Discover the relationship between caffeine and anxiety, including how caffeine affects anxiety levels and strategies for managing anxiety while still enjoying your favorite caffeinated beverages.
The Relationship Between Caffeine and Anxiety
Caffeine is not necessarily bad and might even offer benefits in moderate doses, however, it is not for everyone.
According to Medical News Today, “People suffering from anxiety should talk to their doctor see if they should limit or avoid caffeine”. (1)
There is also strong evidence that (2):
- Caffeine can mimic the symptoms of anxiety
- There is a link between caffeine and anxiety, especially for sensitive individuals. There is research (3) that shows that patients with mental illness (especially those who have anxiety) are more at risk for harmful effects of caffeine.
- Suddenly stopping caffeine consumption can lead to caffeine withdrawal symptoms
This is why advice such as “stop drinking coffee to help anxiety” is to be taken with a grain of salt. You could have withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly. If you see a pattern where after drinking caffeine you feel more anxious, research ways to decrease your consumption in a safe way, or seek help from someone qualified to help you.
Maybe you do not need to give up on caffeine, but just limit the amount you consume.
Drinking a lot of caffeine is one of those mindless habits that cause anxiety.
Sources
(1) Medical News Today. (n.d.). Anxiety and Caffeine. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/anxiety-and-caffeine#consuming-caffeine-safely
(2) Frothingham, S. (2019, May 24). Does Caffeine Cause Anxiety? Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/caffeine-and-anxiety
(3) Temple, J. L., Bernard, C., Lipshultz, S. E., Czachor, J. D., Westphal, J. A., & Mestre, M. A. (2017). The Safety of Ingested Caffeine: A Comprehensive Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 8, 80. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00080
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