Hi

I am a long-time GAD/Panic/OCD/Hypochondria sufferer who self-medicated with alcohol for over a year and a half before becoming sober for about a year only to relapse and end up becoming a full-blown alcoholic before quitting again about 10 days ago. Now here's my question...

Prior to quitting drinking this time around, I had been drinking a 6-pack to a case almost every day and I was always so blissfully drunk or hungover that I forgot all about my anxiety to the point where I almost did'nt know it ever existed. However, since becoming sober again, my anxiety has gradually crept back and this evening after a cup of coffee, I was a quivering bundle of nerves and my anxiety was through the roof!.

Still, I would NEVER go back to drinking alcohol again because there are much more appropriate ways of dealing with anxiety but I do want to ask...can caffeine trigger anxiety/panic attacks?. Ever since that cup of coffee, it feels like I have a lump in my throat and it kind of clicks when I swallow and also I kind of nervous and jittery and find myself thinking about various diseases I might have (the worst ones, of course).

Well, I guess that's about it for now. Thank's for the help.

- LT

Hey Lonely..... My hubby has Anxiety attacks....he has to avoid caffeine completely... He says it feels as though his head will explode....I would imagine anything that is a stimulant would not be good for your issues.. STAY STRONG!!!!

Yeah, definitely. I am having that vibratey/nervous electricity/jolty feeling right now. I just realized I drank a bunch of caffeine earlier. Though it's been like 6 hours...I think it's still bothering me. It's weird, sometimes I can get a drink from Starbucks and be fine, but other times it makes me incredibly nervous. Good job on quitting drinking. I need to do the same.

Caffiene and any stimulant will defanitely bring out anxiety since it is a drug that effects your central nervous system it can really mess with your anxiety.

caffiene effectys everyone differently and does cause panic attacks for some, if so red bull and other energy drinks must be completely avoided

Hi Lonely,

I too have been self-medicating myself for many years. I quit drinking about
2 1/2 years ago. Yay !!

If I remember right...about 2 years BEFORE I quit, I'd feel very, very anxious
after a night of "drunken bliss". And I hyperventilated one time so bad, I thought I'd pass out. I called 911. :rolleyes: They DID found I was low on oxygen then !

Yadda yadda yadda....Alcohol can intensify panic and anxiety.

And so WILL caffeeine.

Congrats on your quitting Alcohol. Way to go !! :bouncing:

I could not really quit drinking until I joined AA. Years ago, docs would prescribe l-tryptophan for the inevitable anxiety that newly sober alcoholics went through. You might need some help getting through these first few months in the form of medication.

And, caffeine is an absolute no-no for me. It ramps up my anxiety to the max. Sugar does the same thing.