THOUGHTS AND COMMENTARY
A Book Excerpt From
The Road to Neuroplasticity and Change to Heal Trauma, Improve Cognitive Capacity and Maximize Performance
I have been working on a book on neuroscience that is an easy way to understand the power of your brain, your mind and the thoughts that drive your creativity, insight and intelligence. The most powerful fact about the brain is the concept of neuroplasticity or the brain’s ability to change structurally to grow, evolve and increase it’s capabilities. We do this with cognitive training and surprisingly, mindfulness meditation.
> READ MORE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY
> READ MORE ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY
The Surprising Effects
of Caffeine
NOTE FROM AUTHOR: Just like neurotypicals caffeine affects people differently. One ADHD person might get jittery and suffer from insomnia from just a baby amount of caffeine. And then there are people like me who combines caffeine with Adderall (see synergy below) and drinks Mountain Dew before falling asleep. Research, educate and learn and then experiment to see how caffeine affects ADHD and if it works or not for you.
SURPRISING EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, and chocolate and it’s one of the world’s favorite drugs. But what impact does it have on your brain? The right amount of caffeine can help you focus, but too much might make you jittery, anxious, or irritable.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Sleep deprivation can cause ADHD-like symptoms. These include:
Sleep deprivation makes these symptoms worse in people with ADHD. People with ADHD should only use caffeine in the morning and should avoid consumption of coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate in the evening or late at night.
BLOOD FLOW
Caffeine is also a vasoconstrictor. It makes blood vessels smaller and reduces blood flow. This reduced blood flow is why caffeine helps headaches. Amphetamine medications used to treat ADHD also make blood vessels smaller. Caffeine may have some effects similar to those of common ADHD medications.
Although the exact reason is unknown, reduced blood flow may help treat ADHD by reducing the activity of brain regions that are overactive, allowing them to better function and cooperate with the rest of the brain.
DOPAMINE
Dopamine levels in the brain have to be within certain levels in order for a person to be able to focus on their work. But in ADHD, dopamine levels are too low. Stimulant chemicals such as caffeine or amphetamines tend to increase dopamine levels.
For most people, adding stimulants will push dopamine levels too high, causing agitation and anxiety. But for people with ADHD, adding stimulants can get the levels just right. A few cups of coffee throughout the day can make a real difference.
Some studies have found that caffeine can boost concentration for people with ADHD. Since it’s a stimulant drug, it mimics some of the effects of stronger stimulants used to treat ADHD, such as Amphetamine medications. However, caffeine alone is less effective than prescription medications. Adults can use caffeine safely for their ADHD, but caffeine consumption can harm children and teens.
TOO MUCH CAFFEINE
The Mayo Clinic defines heavy caffeine use as four or more cups of coffee per day, or 500 to 600 mg. Too much caffeine may cause:
Since medication combinations are very hard to control, a person taking both Amphetamine and caffeine will also get a double dose of their side effects. Both drugs can cause anxiety, difficultly sleeping, nausea, and stomach pains. If you’re experiencing anxiety or difficulty sleeping, you may be ingesting too much caffeine.
Some people find that caffeine helps their ADHD, while others find that it doesn’t offer any benefit at all, or even makes their focus worse. Pay attention to your body and work with your doctor to find out what is best for you.
THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT RECOMMEND OR NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF CAFFEINE.
SURPRISING EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, and chocolate and it’s one of the world’s favorite drugs. But what impact does it have on your brain? The right amount of caffeine can help you focus, but too much might make you jittery, anxious, or irritable.
- Caffeine is considered a stimulant.
- It stimulates the body’s central nervous system, and boosts the brain’s production of dopamine, which controls the ability to focus and maintain concentration.
- Stimulation can cause a person to feel energized and not to feel the effects of fatigue. Sometimes the effect can be negative, however. You can have trouble sleeping or insomnia due to caffeine.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Sleep deprivation can cause ADHD-like symptoms. These include:
- irritability
- increased forgetfulness
- trouble focusing or sitting still
- difficulty controlling emotions
Sleep deprivation makes these symptoms worse in people with ADHD. People with ADHD should only use caffeine in the morning and should avoid consumption of coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate in the evening or late at night.
BLOOD FLOW
Caffeine is also a vasoconstrictor. It makes blood vessels smaller and reduces blood flow. This reduced blood flow is why caffeine helps headaches. Amphetamine medications used to treat ADHD also make blood vessels smaller. Caffeine may have some effects similar to those of common ADHD medications.
Although the exact reason is unknown, reduced blood flow may help treat ADHD by reducing the activity of brain regions that are overactive, allowing them to better function and cooperate with the rest of the brain.
DOPAMINE
Dopamine levels in the brain have to be within certain levels in order for a person to be able to focus on their work. But in ADHD, dopamine levels are too low. Stimulant chemicals such as caffeine or amphetamines tend to increase dopamine levels.
For most people, adding stimulants will push dopamine levels too high, causing agitation and anxiety. But for people with ADHD, adding stimulants can get the levels just right. A few cups of coffee throughout the day can make a real difference.
Some studies have found that caffeine can boost concentration for people with ADHD. Since it’s a stimulant drug, it mimics some of the effects of stronger stimulants used to treat ADHD, such as Amphetamine medications. However, caffeine alone is less effective than prescription medications. Adults can use caffeine safely for their ADHD, but caffeine consumption can harm children and teens.
- When caffeine and amphetamine medications like Adderall (Amphetamine and dextroamphetamine) combine, they cause an effect called synergy.
- Synergy occurs when two drugs have additive mechanisms of action that makes their combined effect more powerful. Caffeine makes amphetamines more effective, so a person taking Adderall, for example, would likely feel a stronger impact. Hyperfocus can be triggered from synergy.
TOO MUCH CAFFEINE
The Mayo Clinic defines heavy caffeine use as four or more cups of coffee per day, or 500 to 600 mg. Too much caffeine may cause:
- sleeplessness
- rapid heartbeat
- irritability
- anxiety
- insomnia
- muscle shakes or tremors
- upset stomach
Since medication combinations are very hard to control, a person taking both Amphetamine and caffeine will also get a double dose of their side effects. Both drugs can cause anxiety, difficultly sleeping, nausea, and stomach pains. If you’re experiencing anxiety or difficulty sleeping, you may be ingesting too much caffeine.
Some people find that caffeine helps their ADHD, while others find that it doesn’t offer any benefit at all, or even makes their focus worse. Pay attention to your body and work with your doctor to find out what is best for you.
THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT RECOMMEND OR NOT RECOMMEND THE USE OF CAFFEINE.
STARLIGHT POETRY BY KAI
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
About | Reprints & Copyrights | Home
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY
View Me on Twitter @kairosoflife
See Creativity Chaos - a Creativity Blog by Kai
About | Reprints & Copyrights | Home
© 2019-2020 Copyright Starlight Poetry
VIEW FULL SITE DIRECTORY