Posted by Mistermindmasta on September 26, 2004, at 17:13:15
In reply to coffee helps my irrational fears !! meaning ???, posted by linkadge on September 25, 2004, at 14:56:58
> After ingesting a cup or two of coffee all my irrational fears seem to fade out the window.
> It really calms me down.
>
> What does this mean ???
>
>
> Linkadge
The EXACT same thing happens to me. I think it's the result of stimulation of the prefrontal cortex which tends to lower input to the amygdala. Stimulants, SSRI's or benzos can lower amygdala (fear center of the brain) activity but all through different mechanism. It's actually quite an interesting thing to notice, when you realise that caffeine is known mostly for producing anxiety, not reducing it. But yes, I agree with you. One thing to take note to is that caffeine toxicity is associated with anxiety, whereas caffeine withdrawal is also associated with anxiety. However, the mechanisms are different.I think I want to make a dinstinction between fear and physical anxiety. I get jittery and shaky and all that when I use caffeine, but I would not be wrong to say that I feel less fear, more optimistic, energetic, interested, etc etc. It reduces fear but ups physical anxiety. I enjoy caffeine. The physical anxiety doesn't bring me down.
Studies have shown that caffeine withdrawal is associated with reduced dopamine (i forget what receptor + where) activity and this is what causes anxiety upon withdrawal. I would suspect that all of us who react positively to caffeine actually have underactive dopamine receptors and when we use caffeine we temporarily feel what normal people feel - no irrational fears, friendlier, etc.
poster:Mistermindmasta
thread:394906
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040921/msgs/395391.html