As I wrote about in the “Relief of a Diagnosis” and “Autism Self-Determination” series, I’m relatively new to identifying as someone with AuDHD (Autism + ADHD). In the years since first suspecting and eventually confirming my neurodivergence, my process for attempting to take it in stride has gone something along these lines:
- Learn as much as possible about each neurotype and consider the impacts on my life, past and present.
- Connect with fellow neurodivergents and create a supportive community for myself.
- Construct a more neurodivergent-friendly lifestyle that will enable me to thrive.
As my knowledge grew from progress with #1 and #2, it became evident that I developed many coping mechanisms before my diagnoses that helped me manage my most prominent symptoms. Many were healthy, reasonable strategies, like becoming a diligent planner with color-coded calendars and orderly to-do lists. However, some were self-destructive, like using alcohol to slow down my overactive brain and lower the volume of my many intrusive thoughts. Others fall into a gray area where the impacts are slightly more ambiguous. Caffeine is a prime example.
Neurodivergence aside, caffeine is a stimulant that impacts all folks differently. I learned this firsthand in my decade+ of working in coffee shops. Some sensitive folks can’t tolerate even a drop of it, whereas others can drink it right up until bedtime. Most folks land somewhere between these extremes.
In my teens and twenties, I was an excessive coffee drinker. It was of no consequence how many shots of espresso I downed during working hours; I could still easily nap after my shift ended. Sometimes, I even experienced a reverse effect from coffee, and it seemed to make me more tired. I later learned that “caffeine naps” are not uncommon for ADHDers.
In my thirties, I began to cut back on my caffeine consumption for health reasons. I come from a long line of folks with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), so acid issues were practically an unavoidable development. I first eliminated afternoon coffee, then eventually switched my morning brew to half-caff. I felt pretty happy with that compromise up until I began taking medication to manage my ADHD.
ADHD meds of all kinds, stimulants or otherwise, can be a significant variable in how your body responds to caffeine. My first prescription was for Strattera, a non-stimulant option that influences Norepinephrine receptors in the brain. In the long run, this medication was a big no for me due to a bevy of adverse side effects (which I wrote about in “Relief of a Diagnosis (Part 1)“). Caffeine further exacerbated these issues, causing my heart rate to skyrocket and frequently inducing even more severe sweats and anxiety. I became mindful of spacing out my daily French press from taking the pills, but after a 4-month adjustment period, I decided that Straterra was not the right fit for my system whatsoever.
My gastrointestinal issues were worsening around the time that I decided to give stimulants a try; between both factors, I committed to migrating from coffee over to tea. Though the negative effects aren’t as hardcore as I experienced with coffee and Strattera, even this milder beverage coupled too closely together with stimulants overloads my system. But, it’s relatively easy to space out the intake of the two. Mixing in herbal teas throughout the day is also helpful, so I still get the pick-me-up of a flavorful beverage and the pleasant ritual of brewing a drink without spiking my caffeine intake.
One big pro for tea is that many varieties have GABA, which is super for ADHDers! This article gives a good overview of what GABA is and how it works. On the caffeinated front, you can find a good amount of it in green and white teas, and this article by the amazing Dr. Neff identifies many herbal teas with loads of GABA.
On the other hand, coffee offers different health benefits. With my family’s history of non-alcoholic cirrhosis, I’m especially intrigued by its advantages for the liver. There also seems to be some evidence that it can help manage ADHD symptoms as long as there is consideration of how it interacts with meds and sleep, which my Primary Care Physician pointed out a few years back. I also just really freaking love coffee, so I mourn its absence in my life and allow myself to “cheat” by having up to seven cups per month.
I’m keen to keep learning more about this topic because I’ve had an increasing amount of sleep disruptions over the past year. I’m not sure whether to blame the medication, or how Ritalin interacts with the amount of caffeine I’m still consuming, or if it has more to do with stress and other variables. At this point, I still have more questions than answers about whether caffeine in any form can complement my current Ritalin regimen.
This lingering uncertainty is why I plan to attend a free ADDitude webinar on 2/19 titled “ADHD and Caffeine: Risks & Benefits of Using This Natural Stimulant.” It may not fill in all the blanks for me since my Autism comorbidity may create different dynamics than what will be covered here for ADHD by itself, but I expect there will still be plenty of helpful information. If you are interested in the topic but can’t attend live, you can still register to receive a link afterward to watch at your convenience.
hezhub.com 