Caffeine: Borrowed Energy or Hidden Saboteur?

Have you ever wondered how one cup of coffee or tea can make you feel alive and productive, yet exhausted and restless by the end of the day?

What if I told you that caffeine, a substance we so readily consume, not only masks fatigue but also interferes with mental health, psychiatric medications, insulin regulation, and the body’s natural rhythm?

I’m not here to tell you how to live or dictate what you should or shouldn’t drink. My role is to help you understand and make you conscious of what happens in your body and mind when you rely on caffeine.

The “Borrowed Energy” Trap: Why Caffeine Feels Like a Quick Fix

One of my patients—let’s call her Maria—came into my office holding her third cup of coffee that morning. “I can’t function without it,” she admitted. “I feel like my brain just won’t start.”

I explained to her that caffeine doesn’t create energy—it borrows it:

• Caffeine blocks adenosine, a natural neurotransmitter that builds up throughout the day to signal rest.
• You feel awake and alert temporarily, but as caffeine wears off, adenosine floods back, causing even deeper fatigue.
• The cycle repeats: another cup, another “boost,” and another crash.

For someone with ADHD, anxiety, or psychotic disorders, this cycle is more than exhausting—it can be harmful.

ADHD and Caffeine: A False Solution

For individuals with ADHD, caffeine feels like a lifesaver: it stimulates dopamine, the chemical that supports focus and motivation. For a brief moment, concentration improves.

But here’s what I tell my patients:

• Caffeine causes a dopamine spike, followed by a crash that leaves you even less focused and more irritable.
• Over time, it desensitizes dopamine receptors, worsening impulsivity and inattention.

It’s like using a small ladder to reach a tall shelf—you’ll climb up quickly but fall back harder.

Caffeine, Anxiety, and the Nervous System

If you struggle with anxiety or feel “wired but tired,” caffeine amplifies that feeling. Here’s why:

• Caffeine triggers your fight-or-flight system, increasing heart rate, jitteriness, and restlessness.
• For people already prone to panic attacks, even small doses of caffeine can make them feel like they’re on the edge of a breakdown.

Maria said, “I just drink tea instead of coffee now—it’s milder, right?” Well, not entirely.

Theine in tea works the same as caffeine, and while the effect may feel slower, the overstimulation is still there.

Caffeine, Psychotic Disorders, and Medication Interference

This is where caffeine becomes dangerous. For individuals with psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, or those taking antipsychotic or antidepressant medications, caffeine can:

• Worsen symptoms like paranoia or hallucinations.
• Interfere with how antipsychotic medication is metabolized, reducing its effectiveness.
• Increase nervousness, restlessness, and irritability, which further exacerbates symptoms.

I’ve had patients tell me that coffee makes them feel like their mind is “racing out of control.”

For those managing their mental health with medication, caffeine creates unnecessary obstacles to stability.

Caffeine and Insulin: The Hidden Effect on Blood Sugar

Here’s something most people don’t know: caffeine interferes with insulin sensitivity—the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar.

• Caffeine causes an increase in adrenaline, which triggers the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream.
• Over time, this can lead to insulin resistance, where the body struggles to manage blood sugar efficiently.
• For individuals with prediabetes or diabetes, caffeine can make it harder to maintain stable glucose levels, increasing the risk of energy crashes and long-term complications.

Maria was shocked when I shared this with her. “I thought coffee was fine because it has no calories!” But the metabolic impact of caffeine goes beyond calories—it disrupts the delicate balance of hormones in the body.

Sleep: The Silent Sabotage

Sleep is where your brain heals, restores, and regulates itself. But caffeine lingers in your system for up to 12 hours, even if you don’t “feel it.”

• It reduces deep sleep (NREM), the most restorative phase for your mind and body.
• Lack of deep sleep worsens depression, anxiety, and cognitive fog.

Maria told me, “I sleep fine even after coffee.” But when we looked closer, her sleep lacked the deep, restful quality her brain needed.

Decaf Coffee: Friend or Foe?

“What about decaf?” Maria asked, hopeful. I explained:

• Decaf still contains small amounts of caffeine—3-5% of a regular cup.
• The chemicals used to remove caffeine, like methylene chloride, may be harmful to the liver and nervous system in large quantities.

So, while decaf may reduce caffeine intake, it doesn’t eliminate the risks, especially if you rely on it as a crutch.

The Psychiatric View: Would Caffeine Be Approved Today?

If caffeine were introduced as a new substance, would it be considered safe? From a psychiatric perspective, it acts like a legal stimulant drug:

• It causes dependence: your body and brain crave it for functioning.
• Withdrawal symptoms—headaches, fatigue, irritability—prove how reliant we’ve become.
• It hijacks natural emotional and cognitive regulation.

We accept caffeine because it’s normalized. But should it be?

Breaking Free: Maria’s Story of Rediscovery

At the end of our session, I challenged Maria: “Try one week without caffeine. Let’s see what happens.”

The first few days were rough: headaches, fatigue, and irritability—all classic withdrawal symptoms. But by day six, Maria said something that stuck with me:

“I woke up feeling refreshed for the first time in years. I didn’t even need an alarm.”

Without caffeine, her body began to reset. Her sleep deepened, her anxiety lessened, and she discovered energy that was real and sustainable.

I’m not here to dictate how you live your life. I don’t want to tell you not to drink coffee or tea.

My goal is to help you become aware—aware of what caffeine does to your brain, your sleep, your mental health, and the way you feel every day.

If you choose to keep caffeine in your life, that’s your decision. But what if you gave yourself the chance to experience your body’s natural energy?

The Challenge: Reclaim Your Brain

I leave you with this challenge:

• Take one week off caffeine—no coffee, tea, or energy drinks.
• Notice how your mind and body respond. Pay attention to your sleep, focus, insulin levels, and anxiety levels.

You might be surprised at what you find. Imagine waking up calm, clear, and energized without needing a stimulant. Imagine trusting your brain’s natural rhythms again.

Your energy, your focus, and your peace are worth it. This isn’t about giving something up—it’s about reclaiming what’s already yours.

Are you ready to meet your mind as it truly is?

Warmly,

Florina