- Date posted
- 4y
- Date posted
- 4y
Hey Ashley, I can imagine how frustrated and stressed you are, so please know that you are seen and heard by me❤️ When I developed my anxiety disorder, I went from tolerating coffee fine, to ‘completely not’ being able to! You are not a failure for not being able to handle coffee at the moment!! Don’t punish your body for feeling what it feels. If you are already experiencing issues with anxiety, caffeine is a stimulant, and will excacerbate anything that is related to energy (anxiety). When I drank coffee at the peak of my anxiety disorder, it would give me a delayed (&severe) panic attack about 4-5 hours after drinking. There are so many different reasons why this may have happened - and whether our reasons align, I’m not sure, but I can only assume they do considering we both have OCD and seem to have had the same problem. My advice is work on getting your anxiety under control, however that may look for you. This may take a while, so please don’t rush. I didn’t drink coffee for about 5 months, and then I got my anxiety under control, and I drink multiple cups a day and I’m fine now. Of course, I’m not sure you actually want to drink coffee - so if you don’t, tea is a good trade off With the Easter situation you’re talking about, my therapist always told me to NEVER avoid a situation in fear of a panic. This is a hard pill to swallow, but please heed this advice - please. You don’t know how much you’re missing when you avoid something. Leaning into fear is actually you’re ticket to peace - funnily enough. Go for Easter, I don’t know you, but if you do I will be proud of you just knowing. Do Not Let OCD Rule You Ever.
- Date posted
- 4y
Thank you. This means a lot I know I should go
- User type
- NOCD Alumni
- Date posted
- 4y
I loved coffee but totally agree about the caffeine. Haven't had coffee in about a yr and a half. As far as Easter... you know what you need to do? You need to go! Your anxiety and OCD is giving you those thoughts. They are just thoughts! What if you go and have a great time and everyone else does too because you were there? You could try a script ERP before you go to help reduce some of the anxiety before.... like I may or may not have a panic attack at my family Easter gathering. I accept that uncertainty and I choose to go anyways. Do you already do ERP? If so, you know that saying that script and feeling your anxiety rise and then decrease by at least half before stopping will help you and that is how you get better, you don't get better by avoiding things because of a thought. Good luck to you. And go enjoy your family!
- Date posted
- 4y
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
- Date posted
- 4y
I feel this I’m worried coffee is like a drug for me because I feel differently
- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 4y
Have you tried decaf coffee? I mean it’s not 100% the same but it does the trick and the best thing is that it doesn’t contain the caffeine that makes you feel anxious. I switched to that a while ago and I’m pretty calm. As far as Easter! I agree with Jess, just go and don’t avoid anything! Show yourself that you’re capable of having a good time!
Related posts
- Date posted
- 23w
I gave up caffeine to help w my anxiety/panic attacks, and it’s been great so far. However, I loooove the taste of coffee so I occasionally treat myself to a decaf latte or even like a quarter cup of coffee (like maybe 3oz just a couple sips). However, MY ANXIETY GOES THROUGH THE ROOF???? 😭😭😩 Is this me being a hypochondriac and it’s just placebo??? I’m barely drinking any caffeine.
- Date posted
- 19w
I’m nervous about an upcoming gathering. I feel like I won’t be welcomed or only invited for the sake of the host being nice. I am afraid of what I will say or do, that others will pick up on my non verbal behaviors like I do with theirs (i.e. a shoulder shift, eye roll, texting each other while I’m right there etc.) and I’m afraid that I will ruin the vibes of the gathering by becoming paranoid. I don’t want my thoughts to spiral so bad that I need to leave and my fiancé is out of town so it’s not like I can escape. I don’t want to be there the whole time but also don’t want to seem rude by leaving early and keep thinking that if I leave early will be a topic of conversation for others there. It makes me want to curl up and hide in the house all weekend and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it for over a week now.
- Date posted
- 18w
I'm at my college and don't feel like being here. I didn't even want to come here. I woke up with anxiety bc i feel like i need to solve this. I had a bad stomach ache when i arrived to school and still havent even eaten breakfast yet bc i feel like i have to solve this. Im just so worried bc i have harm thoughts daily. If i could i would remove this! I dont want to think anymore. Its just, how do I know i dont have real urges when I'm feeling a negative emotion like anger or disappointment or annoyance? Im worried EVERY time i feel a negative emotion. Yesterday I was playing video games with my neice (we are close in age range) and she made us lose. She started blaming me and I guess i felt a little annoyed, it really wasnt my fault (dumb mini argument it was more playful since we started laughing but it was a bit annoying). Anyway i got a harm thought while feeling annoyed of me getting off the couch and lunging at her to attack. I immediately look at my bodily reaction and I tense up to stay as still as possible. My stomach was hurting and i wanted to leave as fast as possible. I stood up and turned off the game and said i was tired while making sure to stay back from her (and i had my hands away and stiff) but i felt so uneasy. I laid I bed and felt sad and heavy. And i kept getting thoughts that said "íts only a matter of time before you can't take it anymore". I started to reassurance seek using ai to ask if i was about to or if they are real urges or thoughts i mean until i eventually fell asleep in the middle of the compulsion. Im just so worried, what if I act out impulsevly one day? I dont want to! But what if when feeling a negative emotion, i suddenly dont care and do something? I really dont want to! I dont even want to feel negative emotions anymore since they trigger the thoughts and I dont want to think about any of that. As a result i tend to avoid my family as much as possible bc they are annoying sometimes. I just wish i was all alone sometimes so i wont get any more thoughts and so everyone can be safe. I usually just stay in bed under my blankets all day long to avoid my family and pets. I am constantly uncomfortable. I miss when i would never think any of this. Living life has become very scary for me now. 😞
Be a part of the largest OCD Community
Share your thoughts so the Community can respond