Why do I get FITS OF RAGE when I am extremely hungry?

its called low blood sugar

My husband has learned that I get really cranky when I am hungry. I can go for so long and then FEED ME OR ELSE!!

It’s actually called “Hangry”. Hunger to the point of being angry. I get it on occasion too.

Because you’re an animal. No, not just you, but literally, we’re animals, we don’t like to be hungry. Try taking a food bowl away from a really hungry dog sometime and see how angry they get. On second though, don’t.

@trailsillustrated is correct. It is low blood sugar or hypoglyciemia:

“Symptoms experienced as a result of low blood sugar include weakness, mood swings, headaches,
nervousness, irritability, or nausea with milder cases, and there is the potential of visual disturbances,
shaking, sweating, confusion, palpitations, anxiety, dizziness, aggression or severe fatigue with more
severe cases of hypoglycemia.”

Emphasis mine.

Source

June 30th, 2008
Reuters on MSNBC.com

Brain chemical is key for keeping aggression in check, study finds

LONDON – Serotonin, the brain chemical linked to mood, plays a key role in regulating emotions such as aggression, British researchers said on Thursday.

Serotonin, the nerve-signaling chemical targeted by many antidepressants, appears to keep aggressive social responses in check, Molly Crockett, a psychologist at the University of Cambridge and colleagues reported in the journal Science.

The chemical’s precise role in impulse control has been controversial but this study is one of the first to actually show a causal link, Crockett said.
“Because we directly manipulated serotonin levels and observed an effect on behavior we can say there is a causal link between serotonin and aggressive responses,” Crockett said in a telephone interview.

Their research also helps explain why some people become combative or aggressive when hungry because the essential amino acid needed for the body to create serotonin is only obtained through diet.

The team used this knowledge to manipulate serotonin levels in 20 healthy volunteers who were then asked to play a situation game that tested their responses to fair and unfair offers of money.

People with lower serotonin levels were far more likely to deprive other players of money, even though they lost out as well, as a way to punish the person who made the offer, the researchers said.
“It is an anger-driven response,” Crockett said.

This knowledge could help doctors treat people with depression and anxiety disorders by teaching them ways to regulate emotions during decision making, especially in social situations, she added.

Because you are a zombie. BRAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIINNNS!!!

What you describes sounds very much like the hypoglycemia I have dealt with since I was a teenager. You should visit your doctor and get properly diagnosed.

You might want to start keeping a food diary for several weeks, then study what you’re actually putting into your body. An important thing to consider is not how much you’re eating, but rather the quality of the foods you’re eating. Learn to see food as fuel for your body.

Go online or to your library/book store and do some research on this topic. What you want to do is eat small regular meals that will have a slow glycogen response in your body. Avoid simple carbohydrates and sugary foods all together if possible.

The key is to keep your blood sugar level at even keel. The more it fluctuates, the worse you will feel, and then your body has to work twice as hard to regulate it. As you can imagine, over time, that causes a lot of wear and tear on key organs like your heart, liver and pancreas.

In my case, I have also found that my hormone level also wreaks havoc with the balance. So during certain times of the month I go nowhere without an emergency stash of PB crackers, etc.

As you focus you will learn what your body needs, and how to eat for maximum strength and energy. You should probably have your doctor do a blood panel and make sure everything’s OK, maybe do a glucose test. If the results are iffy you might have to go see an endocrinologist. If you have access to a registered dietician it would definitely be worth it to set up a session and get help creating and planning menus.

post-edit:
also avoid: excess alcohol
Consider: eating a small wholesome snack before going to bed to prevent it from diving overnight.

You’re animalistic, I’m sure many cougers and bears are the same way when they are hungry. Just make sure you don’t hide in the bushes and pounce on humans. There could be dire consequences.

Wise words from @mcbealer, I have the same problem the day after I’ve been out on the lash, my pancreas is still expecting loads of extra sugar and pumps out loads more insulin to mix with it, only its not there, this excess insulin is whats causing the bad mood.

I would class myself as a ‘snacker’ not a ‘three meal a dayer’, so that agrees with @mcbealer‘s comments (thanks I’m going to try that.)

In the mean time, if your still get the bad mood, try tea with extra sugar or a chocolate bar.

Throw some granola bars in all your bags and purses for future emergencies!!

It’s entirely due to hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). I get the same thing sometimes. I have to be careful never to skip a meal.

Sugar is evil, yup. I can easily see a difference in my mood over a few days after eating poorly and/or drinking alcohol. The resulting moodiness has caused some rife between myself and my partner which I loathe (moodiness). I’m not sure if he’s not so quickly affected since he is heavier and has more muscle but I also notice his moods are sketchier after lots of sugar.

Sounds like low blood sugar.Go see a doctor.

Low blood sugar is part of why I wouldn’t want to be a host at a restaurant.

You need a good man (like me) to make sure you are properly fed.

Yes, I get it too. Low blood sugar. I ‘attack’ anyone who just look at me wrong. Don’t you find that you also become shaky and feel like you just want to lie down and sleep?
Doesn’t always happen just because you’re hungry either. Sometimes it happens to me right after eating a chocolate.

Its the monster in your tummy. The one that does all the growling. He takes over.

Yeah, that’s it.

Thanks for the answers you wonderful jellyfish. Since then I’ve developed a few more digestive issues…I don’t know what’s goin on but I hope it stops soon :(

Ps @ChazMaz…..you silly clever sly thing you. Bring me cookies? And a cake?

@deni Your tummy monster must be unhappy with you. Try telling it you love it. Its better if you know its name… Mine is named Bob. Then again, you could just feed it cookies!

But yeah… monster in your tummy. ;)

That rage is what allows us to go out and slaughter something by any means necessary in order to eat.