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Is there a way to drink coffee without getting anxiety?

Hieveryone

Hieveryone

macrumors 603
Original poster
Apr 11, 2014
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USA
I was a heavy coffee drinker for about 10 years - every single day.

I was able to quit, and was off for about a month. But recently have been drinking coffee on some days.

When I went off I noticed I was much, much, much calmer overall. Night and day difference. Slept better too.

But sure enough on days I drink it's back to being anxious about stuff. It's awful relative to how calm I am otherwise, and I can't believe I spend so many years feeling so anxious and wired without even knowing it was the coffee affecting me.

Some may ask, why do I drink it? I like the energy, I like the initial feeling. I just don't like the anxiety part.

So if there is a way to drink it, maybe slowly, maybe with creme, or idk just some way, please share.
 
Hieveryone said:
I was a heavy coffee drinker for about 10 years - every single day.

I was able to quit, and was off for about a month. But recently have been drinking coffee on some days.

When I went off I noticed I was much, much, much calmer overall. Night and day difference. Slept better too.

But sure enough on days I drink it's back to being anxious about stuff. It's awful relative to how calm I am otherwise, and I can't believe I spend so many years feeling so anxious and wired without even knowing it was the coffee affecting me.

Some may ask, why do I drink it? I like the energy, I like the initial feeling. I just don't like the anxiety part.

So if there is a way to drink it, maybe slowly, maybe with creme, or idk just some way, please share.
Click to expand...


Sorry no.
I am a very heavy caffeine consumer (coffee, tea, NOS) and do not find it causes anxiety nor keeps me awake.
I do find I can think clearer and faster when consuming caffeine.

But that’s. Me ;)
 
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Coffee makes me anxious sometimes too. When I get anxious I just suspend someone on my way back from the office coffee bar. It doesn’t matter who. Whoever looks up from their desk and makes contact with me boom they’re on the beach for a few unpaid days vacation.

I reward everyone by privately declaring Fridays as no stress days so I only drink hot chocolate but no one knows that. I like hot chocolate so I have like three of four cups. It’s cute how the employees scurry around like white mice bumping into things and running down different hallways whenever I need another cup or an extra marshmallow.

Adequately handling you anxiety is an integral part of good health. Find what works for you.
 
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Try L-Theanine capsules with your coffee! Start with 100mg in combination with a regular coffee. Works for many people
 
Frankly, given that even that the stress of completing sales and other financial transactions on Wall Street is something that you seem to thrive on, I am at something of a loss to understand how a few cups of coffee can cause "anxiety".

However, I'd just reduce my intake of coffee over the course of a day, rather than eliminating it entirely.

You know, choose not to have coffee after lunch time, or some such thing.
 
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Well if it doesn’t work for you try reducing it or go decaf if you want the taste without the kick.

I don’t feel many ill effects from coffee myself and I consume a lot.
 
ericwn said:
Well if it doesn’t work for you try reducing it or go decaf if you want the taste without the kick.

I don’t feel many ill effects from coffee myself and I consume a lot.
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I want the kick and only the kick. Not the insomnia and anxiety lol.

Oh well I suppose there may not be answer to this but no harm in asking anyway
 
Hieveryone said:
I want the kick and only the kick. Not the insomnia and anxiety lol.

Oh well I suppose there may not be answer to this but no harm in asking anyway
Click to expand...

There have been a few answers already. Drugs don’t work exactly the same for everyone which is not that surprising.

The insomnia and anxiety might also have additional factors that your family doctor might be able to advise on.
 
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Hieveryone said:
I want the kick and only the kick. Not the insomnia and anxiety lol.

Oh well I suppose there may not be answer to this but no harm in asking anyway
Click to expand...
What you want is not possible. You can't have the kick of caffeine without it causing anxiety (if indeed caffeine does both of those to you). It is the nature of a stimulant. It's what stimulants do.

I recommend examining your lifestyle to see if there is something else that is causing a lack of energy or anxiety. But it could simply be that is how your body reacts to caffeine.

I'm a heavy coffee drinker (black/no sugar)... have been for over 40 years. I've never experienced anxiety that was caused by caffeine. I often drink a mug-full of espresso (but since I'm Italian, i might be genetically inclined to be immune to the effects) :D. Anxiety because of issues in life, yes... caused by coffee? no. But that's me.

I hope that you can find a solution.
 
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Hieveryone said:
I want the kick and only the kick. Not the insomnia and anxiety lol.

Oh well I suppose there may not be answer to this but no harm in asking anyway
Click to expand...

Try one cup in the morning for your kick; and reduce or cut back.

