Every now and then, my partner strolls in after a demanding day at work and nonchalantly mentions that he skipped lunch. He says it without urgency, as if forgetting to eat is completely normal, and he doesn’t even head to the kitchen for a quick snack.
Each time this occurs, I can’t help but look at him with a mix of sympathy and disbelief. How is it possible to forget to eat? What kind of person doesn’t feel a surge of panic after missing a meal? Honestly, how can you not transform into a hangry creature, making everyone around you acutely aware that you desperately need some carbs?
Because when I’m hungry, I’m fully aware of it—and so is everyone else. I probably owe a few apologies for my behavior. I’m sorry for the things I said when I was starving, but there’s a scientific reason behind my outbursts.
As explained by Dr. Lisa Hawthorne, a researcher with a column in Scientific Digest, a drop in our blood sugar levels triggers an increase in stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This results in heightened irritability and difficulty focusing. In simpler terms, common courtesy can easily slip away when hunger strikes.
So yes, I apologize for my words when hunger takes hold, but it’s not entirely my fault—it’s the cortisol and adrenaline at play. If you, like me, turn a bit… well, hostile when you’re famished, take comfort in knowing you’re not alone. A study found that couples, when asked to represent their frustration through voodoo dolls, stuck more pins into the dolls as their blood sugar levels dipped. In other words, hunger can literally make us feel aggressive.
In dire situations, I’ll reach for anything edible—even if that means munching on a kale salad that tastes like cardboard, just until I can find a burger joint. The responsible adult in me should keep healthy snacks handy, but let’s face it—adulting is tough, and I often forget to pack emergency snacks until I’m snapping at the car next to me or getting irritable with a telemarketer offering a “free” vacation if I apply for a credit card.
Suddenly, I’m ranting about the endless stream of junk mail, the constant bickering from the kids, the chaotic state of current events, and a thousand other things that have me completely fed up.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I clearly need some comfort food, maybe carbs and cheese. And I apologize for the intensity of my earlier statements; it’s those pesky hunger hormones messing with my head. Hunger is real, and even science backs this up.
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Summary
The author reflects on the overwhelming feelings of irritability and anger that arise from hunger, supported by scientific explanations of blood sugar and stress hormones. She humorously apologizes for her behavior when famished, emphasizing the importance of understanding hunger’s impact on mood and interactions.