Jeremy MallinI mentioned how coffee doesn't keep me awake, and someone suggested that was an ADHD thing. I had heard people say it's an autistic thing. Which is it? Is it both? Is it just that a lot of autistic people are also ADHD?
Hatysa@JeremyMallin Could be both (officially diagnosed #ActuallyAustistic here, and I don't seem to be ADHD on top of it). Caffeine doesn't make me "wired" in typical amounts, though I can't rule out caffeine subtly interfering with my ability to sleep.
Aaron@hatysa @JeremyMallin I'm both, and I definitely have to stop a few hours before bedtime. On the other hand, I take armodafinil off label for my ADHD, and I often fall back asleep around the time it kicks in.
I'm pretty sure that response to stimulants is particular to ADHD, not autism. But since around 50% of autistic people also meet the criteria for ADHD, it would make sense that people would be confused.
alleged misandrist@JeremyMallin they say it's a Honduran thing, people here drink coffee in the afternoon to take a nap, so maybe you're Honduran
I've also heard that caffeine is a depressant when you're dehydrated, so maybe drink more water
I've also heard that caffeine is a depressant when you're dehydrated, so maybe drink more water
@mook
Interesting. I had never heard the bit about being dehydrated.
I love the part about possibly being undiagnosed Honduran. 😆
Zumbador@JeremyMallin
I've mostly heard it's associated with ADHD but for many of us it's not really possible to seperate the ADHD and Autistic stuff out so.
This article explains some of the brain chemistry that might explain this phenomenon
https://evolvepsychiatry.com/blog/why-does-coffee-make-me-tired-if-i-have-adhd-the-science-behind-the-paradox
@Zumbador
That article was very enlightening. It makes me think that I probably do not have ADHD, or at least it is not responsible for this phenomenon. I don't think it actually makes me tired. It just doesn't wake me up. It doesn't seem to affect my energy levels or alertness at all either way.
That article was very enlightening. It makes me think that I probably do not have ADHD, or at least it is not responsible for this phenomenon. I don't think it actually makes me tired. It just doesn't wake me up. It doesn't seem to affect my energy levels or alertness at all either way.
@JeremyMallin
It's not diagnostic of ADHD, though 🙂
It's just that this happens to many ADHD people. Not all. I'd say the fact that caffeine doesn't wake you up is enough of a unusual reaction to suggest something is different about your brain chemistry, but it's not a way to tell whether or not you have ADHD, if that makes sense.
It's not diagnostic of ADHD, though 🙂
It's just that this happens to many ADHD people. Not all. I'd say the fact that caffeine doesn't wake you up is enough of a unusual reaction to suggest something is different about your brain chemistry, but it's not a way to tell whether or not you have ADHD, if that makes sense.
@Zumbador
Yes. That does make sense.
Yes. That does make sense.
hauchThe article is pretty superficial and I wouldn't be surprised, if "AI" was used for more than just the image.
It also doesn't say that caffein makes you tired, if you have ADHD, but just presents possible reasons.
"Dosage, set and setting" also applies to caffein and the same person can affected differently by a drug.
To use a simple example, the same person can need caffein to get out of bed in the morning, but become sleepy and take a nap in the afternoon.
I once tried to describe how caffein affects me and the text got so long, that I lost track of what I've already written, so I never finished it.
Another problem I see here, is that the vocabulary to describe our state is very limited.
I've talked about this problem with others already and "it makes me tired" can mean different things, that are expressed in the same way, because we lack words in our language to be more precise.
I don't remember the number, but I've once tried to collect "states", that are described by the word "tired" and I got more than 10 states, I think even more than 20.
I know there are words like "fatigued", "exhausted" or "sleepy", but even those are pretty imprecise.
We'd probably need a bunch of scales like how much of a need you feel to sleep, how easy it feels to fall asleep, how likely you are to fall asleep, how relaxed/slouched or tense you are and so on.
sonja@Zumbador i didnt really know *how* much caffeine boosted my energy in the morning until i stopped drinking it. that being said, it more flattens my mood and makes me incredibly productive in the mornings. alcohol has the complete opposite effect on me and makes me very hyper and i end up not sleeping at all until its
out of my system.
i was diagnosed with autism and it was determined that i have subacute adhd
Coyote of the Stars@JeremyMallin Usually its an ADHD thing, but both are a spectrum.....so...🤷
I have ADHD, caffeine doesn't have the same kick it should. Rarely does it bother me.
Franchesca@JeremyMallin my partner is probably adhd, and he seems to be able to drink huge volumes of coffee (it helps him focus). I’m extremely sensitive to caffeine, which is great because I need it to transition to waking life in the morning and so does my eldest (who is autistic and I am highly likely to be). I can instantly tell how caffeinated something is when it hits my bloodstream. I was able to tell that my MIL gave me white tea by mistake while pregnant once (I was abstaining during pregnancy).
Fish Id Wardrobe ⁂@JeremyMallin I've more often heard it as an ADD thing. I'm only diagnosed autistic, although i suspect i have both — there *is* a lot of overlap, though.
Caffeine kills brainfog for me; i get the stimulant effect, but it doesn't really stop me sleeping…
multifact@JeremyMallin Caffeine does not keep me awake, but prevents me from sleeping - not exactly the same thing.
What is true is that dental anesthesia does not have the same effect, often no effect at all #ADHD
Moss da Bard 🇨🇦🇧🇧🇲🇽🇬🇱@JeremyMallin
I do not believe I have ADHD, and I am autistic, but I've always had paradoxical effects from coffee, i.e., caffeine does not keep me awake.
I do not believe I have ADHD, and I am autistic, but I've always had paradoxical effects from coffee, i.e., caffeine does not keep me awake.
Michael Richardson@JeremyMallin {I frankly doubt the Austistic/ADHD/ADD venn diagram is gonna remain static}. I've started taking 100mg caffeine pill in the morning with my other medications some years ago; I figured it was better for me than a coke (I'm type II diabetic now). It would go on/off as I ran out and forgot to buy more. I started WyVanse for ADHD in April. I added the 100mg back... I sleep poorly, foot pain, brain activity, etc. and I put my medications next to the bed so I take it the moment the alarm goes off. Then hit snooze. Or off. I notice... the 100mg lets me get the best sleep ever. I'm now aware that the coke was self-medication for the ADHD. Sugar (->dopamine) and Caffeine (->activity), and CO2 (for fun texture). Caffeine has never really kept me awake. Ever. Nobody knew neurodivergence as a thing until I was ~30.
Deb Nam-Krane@JeremyMallin I have an autistic sibling and several relatives with ADHD. From what I've seen in my family, it has a "sharpening" effect with ADHD, but doesn't interfere with sleep as it would for people w/o. As for autism, it makes my sibling both hyper/energized and it contraindicated for the seizure meds they need.
My family also tends to be sensitive to alcohol, FWIW. I tend to think it's a liver thing--as in, we don't clear things out of our system as quickly. Just a guess.
the Stripey Goodness@JeremyMallin it's genuinely unclear to me, but I can at least attest that I'm both diagnosed with ADHD and caffeine doesn't keep me awake. However much help an additional anecdote may be.
Chris Simpson@JeremyMallin I honestly have no idea, but if you happen to know if the fact that neither methylphenidate nor dexamphetamine seem to have any noticeable affect on me means I either don't really have ADHD or I have it really bad, please let me know because, despite a doctors diagnosis, I still suspect I'm just a big lazy whiner