For myself, there are days when I would not have a second cup, but that first mug is nectar. A second cup is lovely, but, these days, I rarely have a third unless I am meeting someone socially or meeting someone for work reasons.
 
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yaxomoxay said:
I have anxiety if a cup of coffee is not near me.

Try decaf.
[doublepost=1566477518][/doublepost]

Use cocaine then /s
Seriously, what you're asking is a paradox.
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Decaff (for some reason, that annoying spellcheck keeps insisting that I want to write "decay" instead of decaff) is not real coffee, @yaxomoxay; the whole point of coffee is that awesome caffeine - and inhaling the sublime aroma, and the splendid and irreplaceable taste of that first sip in the morning. Nothing compares to the pleasure of the first cup of coffee of the day.

But, agree that what the OP seeks out is something of a paradox.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
Decaff (for some reason, that annoying spellcheck keeps insisting that I want to write "decay" instead of decaff) is not real coffee, @yaxomoxay; the whole point of coffee is that awesome caffeine - and inhaling the sublime aroma, and the splendid and irreplaceable taste of that first sip in the morning. Nothing compares to the pleasure of the first cup of coffee of the day.

But, agree that what the OP seeks out is something of a paradox.
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Oh I understand, I am not a big fan of decaf myself, but it's a better solution to no coffee at all in my opinion. I admit owning some decaf just in case I want a large cup of coffee at 11PM right before going to bed, although this happens probably once in a blue moon.
 
Hate to bring up an old thread but I had a Red Bull the other day.

Felt GREAT.

So I had one again the following day and I've been so anxious ever since.

I love the caffeine high I just hate the terrible anxiety.

If anyone has a way...
 
The longer you brew the coffee, the more caffeine you get in it.
So, a centrifugal espresso machine which has water at 95°C and where the water is forced through the grounds for no more than 30 seconds, should have a lot less caffeine in it than a Kona machine where the water is kept warm on the grounds.
There is, as usual disagreement on this but if you read around there are sources that claim you get almost no caffeine from espresso coffee.

I drink a lot of espresso but it I have it made with a French press, or even instant, I really get a lot more agitated and really notice the difference. And Kona will make me jump.

Instant coffee also has a terrible effect on my stomach for some reason too but I don't know why. If I have more than about 2 cups I get really strong stomach cramps. You certainly can get a lot of caffeine from instant although it'll depend on the brand.

Some beans also have more caffeine than others too but it's impossible to generalize because it's not just the variety but also, the roast.
Howeve generally, the Arabica beans should have less than the Robusta because the caffeine is a defence mechanism and the Arabica beans growing at a much higher altitude, don't need it so much.
 
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Hieveryone said:
Hate to bring up an old thread but I had a Red Bull the other day.

Felt GREAT.

So I had one again the following day and I've been so anxious ever since.

I love the caffeine high I just hate the terrible anxiety.

If anyone has a way...
Click to expand...

I think it is just wrong to tie everything with just a caffeine. So many variables.

How was your protein/carbs intake on that day?
 
Hieveryone said:
Hate to bring up an old thread but I had a Red Bull the other day.

Felt GREAT.

So I had one again the following day and I've been so anxious ever since.

I love the caffeine high I just hate the terrible anxiety.

If anyone has a way...
Click to expand...

Given the topics of the threads you start on these threads, - and the various dramas, personal and personal (I was about to write "professional" after "personal", but I think a reiteration of "personal" suffices in these particular circumstances) played out on these threads - do you really think whatever anxiety you claim to suffer from is actually caused by caffeine?
 
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Hieveryone said:
I was a heavy coffee drinker for about 10 years - every single day.

I was able to quit, and was off for about a month. But recently have been drinking coffee on some days.

When I went off I noticed I was much, much, much calmer overall. Night and day difference. Slept better too.

But sure enough on days I drink it's back to being anxious about stuff. It's awful relative to how calm I am otherwise, and I can't believe I spend so many years feeling so anxious and wired without even knowing it was the coffee affecting me.

Some may ask, why do I drink it? I like the energy, I like the initial feeling. I just don't like the anxiety part.

So if there is a way to drink it, maybe slowly, maybe with creme, or idk just some way, please share.
Click to expand...
It’s the caffein.
[automerge]1575301809[/automerge]
Scepticalscribe said:
Given the topics of the threads you start on these threads, - and the various dramas, personal and personal (I was about to write "professional" after "personal", but I think a reiteration of "personal" suffices in these particular circumstances) played out on these threads - do you really think whatever anxiety you claim to suffer from is actually caused by caffeine?
Click to expand...
It can do that, it’s drank in the mornings as a wake up soulution and may cause overtime anxiety.
 
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