Effects of Coffee...

Next week is finals week so there has been far more students than usual in the library studying as well as mass amounts of coffee consumption.

I myself have not had coffee in almost a year due to my anxiety. I used to be a heavy coffee drinker having three shots of espresso in my latee on a daily basis...sometimes more. It was not hard giving up coffee however with out coffee it became very difficult for me to focus in classes as well as study and do papers yet somehow I miraculously have maintained a B average. No matter how hard I try I always had a hard time focusing for long periods at a time.

Well today I folded. For a while I was getting no where so I went to the campus starbucks and ordered a vanilla lattee with two shots of espresso. It was either risk anxiety or fail my finals. For the first time in a long time I felt more lively and productive. I had forgotten what it feels like to be able to focus for long periods of time and be able to get a lot of work done. Granted, it did make me feel jittery at one point and the crash was not fun. To this point I still feel like I'm on the verge of an attack. Heck as I was typing this I just now had to take a break and walk around as I was starting to find it hard to breath and was getting a little light headed.

It's a bittersweet situation...I feel more alive and accomplished but I know it also increases my chances of having palpitations and anxiety attacks...something i of course do NOT want. Because coffee and energy drinks have been the only thing to help me focus I'm starting to think I have some sort of focus problem or maybe throughout my college education I've developed this habit of relying on caffeine in order to concentrate. I'm going to bring this up to my university psychologist and see what she has to say about this.

Does coffee affect any of you in a similar way?

(P.S. SpecialK if you're reading this I'm sorry for not replying to your pm I promised I will after finals are over!)

Because coffee and energy drinks have been the only thing to help me focus I'm starting to think I have some sort of focus problem or maybe throughout my college education I've developed this habit of relying on caffeine in order to concentrate. I'm going to bring this up to my university psychologist and see what she has to say about this.

This sounds like me in my younger days, Mano. Not so much about using coffee to focus - although there was some of that - but the 'focus' problem.

I wouldn't be surprised if you have either ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). For me it seemed to get worse as I got older.... but I finally got it diagnosed. There are drugs that can help, so see the Psychologist who can diagnose it.

Tons of info about this on the web. Wikipedia, I'm sure. Google, etc. PM me if you want.

I *have* to drink coffee (often more then one cup) in the morning (and ice coffee through out the day) to function...I don't sleep at all so I'm dead all day if I don't have coffee. It doesn't make me feel jittery or anything and I also have anxiety but the coffee doesn't affect it, or it does and I'm just to busy running around all day to notice.

Thanks for the quick response I was contemplating that. However it seems that people with ADD or ADHD are diagnosed very young. It's my understanding that they can't sit down, make unintentional outbursts, and their mind wanders all the time. That's just a few of many symptoms I'm sure. I have not problem sitting still and keeping quite...granted i do tend to day dream but I feel it's because the topics usually do not interest me. I'm not sure...

Thanks for the quick response I was contemplating that. However it seems that people with ADD or ADHD are diagnosed very young. It's my understanding that they can't sit down, make unintentional outbursts, and their mind wanders all the time. That's just a few of many symptoms I'm sure. I have not problem sitting still and keeping quite...granted i do tend to day dream but I feel it's because the topics usually do not interest me. I'm not sure...

I wasn't diagnosed young. I could sit down. I could limit myself to intentional outbursts. But I could not focus to save my life when the topic presented was written in a difficult or complex or highly technical style.

And of course being a serious college student is all about mastering those topics that are presented in such a manner. They (colleges) are not gonna start using exciting Organic Chemistry comic books to reach us folks whose minds tend to wander.... :D :p

Seriously, see the Doc.

I can relate MOM, as I started drinking coffee when I went into the service. It was everywhere! I was a lab technician and had 48 hour call at times, so would keep the pot going. So is of course a habit now. Love my lattes too! I also had a big test, actually a few days ago, and got all coffeed up for it. I think I did okay with it. Unlike you, I do not get any bad symptoms unless I drink a WHOLE lot of it.

It is true, ADHD has to have appeared in childhood to make it a real diagnosis. Our society as a whole is not focused, probably due to SO much stress we have allowed into our lives, it is the American way I guess. And if you are a student, you are just going to be stressed even more no doubt, what with deadlines, tests, etc. I am presently in MBA program, and is stressful, but not nearly so much as undergraduate school was, in my opinion. We are given assignments way ahead of time, and is up to us how we spend our time getting them done. Well, as of today, I have three due in about 10 days! Aghhhhh....:eek:

Actually, there might be books out there (the Dummies or Idiots series) to help simplify the hard core sciences. I have had to use them as I am not naturally a science minded person.:yes:

I am not prone to anxiety, quite the opposite, I am a very calm person. However, I have problems concentrating unless the task interests me. Coffee makes my job easier, my brain works faster.

