Coffee and OCD

[Iknowitscrazybut]

This may be a silly one, but I am asking to see whether I am the only person...I have recently given up coffee, because much as I love it it makes my OCD LOTS worse. Is this the adrenaline thing?? Anyone know why or have a similar thing? I'm on camomile tea now. I am not brilliant, but better than when I was on the coffee! I also wonder about my pill sometimes too to be honest, because on my week break I feel less OCD and ruinate less, seem more able to let things go rather than pursuing my thoughts down endless rabbit holes.... 

[Emsie]

It's not silly at all, I can relate to this too! I gave up caffeine 4 years ago. It's a stimulant and activates the fight or flight response and exacerbates anxiety. If I have some at someone's house as a one off, I'm really bad. It's a great move cutting it out. Hormones also play a massive part for me too. I can't comment as such on the pill, but when I am due on my period and during, my symptoms are so much worse. I went on the pill about 8 years ago for a month and my anxiety went through the roof, so I came straight off.

I asked a question about hormones when I first joined the forum and I was told that many women report that their OCD symptoms are affected by their menstrual cycle. 

[daja]

How are you with black tea with milk?

[Emsie]

I have less of an effect with tea compared to coffee, but I still have everything decaf. Cola effects me too. 

Edited June 26, 2017 by Emsie

[va2998]

Hi there, have you considered trying a decaffeinated coffee? The only reason I ask is because I try to avoid drinking caffeine as well since it is known for spiking anxiety, which I still struggle with because I love tea so much. I drink a lot of caffeine-free tea, and recently picked up some decaffeinated coffee. I have yet to try it but hopefully it's enjoyable ?

[OceanDweller]

Is the title of this thread not also the title of a 1999 hit parade-making ditty by mockney Britpoppers Blur?!

[Zazoo]

6 hours ago, OceanDweller said:

Is the title of this thread not also the title of a 1999 hit parade-making ditty by mockney Britpoppers Blur?!

Ha! Its very similar but there's is Coffee and TV.

[Emsie]

14 hours ago, va2998 said:

Hi there, have you considered trying a decaffeinated coffee? The only reason I ask is because I try to avoid drinking caffeine as well since it is known for spiking anxiety, which I still struggle with because I love tea so much. I drink a lot of caffeine-free tea, and recently picked up some decaffeinated coffee. I have yet to try it but hopefully it's enjoyable ?

Oh yes, have decaf coffee all the time. It's great!  Hope you enjoy yours ☕️

[Emsie]

8 hours ago, OceanDweller said:

Is the title of this thread not also the title of a 1999 hit parade-making ditty by mockney Britpoppers Blur?!

?

[Iknowitscrazybut]

If only I was that witty! :-D 

I am now on the herbal teas and drinking the odd lucozade pretending that I don't know it has caffein in it. The effect for me of anything more than one small coffee is really extreme. I can go from feeling ok to being intensely paranoid. It's a shame as it also makes me really buzzy which I love...but yeh you're all right. Decaff it is. 

[daja]

Peppermint tea is good!

[taurean]

Peppermint tea is gorgeous.

Decaf coffee is a different flavour but you soon get used to it. For 3 months in Germany in 1970 I worked at a factory which made it! 

I have to drink a lot of fluid to keep hydrated and help my kidneys which have 3 stones in them. I enjoy water but I enjoy squash even more so drink a lot of both plus it's good for me anyway (the squash is "no added sugar!"). 

[St Mike]

Yes, regular coffee makes me more anxious in general and gives me heart palpitations. The caffeine levels in tea are better tolerated by my body. I usually take green or jasmine tea, plain and simple, just tea leaves and hot water. 

[Handy]

In AM, cortisol, the stress hormone is high, serotonin is low. Most drink coffee in AM, right? So that would just add to this complex hormone mix.  I think that you could just try to not drink coffee for a couple weeks, get through side effects & see how you feel. It took me 6 months tho.