Recently, I have been working very hard to consume less caffeine. It's actually a bit of a challenge considering I am a sleep-deprived college student. I used to survive my classes because of coffee or caffeinated beverages. Without them, I would find myself literally drifting off during a lecture.
However, I've been getting to sleep earlier and not allowing myself to drink much caffeine. I've found that this has drastically decreased my anxiety. Now, I might allow myself one pop per week, but no coffee ever. This seems to be working for me. Obviously, I still get anxious from time to time but nothing like I would when I was drinking coffee regularly.
Here's how it works. Caffeine increases heart rate, which makes you feel more awake. The problem is that this increase can trigger anxiety or panic attacks, especially in people who are already prone to these. You actually don't feel more awake and focused, but more out of control. If you are having a stressful day, adding caffeine to it can actually trigger an anxiety response in your body. Instead of refocusing you, it's throwing you off even more.
If you want to continue with your morning cup of coffee, then okay, too. The important thing is to remember moderation. Don't drink coffee for breakfast, coke for lunch, and tea to relax at night. It's best to lower your consumption and reduce your jitters. There is no reason you can get that same relaxing cup of tea but decaffeinated.
Caffeine is not the only source for anxiety, as even though I don't drink much anymore, I still get anxious. However, I am not having as many panic attacks and they are not as extreme. This is definitely a helpful step in overcoming my anxiety. I totally recommend trying it if you find yourself suffering from frequent anxiety or panic attacks.
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