My problem with coffee is that if I fail to drink it at specific times I get severe migraines, so bad I need to go to the hospital for a shot.

Mano, how much sleep do you get at night on average? It is possible that your lack of focus is due to not getting enough proper rest.

Mano, sweetie, whatever you do, do NOT get one of these............



http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a335/Mabroom/funny%20pics/compcafe.jpg




....but I think Steve is considering one for the office:eek:






Seriously, poor sleep causes a multitude of problems. The occasional perk up of coffee can be ok, but the cycle of coffee...no sleep...more coffee...no sleep.....



As for add....alot of the *symptoms* can seem like just run of the mill stuff...it is the multitude of them, not just a few major items that brings the diagnosis. You have a lot going on in your life, and just the idea of the anxiaty...well, you know. Have you tried bio-feedback?

Hang in there.

I was diagnosed with ADD at the age 29 the same time that my 6 year old was. We both were prescibed medication which we would take on our respective work/school days. My ability to focus and comprehened was amazing. If only I had been diagnosed in my early years! My daughter who is now 25 began to have anxiety attacks a few years ago but they seemed to have stopped awhile. She started having them again about 4 months ago and was diagnosed with hyperthyrodism. Not sure if any of this is helpful to you but thought I would share.

Caffeine can seriously make my anxiety sky rocket. I find it better to drink coffee on a full stomach. Heartburn from coffee makes my anxiety high too.

Coffee makes me anxious too, but I also find it helps me be more productive and also helps my performance for cycling or running. I quit drinking it for a while earlier this year (after I finished my degree), and the one thing that really stood out for me was the change in my attitude - I felt less irritable. I wasn't expecting that, but I have realized that I was just so used to that state of being since I regularly drank coffee. Once it was out of my system for a long period, I was generally much more easy-going and less cranky.

I also get migraines, so I have a love-hate relationship with coffee - it really does help me keep them in check, but at the same time if I miss drinking it for a day, or drink too much one day, then it brings one on.

I read something a while back about coffee...

Apparantly it doesn't "perk you up", it just makes you feel up to your 'normal' level. The thing is that (like anything else) once you get used to having it in your system, you depend on it to feel 'normal'.

I don't drink it, being English I drink tea... naturally! :p But I have never drank an awful lot, just a cup in the morning and maybe one early evening. I find that it has no real effects, I don't feel any different for drinking it.

Donna, on the other hand, has drunk coffee for years and years, and NEEDS to have a couple of cups to feel anywhere near normal in the morning. And a cup of tea makes her feel noticeably different.

I read something a while back about coffee...

Apparantly it doesn't "perk you up", it just makes you feel up to your 'normal' level. The thing is that (like anything else) once you get used to having it in your system, you depend on it to feel 'normal'.

I don't drink it, being English I drink tea... naturally! :p But I have never drank an awful lot, just a cup in the morning and maybe one early evening. I find that it has no real effects, I don't feel any different for drinking it.

Donna, on the other hand, has drunk coffee for years and years, and NEEDS to have a couple of cups to feel anywhere near normal in the morning. And a cup of tea makes her feel noticeably different.

English? tea ? I've never met anyone who drinks coffee as much as Peter does. Even when we go out, he gets a beer AND a coffee anytime day or night.

I'm a big coffee drinker and have been drinking it since I was about 9 year-old.

I am not even able to remember my name before my morning coffee :o

What I know for sure is that the longer the coffee stays in contact with the water, the more it effects the nervous system.

For example, the American coffee that looks light, is much stronger than the expresso and the boiled Turkish coffee makes you go :eek: :p

English? tea ? I've never met anyone who drinks coffee as much as Peter does.

Yeah, my dad drinks coffee. Lots of people drink coffee in the morning. I think it's stronger than tea? But tea is still the choice of the masses. And it needs to be drunk with milk in it! You Americans have no idea how annoying it is to get a cup of tea out somewhere and not have the choice of putting milk in it. :p

Yeah, my dad drinks coffee. Lots of people drink coffee in the morning. I think it's stronger than tea? But tea is still the choice of the masses. And it needs to be drunk with milk in it! You Americans have no idea how annoying it is to get a cup of tea out somewhere and not have the choice of putting milk in it. :p


Moi? American ? (just teasing) :p

I have a friend who has ADD. His mother is a psychiatric nurse. When he was a kid, rather than put him on ritalin like so many other mothers, she gave him a cup of coffee every morning. Unlike so-called 'regular' people, caffeine in people with ADD calms them down and gets them focused.

