Coffee -
No drug is used more widely in the world than caffeine. However, sometimes people forget that it is a powerful stimulant. For some people, caffeine may help with concentration and provide an energy boost, but it can also trigger feelings of anxiety or irritability. Did you know it takes your body more than 5 hours to metabolize just half of the caffeine you have consumed?
Caffeine is a stimulant - and that can be bad news for someone with anxiety. Caffeine can cause jittery effects on your body that are similar to those of a frightening event. That's because caffeine stimulates your "fight or flight" response, and studies show that this can make anxiety worse and can even trigger an anxiety attack. And as with the symptoms of anxiety, one too many cups of Joe may leave you feeling nervous, moody, and can keep you up all night.
What is considered too much?
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The Food and Drug Administration considers a daily intake of 400 mg of caffeine or less to be a safe amount for most adults (exceptions including pregnant women and others with special restrictions).
An average cup of home-brewed coffee has about 100 mg versus a “small” cup from your favorite coffee shop with about 250 mg. Consuming more than 400 mg at once may lead to feeling anxious and overstimulated.
Not just coffee -
Caffeine is also found in tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, medications, some nuts and also some skin care products. If you are consuming more than one of these each day stop to consider your caffeine intake.
Consider the alternative -
If you rely heavily on beverages with high amounts of caffeine, such as energy drinks or that triple espresso, then you might want to consider lower caffeine alternatives. Tea or decaffeinated coffee can help you cut back but keep some of the taste you enjoy. If you rely on soda to get you through the afternoon, consider switching to water to keep you hydrated, focused, and ready to sleep when you head to bed.
Delay that first cup -
Your body is built to boost energy in the morning with a chemical called cortisol, so try not to drink any coffee until you’ve been up for at least an hour. If you want to limit it even more, then consider not consuming caffeine until you really need it. You might be surprised how your body learns to manage energy levels on its own.
