Comments on: Caffeine and Panic Attacks http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/ Tips for panic attacks, anxiety attacks, how to beat them Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:33:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: John M. http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/#comment-5516 John M. Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:33:55 +0000 http://panicattacktips.com/?p=8#comment-5516 I have been suffering from panic attacks since 1991. I have been prescribed klonopin since 1991. All of these years and I had never made the connection between panic attacks and caffeine. Up until 3 days ago, I would drink between 2 and 5 Venti (20oz) sized regular drip coffee's from Starbucks. Also, I would occasionally have 1 to 3 diet Coke's a day. Since I have stopped drinking coffee and soda 3 days ago, I feel like I have emerged from a 20 year old nightmare. I'll keep you posted on my situation/progress. I have been suffering from panic attacks since 1991. I have been prescribed klonopin since 1991. All of these years and I had never made the connection between panic attacks and caffeine. Up until 3 days ago, I would drink between 2 and 5 Venti (20oz) sized regular drip coffee’s from Starbucks. Also, I would occasionally have 1 to 3 diet Coke’s a day.

Since I have stopped drinking coffee and soda 3 days ago, I feel like I have emerged from a 20 year old nightmare. I’ll keep you posted on my situation/progress.

]]> By: James http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/#comment-4982 James Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:47:41 +0000 http://panicattacktips.com/?p=8#comment-4982 I searched and found this article after, yesterday when I was at school, I thought I would drink a Mt Dew since I hadn't really drank any soda in over 2 months. By choice of course, just because I thinks it's terrible for the body.. anyway. I got my little treat, and drank just a fourth of it, and to my dismay I started getting really nervous and my heart was sort of beating strangely, and I just felt odd. I was starting to have a panic attack. I'd had them weekly at times in my life so I knew that's what it was. At first I didn't have any clue what was causing it until I realized that I had had nearly 0 panic attacks during my soda hiatus. So I suppose I just need to lay off of caffeine at all. I don't really crave it so it's not a problem.. it is very interesting how much it can affect our bodies and minds. I searched and found this article after, yesterday when I was at school, I thought I would drink a Mt Dew since I hadn’t really drank any soda in over 2 months. By choice of course, just because I thinks it’s terrible for the body.. anyway. I got my little treat, and drank just a fourth of it, and to my dismay I started getting really nervous and my heart was sort of beating strangely, and I just felt odd. I was starting to have a panic attack. I’d had them weekly at times in my life so I knew that’s what it was. At first I didn’t have any clue what was causing it until I realized that I had had nearly 0 panic attacks during my soda hiatus. So I suppose I just need to lay off of caffeine at all. I don’t really crave it so it’s not a problem.. it is very interesting how much it can affect our bodies and minds.

]]> By: Polly http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/#comment-4560 Polly Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:43:31 +0000 http://panicattacktips.com/?p=8#comment-4560 I never experience panic attacks when I don't drink caffiene or smoke cigarettes. But it is so hard to stop those substances. For me, I just have to be realistic and moderate them. Almost every time I over indulge in nicotine or caffiene, I have a panic attack. I never experience panic attacks when I don’t drink caffiene or smoke cigarettes. But it is so hard to stop those substances. For me, I just have to be realistic and moderate them. Almost every time I over indulge in nicotine or caffiene, I have a panic attack.

]]> By: Charley http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/#comment-4493 Charley Thu, 13 Jan 2011 04:50:55 +0000 http://panicattacktips.com/?p=8#comment-4493 Good read, thank you! I started having panic attacks about 4 years ago. I had one now and then for about 6 months or so, then they subsided. Recently (over the past year) I start to get them now and then. I did notice they usually occur after I drink my morning coffee (which is weird because I've been drinking coffee semi-heavily for about 12 years). In fact, they always occur when caffeine is involved. Granted, I haven't done much research, but I think after a person has a panic attack or 3, they are more prone to keep having them, at least that's the case for myself, I feed my brain worrying that I might have one, then I sometimes do lol. They happen to me most often when I'm driving. It's such a horrid feeling, as I'm sure most reading this can relate. Like feeling a loss of control, and not sure if you can make it through the next moment. Fuddle around and try to get your mind off it and it won't work... Anyways, without much research... For myself, I definately believe that caffiene and panic attacks go hand in hand. Of course everyone's body is a little different, and it might just be a pure psychological thing. None the less - It is good advice to lay off the caffiene if you experience panic attacks =) Good read, thank you! I started having panic attacks about 4 years ago. I had one now and then for about 6 months or so, then they subsided. Recently (over the past year) I start to get them now and then. I did notice they usually occur after I drink my morning coffee (which is weird because I’ve been drinking coffee semi-heavily for about 12 years). In fact, they always occur when caffeine is involved.

