I was wondering if you guys thought their might be any link to caffiene and depression. I notice I feel really seriously down (really feel no hope) if I have been drinking Red Bull for a few days, but when I stop caffiene, after about 4 to 5 days, I still feel down but I never feel quite as down, never the feeling of no hope.

Caffeine sends your adrenal glands nuts. That's how it works. Caffeine works almost directly on dopamine levels and these levels are linked to depression. But not in the 'caffeine causes depression' way. Excessive amounts of caffeine can cause severe anxiety in even the most emotionally stable people.

I drink a moderate amount of caffeine but find a good strong coffee makes me feel so depressed and anxious about an hour later.
Red Bull should be avoided like the plague. I know a guy who was drinking at least 3 litres of the stuff a day during his depression, and his system was completely messed up so the antidepressants couldn't work at all.

Caffeine also messes up your sleep, and depression and sleep are also inextricably linked.

There is a thread in Breaking Stories regarding caffiene that you may be interested in to read.

I drink a lot of coffee throughout the day. It doesn't seem to affect my depression one way or the other. However, I've been doing this for decades. Red Bull, like other energy booster drinks, has more caffiene in it than 2 cups of coffee. That's a lot when you look at the size of the container. I have friends who drink it occasionally but they often complain of a racing heart or extreme shakiness. Do either of those happen to you? Do you find that your sleep is disturbed when you drink Red Bull? When we don't get proper rest, it will increase levels of depression. Another thing to consider, is when the "rush" is over, our body has a tendency to crash and so does our brain.

If you are having the hopeless depression while drinking Red Bull, I would discontinue the practice.
Sheepwoman

That is exactly what I was going to say. With the caffeine crash can come a crash of the blood sugar also which has negative affects both physically and mentally. Maybe time to try to start cutting back.

Agree with above - there is no direct causal link, but caffeine can affect sleep/anxiety which in turn affect depression.

I have caffeine affect my sleep. I don't sleep well for several days and then I get all cranky and things set me off easily.

If I drink a lot of coffee my emotions become very turbulent. But I'll admit it's often hard to know if it's the coffee or the stress that makes things worse. Because if I go on a coffee-bender, it's because of a hectic school/work schedule.

Are you sayi your friend used to drink 12 red bulls a day jeffster84 ?

I have caffiene pumping through my veins...lol. I've never notcied it to affect my mood or anxiety level. I've taken extremely high doses before too and that really sucks...but normally I don't notice unless I don't get my daily dose. But I do tend to crash...and that sucks too. I do try to cut back before sleep...and I agree that it is bad for your system.

Write down how you feel when you feel really bad and then cut caffiene completely out your life for 5 days and write down how you feel and see if you feel a differance

I'll try...and get aweful headaches though. But I so need to stop drinking it.

oh yeah when you first come off it you do get bad heachaches but hang in their

TZ,

I make my coffee at home, and what I did was to start making a pot that was half regular and half decaf. Over time you can increase the amount of decaf. That approach should keep you from getting the headaches.

KA

I don't really drink coffee...mostly soda and tea.

yeah, I always drink Red bull when I'm down (that is everyday). It always lifts my spirit.

yeah i think it makes depression worse, has no one else tryed coming off it and recorded their mood?

I dont drink caffeine anymore(and sugar for that matter) and I think I feel better. I get to work in the morning and start drinking <drumroll>........water, LOL. This guy at work drinks coffee ALL....DAY....LONG. He must go thru at least three pots a day. Doesnt matter when it is, it could be 102 degrees outside in the middle of July and he's got a cup of coffee in his hand.

Tea also affects you, i used to drink tea and it affected my digestive system & gave me really bad heartburn, when i cut it out and went onto decaff the heartburn stopped.

Caffiene slows the digestive system down, makes it sluggish so makes you feel sluggish.

I c