Coffee vs. panic disorder, anxiety and depression

Does coffee affect the psyche?

The anti-fatigue effect of caffeine, known to coffee drinkers, is mediated by the effect of coffee on CNS function, or the uptake of adenosine (the fatigue signal) by the relevant receptors. It might therefore be expected that drinking coffee would also have an effect on other brain activities and affect mood and psyche.

A research paper published by Cambridge University in Advances in Psychiatric Treatment states that caffeine has biphasic psychological effects. It depends on how much coffee and caffeinated drinks you drink.

Low doses of caffeine promote the desired stimulation.
High doses of caffeine cause caffeinism with its unpleasant effects.

What happens after drinking coffee in terms of its effect on the psyche? Caffeine will increase activity in the sympathetic nervous system. This effect can be considered positive or negative depending on the state we are in when drinking coffee.

When does coffee help?
Feelinglow, tired, sleepy and out of sorts. This is where caffeine's positive influence comes in. Firstly, to fight off fatigue, get the blood flowing, raise blood pressure and speed up the release of neurotransmitters like noradrenaline and dopamine.
When is coffee harmful?
Simplyput, in the opposite case. That is, when you are nervous with compulsive movements or actions, plagued by insomnia, high blood pressure and heart rate, and lack of focus. Having another coffee at this baseline is like adding fuel to the fire.

Where is the line between the positive effects of caffeine and caffeinism?

With caffeine consumption above 200 mg increases the likelihood of triggering an anxiety attack. Such caffeine-induced anxiety disorder has been established as a subclass of theDSM-5 diagnosis of substance/drug-induced anxiety disorders based on established research.

In practice, this caffeine content means that the cutoff for caffeinism is roughly 2 cups of filter coffee and more than 3 cups for espresso . However, individual ability to metabolize caffeine, current health and mental state and also perhaps the time of day you drink coffee play an important role.

The link between coffee and panic disorder

A total of 108 subjects (people with and without panic disorder) participated in the caffeine provocation test. All rested for 10 minutes, then were given coffee - some decaffeinated coffee as a control group. In the following 30 minutes, theirbreathing, heart rate and blood pressure were checked, and they were assessed for panic experiences.

And the results?

No evidence leading to an effect of caffeine on inducing panic attacks.
suspect that caffeine may contribute to panic attacks in people with panic disorder

Do you suffer from coffee anxiety?

Unpleasant feelings of anxiety are very similar to the symptoms of caffeinism. In both cases, the basis is attributed to overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety after coffee, you may be experiencing caffeinism - exceeding your caffeine tolerance. In people suffering from anxiety,caffeine has been foundto be involved in the maintenance of anxiety disorders and their re-induction.

In both caffeinism and anxiety discomfort, reducing to discontinuing caffeine helps. In terms of the choice of coffee drink and the amount of caffeine, then, for example, a cup of cappuccino may be appropriate. It is based on espresso (about 60 mg of caffeine) and milk, which helps the gradual absorption of caffeine into the body.

Does coffee make depression worse?

"When we drink coffee, ideas flow like an army." - Honoré de Balzac.

The flow of ideas, energy and joy into life is what seems unrealistic and unattainable in depression. So it would be great to take a sip of coffee and throw away the anti-depressants. And yes, in the first stage coffee - due to the effects of caffeine - may be a suitable drink for people suffering from depression.

Caffeine can help wake up a depressed body. It can suppress constant fatigue and, due to its beneficial effect on the dopaminergic system, help to improve mood. As an example, a Chinese study involving 330,677 people shows asignificant reduction in the risk of depression when coffee and caffeineare consumed.

And then there is the other side of the coin, or the second phase of caffeine's effect on depression problems. This is the so-called caffeine withdrawal. The effects of caffeine usually occur within about 30 minutes and last on average around 4 hours.

If caffeine ceases to affect the CNS and dopamine release, some form of caffeine withdrawal or decline may occur. Thus, it has a negative effect in depression. The feeling of fatigue, decline in activity and mood is all the stronger. Also, drinking coffee in the evening is a common cause of insomnia, which promotes depression.

How to drink coffee for depression?

Find out what amount of coffee (caffeine) is ideal for you and without negative consequences after the effects have worn off
do not exceed your caffeine tolerance
avoid caffeine at late hours
take into account circadian rhythms when drinking coffee
you can try drinking coffee in combination with CBD oils to reduce the negative effects of caffeine

Combination of coffee and antidepressants

Do you pay attention to your caffeine dosage when drinking coffee and taking antidepressants at the same time? A study conducted by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lublin confirms the positive effect of coffee against depression and at the same time demonstrated caffeine-induced enhancement of the effect of antidepressants.

As there are a number of different antidepressant drugs and your health condition is individual, the supportive effect of caffeine on antidepressants may differ for you. It is therefore advisable to consult your doctor directly.

Why do schizophrenics drink more coffee?

There are several theories explaining the higher caffeine intake in people with schizophrenia. For example, it could be drinking coffee while smoking, as analyses show that about 80% of schizophrenics are smokers. Or that the power of caffeine may be taken to offset the sedative effects of antipsychotic drugs.

It is the drug-induced depression of schizophrenia that tends to be a big problem for these people. According to the results of a comparative study by Dalhousie University, people with schizophrenia showbetter executive function with moderate to high caffeine intake.