I feel so stupid lately because before I would just drink whatever I wanted but since having anxiety I try to avoid as much caffeine as possible.
I only have PG tips tea bags at home as I have ran out of decaf ones.
Would PG tips make my anxiety feel worse because of the caffeine?
Thank you x
Caffeine is a stimulant. It doesn't cause your anxiety but it won't help, especially if you have too much, because it can speed up your thinking
NewUserx, PG Tips Tea is not causing you anxiety. You cause your anxiety yourself by releasing fear and stress hormones every time you experience the symptoms of anxiety. These hormones are what keep your nervous system over sensitised. In this state they continue to play tricks on you maybe causing panic attacks, health anxiety, depression caused by the depletion of nervous energy - and exaggerating small problems out of all proportion to their importance.
Maybe you have been fighting your anxiety? Stop fighting as fighting only causes more stress and tension. Instead surrender to your anxiety and accept it for the time being. Accept it calmly and with the minimum of fear thus giving your sensitised nerves a chance to recover by breaking the vicious circle of symptoms causing fear causing more symptoms causing more fear causing more symptoms...
Maybe you try to ignore your anxiety or distract yourself from its symptoms. You can stop that too as recovery does not lie that way: you must Face your anxiety and pass straight through it every time whilst practicing Acceptance rather than trying to find a way to dodge round it.
Do you spend time trying to find medical cures for your symptoms? Don't waste your time, those health symptoms don't exist, they are fake symptoms caused by over sensitised nerves: they never show up in scans or blood tests, they are frauds and confidence tricksters. You cannot cure yourself of illnesses you don't have no matter how hard you try.
So the answer to your question is: the small amounts of caffeine in PG Tips isn't what's causing your agoraphobia, derealisation, depersonalisation, headaches, muscular pains, dizziness, lump in the throat, fear of imminent death, claustrophobia, palpitations or what have you.
You're doing that all by yourself - and the answer is to utterly Accept your anxiety for the time being. Learn to coexist with it for the moment without stressing and obsessing and without fear - and give your exhausted nervous system a chance to recover.
Thank you for the advice I really appreciate it.
I am trying to accept the feelings but I don’t know how to?
When I have a symptom i tell myself that I am fine I am safe but it doesn’t help I still feel terrified.
It’s horrible to feel like this in your own body.
Yeah I do try to fight it, I’m worried about having a panic attack all the time it really is horrible.
I appreciate your advice and I will try and find ways to accept my symptoms so hopefully my body can start to recover and I can feel human again. X
NewUserx, please remember that all your symptoms are sham illnesses not real illness. They are caused by your nervous system imitating real illness. So you are in no danger, these fraudulent symptoms can do no lasting harm. They can't kill you, they can't disable you, they can't send you crazy. Anxiety does not have the power to do that.
These symptoms are blips in your nervous system. Why be bullied and frightened by a blip?
I know that panic attacks are unpleasant, you must go through them to recover. Like the other symptoms of anxiety they can do you no harm. You are like a rock on the shore: the waves come crashing in and round and over you and then recede. But the rock endures. You are that rock. Once again, panic attacks are a nuisance but nothing to fear.
Anxiety feeds on fear. Deny it it's sustanance and it dies and you will recover.
These things are sent to try us but whatever ordeal comes our way we are given the strength to overvome it.
There is a short book about the Acceptance method for overcoming and recovering from anxiety in all its guises. It was written a long, long time ago by a doctor called Claire Weekes who first set out the method. It is easy to read, devoid of complex medical terms. As you read it you will think she knew you, that she is talking to you specifically. You will recognise yourself in its pages. The book will bring you understanding, reassurance and a route to recovery by accepting your symptoms for the moment and not fighting them.
In the u.k. its title is 'Self help for your nerves', in the u.s. the same book is titled 'Hope and help for your nerves' by Claire Weekes. It has brought relief and recovery to untold thousands. It is available new or used for just a few £$ from Amazon. I commend this book to you.
With its help you will learn to 'float' through panic fearlessly. In the meantime when anxiety strikes breathe in slowly to the count of 4, hold it for a few seconds, then release it slowly to the count of 4 and repeat. This releases natural tranqillisers that will calm you.
I wish you well in your recovery which will surely come when you cease 'putting up' with it and start 'accepting' it.
Hi Jeff 1943
I know what you're saying is correct. I bought the book by Dr Claire Weekes, and started reading it have tried to let my bad thoughts float away as she puts it, but having difficulties!!! My anxiousness is getting the better of me I'm taking pregablin and venlafaxine and just about to start C.B.T has anyone tried this therapy? Would be grateful for any positive feed-back thanks very much Anx!
You 'started' reading it...
Thanks for replying to me unfortunately I can't get all of the text that you have written, can you please send it to me again, thanks.
Hi Anxc, I think that was all of the text. It read "You 'started' reading it..." That's all.
You see, if I had bad anxiety and I'd just bought a book which said: this book is all about you and how to recover your mental health, well, I wouldn't be able to put it down until I'd finished it.
You picked up on something the author wrote about letting bad thoughts float away and when it didn't produce instant results you seem to have lost interest. Claire Weekes' books may bring immediate understanding and reassurance but they certainly don't offer instant results. That's why her fourth imperitive is: And let time pass.
We all seek instant gratification of our needs but the only things that give instant results in mental health are valium and xanax and you can't take those forever. Everything else, longer term medication, talking therapy and self-help methods take lots of time and patience.
Thank you so much for the useful advice I really do appreciate it you give me a lot of comfort.
That’s true I need to start accepting them more instead of fighting them.
Yeah I need to remind myself that they are harmless hopefully then I won’t reach the point of a panic attack.
I’ll look into the book thank you iv heard a few people mention it so I will give it a try.
Thank you again!x
When you reach the point that it no longer matters to you whether you are going to have a panic attack or not you are within touching distance of a full recovery. That's how it works. Read the book. Then read it again until the teachings therein come to you like a reflex action. Don't be put off by the fact it was written nearly 60 years ago when society was structured differently. It has withstood the test of time. I will say no more.
This is the best post I have ever seen. Thank you!
100% I was feeling great for quite a while and thought I could andle drinking green tea, what a big mistake triggered my anxiety again and now I’m not n a bad place, so I’m never having caffeine again I’m just intolerant. Hope you feel better soon.
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