Hi-I was the original poster. I have given up coffee(I am someone that finds easier to give things up than to moderate use).
I think I am less anxious. However, I miss the performance enhancing(steroid) effect coffee has.
Many years ago I gave up coffee and found it made less anxious but broke down when I was feeling very tired and went back to it.
I am hoping as the days get longer I will start feeling more alert.
I doing stretches in the morining to wake me up. I had stopped using caffeine at night for years and don't miss it.
I have noticed that I do somethings too fast and caffeine is a stimulant.
I noticed that when I was drinking coffee I needed to drink some to avoid getting a headache in the morning.
Feb 08, 2010 Rating
Caffeine by: Anonymous
I get terrible jitters from coffee. Hot chocolate and tea don't bother me. (one cup that is)
If I had either of these in large amounts I'm sure they would too but with coffee it only takes one cup.
I definately see how caffeine could contribute to anxiety.
There are probably people right now that drink excessive amounts of coffee that have anxiety problems and don't even realize that may be contributing to the problem.
What a vicious circle that could be. They drink coffee because they think it helps them relax, it doesn't but if they don't drink it they suffer from withdrawals and anxiety.
Jan 30, 2010 Rating
Caffeine Probably Does Make Anxiety Worse by: Anonymous
I have been told that caffeine increases anxiety because it makes the heart beat faster and can make people feel "jittery."
I don't have much caffeine in my diet, so I can't speak from personal experience, but I know people who feel anxious when they consume caffeine.
