Do you have a teen who “can’t think before coffee”?

[Anonymous]

That seems messed up to me? It seems bad even when adults say that. If you’ve had a good night of sleep (and you should be arranging your schedule so that you have) why can’t you be alert and function before coffee?

[Anonymous]

ADHD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ADHD?

+1

[Anonymous]

My teen no longer wanted to take his ADHD meds but lots of coffee does the trick. I'm in my mid-40s and wake up multiple times per night. Most mornings, I need coffee to help myself get it together. It is what it is.

[Anonymous]

I’m a grown woman and I don’t want anyone to talk to me before I’ve had my coffee in the morning. I’m not surprised that a teenager feels the same.

[Anonymous]

It's very understandable.

[Anonymous]

ADHD runs in our family.

My ADHD teen can't get organized easily before his meds.
I have a very mild form of ADHD and can get by with caffeine.
And yes, I have often told my kids not to bother me before my morning cup of black tea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a grown woman and I don’t want anyone to talk to me before I’ve had my coffee in the morning. I’m not surprised that a teenager feels the same.

So this. In fact, I have trained my tween and teen to not talk to me until I have had a few sips. Every now and then they forget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's very understandable.

+1 I can’t think or function without it. Sometimes on the weekend or in the summer DS doesn’t take his ADHD meds and has coffee instead. It helps. I understand because although I don’t have a diagnosis, coffee helps me calm down and focus my thoughts when I have it at any point in the day. It has since I was a teen.

[Anonymous]

So basically this all comes down to the caffeine-addicted person having some sort of disorder?

[Anonymous]

I don’t even know if that’s a caffeine addiction or if coffee is the issue. I like to wake up slowly so I tell people I can’t talk until I have a cup of coffee and everyone leaves me alone. So it might be a way of getting space in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t even know if that’s a caffeine addiction or if coffee is the issue. I like to wake up slowly so I tell people I can’t talk until I have a cup of coffee and everyone leaves me alone. So it might be a way of getting space in the morning.

I came on here to say this. It’s not the coffee for me - it’s a societally acceptable way to have a bit of a slow start, some alone time to regroup and get ready for the day. If I just said I was still waking up or if I told everyone they had to leave me alone for an hour in the morning, everyone would be annoyed by me. But I can say I haven’t had my coffee yet haha! And everyone gets it.

[Anonymous]

My DC has been drinking coffee since still using a bottle (it’s a cultural thing). Nowadays I get the excuse of not being able to function without coffee, but I personally think it has a lot more to do with staying up till 1am or later and then having to get up at a normal time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t even know if that’s a caffeine addiction or if coffee is the issue. I like to wake up slowly so I tell people I can’t talk until I have a cup of coffee and everyone leaves me alone. So it might be a way of getting space in the morning.

I came on here to say this. It’s not the coffee for me - it’s a societally acceptable way to have a bit of a slow start, some alone time to regroup and get ready for the day. If I just said I was still waking up or if I told everyone they had to leave me alone for an hour in the morning, everyone would be annoyed by me. But I can say I haven’t had my coffee yet haha! And everyone gets it.

This is the case for my DD15. She’s up early, but doesn’t want to talk or eat or do anything fr at least an hour. She reads or will come sit outside with me (as long as I don’t talk). Her older sister really was addicted to coffee by HS. I think it’s because I pushed her to be “on” as soon as she woke up (HS started at 7:25 AM and she often had sports practice at 6:15 or earlier). One blessing of DL was that my two teens at home now can get up at 7 and structure their morning fast or slow depending on their personalities as long as they log on just before 9 AM. Next fall will be rough for one so it will be rough for us all.

[Anonymous]

I don't like to interact much before coffee. I wake up early, but do best if I have about 1/2 hour to pull it together with a cup of coffee. I think it's normal.