The #1 Habit to Quit in 2026 if You Have Anxiety |
I know—it’s risky to come between anyone and their morning cup of joe. In a world where caffeine is not only socially acceptable but practically a rite of passage into adulthood, questioning its role in our daily lives can feel almost sacrilegious. In my recent book, SOVEREIGN, I explore how we can regain our energy. Along the way, I discovered that the things we accept most readily are often the ones we question least—and that blind acceptance can quietly cost us our health, happiness, and well-being.
Caffeine is one of the only legal psychoactive drugs out there. And it directly impacts the nervous system. For those who are prone to anxiety, this can be especially problematic. You may not even realize how much it's affecting you because its use is so normalized. But if you’re struggling with persistent anxiety, fatigue, or difficulty focusing, your daily caffeine habit might be doing more harm than good.
Here's why.
A recent 2024 review found that caffeine intake is linked to increased anxiety, even in people without anxiety disorders. And for people with panic disorder or generalized anxiety? Caffeine often makes things worse.
Caffeine stimulates the release of adrenaline—the same hormone your body releases in a real emergency. That’s great if you’re dodging a car in........