The Connection Between Caffeine and Anxiety — What You Should Know
We love coffee. The ritual. The fuel to start your day.
But if you’ve ever sipped a cup and suddenly felt your heart race, your hands jitter, or your brain spin into anxious overdrive... you're not alone. Caffeine and anxiety are more connected than most of us realize — and if you’re here, you might be starting to put those puzzle pieces together.
Let’s talk about it.
🧠 What caffeine actually does to your body
Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it revs up your central nervous system. In small amounts, that can feel like a productivity boost. In higher amounts (or in sensitive bodies), it can feel like:
- Racing thoughts
- Restlessness or jitteriness
- Trouble sleeping
- That wired-but-tired feeling
- Even panic attacks in some cases
Caffeine blocks a neurotransmitter called adenosine (which tells your body it’s tired), and instead triggers the release of adrenaline — your fight-or-flight hormone.
Translation? Your morning cup might be mimicking a stress response. 😬
🌿 Why some people are more sensitive to caffeine
Some of us metabolize caffeine quickly. Others... not so much. Genetics, hormone levels, stress, and even how much you slept last night can change how caffeine affects you.
Women, particularly those with anxiety or PMDD, may be especially sensitive to caffeine’s effects on the nervous system. That doesn’t mean coffee is off the table — but it does mean listening to your body matters.
💡 So what can you do?
You don’t have to give up coffee entirely (unless that feels good for you). But here are some gentle shifts:
- Switch to a low-caf blend (like ours ✨)
- Avoid caffeine on an empty stomach
- Hydrate — caffeine is a diuretic.
- Notice your anxiety patterns — start a journal to see what’s triggering what.
☕ Enter: Jitterless Jane
We created Jitterless Jane for people like us — people who love coffee, but also love feeling centered. Our low-caf blends are smooth, flavorful, and roasted to help you wake up without the wired aftermath.
It’s the ritual, reimagined for your nervous system.