Impact of Caffeine on Mindfulness

[aly4519]

Considering how large a percentage of the population consumes caffeine, I am surprised there isn't more discussion on the impact that caffeine has on mindfulness.

This doesn't apply to everyone, of course, because we all react differently to caffeine. But I find that caffeine causes a considerable amount of overthinking, and makes it very difficult to be mindful. It also can cause you to be irritable and agitated, making it harder to accept things as they are.

Any thoughts or experiences?

[JonW]

Good question.
When I did my 8-week course I was surprised to see that a few people drank coffee before the session and then meditated.
Coffee has quite an extreme effect on me. It makes me anxious and my thoughts pinball around like nobody's business. So I only keep it in my home for visitors.
It would be interesting to hear other takes on this.
Cheers,
Jon

ps. Horlicks before bed though. Makes me sleep like a baby. Without the screaming and bed-wetting, mind.

[monkey]

I love coffee but have limited myself to two caffeinated drinks a day (morning usually) for a while. Lately I've cut that to one coffee first thing in the morning and decaf for later on. I have noticed a real difference, less irritability and racing thoughts, as you say, Alys. I find it interesting because I always felt that second mid morning coffee helped me get on with the day, especially when tired. Now I try to just accept the tiredness and feel it and it's an improvement.

[Gareth]

I'm mostly a tea man myself. I do drink coffee from time to time, and I don't seem to get that zing that people talk about after having a cup. Maybe I'm immune to caffeine? I try not to stretch beyond 3-4 cups per day of anything with caffeine in it though. An certainly none after about 4pm.

Caffeine must be psychoactive in some way though? Surely anything like this will have an effect on the meditation.

[Buddhakind]

From the book anxiety and phobia workbook by bourne, edmond:
"In short, too much caffeine can keep you in a chronically tense, aroused condition, leaving you more vulnerable to generalized anxiety, as well as panic attacks."

I myself own a cafe and know that it can get me very aroused, but every body reacts differently.

For my 8 weeks of mindfulness practise I have quit coffee altogether.

I wonder how mindfulness works with alcohol? (I haven't been drinking for the past 9 months) i could imagine that the tipsy feeling could even be more enjoyed?:P
Any experiences?

[JonW]

Speaking as someone who is fond of the occasional drop, I can vouch for the fact that it's possible to drink mindfully. At least for the first two glasses of wine. Once you're into the second bottle, all bets are off.
Also, it's extremely difficult to meditate on a hangover. Come to think of it, it's pretty much impossible to concentrate on anything when it feels like a cat is scratching at your eyes from the inside.
Jon

[JonW]

ps.
How much do you charge for a full English breakfast (vegetarian) in your caff, Buddhakind?
If it's under a fiver, expect me to drop in sometime.
Jon

[Buddhakind]

Haha! The cafe is located in Bangladesh. If you can make it to there its on the house

[JonW]

Bangladesh?
It's a long way to go for a free breakfast but I'm tempted.

[Babywhale]

I have recently cut down significantly on coffee consumption, firstly to try to address fairly chronic insomnia, and secondly to relieve daytime anxiety.

I realised that over a twenty year period I had become accustomed to drinking the equivalent of about 8-10 espresso shots per day, right through until late evening. Of course, part of the reason for drinking so much coffee was because I felt so tired (from having not slept).

I've replaced coffee with more water, as well as green tea, peppermint tea and chamomile tea.

Crucially I have also stopped smoking (was 20 a day for twenty years) in the last fortnight and am already aware that I have not had any headaches, palpitations or as much mind chatter and mind racing going on.

I started an eight week mindfulness course almost two weeks ago and find that I am engaging in the formal meditations every day in a fairly calm and relaxed way. I genuinely think I would have been more on edge and distracted more during these meditations had I had high levels of caffeine in my system.