Caffeine & Stress

Our society is becoming so caffeine dependent that psychiatrists have coined a new phrase for their diagnostic manual called "caffeinism". Our obsession with caffeine consumption has made it the most widely used drug in the world. Cola and coffee are the most popular beverages in this country and are routinely used by children as well as adults. Festive and fun cola commercials fail to tell us that caffeine is a strong and addictive substance.

Caffeine is a mental stimulant and affects the way your brain and nervous system function. From an emotional standpoint, an excess of caffeine can result in insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, delirium and mood swings.

Because caffeine initially stimulates the release of norepinephrine, you may experience a temporary lift from your cup of coffee or big gulp. In time however, if you consistently use caffeine, brain amine supplies can become depleted and feelings of nervousness and fatigue can occur.

Caffeine can also inhibit the body's ability to absorb vitamin B1 and cause the loss of magnesium. Some people have seen a dramatic decrease in their stress levels just by eliminating all sources of caffeine from their diet and boosting their daily supply of B vitamins. These people usually have no idea just how much caffeine they were ingesting to "get through the day."

Sugar combined with caffeine can be particularly bad for stress levels. Don't underestimate the emotional ill effects of this combination. People with emotional disorders pay a heavy price for using caffeine and sugar. Heavy coffee drinkers consistently score higher on tests to measure anxiety than other people. Coffee contains from 29 to 176 milligrams of caffeine; cola drinks about 40 milligrams and a chocolate bar, approximately 25 milligrams. Even if you have eliminated these substances from your diet, watch out for hidden sources of caffeine found in some headache medicines and appetite suppressants.