Coffee is good for Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) because it lowers the severity of symptoms of OCD. Coffee serves as an additional treatment for Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
It does this by increasing the release of dopamine in the brain. The release of dopamine helps the brain in diverting attention away from obsession. It also improves mood and energy, allowing the patients to resist their intrusions.
This article will look at whether coffee is suitable for individuals with OCD, how it helps such patients and some additive suggestions that may be beneficial.
How Does Coffee Help With OCD?
Coffee helps with Obsessive-compulsive disorder by inhibiting the release of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that usually suppresses neurological activities. Coffee blocks the effects of adenosine.
Adenosine A1 receptors have an essential role in this regard. They play a crucial role in releasing several vital neurotransmitters, such as tryptophan and serotonin.
Inhibition of adenosine by caffeine increases neurotransmitters’ release, which lowers the neurological symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Inhibiting the release of adenosine can also produce many downstream effects on neurotransmitter symptoms. Serotonin is one of the crucial neurotransmitters in this regard. Serotonergic antidepressants used traditionally to treat Obsessive-compulsive disorder also use the exact mechanism of action to increase serotonin’s concentration in the brain.
Can Coffee Cure OCD?
Coffee can not cure Obsessive-compulsive disorder. It only helps with obsessive-compulsive cleaning. However, according to research, drinking a cup of coffee helps reduce intrusive thoughts that patients with OCD usually have.
It also plays a role in improving the behavior of patients suffering from Obsessive-compulsive disorder by decreasing their obsessive-compulsive cleaning (washing hands several times after touching something) behavior.
How Does Facilitating Inhibition With Caffeine Help With OCD?
A publication in “The Journal of Anxiety Disorders” in December 2020 shows the results of a study of the effects of caffeine on OCD patients. This study examined whether manipulating arousal (a participant) can facilitate inhibition and reduce compulsive cleaning behavior.
Inhibition is a cognitive process. It is crucial for the human brain as it helps eradicate unwanted thoughts, actions, and urges such as hand washing in response to being unclean.
This feeling of being unclean can be related to various psychological disorders, including a phobia of any kind (phobia of blood or any injury, injection, etc.), conditions related to eating, and Obsessive-compulsive disorder based on contamination.
In OCD based on contamination, patients feel temporary relief by compulsive cleaning, i.e., washing hands.
Compulsive cleaning poses opposite effects. However, when it is continued for an extended period, it may increase the severity of symptoms of Obsessive-compulsive disorder. The research included forty-seven participants between 20 to 30 years of age with high fear of contamination.
They were divided into two groups, with the participants of the caffeine group being given a cup of coffee before touching a dirty diaper. Then, the researchers noted the time after which they washed their hands. The caffeine group showed less distress and a lower urge to clean their hands than the non-caffeinated or decaffeinated group. They were also able to wait twice as long as the other group participants.
Can Caffeine Trigger OCD?
According to a study, caffeine plays a vital role in obstructing intrusive thoughts like disgust, impulses, and irresistible cleansing in people subject to high contamination trepidation.
However, there is still a verdict that says caffeine affects OCD negatively. However, it is also a fact that caffeine is a CNS stimulant. Many people said they have tried stopping caffeine intake, which only worsened their intrusive thoughts, as caffeine made them feel much better.
What Food Should You Avoid With OCD?
Individuals with OCD should avoid certain foods as it will help control the symptoms of OCD effectively.
- Stop intake of sugary drinks, soda, pastries, and candies.
- Avoid processed foods such as burgers and pizza.
- Avoid darkly roasted coffee liqueur and chocolate products as excessive caffeine in such foods may lead to some psychic symptoms.
- Avoid wheat bread, canned soups, and gluten-based foods.
OCD patients who strictly avoid these foods, their compulsive behaviors and obsessions slow down.
Why Should Patients With OCD Avoid Sugary Food and Drink?
These foods cause fatigue by fluctuating sugar levels in the blood, anxiety neurosis, and mood swings. In addition, fluctuations in blood sugar levels due to excessive amounts of refined carbohydrates cause hypoglycemic levels, leading to severe mental confusion.
Increased sugar intake also leads to cognitive decline, which causes baseless thoughts, sensations, and ideas.
Why Should Patients With OCD Avoid Processed Foods?
Fast foods consumed by people with OCD may lead to memory impairment and mental depression as higher cognitive functionality gets impaired. This is because omega-3-fatty acids are not present in fast foods. The absence of these fatty acids makes people suffer due to mental anxiety.
Potassium Bromate in fast foods causes personality deviations and impairment of thought processes. Propylene Glycol, a synthetic food additive, leads to strange sensations and other severe neurological symptoms.
Why Should Patients With OCD Avoid Excessively Caffeinated Products?
Avoid darkly roasted coffee liqueur and chocolate products as excessive caffeine in such foods may lead to some psychic symptoms.
Why Should Patients With OCD Avoid Gluten-Based Foods?
Gluten is the cause of mood swings, depressive syndromes, and anxiety disorder. In addition, Neuro-inflammation due to excessive intake of gluten-based foods leads to cognitive impairment and brain dysfunctions.
This occurs since less serotonin is produced in the body, creating an imbalance in homeostasis.
What Can Make OCD Worse?
Different levels of chronic stress, anxiety, and long-term tension can cause OCD symptoms to worsen.
The primary sources that worsen OCD are patients who already have a mixture of illnesses. Researchers did a study that demonstrated that about 90% of people suffering from OCD also have several other mental conditions. These added conditions also add to the severity of OCD. Some of these conditions are:
- Anxiety disorders.
- ADHA (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
- Impulsive control syndrome.
- Mood disorders.
- Substance abuse disorder.
- Tic Disorder.
- Hypochondriasis.
- Social Anxiety Disorder.
- MDD (Major depression disorder).
As these conditions become more severe or are untreated, OCD can also develop more acute symptoms.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.