Why we get angry and nervous when we are hungry. What to do about it

Why we get angry and nervous when we are hungry. What to do about it

It’s not always about “addiction” to food.

Have you had to skip meals? Have you noticed that because of this you become irritable and nervous? It’s a pretty common reaction. Some people compare it to nicotine withdrawal, but how does the process actually work?

psychologist, lecturer at the Faculty of Psychology of Synergy University

In this case, it’s all about physiology.

The more time passes since the last meal, the less nutrients circulate in the blood. Including a decrease in glucose levels. And if the values change significantly, the brain sees this as a potential threat to life and sends signals to release regulatory hormones. One of these is adrenaline, the fear hormone. Once adrenaline is released into the bloodstream, the emotional state is similar to that which occurs when you are very frightened. The surge of this hormone and can be accompanied by bouts of aggression or anger.

How to cope with emotions when you want to eat?

From a psychological point of view, food for many people is what maintains a sense of security. And if this basic need is not closed (even temporarily), at a subconscious level we perceive it as a danger. And instinctively we start to defend ourselves.

Adelina: Is it possible to cope with “hunger aggression”? Perhaps the easiest way is to prevent blood glucose from dropping. That is, do not take too long breaks between meals and do not make yourself hungry.

In this case, snacks should be chosen wisely – give preference to healthy options. High-carbohydrate chocolates can lead to a sharp spike in blood glucose, and your blood glucose levels will plummet just as quickly.