Caffeine Panic Attack: Yes there is such as thing - but there's more to this...read on.

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What Caffeine Does:

Caffeine does three things that are of concern: it 1. alters the brain’s natural state by closing blood vessels in the brain, 2. causes the release of adrenaline in the body, and 3. manipulates dopamine in the brain – the neurotransmitter which stimulates the “pleasure centers”. 

Caffeine’s effects on the brain are similar in many ways to the effects of amphetamines cocaine and heroin, although obviously not as severe.

Particularly concerning for sufferers of panic attacks and anxiety is that caffeine stimulates the release of adrenaline in the body, which is the same thing that happens during the “fight or flight response”.  You likely recall that the “fight or flight response” is the underlying physiology process of a panic attack.  Obviously this is the last thing that a panic attack sufferers want to stimulate.

I certainly don’t recommend that you quit caffeine “cold turkey” but rather gradually reduce your caffeine intake levels. 

Remember caffeine is a drug so you will likely go through some withdrawal symptoms when levels are reduced or cut out.  But I’m sure that your motivation to end recover from panic attacks is stronger and you can clearly see the benefits to cutting out or reducing caffeine intake. 

How do you kick the habit?

By these two things: 1.  becoming aware of all your sources of caffeine and 2. having an alternative activity you can take up.  On this second point, for example, you can drink green tea or a natural green drink or even make your own.

You’ll recall from a previous installment that I discussed the fact that green tea contains many things that are good for you but of considerable importance is a substance called L-

Theanine.   L-Theanine can improve cognitive skills and help with relaxation and reduce stress, both mental and physical.

You would, however, probably have to drink at least 5 cups of green tea to get the minimum dosage to feel the effects of L-Theanine but what you could consider doing, if you’d like to give this a try, is to drink green tea and supplement it with a supplement containing green tea extract. 

Ultimately you will have to see what your tolerance levels to caffeine are.  You might be able to consume caffeine in moderation – like 1 cup a day – but, as mentioned, you’d have to become aware of all of the things that contain caffeine, such as the many different soda pops, chocolate bars and treats and energy drinks such as Red Bull Etc. (which have extremely high amounts). 

Green tea has caffeine too but not nearly as much as coffee and you can purchase decaffeinated green tea or do what I like: decaffeinate your own. 

Decaffeinating your own green tea is very easy to do.  All you need to do is simply add a little water to a cup and immerse the tea bag for a few seconds and then dump the water out.  Then just use the tea bag as you normally would to make tea.

Another great and effortless alternative activity to caffeine is hypnosis. 

In sum, there are viable alternatives out there to harmful sources of caffeine and I think you can do yourself a favour by looking into them.

All the best,

Matthew Wagner