How does caffeine affect you?

[Slime_Punk]

I've heard so many interesting things about how neurodivergent people deal with caffeine, so if you've got anything to share about your experience, please do!

For me, I've found out recently (after finally quitting, which I had been trying to do for like 20 years) that caffeine has basically no effect on me whatsoever; every time I used to drink it, it wouldn't really keep me awake when I wanted it to, and I apparently unnecessarily blamed my insomnia (which I still have) on caffeine altogether because there's been absolutely no change after months of being clean.

I've heard that for some people it relaxes them, makes them more focused, or just makes them super jittery. What about you?

 

[Forest Cat]

I might as well do meth. Caffeine is just terrible. Years ago I ate some caffeine pills, didn't think much about it because it was just caffeine. Huge mistake. Never doing that again. One cup of coffee and I can't think or sit still or function like a somewhat normal human being.

 

[Progster]

It makes me more focussed.

 

[Jonn]

I've heard that for some people it relaxes them, makes them more focused, or just makes them super jittery. What about you?

I am hypersensitive to caffeine.
I'm affected in two primary ways:

1. It accentuates my entire emotional spectrum.
2. It elevates my histamine levels which causes health problems.

Both are problematic.

Apart from chocolate, I have pretty much eliminated caffeine from my diet, thank god me.

 

[Luca]

Caffeine helps me focus but doesn’t keep me awake or make me hyper. I regularly drink coffee after 7 or 8pm.

Alcohol, on the other hand, will completely wind me up and make me insanely hyper, and I can’t go to sleep until it’s out of my system. Giving me a couple of drinks is like giving me crack lol

 

[Forest Cat]

Alcohol, on the other hand, will completely wind me up and make me insanely hyper, and I can’t go to sleep until it’s out of my system.

Me too, I don't drink now because all the rioting and getting arrested was too exhausting and expensive.

 

[Slime_Punk]

I've actually been wondering if people with ASD / ADHD have issues with alcohol like this as well; years ago I walked into the ER for some ongoing health stuff, they cleared me, but they couldn't let me leave because apparently my blood pressure was ungodly-high. I had like 3 drinks prior and I always got massive hangovers after just 2 beers, so apparently it was really doing something odd to my system each time.

I wonder if the ASD metabolism of chemicals is somehow altered

 

[Neonatal RRT]

All things in moderation. It takes quite a bit of caffeine to actually trigger a noticeable response, somewhere around 100-150mg. However, I have had some of those so-called "energy drinks" with 300mg and I would have a very bad response with regards to headaches, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, and generally just feeling like total crap. That said, I have been caffeine-free for several months now, and I actually feel a lot better without it, at all.

I do use nootropics and natural "cognitive enhancers" like L-theanine, N-acetyl cysteine, creatine, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl choline, methyl B12, methyl folate, NAD+, probiotics, etc.

 

[Jonn]

I have had some of those so-called "energy drinks" with 300mg and I would have a very bad response with regards to headaches, high blood pressure, heart palpitations,

Acid reflux was a problem for me, also.

 

[Jonn]

I don't know about others, but alcohol first makes me start a riot and then it makes me so incredibly hung-over the next day that I just want to crawl into a hole in the ground and stay there.

I have only been drunk once in my life to see what all the fuss was about.
It didn't end well.
I couldn't smell Bicardi for 2 years afterwards.

As a rational individual, I reasoned that everyone, like me, would never get drunk again after such a horrendous experience.
Once bitten, twice shy.

Why are ppl smiling?

 

[Slime_Punk]

As a rational individual, I reasoned that everyone, like me, would never get drunk again after such a horrendous experience.

This is the best approach! Unfortunately, some of us have to learn too many lessons before we stop

 

[Jonn]

I have been drunk many times and unfortunately the drinking culture here is like a competition. Who can drink the most and fastests. So between the ages of 15 and 25 I started a few alcohol-fueled riots. But I learned eventually.

Australian culture is known for drinking until 'you' spew.
"If you can remember what you did the following night, you didn't drink enough". EEP!

 

[Jonn]

Autistic ppl are renowned for going off on a tangent.
Just sayin'.

 

[Userxx]

Caffeine makes me anxious and irritable, so I avoid it. There are many who agree with me and many others who say it relaxes them. It really depends on the person.

 

[Jonn]

Caffeine makes me anxious and irritable, so I avoid it. There are many who agree with me and many others who say it relaxes them. It really depends on the person.

I have noticed I get unsettling dreams when I overindulge with caffeine.

 

[Userxx]

I have noticed I get unsettling dreams when I overindulge with caffeine.

Me too. That's another reason why I avoid caffeine.

 

[Lecia Wynter]

I've heard so many interesting things about how neurodivergent people deal with caffeine, so if you've got anything to share about your experience, please do!

For me, I've found out recently (after finally quitting, which I had been trying to do for like 20 years) that caffeine has basically no effect on me whatsoever; every time I used to drink it, it wouldn't really keep me awake when I wanted it to, and I apparently unnecessarily blamed my insomnia (which I still have) on caffeine altogether because there's been absolutely no change after months of being clean.

I've heard that for some people it relaxes them, makes them more focused, or just makes them super jittery. What about you?

I tried drinking caffeine because I have chronic fatigue, it seems to boost energy at first but after a while you get more fatigue than before. I advise everybody on this website to avoid regular drinking of caffeine, try to make your caffeine intake dispersed randomly so you don't get a dependence on it.

 

[Misery]

Ya know how, for some people, alcohol makes them more "brave" and they'll tend to do things they wouldnt otherwise do?

Yeah, caffeine does that to me. The difference though is that caffeine doesnt kill the memory afterwards, and it doesnt wreck my ability to think carefully (so, I wont do anything actually dangerous as a result, nor will I break anything).

Heck, I've even gotten up on stage and such (at conventions) in front of hundreds of people. Though, I was REALLY blasted on caffeine at the time (which tended to happen at those events, we always brought a lot of Mountain Dew). You know that scene in Futurama where Fry has had like 3 bazillion coffees? Yeah, it was like that. A bit too much.

As for alcohol, I never touch the stuff. It's one of those things where I cant understand the appeal. Plus, considering my hobbies and how often I drive, I need my coordination and all that stuff to NOT be impaired or I cant do those things.

 

[Sablerose]

Caffeine never used to bother me but I had to quit it completely due to bone issues as my doctor said it can worsen bone loss in women. She said to picture the caffeine molecules carrying away tiny calcium molecules. Yes, over simplified but at times I need that to prevent getting overloaded with info and forgetting it all these days (I sometimes do better with pictures in my mind then words, she was an awesome doctor who always tried to make sure i understood the whys lol)
But I too found out at that time that maybe I had just got so used to it I didn't know it was affecting me as I could drink a pot of coffee and sleep, unless insomnia hit. Now that I was off it for over ten years, if I have more than a cup, I get jittery and shake and it's not a good feeling at all. I became a tisane drinker, so I still got that morning cup without the caffeine.
I did drink a lot when younger because everyone I knew did as well, I ALWAYS was a sick mess the next day. Now I just don't drink, and never once have I missed the stupid way I would get when I drank or that horrible next day. I know alcohol wasn't in the first question but since it was brought up, I figured I'd add my experience with that as well.

 

[vergil96]

I respond normally to caffeine, it makes me more awake, but not more rested or focused. Alcohol doesn't have much effect on me, but the effects are also usual plus I feel sleepy.