Preventing Anxiety: Anxiety and Caffeine

Can caffeine be an "anxiety booster"? Experts of the online platform Psychological support advise you to think about it.

The link between caffeine and anxiety is subtle at first glance. On the contrary, after drinking coffee or tea (by the way, caffeine is also found in soda, energy drinks), we temporarily feel good, and we feel disturbing consequences only after a few hours.

The peculiarity of caffeine lies in its increased mobility, because its molecule is so small that it easily passes the blood-brain barrier and reaches the brain in just 20 minutes. When the molecule enters the brain, it blocks the absorption of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that signals the brain about a state of drowsiness. In addition, caffeine increases blood pressure and stimulates the central nervous system.

There are also studies indicating that even one cup of caffeinated drink raises cortisol levels and thus stimulates increased anxiety, and reducing caffeine intake benefits people with anxiety disorders.

In studies examining the effects of caffeine in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) compared with healthy patients, patients with GAD have been found to be abnormally sensitive to caffeine.

The fact that caffeine causes panic attacks. also been proven experimentally. It turned out that 52% of people who had never experienced panic attacks before, after drinking coffee and caffeine, there were cases of increased anxiety and panic attacks. The same reaction was observed in 41% of first-degree relatives. And the combination of caffeine and high levels of stress in rare cases even caused hallucinations. People who suffer from anxiety disorders and are addicted to coffee are advised to reduce the amount of caffeine gradually, as giving up caffeine leads to a full-fledged withdrawal syndrome, which can manifest itself in the form of headache or muscle pain, fatigue, apathy, or even depression.

Helpful Hints

If you decide to give up caffeine, follow these recommendations:

• Drink more water throughout the day to keep you hydrated and make it easier to eliminate caffeine.
• try replacing black or green tea with a variety of herbal teas. Chamomile or valerian root are considered among the best teas for anxiety;
• If you experience any symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, such as headache, take a caffeine-free pain reliever.

Source: Psychological support