I have to say, the science is really against the parts of this post that discuss health effects of coffee.

While I cannot speak for your particular situation, I can say without a doubt that the research shows serious negative health and mental performance effects when consuming caffeine even in small quantities.

The depression you were feeling after coming off coffee was a caffeine withdrawal that you cut short. It can take many months (like 6+) to feel normal again.

Regarding the benefits of Caffeine discussed, I have to say that this is simply bad science, as most studies on the benefits are done when a person is high on Caffeine – obviously there are some performance benefits! but at what cost?

This is like jamming synthetic testosterone into your veins and then studying how much you can lift…. DUH you can lift more. Studies that actually measure performance and health before and after have bad things to say.

In addition Caffeine has psychoactive properties (like cocaine or mushrooms) that make you feel like you are “In the zone” even when you are performing less optimally than you otherwise would.

I wont list the countless negative effects of Caffeine here. Check out “Caffeine Blues” for an in depth piece of research on the subject.

For a massive list of negative health effects drawn from the book, see this blog post:

http://www.cheap-health-revolution.com/caffeine-blues.html

I’ll only point out one striking example for us guys – a significant reduction in testosterone production!

I’m not at all surprised by your opinion, its clear that some people do not react as strongly to the stuff as others.

Being extremely sensitive to Caffeine, I have experienced the damage the drug can cause firsthand. I imagine that the negative effects are still there in most people even if they are only present to a smaller degree. Do take a look at the research!

Yep, that makes sense. I’m a bit torn on the issue. I go back and forth.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said over the past couple of days. You may be right that it’s a personality type. Of course coping strategies are still valid when interacting with the world at large, so how we label it isn’t as important. I’ve developed coping strategies throughout my life, for decades before I discovered I was ADHD, which still help. The only difference now is that I understand why I’ve always been the way I am; somewhat different than most people (although in our field, a lot less so 😉 ). I actually have enjoyed those differences, and it did make myself feel somewhat unique because of it. I was never really ashamed to be different. I thought it was pretty cool.

I will say this: I consider myself lucky that I was NOT diagnosed when I was a kid (although I’m 100% sure I was always ADHD). The biggest disservice I feel that prescribing ADHD medication to kids is that they never really build the tools to cope on their own. I’m very thankful that my life’s experiences have helped me develop a large toolbox of techniques for handling day-to-day life and being productive. Although doctors do likely over-prescribe ADHD medication in general, I do find it helps regulate things a bit, and get me through my crazy days better, especially since my coping techniques are already second nature.

I was diagnosed as a kid and I was on Ritalin, but I don’t actually believe ADHD exists–at least not as a condition. I think it is a personality type that gets medicated. But, I think many software developer do fall in that category.

It is funny though, I do notice the effects you describe… 🙂

I can’t really drink coffee — as soon as it hits my mouth, it makes my muscles in my jaw super tight, it makes me feel crappy, and wrecks havoc with my digestion – not sure if it’s a allergy or what. (Too bad – I love me a good Vietnamese iced coffee…) I have started taking Addaral (I took Ritalin as a kid where according to those around me it help me a great deal, but it’s been 40 years) and it does seem too help my energy and focus quite a bit – though of course there are possible heath issues with taking uppers all the time.

I *will* publish that article one day.

I used to drink over 10 cups of coffee a day. Down to 4 or 5 these days, but maybe that’s due to the Adderall. Definite appetite suppression, yet not enough. Strangely, when I lost a *lot* of weight between 2007 and 2008, I quit coffee the first six months or so of my diet / exercise program. Then returned to coffee, but the weight still came off for another year. Still trying to figure out a pattern / solution for weight loss.

Wondering if the above was coincidental. But love my coffee way too much to abandon it again. Never drank coffee until I got into the field. Coincidence? I think not. I think it’s all connected.

Curious, though… the first few cups energize me. Subsequent cups start to put me to sleep. So much so that it actually knocks me out and I can fall asleep the moment I finish a cup. That reaction to caffeine is also quite common in people with ADHD. Have other people here had the same experience?

Yeah. I am trying to say off of the diet sodas, but it is difficult. I’ll need to get used to drinking more water. 🙂