Now, if it makes you anxious and gives you palpitations, then obviously it isn't the best choice in terms of helping you stay focused. However, perhaps the psychiatrist can help you in finding something that *does* work on the focus part the way caffeine does, without wreaking havoc on your system. I would definitely talk to them about it. Knowing that caffeine helps you focus would assist him/her a lot in finding something that helps you feel that way all of the time.

Yeah, my dad drinks coffee. Lots of people drink coffee in the morning. I think it's stronger than tea? But tea is still the choice of the masses. And it needs to be drunk with milk in it! You Americans have no idea how annoying it is to get a cup of tea out somewhere and not have the choice of putting milk in it. :p

Actually, there's more caffeine in tea, but because it's diluted more, per cup there's less. But I quite agree with you about tea and milk, or better yet, half and half! Though I HAVE to HAVE my coffee in the morning, I love a cup of tea any other time of day. English or Irish breakfast, yum!

I was late getting up this morning and didn't get my coffee at the time I normally do. As a result I feel that horrid little tingle coming on that preludes a killer caffeine migraine. Like you, Sheila, the head aches are beyond belief. But then I generally make coffee that dissolves spoons in the morning!

To avoid anxiety or palpitations cause by coffee, always drink arabica blends and NEVER robusta. Ethiopian coffee is also very mild, can even be drank at night.

Just a small advice from a coffee lover.

And it needs to be drunk with milk in it! You Americans have no idea how annoying it is to get a cup of tea out somewhere and not have the choice of putting milk in it. :p


Yes I do! Everytime I asked for milk, my irish grandma would :rolleyes: and say "that's for the english!"



...now back to coffee.....


which I will have 2-3 shots COLD if my asthma is bad and I am out and about...I jitter like crazy, but I breathe!

Moi? American ? (just teasing) :p

Just poking a little fun! :p

Actually, there's more caffeine in tea, but because it's diluted more, per cup there's less. But I quite agree with you about tea and milk, or better yet, half and half! Though I HAVE to HAVE my coffee in the morning, I love a cup of tea any other time of day. English or Irish breakfast, yum!


Yeah, I've heard that before, about there being more caffeine in tea.

A case in point about my non-serious mini-rant... yesterday we went to Ikea and had decided to get breakfast there. I got a cup of tea, but there was no milk! I had to use half and half... and it is definitely NOT the same. You get used to it though. :p

I don't get the constant reference to 'breakfast' tea. To me, that is just 'tea'. Btw, Irish is stronger than English, and if you like it strong you should try and get hold of some Barry's tea, because (as Donna says) "you can stand a horse on it".

Next week is finals week so there has been far more students than usual in the library studying as well as mass amounts of coffee consumption.

I myself have not had coffee in almost a year due to my anxiety. I used to be a heavy coffee drinker having three shots of espresso in my latee on a daily basis...sometimes more. It was not hard giving up coffee however with out coffee it became very difficult for me to focus in classes as well as study and do papers yet somehow I miraculously have maintained a B average. No matter how hard I try I always had a hard time focusing for long periods at a time.

Well today I folded. For a while I was getting no where so I went to the campus starbucks and ordered a vanilla lattee with two shots of espresso. It was either risk anxiety or fail my finals. For the first time in a long time I felt more lively and productive. I had forgotten what it feels like to be able to focus for long periods of time and be able to get a lot of work done. Granted, it did make me feel jittery at one point and the crash was not fun. To this point I still feel like I'm on the verge of an attack. Heck as I was typing this I just now had to take a break and walk around as I was starting to find it hard to breath and was getting a little light headed.

It's a bittersweet situation...I feel more alive and accomplished but I know it also increases my chances of having palpitations and anxiety attacks...something i of course do NOT want. Because coffee and energy drinks have been the only thing to help me focus I'm starting to think I have some sort of focus problem or maybe throughout my college education I've developed this habit of relying on caffeine in order to concentrate. I'm going to bring this up to my university psychologist and see what she has to say about this.

Does coffee affect any of you in a similar way?

(P.S. SpecialK if you're reading this I'm sorry for not replying to your pm I promised I will after finals are over!)

Iam a two rockstar a day person and I feel your pain. Rockstars are my coffee before I go to work I grab my rockstar. They dont help me focus but they do give me the energy burst that I need to focus and work at a fast pace. Of course there is the down side, the jitters, the caffeine headache, but honestly your a caffeine addict if you cant focus without the rush. I know because Im one too.lol. Youre addicted to caffeine and yes it does happen, try to quit and you will experience caffeine withdrawal headaches like you wouldnt believe. My suggestions is to start to wean yourself from it bit by bit.

