New here. link between caffeine and anxiety/depression

[Edwin]

I'm sure I know my answer but here it goes.back in 2012 I stayed a great high pay job and met alot of cool people. One guy drank alot of energy drinks so in mid 2016 he got me hooked on caffeine (coffee and energy drinks).

I started slow for awhile then got really hooked starting around 160mg of caffeine (1 monster a day), then two, then four a day.

One day I started getting really jittery anxious I let it go, then another day feeling more anxious. Then I started having severe anxiety attacks and panic attacks.

I still continued to drink energy drinks and one day I woke up and my life has never been the same.

One day I woke up and I was weirdly lightheaded which has lasted even til today to some extent but not as severe.

Having panic attacks and anxiety attacks lead me to become a very dark person, very depressed and suicidal.

In mid 2017 I tried to commit suicide and I wasn't expecting to wake up and i did. I woke up in a bad way and my wife rushed me to the ER and I spent 3 days in the hospital and on suicide watch.

I've continued to drink energy drinks up until after days ago but I have noticed now some very bad side effects. I'm still anxious all the time and very depressed.

Any caffeine intake now really messed me up. Very lightheaded, confusion, very tired, no motivation, severe aggravation.

I want my lifeback but I'm scared the damage has been done. I'm off caffeine for 4 days and I feel very sick, massive migraines, drained beyond belief.

My doctor wants to start me on medication in 3 days which I'm not against but what if all of this was just because of caffeine and it goes away in time.

It's been 2 years of hell and I want my old self back. I cry alot and I'm scared I'll never be the same. I've had suicide thoughts recently but I don't want to do. I live life, my children and my wife and yes video games but I'm scared I'll never be me again.

There are health issues that I've had in this process. I'm never hungry, I've lost Alot of weight, if I do eat sometimes my throat feels tight and I can't swallow or I get scared I'll choke, I've developed dairy issues which is weird cause I've never had dairy problems before

 

[janemariesayed]

I'm sure I know my answer but here it goes.back in 2012 I stayed a great high pay job and met alot of cool people. One guy drank alot of energy drinks so in mid 2016 he got me hooked on caffeine (coffee and energy drinks).

I started slow for awhile then got really hooked starting around 160mg of caffeine (1 monster a day), then two, then four a day.

One day I started getting really jittery anxious I let it go, then another day feeling more anxious. Then I started having severe anxiety attacks and panic attacks.

I still continued to drink energy drinks and one day I woke up and my life has never been the same.

One day I woke up and I was weirdly lightheaded which has lasted even til today to some extent but not as severe.

Having panic attacks and anxiety attacks lead me to become a very dark person, very depressed and suicidal.

In mid 2017 I tried to commit suicide and I wasn't expecting to wake up and i did. I woke up in a bad way and my wife rushed me to the ER and I spent 3 days in the hospital and on suicide watch.

I've continued to drink energy drinks up until after days ago but I have noticed now some very bad side effects. I'm still anxious all the time and very depressed.

Any caffeine intake now really messed me up. Very lightheaded, confusion, very tired, no motivation, severe aggravation.

I want my lifeback but I'm scared the damage has been done. I'm off caffeine for 4 days and I feel very sick, massive migraines, drained beyond belief.

My doctor wants to start me on medication in 3 days which I'm not against but what if all of this was just because of caffeine and it goes away in time.

It's been 2 years of hell and I want my old self back. I cry alot and I'm scared I'll never be the same. I've had suicide thoughts recently but I don't want to do. I live life, my children and my wife and yes video games but I'm scared I'll never be me again.

There are health issues that I've had in this process. I'm never hungry, I've lost Alot of weight, if I do eat sometimes my throat feels tight and I can't swallow or I get scared I'll choke, I've developed dairy issues which is weird cause I've never had dairy problems before

There you go, you answer your own question and know what started your anxiety. So give up the caffeine. Even if you went cold turkey for a while, you should benefit from it. As your anxieties were brought about by excessive caffeine intake means that your symptoms could subside.

Take those pills and see a therapist if you need to. You will feel drained and cravings for caffeine but do your best to ignore it.

Just yesterday it said on the news that the WHO have claimed that games are detrimental to our mental health. Exert will power and come off them. Give the time to your family instead. Take them on a day out and see how great that feels for all of you.

Look at what you eat too, some foods contain caffeine that you should probably avoid.

http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-000131000000000000000-1.html

This is a link that may help you, there are pages of foods and drinks high in caffiene. Please check them out and I hope this helps you. Do also keep in touch with us and let us know how you are getting on. You've got like minded friends here.

 

[laurav1]

Hi Edwin,
I am sorry that you are going through this. I started drinking coffee junior year of high school, and when my anxiety started, I definitely noticed that the caffeine makes my anxiety symptoms so much worse. Since then I have given up caffeine and I have not had it in a few years. I can definitly say that this change has helped me with my anxiety immensely. I know that it is going to be a hard process for you, and you might be uncomfortable for a while as your body starts to get used to this change. I suggest that you try and confide in your wife, or friends. Maybe start a new routine or habit that will keep you distracted. Try cooking healthy meals or exercising. Also, you might find more success in slowly reducing your caffeine intake one day at a time. Just know that you will get through this. I know it seems horrible right now, but in the future, you will feel so much better. You should be proud that you are making this change in your life, and I believe it will really help you with your anxiety as it has with mine. I wish you good luck. Remember to stay positive, do things that make you happy, and talk to your loved ones about this.

 

[Edwin]

Thank you guys for the support, I really appreciate it, I'll try to take your advice Laurav, maybe this will help me do better faster, thanks again