Credits: Social Media
Psychotherapist weighs in on people with ADHD using coffee to ‘self-medicate’�
Even neurotypicals count on coffee to kick-start their day while neurodivergent people swear by its “effects” which supposedly help them better concentrate and focus on otherwise boring tasks.
The Focus spoke to a psychotherapist to find out if there was any truth to the viral claim about coffee circulating social media, specifically favored by people with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) using it as a “self-medication”. And it seems, there is.
Claims about effects of coffee on ADHD symptoms
Several social media users with ADHD use coffee as a “stimulant” to improve the symptoms of the mental health condition.
People with ADHD struggle to concentrate and retain their focus on any task they take up unless they find it interesting or it comes with an immediate reward.
While what causes the condition isn’t fully understood, some of the factors contributing to it include genetics, brain injuries, traumatic childhood experiences, nutrition, and more.
The prescribed drugs for ADHD are said to improve attention by targeting the brain chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine – social media user claims coffee has a similar effect on them.
Among the many claims about the “magical effects” of coffee is one that supposedly helps people with ADHD “sleep better”, while it’s known to keep neurotypicals from falling asleep.
Although coffee isn’t generally harmful to health, consuming it in large quantities isn’t recommended as it can cause anxiety, “afternoon crash”, and disrupt your sleep cycle.
Psychotherapist weighs in on the popular ‘self-medication’
Fatemeh Farahan is a licensed psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience. Her insight into the topic of coffee and ADHD is gained from her firsthand experience with neurodivergent clients who use coffee as a “tool to manage ADHD symptoms.”
As far as scientific research on the effects of coffee is concerned, Fatemeh says the evidence to support the claim is limited. ” In fact, a meta-analysis of studies found no clear improvement when comparing caffeine to a placebo,” she told The Focus.
Although many of her clients boast about feeling more focused after consuming coffee, “once they start proper ADHD treatment (with prescribed medication), their caffeine intake tends to drop.”
Touching upon growing dependency on coffee among people with ADHD and commenting on the social media trend, Fatemeh said:
“Theres definitely a trend Ive noticed where people turn to caffeine to help manage their symptoms before theyve been diagnosed or treated. Its not a long-term solution, but many find it helpful in the short term.”
“The tricky part is, the scientific community hasnt reached a solid consensus on whether caffeine is actually effective, especially in controlled studies,” she continued.
Based in Los Angeles, Fatemeh Farahan is a Holistic Psychotherapist specializing in Couples, Individuals, and Culturally Informed Mind-Body Healing. She founded her organization Farahan Therapy in 1997 and authored the book Wired for Happiness, which came out in December 2022.
