Published on 12, July, 2020
Had an interesting revelation today.
As an adult with Aspergers who is also determined to actually earn some money and be successful in business, I find myself constantly tinkering with and re-calibrating my diet for maximum energy and resources to use during the day. Generally speaking, like so many other autistic people, I find myself the most centred, peaceful, stable and consistent on a very low-carb diet, usually some variation on phase 1 Atkins. However, while living on a low-carb diet, I find my energy levels - already naturally pretty low and easily depleted - drop quite low by the end of the work day, and I begin to be very grumpy, anti-social and unpleasant etc as I approach aspergers burnout for that day.
A few years ago while reading up on Atkins, I discovered that black coffee was permissible, and so gave it a try. At first the taste was not what I was used to - but it grew on me, and now I love it. And more than that, I found that every time I drank it, I got this huge energy boost, I was able to tap resources I previously had not had access to (although, as always with Aspergers, they presented their bill later and I had to rest rest rest and recover). I soon discovered that, while the effects of the coffee lasted, I was able to act much closer to neurotypical, which in my line of work was very very helpful indeed. And coffee is addictive.
At the beginning of the past school year (Sept 2017) I began having a huge black coffee twice every day, and the effects were fascinating. It was as if the coffee was allowing me to stretch my limited resources like elastic, to stretch them and stretch them to the point that I could function for the whole work day as a neurotypical person. Of course, I would practically curl into the foetal position by the end of the day under the covers in a dark, silent, tidy room. But in all brutal honesty, it was so nice to experience what it is like to work a normal day without battling against the constant social awkwardness brought on by the low-energy slump that running out of resources as an Aspie causes.
The past 2-3 weeks I have been experiencing stabbing stomach pains, and after experimenting around with multiple different things, have discovered today that the coffee and constant amping-up of my body and mind with it to be the cause of the pain. I have used black coffee to stretch my inner resources and am now experiencing what it feels like to teeter on the very edge of that breaking point where my body starts waving a little while flag and saying 'no more or Im going to start to break'.
So today I didn't have my morning coffee, and I can feel the healing starting already, I am feeling much happier and relaxed, and am going to lay off it probably for the rest of the week.
However, I'm not going to lay off it completely. My experience has taught me that coffee, if treated like a mood-managing medication, can be incredibly helpful. If treated like a pleasurable indulgence it can be a little dangerous because it is so addictive, and the body can only take being driven into hyper-mode for so long. I expect going forward I will use black coffee as an on-the-spot treatment if I feel myself falling backwards into a low-energy slump at an inconvenient time. The rest of the time I'm going to lay off it to allow my body and mind to actually recover from the excursion into hyper-mode (something I have been neglecting to do recently).
Has anyone else had similar experiences with coffee?
Hi Jimi, very interesting post.
I use coffee in the same way although if I have one after 12 noon it will, more likely than not, keep me awake all night.
But I love it for the effects of making me feel fearless, normal, loving, affectionate, attentive, energetic and engaged in the world way beyond what is 'normal' for me. Most importantly it overides the sense of hopelessness and dispair that seems to occupy my mind; things become possible, as if I can see a positive outcome to my actions.
But it does play havoc with my bowels. For a while I alternated between coffee and Rosemont Yerba Mate mixed with Catuaba and Muira Puama to sooth my nervous system and countact the strain of my nervouse system, but even that can get too much.
I sometimes wander if ASD is associated with weak Kidney Yin in chinese medicine (if there's anyone out there that might know?).
The kidneys are Yin organs generally. I don't think that ASD would make a difference in qi balance. Diet and mood would. In Ch'ang Ming all stimulant drinks are generally to be avoided, tea, coffee, matè, generally the caffeine containing ones especially. Teas like sorrell, ginger, lemongrass and my favourite, limeflower are all more in line with Yin.
Foods to increase Yin are things that are "water" element related. Blueberries, blackberries, black bean. Dark vegetables too kale, spinach, broccoli and "water" element vegetables like celery, seaweed, samphire or cucumber. Salty foods in moderation are also good for Yin but never with rock, table or kosher salt. Sea salt is Yin. Nuts and seeds are Yin too. Seafood is Yin but only consumed in moderation.
Staying hydrated is also a major part of Yin energy. Fruits like melon and pear are Yin because of the water content. Too much fruit can free the bowel which can be counterproductive because of water loss.
Basically if you want to put more Yin balance into your diet think of foods with a colour that is water-like. Foods with high water content and foods that come from water habitats.