[Imnotcrazy1009]

Hello, I’m not sure this falls into the thread category, but lately I have been having trouble with drinking anything caffeinated. I’ve been drinking coffee and tea almost every day for the last 4 years, one 16 oz cup, that’s it. I don’t feel like this is an excessive amount of caffeine, however a few weeks ago, I started to freak out and feel like I was going to die. I literally couldn’t stop thinking about my heart and head from exploding, and I couldn’t concentrate on anything at work. I had to get up and leave and walk around outside. I tried drinking it again a few times after that on different days, and still had the same problem. I’m wondering if maybe I’m doing it to myself psychologically. I currently am dealing with depression and anxiety. I just want to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea again without freaking out.

[gayleggg]

Our bodies change so you could be having a reaction to caffeine. My mother drank coffee for years and then suddenly it started causing her problems. She had to give it up. Have you tried decaf? That might help if you are having a reaction to caffeine.

[pegasus]

Hello Hockeyplayer1171,

I have anxiety too so I do feel for you. For me personally I know I can only drink 4 cups of coffee a day maximum, the caffeine in it makes my heart race too. I think having anxiety makes us prone to being sensitive. Once the heart starts racing like that the anxiety will feed on the anxiety, does that make sense? Yes, find your limit and learn your triggers, that will help.

[mountain human]

Originally Posted by Hockeyplayer1171

Hello, I’m not sure this falls into the thread category, but lately I have been having trouble with drinking anything caffeinated. I’ve been drinking coffee and tea almost every day for the last 4 years, one 16 oz cup, that’s it. I don’t feel like this is an excessive amount of caffeine, however a few weeks ago, I started to freak out and feel like I was going to die. I literally couldn’t stop thinking about my heart and head from exploding, and I couldn’t concentrate on anything at work. I had to get up and leave and walk around outside. I tried drinking it again a few times after that on different days, and still had the same problem. I’m wondering if maybe I’m doing it to myself psychologically. I currently am dealing with depression and anxiety. I just want to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea again without freaking out.

Yeah, sounds more like a panic/anxiety attack. Probably a good idea to cut back on the coffee until you figure out why it's triggering you...

[Imnotcrazy1009]

Hey thanks everyone for the feeback. It's greatly appreciated. It's definately some kind of panic/anxiety attack. Is there any kind of tools or someone/therapists out there that can help uncover why I have these panic/anxiety attacks? I have been seeing a psychologist for 3 years or so now, only once a month because that's all I can afford right now. The only reasons I can put a finger on why this is happening is that I'm 27 years old, working a crappy, un-motivating job and don't see a future with the company I'm at. I'm afraid to commit working towards finding out what I want to do...I have tried to read books, articles, talk to people, my therapist, but for some reason I don't follow through with any advice, because I have failed so many times...

[mountain human]

Yeah, insight without action is the worst! We have the solutions at our fingertips, but for some reason, we stay where we are. What causes this? Fear, depression, procrastination, or all of these?

[Imnotcrazy1009]

I would definately say all of those things...i dont take action on anything, nor do i take advice. Im not really sure why...i don't trust that something that works for someone else is going to work for me...come to think of it...i probably have wasted so much time, money and energy on psycotherapy for nothing...

[*Laurie*]

For 12 years I worked as a barista. Believe me, caffeine is a powerful drug. Myself, I love espresso and drank it with no problem for well over a decade. All of a sudden I began having severe anxiety issues when I drank espresso or ANY caffeine (and that definitely includes green tea). I stopped all the caffeine for a couple of years. Now I can drink a little bit of espresso or coffee, but I almost always do all or half-caf. Caffeine is like that...you can do fine with it for years, then one day your body just cannot tolerate it anymore.

[avlady]

yea decaff would probably be a better idea, sometimes i get the anxiety if i drink more than my 4 cups a day, so i drink tension tamer tea to bring me down