Can caffeine make social anxiety worse?

Whether a morning cup of joe keeps your partner happily alert or nervously jittery may depend on how much caffeine is consumed. While not definitively causal, a number of studies have shown a dose-dependent relationship between excess caffeine consumption and stress, anxiety, and depression. This relationship?s direction could go either or both ways; that is, excess caffeine consumption might exacerbate these conditions or people with these conditions might use caffeine consumption as a coping strategy. As you may know, moderating caffeine consumption is unlikely to eliminate your partner?s anxiety but it might, based on your observation, make it more manageable for him. For your partner, trial and error may be a good approach to finding balance.