Caffeine & Stress

By; Rob Regler

Caffeine is a drug found in soda, coffee, chocolate, and energy drinks. People mainly consume caffeine to reap the benefits of energy stimulation. Caffeine works by stimulating your central nervous system by stimulating your adrenaline levels while also decreasing your melatonin levels. This in turn causes the body to have the sensation of having more energy.  While caffeine can be very useful, it also has several side effects. One in which is an increase in levels of stress. Whether it is through the chemicals it produces or the impact on one’s life, caffeine (when not used correctly) can increase one’s stress levels. 

Two chemicals in our bodies that play a role in our stress levels are dopamine and cortisol. Dopamine is a chemical that makes you feel good when it is released and can be triggered using caffeine. However, after a while this feeling wears off and if not accounted for can create a level of dependance. In addition, caffeine can increase the level of cortisol the body produces. While your body needs cortisol to function, a spike in it can cause high blood sugar, weight gain, and moodiness. 

Caffeine’s nature can cause stress if used at the wrong time. If one has too much caffeine too close to when one is trying to go to sleep, it can create sleep problems. In turn, this creates a domino effect of stress. First you begin to stress about not getting enough sleep. When you do not get enough sleep, your alertness and overall health declines. When these decline, this creates additional stressors. While caffeine can be useful at the right time, it can be problematic if used incorrectly. 

While many use caffeine to avoid the stress of being tired, too much can trigger additional stressors. However, this does not mean that you must avoid it at all costs. Utilizing caffeine requires a balance in which you do not use too much, take it at the right time, and use it with physical activity. If you are interested more on this topic or anything similar, the Southwest Council provides free presentations for parents, community members, and schools. If you are interested in hosting a presentation, please feel free to reach out at (856) 794-1011 or visit us online at www.southwestcouncil.org.