According to one study, 85% of the U.S. population consumes at least one caffeinated beverage every day.
This article discusses the impact caffeine can have on the body, including how it can affect anxiety.
What Is Anxiety?
Mongkol Nitirojsakul / EyeEm / Getty
But too much anxiety can lead to intense and excessive fear and worrying about everyday events.
It can also be produced synthetically and added to medications, beverages, and foods.
Caffeine stimulates thecentral nervous system, making you feel more alert and energetic after consuming it.
It isnt uncommon for people to mistake caffeines side effects for feelings of an anxiety attacks.
Thefight-or-flight responserefers to the way your body mobilizes and responds to threats in the environment.
The effects of consuming too much caffeine can often feel indistinguishable from anxiety symptoms.
And if you already have an anxiety condition, evidence indicates that it can worsen your symptoms.
TheDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR)also recognizes caffeine-induced anxiety disorder as a distinct condition.
Caffeine use may also contribute to anxiety problems in other ways.
For example, it can lead to sleep disturbances.
Poor sleep can, in turn, play a part in the onset and maintenance of anxiety disorders.
Recap
Caffeine can worsen symptoms of anxiety and interfere with sleep.
Some research indicates that chronic caffeine use might increase your risk for developing an anxiety disorder.
Drug interactions can occur, which may cause unwanted side effects or impact how well youranxiety medicationworks.
Treatment for anxiety often involves psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Caffeine can reduce the efficacy of beta blockers.
You should avoid caffeinated products if you are taking these medications.
If your doctor prescribes an anxiety medication, always talk to them about potential drug interactions.
Consuming more than 400 mg a day may result in adverse effects.
The first step is to be aware of your caffeine intake.
Check labels to see how much caffeine is in the foods, beverages, and medications you consume.
Cutting back slowly can help minimize the risk of unpleasant withdrawal effects.
As you reduce your dose, look for lower-caffeine or caffeine-free substitutes.
For example, you might opt for herbal teas or decaffeinated coffee.
Effective treatments can help you deal with anxiety and prevent it from worsening.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
2022 Jan-Feb;74:22-31. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.11.005
American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
5th ed, text revision.
Washington, D.C.; 2022.
2014;124:238-244. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2014.06.005
Food and Drug Administration.Spilling the beans: How much caffeine is too much?
