Gen Z woman reveals a small lifestyle change that made her anxiety disappear

A social media manager and influencer who stopped drinking caffeinated beverages in March to help her anxiety has since shared her experience on TikTok.

“I quit caffeine when I realized it made my anxiety worse,” said Kylie Ohlson, a 20-year-old from Salt Lake City.

Ohlson said Newsweek who used to drink no more than two cups of caffeinated beverages a day. The National Coffee Association reported in 2022 that Americans drank around 517 million cups of coffee daily, and that the stimulating beverage had become increasingly popular among 18-24 year olds.

Ohlson said she felt she had no choice but to eliminate caffeine from her diet after noticing several side effects, including eye twitching and bowel problems.

“Since I quit caffeine, I wake up with more energy. I don’t feel the need to drink coffee first thing in the morning,” Ohlson said. “I feel more focused and happy throughout the day.”

“I had constant eye twitching and I always felt on edge,” Ohlson said of the effects caffeine had on her. “Along with the anxiety, I noticed gut issues, even when hydrating and eating before consumption, inflammation and acne, and intensified PMS symptoms such as mood swings and cramps.”

She added: “I wanted to feel and look healthier. So I decided to see how I would feel without caffeine.”

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, coffee has numerous benefits, including increasing vitality and preventing serious diseases, such as Parkinson’s and heart failure. However, it is not the best choice for anxious people.

With Amy Baertschi, a registered dietitian, she spoke Newsweek on the links between coffee and anxiety.

“It’s important to remember that caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and will increase heart rate, blood pressure and can cause heart palpitations if consumed in higher doses,” said Baertschi, who lives in Zurich.

He continued: “For people with pre-existing anxiety, adding something that exacerbates anxiety symptoms (such as palpitations or an increased heart rate) will only make the symptoms worse.”

During the TikTok video, which has received more than 101,000 views and 12,000 likes, Ohlson said that quitting caffeine “cured” her. She added that she was in a better place mentally and that her skin had “never been so clear and so bright”.

she said Newsweek: “I’m a drink girl. I love to wake up and have a coffee or a juice. The hardest part of giving up caffeine was losing the ritual.”

According to the CDC, three to five cups of regular coffee is fine as part of a healthy diet. Ohlson said she replaced the coffee with water that contained electrolytes, though she hasn’t ruled out the odd latte as a “treat.”

She said: “I also remind myself that everything in moderation is important. I still like coffee so I go for decaf when I’m craving one. However, since March I’ve treated myself to two lattes.

“Overall, my mental health has been better, and I no longer struggle with horrible anxiety. Of course, I have my days, but when I’m anxious, I feel like I’m more in control and can deal with it a lot easier.”

In the comments section of the video, TikTok users shared their experiences quitting caffeine or moderating their intake.

“I stopped drinking caffeine on an empty stomach (I knew it was bad for me) and my anxiety went down A LOT,” wrote one user.

“Ughhh I’m in a bad mood without caffeine, I want to but I can’t,” added another.

One commenter said: “I did the same thing!!! Caffeine made me so anxious [and] cutting it out pretty much cured me.”

Are there any health issues you are concerned about? Let us know at health@newsweek.com. We can ask for expert advice and your story could be included Newsweek.