Adult ADHD and Caffeine: The Perils of Over-Caffeination

Om and OMG! A Yogi’s Adult ADHD Doodle Diary

A Tale of Jitters, Focus, and the Perils of Over-Caffeination for Adults with ADHD

Dear ADHD Doodle Diary,

Today, I’m writing using caffine as a form of self-medication. Is it a good or bad idea?

So, I’ve just been diagnosed with Adult ADHD, and have started using Saffron tablets as a form of self-medication – which has been working reallly well. The ADHD cognitive behavioural therapy has also been fab.

Why self-mediation?

Good question.

Because there’s no other choice!

Getting the “offical” ADHD medication may take years, here in the UK, due to a massive backlog of cases and a shortage of the medication.

At first, I tried coffee as my self-meds.

Ah, coffee. My love, my nemesis. I mean, is it just me, or does a solid cup of coffee turn me into a jittery mess? Seriously, one minute I’m a sleepy sloth, the next I’m bouncing off the walls like a hyperactive squirrel who just discovered Red Bull.

 

The Love-Hate Relationship with Caffeine

 

Let’s talk about this complicated relationship I have with caffeine. On the one hand, I know caffeine is a stimulant, just like ADHD medication. It’s supposed to give my brain that little dopamine boost I’m apparently lacking.

In theory, it sounds perfect.

Drink coffee, get focused, conquer the world.

But in reality, it’s more like drink coffee, get jittery, contemplate finishing that important project, and then end up watching YouTube videos about cats being friends with dogs, or dogs being friends with dolphins, or dolphins being friends with rabbits. Productivity? What’s that? Something that was last seen entering a rabbit hole.

Here’s what happens: I drink a cup of coffee, and my ADHD brain goes into overdrive. Instead of becoming a laser-focused genius, I’m suddenly all over the place. I’m jittery, anxious, and restless.

My hands start shaking like I’m auditioning for a role in a maraca band, and I’m convinced my Online Yoga Lesson Planner business is about to implode, because all of a sudden every Yogi in the world has switched over to Zumba.

And don’t even get me started on the insomnia!

Even if I had that coffee hours ago, my brain just refuses to power down at night. Who knew caffeine could keep you awake until 2 a.m., pondering whether or not Zumba really has taken over the word.

 

Why Does Coffee Make Me Jittery?

 

Let’s break down the science behind this madness.

Caffeine works by blocking adenosine, the neurotransmitter that makes you feel sleepy. With adenosine out of the way, my brain goes into hyper-alert mode, neurons firing on all cylinders, dopamine and norepinephrine coursing through my system like I’m the Energizer Bunny.

Sounds great, right?

But here’s the catch…

My ADHD brain is particularly sensitive to these effects.

Instead of feeling alert and focused, I end up feeling like I’m on a never-ending rollercoaster of jitters, anxiety, and hyperactivity.

The same caffeine that’s supposed to help me get things done just ends up amplifying all the chaos in my brain. Before I know it, I’m pacing the room, rearranging furniture, and making yet another unnecessary trip to the fridge for a snackle (or “snackles” as my partner effectionally calls my need for snacks).

 

Is It Just Me?

I can’t help but wonder, is it just me who gets super jittery after a solid cup of coffee, or is this normal?

Rest assured, dear diary, I’m not alone.

Many adults with ADHD have this same love-hate relationship with caffeine. Some folks self-medicate with it before they even get a diagnosis, discovering that a cup of coffee or an energy drink can provide a momentary feeling of focus.

But oh, how fleeting it is!

Before long, that focus morphs into an anxiety-fueled frenzy.

 

So, What About ADHD Meds?

 

Here’s where the medication conversation comes in.

The offical mediation provided by the NHS is a choice of the following: methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, dexamfetamine, atomoxetine and guanfacine.

I don’t use “official meds”.

I use Saffron tablets as a form of self-meds.

The good news is that ADHD meds, when taken as prescribed, are designed to balance out the neurotransmitter activity in my brain without sending me into jittery overdrive.

The ADHD meds and Saffron tablets work in a more targeted and sustained way than caffeine ever could, helping improve focus and reduce impulsivity without the dramatic peaks and crashes of a caffeine binge.

 

The “No Caffeine” Coping Strategy

Instead of coffee, I now have herbal tea.

Luckily, I like herbal teas so it’s not a huge sacrifrice to stop drinking coffee. I’ll still have a cappuchino every month or so when I go to a cafe, but caffine will no longer be a daily habit.

I view the “no caffeine” as one of my Adult ADHD Coping Strategies.

 

George, Reflecting on Caffeine As A Self-medication Option

Faced with the facts, caffeine is not a self-medication option for me. I will treat myself to a cappuchino every month or so, but it’s goodbye “daily coffee” for me. I’m replacing coffee with herbal teas, especially the “Ashwagandha Balance” from YogiTea.

Ashwagandha helps with ADHD by reducing anxiety, improving focus, and stabilizing mood, thanks to its adaptogenic properties that balance stress hormones.

If you’ve made it this far, you either haven’t got Adult ADHD, or something else hasn’t distracted you yet. Bravo! Though, I’m not going to push my luck.

It’s time to wrap this diary entry up.

Namaste (my soul high-fives your soul),
George Watts

P.S. Dear Diary, thanks for letting me write in you. And dear reader, thanks for reading.