this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2023
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ADHD

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I have a slight suspicion that every time I consume something with caffeine it has a specific effect on me.

A good cup of black or green tea: Slight headaches at some times.
A cup of coffee (from work coffee machine): Depending on strenght slight attention issues or headaches.
A cup of coffee from a coffee shop which roasts its own coffee: One time a bit of stronger attention issues than the work coffee.

I usually notice it right away after consuming.
But I also have a very strong issue with staying hydrated.
Usually drink 0.5-1l per day until I notice the usual dehydrated-headache or when I am really focused and loosing it at times.
Usually it's less prevelant at evening/night times.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I drink coffee for self-medication (or perhaps this is drug abuse?). It helps me be awake and to focus.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

It doesn't wake me up - but it does make me dangerously sleepy later.

Also. Best laxative I have.

Makes sweet treats better thru bitter.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Caffeine at any dose gives me anxiety and restlessness. At too high of a dose (which is basically equivalent to a large cup of coffee at home or a normal Starbucks coffee) I get heart palpitations and panic spirals.

I haven't intentionally had caffeine in five years.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is my reality too, although maybe a little less pronounced as I can still drink decaf coffee. It was such a profound uptick in my mental health when I cut out caffeine, so I don’t think I’ll be going back anytime soon.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can drink decaf, since it's 99.9% caffeine-free. But most of the time I drink rooibos tea.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@inasaba @underscore_ rooibos or redbush tea is a lifesaver when I want a real cuppa, but really should be sensible as caffeine affects my sleep. You can even put. A dash of milk in it, and pretend it's real tea :autistic_lurker:

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I take my rooibos chai with soy milk.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I tend not to drink caffeine during the day when using my meds. I get a headache which feels like I am trying to cramp a star shape object in circle shape hole. I drink mostly water or flavored water during the day to prevent the dehydration effects caused by my meds.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

which feels like I am trying to cramp a star shape object in circle shape hole.

Try the square hole.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So it may not be the dehydration alone.
What meds you got prescribed?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Could be as caffeine does dehydrated you. I am taking Adderall 10mg ext release

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Ritalin right now at 30mg after a pause of 1 year trialing it.

Wouldn't be surprised regarding dehydration. Doesn't coffee itself dehydrate?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

No, if you're a regularly consume caffeine, it has very minimal to no dehydration effects except in extreme cases, such as consuming significantly more caffeine in a day than you usually do. IIt was like 10+ years ago that I really dug into this, so my memory may be a bit fuzzy, but the general idea is that caffeine basically irritates the bladder causing you to pee more frequently, but the total volume of water loss is the same.

Searching for "caffeine dehydration" brings up tons of other articles saying that the dehydration thing is a myth. Here's a scientific study comparing effects of caffeine on hydration:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3886980/

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yes it does.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Tea doesn't really seem to affect me, maybe makes me slightly more alert. The same goes for most other caffeine drinks. However coffee really messes me up. One or two cups of coffee make me feel stressed and worn out the entire day. It makes my throat hurt, and makes my body feel drained and weak. Some of these effects persist even with caffeine free coffee, so it's probably not the caffeine.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Biology is weird...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Decaf coffee has small amounts of caffeine in it. Not any noticeable quantity (to your average person, that is), but if someone is caffeine sensitive they may notice issues from it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Hmmm still weird that the caffeine in tea doesn't trigger it. I tend to drink quite a lot of tea because I can't drink coffee, yet I tend to have no problems.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I feel like coffee does absolutely nothing for me, I drink it cuz I like the taste.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Helps me feel a little more alert, no major impacts.

If I have 4+ it'll upset my stomach tho, but 1-2 is chill.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Not much, usually. The only times it's had a noticeable effect is when I was already anxious about something, and then I get jittery.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

When I was younger it seemed to either not do much or act as a calming agent. Now it causes anxiety if I drink a lot of it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Sodapopcokedrink caffeine seems to make me either sleepy or jittery. I'm pretty sure it's sometimes both <.< Which is super weird.

Of course, it's not a useful sleepy. It's a "nap for a couple hours sometime in the next couple hours, no you are not getting any actual rest from it" kind of sleepy. Gr.

Caffeine from other stuff probably does this too but I don't pay enough attention to my body or life or anything to really be able to say much 😅

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I could drink a pot before bed and not be bothered.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

In high school, caffeine would put me to sleep. Some time in college, it stopped having any effect at all. These days, even a cup of green tea in the morning and I'll wake up at 3am with a panic attack.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

4 to 5 double espressos a day plus my ritalin just to maintain a clear head.

If I don't have to do lots of detail tasks (like if I'm doing yard work on the weekend, then my requirements drop.

More than a triple-shot makes my stomach a little uncomfortable, but I tend to tank stimulants. Almost every other medication I'm quite sensitive to, but stimulants don't do much.

Also I drink like 2 litres of water a day minimum.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I fall asleep, then my concentration is ruined for the next few days.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

except for yerba mate, which makes me feel relaxed, generally has no effect whatsoever

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Can drink mate without issue or feel any special effects except for taste.

I drink it either straight or with a mix of lemongras and mate + a bergamot slice

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Wanting my panic attack to end before I leap in front of a bus.