Hidden risk in coffee can increase anxiety (without you knowing it).

Addiction, that word, defines coffee for millions of Brazilians. Waking up in the morning feeling a little low in spirit or not focusing on work, there's nothing better than a cup of coffee to give you that extra energy to face the routine, which can even be healthy and work. 

“Hidden” risk:

However, what many do not know is that there is a hidden risk in coffee for some people, causing symptoms similar to those of anxiety or even worsening it for those who already suffer from this condition. This hidden risk is too much caffeine.

Caffeine makes you “in a state of alert”, accelerated and this can be good for some occasions, but the risk appears when this effect ends and you decide to consume more to get the sensations again, entering a dangerous and vicious cycle. 

The effects of excess caffeine stimulate symptoms similar to anxiety, and when these symptoms “arrive” the brain, it is unable to recognize that it is not anxiety. 

And if this happens for long periods, there may be a chance of developing anxiety, even if you stop using caffeine, as it stimulates your body to receive these impulses daily.

Can caffeine cause anxiety?

Anxiety is your body's way of preparing you for something important that will happen in the future, such as a test, presentation, job interview, a date and other occasions. 

However, many people suffer from symptoms even without a reason, and if this happens to you, it could be related to caffeine.

On average¹, four to five cups of coffee are equivalent to more than 400 milligrams of caffeine, this amount is enough to increase the chances of having anxiety and panic attacks in people who are sensitive to this substance. 

Common symptoms of caffeine-generated anxiety are: 

• Nervousness;
• Restlessness;
• Heart acceleration; 
• Excessive sweating;
• Headaches;
• Dehydration;
• Insomnia;
• Tremors.

You may be suffering from “post-coffee anxiety.”

Do the test:

For a week you will reduce your intake of drinks and foods that contain caffeine, and see if it will have a positive impact on your anxiety symptoms.

Caffeine is present in:

• Coffee, cappuccino, latte and derivatives;
• Energy;
• Soft drinks;
• Tea (green, black and mate);
• Guarana powder;
• Chocolate and chocolate drinks;
• Over-the-counter painkillers (Dorflex, Neosaldina…);
• Some gym supplements such as pre-workouts. 

When you considerably reduce your caffeine intake and experience a decrease in anxiety symptoms, it is a sign that your consumption was excessive, or that you are sensitive to caffeine and should suspend or reduce your consumption.

How to reduce caffeine consumption?

The first thing is to know which foods and drinks you usually consume, so you have greater control to balance your consumption.  

It is not recommended to suspend radically, as in some people who have already acquired the addiction, it will generate withdrawal, leading to symptoms of difficulty concentrating, fatigue, headache and irritability.

The correct thing to do, when you identify after the test that caffeine interacts with your anxiety, is to reduce consumption slowly until you find an ideal consumption that does not cause harmful symptoms.

Conclusion:

If you have no reason to be anxious, but still suffer from symptoms, caffeine could be the cause, so take the test recommended above and reduce consumption following the instructions until you find a healthy dosage for you.

If you are already an anxious person and add the adverse effects of caffeine, this can worsen and be harmful to your health. Consult a psychologist and nutritionist for a personalized assessment. 

It is worth mentioning that caffeine is beneficial to health, it contains stimulating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties, helps improve mood, concentration, heart health, constipation, physical performance and others. 

What is not beneficial is the amount consumed, which may vary depending on each person and their sensitivity. And this is where the hidden risk that we address in this article lies, as caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, and in excess it can generate symptoms similar to anxiety and thus be easily confused.