If you’re like most guys who get hit with Central Serous Retinopathy, caffeine has probably been part of your routine for years.
You use it to get moving. To focus. To push through.
Hell, it probably is your morning routine.
I get it.
But here’s the problem:
Caffeine jacks your cortisol.
And CSR is a cortisol problem.
Let’s Break It Down
CSR is tied to stress hormone overload.
And caffeine doesn’t just “wake you up”—it kicks your adrenal system into gear, which raises cortisol, even if you’re not emotionally stressed.
So if you’re trying to heal CSR while downing coffee every morning, you’re basically fighting fire with gasoline.
What I Noticed When I Cut Back
I didn’t want to.
Caffeine was the last thing I was willing to let go of.
But once I did:
- My sleep got deeper
- My flare symptoms eased faster
- I didn’t feel that wired-but-exhausted loop in the afternoon
- My mood smoothed out (which made everything else easier to manage)
I didn’t quit caffeine forever—just long enough to let my system get out of fight-or-flight mode.
What I Wish I Knew Earlier
- Morning caffeine hits harder when you’re already stressed.
Your cortisol is naturally highest from 6–9 AM.
Adding caffeine on top? You’re stacking pressure on pressure. - Even “clean” caffeine is still stress.
Bulletproof coffee. Mushroom blends. Cold brew.
Doesn’t matter how organic or trendy it is—your body reads it the same way. - You won’t notice how much it’s affecting you until you stop.
That was the wake-up call. Once I paused, I realized how loud my system had been running.
What I Do Now
- First hour after waking: No caffeine. Just water, sunlight, and movement.
- If I have coffee: It’s half-caf, and never past 10 AM.
- I rotate off completely every few weeks. Gives my adrenals a break.
- If I really need a boost: Breathwork or a cold rinse gives me focus without frying my system.
Bottom Line
Caffeine isn’t evil. But if you’ve got CSR, you can’t afford to mess around with your stress chemistry.
This condition forces you to play the long game.
Healing isn’t about doing more—it’s about knowing when to pull back.
And for a lot of us, caffeine is the first place to start.