Granted, I haven’t done much research, but I think after a person has a panic attack or 3, they are more prone to keep having them, at least that’s the case for myself, I feed my brain worrying that I might have one, then I sometimes do lol. They happen to me most often when I’m driving. It’s such a horrid feeling, as I’m sure most reading this can relate. Like feeling a loss of control, and not sure if you can make it through the next moment. Fuddle around and try to get your mind off it and it won’t work…

Anyways, without much research… For myself, I definately believe that caffiene and panic attacks go hand in hand. Of course everyone’s body is a little different, and it might just be a pure psychological thing. None the less – It is good advice to lay off the caffiene if you experience panic attacks =)

]]> By: Stacie http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/#comment-3955 Stacie Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:40:32 +0000 http://panicattacktips.com/?p=8#comment-3955 Great advice. I am in the same situation as a lot of the people here. My panic attacks started about 12 months ago and I noticed they would usually occur at work (where I was drinking tea and coffee which I do not do at home). I also noticed that caffeinated soft drinks had the same effect for example when we were out at the cinema drinking coke after about an hour I would have quite a severe panic attack and need to leave. In the past week I have switched to decaff coffee and so far so good! I would also advise to be careful of anything too sugary as I have noticed this with certain cordials and juices will have the same side effects! Great advice. I am in the same situation as a lot of the people here. My panic attacks started about 12 months ago and I noticed they would usually occur at work (where I was drinking tea and coffee which I do not do at home). I also noticed that caffeinated soft drinks had the same effect for example when we were out at the cinema drinking coke after about an hour I would have quite a severe panic attack and need to leave.

In the past week I have switched to decaff coffee and so far so good! I would also advise to be careful of anything too sugary as I have noticed this with certain cordials and juices will have the same side effects!

]]> By: Kris http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/#comment-3885 Kris Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:42:41 +0000 http://panicattacktips.com/?p=8#comment-3885 I started having panic attacks in the beginning of this year. I didn't know what was happening. I noticed how they would be triggered in the morning right after I had my coffee. I only had a cup a day, but would then drink a soda at lunch and probably one at dinner. Once I started drinking decaf coffee and diet ginger ale they steadily decline until I didn't have them anymore. I decided to try caffeine again a few months ago (big mistake) and they started back again. I guess I will have to live without it. I didn't have withdrawals so it wasn't a huge deal, but it is definitely difficult to get going in the morning. I have been taking Vitamin B for energy, seems to help. Panic attacks are so horrible, I wish there was a quick fix that wasn't addictive (i.e. Xanax). I started having panic attacks in the beginning of this year. I didn’t know what was happening. I noticed how they would be triggered in the morning right after I had my coffee. I only had a cup a day, but would then drink a soda at lunch and probably one at dinner. Once I started drinking decaf coffee and diet ginger ale they steadily decline until I didn’t have them anymore. I decided to try caffeine again a few months ago (big mistake) and they started back again. I guess I will have to live without it. I didn’t have withdrawals so it wasn’t a huge deal, but it is definitely difficult to get going in the morning. I have been taking Vitamin B for energy, seems to help. Panic attacks are so horrible, I wish there was a quick fix that wasn’t addictive (i.e. Xanax).

