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The following are commonly attributed to over-use of caffeine:

1. Stimulates your heart, respiratory system, and central nervous system.

2. Makes your blood more `sludgy' by raising the level of fatty acids in the blood.

3. Causes messages to be passed along your nervous system more quickly

4. Stimulates blood circulation

5. Raises blood pressure

6. Causes your stomach to produce more acid

7. Irritates the stomach lining

8. Makes digestion less effective by relaxing the muscles of your intestinal system

9. Its diuretic effect caused increased urination

10. Stimulates the cortex of your brain heightening the intensity of mental activity. This can result in a temporary feeling of alertness and, in the short term, banishes drowsiness and feelings of fatigue. In those who already have high levels of anxiety the heightened intensity of mental activity can produce unpleasant effects.

11. Affects the length and quality of sleep. Heavy caffeine users suffer from sleep-deprivation because their nervous system is too stimulated to allow them deep, restful or prolonged sleep.

12. The American Medical Journal has reported a correlation between caffeine and decreased bone density or osteoporosis in women.

In addition to the above effects prolonged or heavy caffeine use can produce more uncomfortable experiences:

13. `Caffeine nerves' a jittery feeling with shaking hands, palpitations, and wobbliness in the legs.

14. Caffeine addiction which involves nervousness, irritability, agitation, headaches or ringing in the ears.

15. Causes your adrenal glands to release their hormones into your bloodstream

16. Causes blood sugar, or blood glucose, to be released from storage through the effects of the adrenal hormones. This gives you a temporary lift but…

17. …requires your pancreas to over-work. This is because your pancreas now has to produce extra insulin to reduce this extra blood sugar. Once the extra insulin has 'mopped up' the extra blood sugar your temporary lift from the caffeine ends.

Your vitality level is back to normal. However in heavy caffeine users the pancreas, in time, becomes over-sensitive and over-zealous. Now it begins producing too much insulin – it 'mops up' not just the excess blood sugar but the blood sugar you need to feel alert and energetic. The initial effect of this is a let-down effect and a craving for more caffeine to give you a further boost. A later effect can be excessive and chronic tiredness, even on waking in the morning. Some people find that many of the psychological complaints common to reactive hypoglycaemia (the emotional yo-yo effect, shakiness, palpitations, weakness, tiredness, etc.) disappear within a few days of stopping caffeine.

NOTE: The fact that caffeine can produce these sensations and symptoms does not mean that it is the 'only' cause of such symptoms. But if you experience similar symptoms and your medical advisor confirms that they do not have a verifiable organic cause then you may wish to cut out caffeine for a few weeks to see if the symptoms reduce or disappear.

ANXIETY AND CAFFEINE

Studies have shown that high dietary doses of caffeine (200 mg or more) increase anxiety ratings and induce panic attacks in the general population. Individuals with panic and anxiety disorders are especially sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Although highly anxious individuals tend to be more likely to limit their caffeine use, not all individuals with anxiety problems naturally avoid caffeine, and some may fail to recognize the role that caffeine is playing in their anxiety symptoms.

there may be a link between caffeine and depression...

The exact relationship between caffeine and depression isn't clear. There's no evidence that caffeine — a mild stimulant — causes depression. However, some people are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than are others. In such individuals, caffeine may worsen existing depression. How or why this occurs isn't clear. But several theories exist.

Although caffeine initially gives you a "lift," it may later have the opposite effect as the effects of the caffeine wear off.
Caffeine can make it more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. A lack of sleep can worsen depression.
Caffeine appears to have some effect on blood sugar, especially in people with diabetes. Fluctuations in blood sugar can be associated with mood changes.
If you have depression, you may consider limiting or avoiding caffeine to see if it helps improve your mood. However, caffeine can be habit-forming. So an abrupt decrease in caffeine can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, fatigue, irritability and nervousness. To lessen these withdrawal effects, gradually reduce the amount of caffeine you consume. For example, drink one fewer can of caffeinated soda or one fewer cup of caffeinated coffee a day.

Source: Mayo Clinic

i have anxiety issues and i have to say that since switching to caffeine free soda is not as bad.

Caffeine is a poison, that's why your body does all that, it's trying to get it out of your system. I drink two cups a day but use 1 teaspoon of regular and one of decaff. I'm thinking of going decaff all the way. I love it but it does cause many of the problems rubyblue listed.

Thank you rubyblue for all this info I never had any idia caffee could do all that ,Ill be limiting my intake now.

interesting list Ruby!

I find number #10, the most noticable and relative for me.

I started drinking coffee again for that boost, but too much, and I need a xanax.

In the past, (long ago) I replaced coffee, with am walk, either green tea, or hot water w/lemon& maple syrup. In time I felt great without it. It took a little longer. oh, and a breakfast such as oatmeal and raisins, or ceral/banana and skim milk.

rubyblue, thanks for all the info, makes one really think.

all I can go by is personal experience at the moment.

I have a cup of coffee in the morning and it is a sort of pick me up, a little noticeable when I don't have it and frankly I miss it if I don't have it. I enjoy a cup.

I don't notice any anxiety from the one cup here and there. I sometimes meet a friend at starbucks in the afternoon and don't notice any problems there either.

I suppose tolerance is very individualized. I know some have difficulties with just one cup...

Oh lost, you could very much be having difficulties related to the caffeine.

I know when I've been in the hospital for psych they won't allow it because it affects so many in a negative way. Like someone else had said, try some time without it and see what happens.

Good luck to you and I do hope you feel better soon. Keep in touch and let us know about your progress.

Well,I think t can depend on the medication you are taking.

I'm on Depakote9to treat manic episodes)...but at a new higher dosae,I find myself feeling very tired and lethargic.

Pdoc waned to put me on Ritalin..a stimulent..I said to him
"You want to put ME on a stimulent!"

So we talked it over,he suggested a 1/2 cup of coffe ,every other hour or so,to counteract the lethergy.

I think we all are so different,it's hard to make a tue judgement call.

You also could be going through caffine withdrawls?