a tahini honey latte yesterday!
What do you do for your panic attacks when they hit, regardless of the cause? I could not function without coffee, but due to anxiety, I limit it to 1-2 cups a day, otherwise it gives me anxiety! Like others have said, coke is just giving you caffeine, coke zero is probably one of the worst things you could drink w the artificial sugar in it, it's horrible for blood sugars and the likes. You're probably better off just enjoying an all-natural cup o joe. Again, as peeps have mentioned, cold brew is easier on the constitution (I cannot drink cold coffee...?!?) but a reasonable amount of coffee has good things in it that can help the body. Do you do any breathing techniques for your panic attacks? There's a million of them out there. I like the 4-square; you breathe in for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, breathe out for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, repeat until breathing is better. I tap it out on my hand as an additional tactile grounding to help pull me back to reality. You'll know when that is.... I think coffee can be your friend, much more than coke zero is.... ☕💕
hi thank you so much for the advice! When I’m panicking the best thing for me is TIPP skills so I either splash my face with cold water or have a cold shower. I also love progressive muscle relaxation, especially before bed, I don’t think I’ve ever made it to the end of a video before falling asleep! I think I’ll just try a cup and see what happens! If it does cause a panic attack I have both the skills and medication to cope with it should it happen!x
I count my breathe, out breathe usually. As I start to panic, I start paying more attention to the body. Relaxing head back face muscles all the way down. But still trying to count and follow breath.
I have an anxiety disorder and used to suffer debilitating panic attacks. I still have them but they are much more controlled now. I love coffee and matcha tea and drink them everyday, but in small amounts. One cup is fine but two cups sends anxiety into high gear. I dilute them down with water which helps too. Try not to fear the panic. That fear becomes a whole other issue on it’s own. Be well.
thank you for the advice! I was exactly the same when I did drink coffee, was fine with one but if I had a second around midday I’d either get anxious or become irrationally irritated at anything!
I'd stay away from caffeine iif u are anything like me. I took caffeine pills back, when i was on benzos & was fine, but since I've been off benzos, i can't have ANY caffeine, or else i have a panic attack (i don't drink anything except water & occasional apple or cranberry juice, or a Gatorade maybe). I've tried several times to start having caffeine again, & even tea gives me panic attacks. It's far harder to overcome the barrage of thoughts when ur mind speeds up, or at least it is for me.
Caffeine isn’t the culprit because if it was you wouldn’t be able to have soda. Your mindset is. If you’re going to go into it thinking you’re going to have a panic attack and anticipate having one then you will have one. The way I “cured” myself from debilitating panic attacks was to induce them and then move through them > it’s called Exposure Therapy and it’s really the only way to overcome panic attacks. So my suggestion is to have the coffee and then if you have a panic attack - sit with it. Don’t try to fight it. Sit with your emotions. You know you’re not having a heart attack. You know you’re not dying. You KNOW it’s just a panic attack and coffee isn’t the bad guy. Remember the only way out is through.
love this advice thank you! I might have a cup of normal coffee when I’m with family or friends so if it does result in a panic attack I know I’m safe with people who understand my situation! You’re absolutely right, I’ve got into my own head about just one flipping cup of coffee and made it into this big thing!
There are several things you can try to get a little bit of caffeine in the morning. One would be green tea. The other would be half-caf which is coffee with half the usual amount of caffeine. Keep in mind also that diet Coke has a lot of caffeine in it. Caffeine stays in your body for about 24 hours.
The other issue here is the fact that you have generalized anxiety disorder in and get panic attacks. These need to be addressed therapeutically. Actual therapy, medication, meditation, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy are all tools you could use to reduce your general anxiety level.
hi! Thanks for the advice, I’m on both sertraline and propranolol and having CBT sessions just miss a little boost in the morning! I think I might try green tea and see how it goes
Caffeine is a tricky one. Did you only drink it in the morning or during the day? There seem to be a lot of variables when it comes to how your body feels. Were you sensitive to caffeine before you made your lifestyle changes? Do you drink a full glass of water when you wake up?
I never drank coffee. I did drink a Pepsi with breakfast and lunch. I switched to Pepsi Zero, but the list of chemicals is scary. I went cold turkey on caffeine except for a tea once in a while. Arnold Palmer Lite half tea half lemonade. But I just drink it and don’t count on a boost from it. Rehydrating your brain in the morning actually does more than the caffeine.
Test out different amounts and frequency. Drop expectations for any dramatic impact in either direction and you may get a more realistic response.
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It’s just not easing up 
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