Q Coffee seems to make my anxiety worse. Should I quit it?
A Caffeine stimulates the amygdala and raises cortisol, worsening anxiety, so if you have an anxiety disorder it is best to reduce it to one cup or less per day.
Detailed Answer
Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors to create a state of arousal and increases cortisol secretion, worsening anxiety symptoms. People with GAD are especially sensitive to caffeine, and consuming more than 400mg per day (about four cups of coffee) also raises the risk of panic attacks. Because caffeine has a half-life of 5-6 hours, consuming it after 2 PM can disrupt sleep and aggravate next-day anxiety. Energy drinks, green tea, and chocolate also contain caffeine.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, excessive caffeine intake is seen as fueling Heart-fire (simhwa) and raising Liver-yang (ganyang), thereby intensifying anxiety. At Dongjedang, we recommend chrysanthemum tea or lotus plumule tea instead of caffeine. Chrysanthemum clears Liver-heat (ganyeol), and lotus plumule drains Heart-fire to calm the mind.
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