]]> By: Nicole http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/#comment-2046 Nicole Tue, 19 Oct 2010 05:28:11 +0000 http://panicattacktips.com/?p=8#comment-2046 I used to drink three to six cokes a day! One night I went to watch a stupid "horror" film and during the movie my chest began to hurt and I felt awful. This had never happened to me before, but I figured I had gotten really sick. Well the following weeks, I become extremely ill and my weight dropped from 168 to 140 in 8 weeks. Every night, my chest would tighten and it would hurt to breath, anxiety would set in, my body would begin to shake, I would vomit almost every night, I was not sleeping and worst of all, I honestly thought I was going crazy or dying. I was scared to eat or go out in public because I feared my symptoms would set in, so I became withdrawn. I had an upper scope done because of my sever chest and stomach pains, and the entire linings of my intestines were severely inflamed to the point where I could hardly keep water down. I was taken completely off caffeine and started exercising ever day (which kept my adrenaline levels down) which eventually led to my full recovery! I still have problems, but only once in a blue moon and only when I drink caffeine. I used to drink three to six cokes a day! One night I went to watch a stupid “horror” film and during the movie my chest began to hurt and I felt awful. This had never happened to me before, but I figured I had gotten really sick. Well the following weeks, I become extremely ill and my weight dropped from 168 to 140 in 8 weeks. Every night, my chest would tighten and it would hurt to breath, anxiety would set in, my body would begin to shake, I would vomit almost every night, I was not sleeping and worst of all, I honestly thought I was going crazy or dying. I was scared to eat or go out in public because I feared my symptoms would set in, so I became withdrawn. I had an upper scope done because of my sever chest and stomach pains, and the entire linings of my intestines were severely inflamed to the point where I could hardly keep water down. I was taken completely off caffeine and started exercising ever day (which kept my adrenaline levels down) which eventually led to my full recovery! I still have problems, but only once in a blue moon and only when I drink caffeine.

]]> By: Colum http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/#comment-1957 Colum Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:23:57 +0000 http://panicattacktips.com/?p=8#comment-1957 I only drink decaf now as regular tea/coffee always makes me more edgy and panicy (real word?) and doesn't really have any positive effects on me. As for chocolate, I'll only really eat it if I'm home alone and don't have to do anything so that if I feel anxiety coming on I can chill out and just ride it out. I avoid caffeine when I'm out with friends or at work or in any situation the extra edginess could potentially ruin my good time. But I'm extra sensitive to caffeines effects anyway. One cup of coffee or tea or one bar of chocolate is enough to raise my heartbeat up to a noticeable level. I only drink decaf now as regular tea/coffee always makes me more edgy and panicy (real word?) and doesn’t really have any positive effects on me.

As for chocolate, I’ll only really eat it if I’m home alone and don’t have to do anything so that if I feel anxiety coming on I can chill out and just ride it out. I avoid caffeine when I’m out with friends or at work or in any situation the extra edginess could potentially ruin my good time.

But I’m extra sensitive to caffeines effects anyway. One cup of coffee or tea or one bar of chocolate is enough to raise my heartbeat up to a noticeable level.

]]> By: Allison http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/#comment-1178 Allison Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:39:03 +0000 http://panicattacktips.com/?p=8#comment-1178 I am an avid coffee and red bull drinker. In the past few months I have been having panic attacks. This is all very new to me as I have never felt the effects of caffeine so severely before. While having these attacks I was convinced I was crazy. Looking back I now realize that each time I had an attack I had drank a red bull. I am quitting caffeine today. I hope I have the same results the previous posts. Thank you for this article! I am an avid coffee and red bull drinker. In the past few months I have been having panic attacks. This is all very new to me as I have never felt the effects of caffeine so severely before. While having these attacks I was convinced I was crazy. Looking back I now realize that each time I had an attack I had drank a red bull. I am quitting caffeine today. I hope I have the same results the previous posts. Thank you for this article!

]]> By: Guy http://panicattacktips.com/caffeine-and-panic-attacks/#comment-510 Guy Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:23:26 +0000 http://panicattacktips.com/?p=8#comment-510 So true! I feel like a different human being now that I have been able to kick my quarter century caffeine addiction. In the last 2 years this addiction has led to 3 panic attacks, one of which had me admitted to hospital. As others have said it was caffeine or my sanity and I have made the right choice! So true! I feel like a different human being now that I have been able to kick my quarter century caffeine addiction. In the last 2 years this addiction has led to 3 panic attacks, one of which had me admitted to hospital. As others have said it was caffeine or my sanity and I have made the right choice!

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