Coffee and Anxiety Attacks – Is Caffeine Good or Bad for Stress?

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When I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, I was told to stay away from caffeine because coffee and anxiety attacks don’t mix…or rather, they do mix together very well, causing more anxiety.

I didn’t drink coffee back then, but I did consume caffeine in the form of sodas.

Does Coffee Cause Anxiety Attacks?

Coffee probably doesn’t cause anxiety attacks, but the caffeine can generate the same effect.  Caffeine increases “flight or fight” adrenaline hormones, the same hormones that begin pumping when you begin to feel anxious or have a panic attack.  So, if you’re prone to anxiety attacks, consuming coffee and other caffeinated beverages is probably not the best idea.

Does that keep me from drinking coffee?  No, it doesn’t. Why?  Because I get grouchy when I don’t get it, so I drink it anyway.

I don’t drink it if I’m having an anxiety attack already, though.

Some Scientists Think Caffeine is Good For Stress

I read recently that you can eliminate stress by simply drinking a coke.  What?  I was always told it was the other way around, and that coffee and caffeine were the enemy of stress and anxiety sufferers.

But according to some studies, women who drank a caffeinated beverage before embarking on a stressful situation had less symptoms of stress than those who didn’t.*

Huh?  Yeah, I am also confused.  And it only gets worse.

Some scientists now believe that caffeine boosts your mood and energy.  I get that, under normal circumstances, this would be the case.  But if you’re prone to anxiety, I don’t believe it.  But then, scientists go on to say that it “increases your confidence by upping your levels of the ‘fight or flight’ hormone adrenaline.” *

What?!

Does that make sense to you, because it makes no sense to me.  How does upping the adrenaline levels of an individual prone to anxiety helpful in any way?

Extra Adrenaline is NOT Good for Stress!

When you have an anxiety attack, your adrenaline starts to build in a negative way.  The fight or flight response is triggered, and without enough of an outlet, the sufferer begins to shut down.

At least, this is how I experience it.  I start to fidget.  I begin to snap at people.  My mind is racing, and I feel as if I am losing control.  My hands and feet become cold from bad circulation, perhaps even numb.  I feel as if I’m completely losing control of myself, and maybe even start to believe that I am dying.

I once had a panic attack like this, and other symptoms manifested which made us all believe I had eaten something I was allergic to.  So, we called 9-1-1, and the paramedics gave me epinephrine to, what they thought would, save my life because my throat was tight.  My throat was tight because of a panic attack.  I already had adrenaline coursing through my body.

And they added more, right into my blood stream.  BAM!

Did I feel better?  Hell no, I didn’t!  I felt worse!

So how exactly do coffee and anxiety attacks mix?  How does caffeine reduce a stressful situation?

Extreme Scientific FAIL!

*Source: Woman’s World, April 25th edition, page 13.

Related articles

• Dealing With Anxiety Attacks (foxnews.com)
• What kind of doctor should I see about panic attacks and anxiety? (zocdoc.com)
• Caffeine High… Caffeine Die? (millenniallemons.com)