xero052
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Apr 25, 2012
Age: 30
Posts: 47
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 Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 3:55 pm Post subject: Odd response to caffeine and anxiety |
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So I battle with anxiety constantly, and it impairs my life to a great deal. A friend of mine who also suffered from anxiety quit drinking coffee, and said it helped him. But I'm not so sure, it would help because I definitely feel LESS anxious when I'm on caffeine. My moments of most severe anxiety are when I'm tired, usually as bedtime approaches. That caffeine would produce anxiety seems quite logical, it's a stimulant which increases adrenaline and heart rate, etc. But I am better able to control my anxiety during the day, especially when I've had coffee, 5hr, or a sugar free red bull.
Could my anxiety be caused by caffeine withdrawal? And if so, what is the difference between a neruo medication, which will make me feel better when I'm on it, and caffeine, which makes me feel better when I'm on it?
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biostructure
Phoenix
Joined: Dec 18, 2006
Age: 28
Posts: 1185
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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Stimulants cause quite different, sometimes opposite effects for different people.
Sometimes I feel "calmer" when I've had some caffeine because it makes me less antsy and increases confidence about life's purpose. It's still stimulating, and I wouldn't want to have it right before bed, but normally I feel easily bored and therefore tend to question the point of everything or just be impatient for something more profound or exciting. When stimulated, I'm more optimistic and my need for a mild "thrill" is at least somewhat satisfied, so I'm more at ease. |
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xero052
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Apr 25, 2012
Age: 30
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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| biostructure wrote: | Stimulants cause quite different, sometimes opposite effects for different people.
Sometimes I feel "calmer" when I've had some caffeine because it makes me less antsy and increases confidence about life's purpose. It's still stimulating, and I wouldn't want to have it right before bed, but normally I feel easily bored and therefore tend to question the point of everything or just be impatient for something more profound or exciting. When stimulated, I'm more optimistic and my need for a mild "thrill" is at least somewhat satisfied, so I'm more at ease. |
That's me a lot, but I wouldn't say I'm craving a thrill, but more like caffeine gives me the mental focus to correctly interpret the emotions experience provokes in me. If I can't, I just have this generic 'feel bad' emotion that I can't pinpoint the source of
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Your Aspie score: 163 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 45 of 200 You are very likely an Aspie
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DaBeef2112
Snowy Owl
Joined: Dec 19, 2011
Age: 42
Posts: 144
Location: Toronto
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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Do you have ADHD? Cuz if you do then just like Biostructure said stimulants may have the opposite effect on you. They certainly have a calming effect on me. In fact the first thing I noticed when I started taking Concerta was how calm and relaxed it made me feel.
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Self Diagnosed Asperger's since 2010
Officially Diagnosed Asperger's and ADHD-PI March 2012
Your Aspie score: 152 of 200
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edgewaters
hibernating
Joined: Aug 17, 2006
Age: 40
Posts: 2426
Location: Ontario
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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Are you sure it's the caffeine? Hot drinks have a calming effect.
I definately drink coffee for a calming effect, but I think that's just because it's a hot drink. I have it with sugar too because I'm also looking for a pick-me-up. It's a counter to feeling anxious and tired. Creates a sense of being calm but energized. |
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MeshugenahMama
Raven
Joined: Apr 29, 2012
Posts: 107
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| Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Coffee is my absolute biggest comfort food. I drink it from morning to night. It wakes me up, calms me, and centers me. I use a sugar substitute, because if I put sugar in my coffee, considering the amount of coffee I drink, that would be more sugar than I want. It probably is, as edgewaters mentioned, in part due to being a hot drink. I am one of those people that is always always cold. I also tend to be an insomniac (I know-now there's a surprise). I find that the coffee gives me the energy at night to be able to at least make use of that time, instead of being too awake to sleep, but too tired to accomplish anything. |
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