However, too much caffeine at one time is considered over 500mg (about 3 espressos or 6 to 7 cups of instant coffee). The review noted studies had shown some coffee every day could also ward off Parkinson's disease, depression and Alzheimer's disease. "Just would absolutely shift the dial, but it would always need to be within the context of having a larger look at someone's life and what their actual stressors are, and uniquely work out a plan that works for them," Dr Taitimu says.Īccording to Australian government health advice, healthy adults can generally consume about 400 milligrams of caffeine a day.Ĭaffeine is found in coffee, teas, chocolate and energy drinks.Ī 2017 review of more than 200 scientific studies, published by BMJ, found consumption of between one and three cups of coffee per day has been associated with a lower risk of several cancers, type 2 diabetes, gallstones and gout. It notes that there is currently not enough evidence to conclusively show the effects of reducing caffeine on mental health disorders.ĭr Taitimu says that while some people may experience positive effects from reducing their coffee intake, there may be other factors behind anxiety or other mental health experiences. "Caffeine definitely feeds the anxiety - it increases your heart rate."Īccording to Beyond Blue, research has shown that consuming large doses of caffeine after a caffeine-free period briefly increases anxiety in people who already experience panic or anxiety disorders. "Substances like alcohol, caffeine and sugary foods feed your sympathetic nervous system and therefore feed the anxiety," Dr Taitimu says. Gold Coast-based psychologist Dr Melissa Taitimu says caffeine fuels the "fight or flight" part of the nervous system. "So, we wouldn't say it is a cause of anxiety, can be a contributor to anxiety in a dose-related way," Dr McGuire says. She says caffeine is a stimulant and can "lead to jittery effects on your body". That reaction can be explained, according to clinical pharmacist and pharmacologist Dr Treasure McGuire. Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277.Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.Rather, I've felt more relaxed day-to-day, I find it easier to wake up, I have fewer sweaty-palm moments and my heart rate has slowed down.
Surprisingly, I didn't feel massive side-effects aside from a few mood swings. I've lived with clinical anxiety and panic attacks for almost half my life, so I am familiar with how my body and mind work, but some things changed shortly after ditching caffeine. So, as an experiment, I cut out all caffeine in January, and have been decaf ever since. When a friend told me she'd "gone decaf to help manage anxiety" earlier this year, I started wondering if my coffee habit was making my condition worse. Then one day, I had a panic attack live on radio.
I often work early shifts so felt I needed that boost, and I found I was drinking more while recovering from COVID and isolating with my coffee machine.Īround the same time, I noticed my anxiety worsening.Īt times my breathing was shallow, I had a pounding heart, uncontrollable racing thoughts, and increasingly regular panic attacks.
Last year, I was drinking up to four cups of coffee a day.
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