By Elizabeth Stafford

Caffeine is hidden everywhere, it seems. Sure, you think that if you drink decaf coffee, you'll be safe...but how about that candy bar you had with lunch? How about that cold medicine you took before bed the other night? Well, no matter the amount of caffeine it contained, a person with a panic disorder would benefit from avoiding it altogether.

If you give a PD sufferer caffeine, it can (and usually does) trigger a panic attack. 50% of PD sufferers have panicky feelings after consuming four cups (6oz. each) of coffee. Non-sufferers will get panicky, too, but not without a much higher consumption.

A person with a panic disorder is so hypersensitive to the feelings inside of their body, and even just ingesting two cups of coffee will bring about a "buzz", enough to make a panicker wonder why their heart is beating faster, why they are warmer, (thus bringing about the "OH NO!!! A heart attack!! feeling which turns into a full blown panic attack.) Caffeine surely can increase your chances of having a panic attack, however you don't have panic disorder JUST due to the fact that you've ingested caffeine in your lifetime.

WHAT DOES CAFFEINE DO TO ME?

When you ingest caffeine in any form, it affects your adrenal glands. Yes, that is where adrenaline comes from in your body. The caffeine will raise the level of adrenaline in your system, and if you consume enough of it, you can exhaust those glands.

When your adrenal glands are exhausted, they can no longer properly respond to stress. They no longer will realease enough adrenaline into your system.

So, let's say that your adrenal glands aren't working properly. Doesn't sound like a bad thing for a panic sufferer, does it? Well, in fact, it is. So, what else can happen to you because of that, you might be asking. Well, there are several things...

- Weakened Immune Response

- Panic Attacks

There is a chemical in your brain called "adenosine". It normally acts as a natural tranquilizer or sedative, but caffeine interferes with it.

Several studies have been conducted on a chemical known as lactate, which, when injected into a non panic disorder sufferer, does nothing, but when injected into a panic sufferer, it will produce a panic attack. Caffeine raises the level of lactate in a persons system, thereby increasing the probability of a panic attack.

In conclusion, it would make sense for a person with an anxiety related disorder to avoid caffeine, or limit it's use in their lives. If you are currently drinking extreme amounts of coffee, it might be best to consult with your doctor about how to cut back on it without enduring intense headaches, nauseau, vomiting, or other withdrawel symptoms. The average person can easily cut back on their coffee, tea and soda consumption slowly, perhaps over a period of two weeks or so, without any serious affects.

Do everything that you can to overcome your panic disorder...decaf isn't so bad!

Following is a list of some of the caffeine contents of certain foods, drinks, and medications. If you've been avoiding chocolate milk for five years, but know that you are able to consume half of a pot of decaf coffee, well....I'm sorry for you! Take a look at this chart...

CAFFEINE CONTENTS ITEM COMMENT mgS PER SVG Coffee

Regular 6 0z. Drip Method 105

Instant 60

Espresso 1oz. 50

Decaf Drip Method 2

Decaf Instant 2 Tea

Hot or cold 15 to 35 Soda

Mountain Dew 55

Colas 35 to 50

Dr. Pepper Types 35 to 50 Chocolate

1oz. Unswt. Baking 60

Sweet, semisweet, milk, dark 1oz. 10-20

Cocoa Powder, 1T. 10

Chocolate Milk 8oz. 10

Hot Cocoa, 8oz. 5

Chocolate Syrup, 1oz. 5

Chocolate Ice Cream, ½ cup 2 Medicines

Excedrin 65

Anacin 33

Excedrin PM 0

Aspirin 0

No-Doz Max. 200

No-Doz Reg. 100

Vivarin 200