Coffee and Anxiety....Up In A Tree...
After identifying coffee as one of my triggers responsible for my heightened anxiety a few years back, I’ve curbed its consumption.
Recently; however, I’ve started drinking coffee more regularly, whether it be store bought at a local cafe or prepared at work in my office’s employee kitchen. I probably need addiction help from coffee. I’m reminded of the powerful physical symptoms associated with this caffeine-induced buzz. The faster pulse, sweaty palms, pounding heart are all physical symptoms of caffeine induced anxiety.
Caffeine is the most widely used mood-altering drug in the world. You can find caffeine in your coffee, teas, sodas, and those “natural health supplement” energy drink. For most people when they consume coffee (caffeine) it produces a sense of alertness, concentration, and memory. This works because caffeine blocks the depressant function of a a chemical called adenosine. Drink more coffee than you are use to however and that same chemical reaction produces the jitters.
Why is it that one person can consume coffee and feel alert, a greater sense of memory and well-being while others do not? The answer is simple, those who are more susceptible to anxiety tend to think that the physical symptoms associated with the intake of caffeine is the signs of some impending doom. While some people may identify coffee as the trigger and give it up completely, many others tend to give up the activities they were engaged in when the symptoms showed up.
For example, you drink a large coffee in the morning prior to going to work, jump on the subway and while on the subway you begin to experience the symptoms mentioned above: racing heart, sweaty palms, faster pulse — instead of identifying the coffee (caffeine) as the trigger you think you have a fear of the subway, or crowed places, or people — and if you continue to believe that to be true, you may end up fearing that which you falsely believe to be at the root of your problem.
So how do you eventually deal with it all? Some psychologist would recommend you limit your caffeine intake until you are better able to identify the physical symptoms associated with a caffeine-induced buzz. Other psychologist would prescribe you a large cup of java in order for you to self induce yourself — to face the fear head on.
I think ordering a tall cup of java and inducing your own caffeine-anxiety-buzz is the best way to do it. The reason I say that is because it give you the opportunity to interpret the symptoms. A fast beating heart is no longer the signs of upcoming heart attack, but rather the normal reaction to a stimulant like caffeine. By exposing yourself to the fear head on you can begin to distinguish unfounded panic from real threats. Although you won’t feel great, you will learn that you can experience the symptoms and nothing terrible will happen.
The idea here isn’t to eliminate coffee (caffeine) from your diet. It’s about being moderate and realizing that the physical symptoms you are feeling are those caused by the anxiety and not something impeding doom.
Jason Herrington
Enjoying Every Last Drop
