But I went from coffee every morning to Red Bull and I felt like crap emotionally. Sure I had the energy for a bit but I was really depressed. I already suffer from terrible anxiety and bouts of severe depression so it hit pretty hard.

I know a healthy diet and whatever is a better option but when you wake up at 4AM you need help shaking the cobwebs out.


http://www.blisstree.com/2012/05/23/food/nutrition/another-reason-to-skip-energy-drinks-they-could-cause-depression-and-anxiety-550/



Coffee it is. It's suppose to be good for the liver too.

I have to limit myself to one cup a day, or I am anxious. The anxiety wears off as effect of the caffeine wears off.

I am not talking about little twinges of worry. This is full-blown anxiety with all the physical and mental symptoms.

But the caffeine makes it a lot worse. Showing up to work or an event covered in sweat when its 50 degrees outside is embarrassing.

I remember being sweaty at work one day. A good friend was concerned. I told her that I was ill - nothing contagious! I said I had an ear infection and was running a temperature. I hated lying to her, but I did not want to go into it.

<ahem, TMI> constipation problem I have. I hate the days I drink it; I'm shaky and anxious, hands shake, feel like I'm on bad speed.

They have their downsides, but self-medicating with caffeine has to be commonplace.

What is the drink you are going to drink when you get up? More than likely it will be coffee. Alcohol and coffee drinkers probably go hand in hand. I don't drink coffee at ALL. Can't stand the smell of it being brewed.

Coffee? Bring. It. On.

Sacred bean.

Or as I told the doc who gave me an insanely expensive Rx that was supposed to give me more energy -- actually he tried several, one after the other, and I shudder to think of their street value -- anyway, as I told him after the third try, "I know where I am with caffeine." I can drink more and hope for the best on a bad day, or I can cut back to very little when I feel better. Now my internist wants me to quit the morning bean because of my acid reflux, but I decided I'd rather sleep on a wedge pillow.

<-- no hangover; just haven't had my morning brew.

I think it is more likely that people who enjoy that kind of buzz aren't likely to have the neurochemistry that leads to suicide.

As long as I get my coffee in the morning, nobody dies

Suicide is voluntary by definition. If we deny free will and accept that there can be such a thing as a "risk of suicide", which is reduced if we drink coffee, then by logical extension, we must also accept that there must be a "risk of not drinking coffee", since not drinking coffee is also voluntary.

Since drinking coffee and committing suicide are both voluntary, we cannot say that one affects the "risk" of the other. The only thing we can legitimately say is that there appears to be an inverse correlation between drinking coffee and committing suicide, but correlation does not necessarily imply causation. It's also possible that there's an unmentioned factor that discourages coffee drinking and also encourages suicide.

Discuss.

But when you get to that point the concept of free will is gone. It's such a dark place that its really hard to explain to someone who has never been there. You aren't the same you.


We know for a fact that certain chemicals can increase the likelihood of suicidal thoughts and suicides being carried out. With the brain and chemical imbalances it becomes a lot more complicated than "free will".


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2975916/


In a lot of "free will" philosophies mental illness negates the concept.

Alternate thesis: Towlie is older and has encountered clinical depression in others, but is of the opinion they should just pull themselves up by their socks.

Question: Is it possible to bring Towlie to empathy, insight, and compassion?

Discuss.

As for your feelings about an "ad hominem argument" -- all I did really was mirror your structure, and in so doing, held a mirror up to you.

run for their money.

Coffee affects brain chemicals which are tied to depression. The levels of those brain chemicals correlate closely with the incidence of suicide in various populations. You can argue that's not a 'cause' until the cows come home and still be stretching ingenuity beyond its natural limits.

Would your thinking be different had the writer chosen the words 'chances of suicide,' meaning the odds of a person choosing suicide?

but I do love my English Breakfast Tea (with milk and sugar, of course)

Recent studies have generally found no connection between coffee and an increased risk of cancer or heart disease. Why the apparent reversal in the thinking about coffee? Earlier studies didn't always take into account that known high-risk behaviors, such as smoking and physical inactivity, tended to be more common among heavy coffee drinkers at that time.

However, the research appears to bear out some risks. High consumption of unfiltered coffee is associated with mild elevations in cholesterol levels. And another study found that two or more cups of coffee a day can increase the risk of heart disease in people with a specific — and fairly common — genetic mutation that slows the breakdown of caffeine in the body. So, how quickly you metabolize coffee may affect your health risk.

Newer studies have also shown that coffee may have benefits, such as protecting against Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and liver cancer. And it has a high content of antioxidants. But this doesn't mean you should disregard the old maxim "Everything in moderation." Although coffee may not be very harmful, other beverages such as milk and juice contain nutrients that coffee does not. Also, keep in mind that coffee accompaniments such as cream and sugar add fat and calories to your diet. Finally, heavy caffeine use — on the order of four to seven cups of coffee a day — can cause problems such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness, particularly in susceptible individuals.

https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coffee-and-health/AN01354

I can get MEAN before I've had my first cuppa in the morning!!!

Personally, coffee makes me depressed about 2 hours after I drink it!

Except I think Sbux only offers that for cold drinks. I didn't even know they had that size until the other day when the lady taking my order misheard my order and I presented with a huge cup of ice coffee. I rolled with it, but I felt dirty after drinking it all.

Think I may have a cup right now!

and it worked for her quite well. So I know it affects the brain. (The problem is she used cigarettes along with the coffee...) Not liking the buzz, I drink only decaf at a coffee shop (single shot cappucinos)...wuss, but I think better without it. On coffee I easily get into overdrive and do all kinds of things that make no sense at all.

IMO coffee affects different body types differently. If you are cool and placid by nature and have low BP, slow metabolism, I think a bit of coffee is a good thing. But if you run hot and tend to excite or anger easily, or have a tendency to HBP and anxiety--a more cooling non-caffeinated drink might be a better choice.