My mother was never really "awake" until her first cup of coffee, she is still the same way.

Youre just getting too much caffeine for your system if your heart is speeding up and your becoming anxious. I would suggest that you look for something with less caffeine if you still need it to jump start your system and becareful not to over cafinate your system. Soda has caffeine, chocolate has caffeine, of course energy drinks and coffee, teas. You can really do yourself in without realizing it.

Hope you feel better.

I don't get the constant reference to 'breakfast' tea. To me, that is just 'tea'. Btw, Irish is stronger than English, and if you like it strong you should try and get hold of some Barry's tea, because (as Donna says) "you can stand a horse on it".

Ooh, I'll have to give it a try. I LOVE strong tea. As for the breakfast thing, that's what Twinings calls it. Who am I to argue?:)

Ooh, I'll have to give it a try. I LOVE strong tea. As for the breakfast thing, that's what Twinings calls it. Who am I to argue?:)

lol.

I think that us from oop (up) north in England just aren't as sophisticated when it comes to tea, so we only know one kind.

Btw. Yorkshire tea is my favourite now. Barry's is the one that you tend to find in grocery stores that have international sections, in my experience.

COFFEE! Yes.

Espresso - no.

lol.

I think that us from oop (up) north in England just aren't as sophisticated when it comes to tea, so we only know one kind.

Btw. Yorkshire tea is my favourite now. Barry's is the one that you tend to find in grocery stores that have international sections, in my experience.

not in my grocery store. I'll have to check out the british import shop. LOOOOVE that place. I miss libby's stuff sooo much.

ooops. we hijacked Mano's thread with our tea time talk.

I get it mano... I LOVE COFFEE!!!
I have had to cut back because of palpitations, and stress anxiety in the past, and it sucks..
I know try and mix it up some, green tea is pretty decent in the caffiene dept and is good for you too, I have to sugar it a bit though otherwise too boring..
Rockstars, red bulls and the like are ok but usually too sweet and high on the calories.. I like the red bull myself if I have to get hyped up for something..
But it does play havooc with your system, so try and go healthier route- herb tea, or somethin..

I drink a pot a day.....even more when it is cold out.
I know, not good. I do make a fairly weak pot, compared to many, but still.....too much and add to that cream and sugar....ack!
It's funny....it seems to be my M.O. At xmas time....all of my students get me gift certificates to Starbucks, etc...

I hear you Mano.....finals week for me! I have a 10 page paper due by tomorrow night....and I am only on page 6! :eek: And its only my rough draft. I am on my 2nd cup of coffee right now...and it is 8pm. I usually drink chai tea, but I am out of milk, and I will only drink it if their is milk in it. I think tomorrow night will be a Rockstar night so I can study for 2 tests...one I have to take on Thursday, and one on Friday. Ugh...I cant wait for it to be Friday...and then I am on my way to Boston for 3 days! :bgrin2:

Good luck on your finals! :)

I was diagnosed with ADD at the age 29 the same time that my 6 year old was. We both were prescibed medication which we would take on our respective work/school days. My ability to focus and comprehened was amazing. If only I had been diagnosed in my early years! My daughter who is now 25 began to have anxiety attacks a few years ago but they seemed to have stopped awhile. She started having them again about 4 months ago and was diagnosed with hyperthyrodism. Not sure if any of this is helpful to you but thought I would share.

Yep. Yep. Yep. I can't remember the number of adults that recieve the diagnosis of ADD by their children's doctors when their children are diagnosed, but it is extremely high. Good post.

Manomisteree/Dr. O/Dr. of Looooooove, this post reminded me of another condition that causes anxiety and jumpiness - I can't remember exactly what it is, but it's a non-life-threatening heart thing ... maybe a murmur? ... can't remember ... anyway, a doctor expalined the "emotional" effects of it for the first time to a friend of mine who is over 60. She is not on any medication, but it makes her feel a lot better to know that there is a physical reason for it and she's not just "high strung".

There are many things that can cause anxiety and I think that you should definitely have a complete medical check up - from both physical and mental health professionals.

As far as your decision to drink coffee to get you through your exams ... I have to say that I was surprised - not at your decision to drink coffee - but at the AMOUNT of caffeine you chose to consume, especially after having been without caffeine for so long.

As far a coffee and irritability: for myself, it seems to be cumulative. I can have a cup of caffinated coffee now and then, but if I have it every day, I get cranky. The problem that I have found is that most coffees that claim to be de-caffinated are not, they MAY have lower levels of caffeine, but they still have caffeine. I switched to New England decaffinated coffee and it seems to actually be decaffinated.