Hello everyone.  I don’t post here much, but I do lurk often.  

I’ve been diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder since February of 2020.  Through the last year and change, I’ve found multiple ways to help manage all of it.  

As 2021 approached, my anxiety seemed to be taking a backseat for the most part.  Anyone that deals with anything similar knows how exhausting anxiety can be and how much of a relief a day without it can be.  

I’ve noticed that some things set it off.  Mainly, caffeine.  I used to really enjoy coffee...everyday, anytime, and for any reason.  Not so much since my first panic attack.  I’ve been avoiding it and feeling better for it.  Until today. Today, I thought I would enjoy a hike with the wife and dogs, and maybe treat ourselves to some coffee.  Knowing how it effects me, I ordered a decaf iced coffee thinking I would be fine.  I was so wrong.  I didn’t realize the smallest amount of caffeine was still present.  After half the beverage, I started feeling that familiar sensation.  I kept telling myself it was decaf and I had nothing to worry about.  We made it home, and I started making dinner.  While cooking, I had been checking out my heart rate over the course of the past few weeks as I had been working out.  For some reason, I decided to look at the past year and noticed my resting heart rate was around 27bpm.  This was in June of 2020 and I’ve been feeling just fine since.  The amount of worry and anxiety hit me like a tone of bricks along with the caffeine.  I had to resort to several guided meditations to feel any relief.  

I’m not even sure why I’m posting this.  Maybe it’s to get it out, maybe it’s to just share it and discuss it, or maybe it’s to help anyone with a similar experience.  Maybe it’s all of the above.  

I had been feeling so great lately.