caffeine and your mental health

[northstar]

hi guys,
i found this video on caffeine and mental health, it's really great if you want to take a look:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... D=24156323 (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=24156323)

i also found a page with a whole host of videos about caffeine on it, i haven't watched any of them yet but some of you might like to browse through them:

http://www.metacafe.com/tags/caffeine/

please let me know what you think or if you've found this useful :)

[Aaron]

I drink either a cup of green tea or half of a soda every day. I have found that if I don't drink caffeine during the day, I have a harder time staying asleep... I guess you could say caffeine withdrawal can be a bit like a small episode of depression: you're more fatigued, but your sleep is disturbed nonetheless.

Very interesting video, though. I wasn't aware that the DSM covered caffeine-related disorders.

[punkgod94]

Caffeine withdrawal is a reality for most people. Try to drink less and less over the course of weeks to escape withdrawal symptoms. It only makes you more anxious and irritated, but it's a HORRIBLE drug if you have anxiety. Stay away from it if you can, but remember to avoid the headaches and withdrawal symptoms, wean yourself off slowly. If you drink a bottle a day, try drinking just 3/4 of a bottle. Give it a few days or a week and then go down to 1/2 a bottle till you're off of it, and then give caffeine free soda a try. If you CAN, try for DIET caffeine free because the sugars make you anxious as well.

[steph0402]

when my anxiety was at its worse i was drinking 6 or so red bull's a day for about 8 months. i was having panic attacks almost everyday i was anxious all day and i started experiencing derealization. decided to stop cold turkey (had horrible withdraw symptoms but they went away after about 3 days) and for about 3 weeks now i havent had a single panic attack. my anxiety level even tho still there is much lower... the onle thing i am still experiencing is the derealization but with time and cbt i think that'll subside!! so for anyone out there haveing panic attack or extreme anxiety check your caffeine intake it just might help!!