What Happens to Your Mental Health When You Consume Energy Drinks Regularly?

Key Takeaways

• Energy drinks seem like a convenient, even healthy fix to combat fatigue, but the purported benefits may come at a price.
• Over-reliance may lead to mood swings, sleep difficulties, and worsened anxiety.
• Opt for proven and safe ways to boost your energy naturally, including exercising regularly, staying hydrated, eating balanced meals, and getting regular sleep.

Energy drinks have exploded in popularity in recent years. And with the lure of ‘brain-boosting’ additives like nootropics and herbal extracts, it can be easy to assume they’re safe—maybe even healthy. But experts are warning against relying on them as a daily pick-me-up.

Mental and Emotional Effects of Energy Drinks

Energy drinks can impact our mental and emotional health in major ways. For example:

They Can Make It Harder to Regulate Emotions

Sugar is what gives you that instant burst of energy, though it’s short-lived. Once the initial rush wears off, blood glucose levels drop rapidly, causing sluggishness, irritability, and, surprise, more sugar cravings

High levels of caffeine and sugar combined with herbal stimulants can overload the nervous system, which may lead to increased irritability, mood swings, and difficulty managing stress, says Samantha Silverman, Denver-based therapist and owner of Silver Linings Counseling.

“And when you’re not feeling fully balanced or clear-headed, it’s easier to make impulsive choices and react in ways that don’t really reflect how you want to handle things,” notes Michelle English, LCSW.

Some ‘Added Health Benefits’ May Be Misleading

Many energy drinks boast buzzy added ingredients like nootropics and herbal extracts. Think ginseng, green tea, ginkgo biloba, or guarana seed extracts. 

While these ingredients may have potential in higher concentrations, they’re unlikely to produce any noticeable effects given the amount in a typical serving, says Dr. Hsu. 

The same applies to energy drinks that tout B vitamins and taurine, an amino acid that supports energy production and promotes brain health, among other uses. Our bodies can make all the B vitamins and taurine we need through our diet, except in certain conditions like liver or kidney disease. 

“B vitamins are essential for energy metabolism, but most people get enough through their regular diet, and your body will excrete what it doesn’t need,” explains Dr. Hsu. So, unless you’re deficient, the benefits are minimal. 

They May Worsen Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression

While moderate caffeine intake can improve alertness, attention, and reaction times, too much may trigger anxiety, restlessness, or headaches. “That can make existing anxiety feel worse. For people with depression, the energy spike and crash cycle might also mess with mood and energy levels even more,” says English.

And if you’re drinking them late in the day, they can disrupt your sleep, making both anxiety and depression harder to manage, adds English. 

They May Cause Caffeine Dependency

Frequent use of energy drinks can lead to caffeine tolerance. So, your body needs more and more of it to achieve the same boost. 

“I personally struggled with this for years. At peak, it was 3 litres of Monster every day,” shares Martin Cox, a 48-year-old business owner from London.

Energy drinks make you feel more alert, but most of that effect comes from caffeine. It’s not the energy your body is creating, it is more like your body is borrowing energy it doesn’t truly have.

Over time, this can create physical and psychological dependency, making it nearly impossible to function without them. Common signs of caffeine dependency include headaches, brain fog, irritability, and fatigue when you skip them or reduce intake.

“I’d get withdrawal headaches, migraines that would last 2 days if I didn’t drink for a day,” Cox recalls. 

“In some cases, this pattern of dependence may even resemble addiction in how it affects motivation, behavior, and emotional balance,” notes Silverman.

They May Disrupt Sleep

Excessive caffeine and sugar content in energy drinks can also disrupt natural sleep cycles, which are essential for emotional processing and mental clarity, says Silverman. 

It’s important to note that the effects may vary significantly based on individual metabolism, genetics, and existing conditions.

How Many Energy Drinks are Too Many?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends consuming no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day for healthy adults. 

“Since one energy drink can contain anywhere from 70 to over 300 mg, it’s easy to go over that if you are not keeping track, especially if you also drink coffee, soda, or tea,” says Dr. Hsu. 

Also, make sure there are no other stimulating ingredients in it, as the combination can be overwhelming, says Dr. Lamees Hamdan, an integrative medicine physician.

If you’re trying to cut back, Dr. Hsu suggests gradually reducing your intake instead of going cold turkey. “It helps to replace the habit with something else—like green tea, which has less caffeine, or even flavored water for the ritual of sipping,” he adds. 

Alternative Ways to Boost Energy

Ready to ditch the can? Here are four alternative ways to stay energized, according to experts:

• Stay hydrated: “Drink more water than you believe necessary,” says Baptie. Even mild dehydration increases fatigue, reduces alertness, and impairs mood. If you’re tired of plain H2O, try mild caffeinated drinks like white tea or no-caffeine options like coconut water, rhodiola rosea, and peppermint tea.
• Eat every 3-4 hours: “Include a balance of protein, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber in all meals,” says Amanda Holtzer, RD. She also suggests incorporating balanced snacks between meals, like Greek yogurt with berries. In addition, limit intake of sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods to avoid energy dips from sugar crashes. 
• Get enough sleep: “It’s essential yet often overlooked,” says Baptie. Sleep regulates cortisol and blood sugar levels and stabilizes mood—all of which can impact how energized you feel.
• Exercise regularly: Even light exercise can make a big difference, says Dr. Hsu. Exercise improves blood flow, balances blood sugar, and triggers release of endorphins—helping you feel more alert and energized naturally.  

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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By Noma Nazish

With nearly a decade of journalistic experience, Noma Nazish is passionate about covering the intersection of lifestyle and wellness with a soft spot for sustainability. Her work has appeared in various national and international publications like Cosmopolitan, The News Hub, and Zee News English, among others.

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