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Coffee & Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are a group of disorders (sometimes chronic) with symptoms ranging from discomfort and tension to panic and terror. This group of disorders includes posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorders. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of anxiety disorder include irritability, feeling on edge, feeling keyed up, restlessness, tired, having trouble focusing, feeling impatient, being easily distracted, headaches, stomachaches, difficulty sleeping, sweating, muscular tension, shortness of breath, tightness in the throat, and diarrhea.

  1. Caffeine Intoxication

    • Caffeine intoxication is a toxic condition caused by the psychoactive stimulant effects of caffeine, a component of coffee. When caffeine is ingested at a toxic level from coffee or other caffeine-containing beverages, caffeine intoxication may occur. According to Sidney Kaye, PhD, in an article published on The Caffeine Web, the symptoms of caffeinism may include lack of breath, sleep difficulties, anxiety, feeling restless, headaches, muscular tension, irritability, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, weight loss, disorientation, excitation, and sometimes violent outbursts.

    Identification

    • According to Dr. John Greden's 1974 article published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, "high intake of caffeine ("caffeinism") can produce symptoms that are indistinguishable from those of anxiety neurosis, such as nervousness, irritability, tremulousness, occasional muscle twitching, insomnia, sensory disturbances, tachypnea, palpitations, flushing, arrhythmias, diuresis, and gastrointestinal disturbances."

    Significance

    • The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) states: "The 4 caffeine-induced psychiatric disorders include caffeine intoxication, caffeine-induced anxiety disorder, caffeine-induced sleep disorder, and caffeine-related disorder not otherwise specified (NOS)." The experts at Solar Navigator note that "a growing number of medical professionals believe caffeine-intoxicated people are routinely misdiagnosed and unnecessarily medicated."

    Considerations

    • Dr. Greden also comments that because caffeine intoxication and anxiety disorders are so difficult to distinguish, close observation of responsiveness to psychopharmacological agents should be taken because persons with caffeinism will not be responsive to these agents. An even easier solution exists---stopping all intake of caffeine containing products to see if symptoms persist.

    Warning

    • According to Coffee Statistics, Americans drink more than 400 million cups of coffee each day, and coffee represents 75% of all the caffeine consumed.

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