Does anyone else get really anxious when they’re hungry?

[SomethingNastyInTheBallPool]

Over the past month or so I’ve been hit with a wave of anxiety. At first I thought it was due to stress and the trauma of losing my mum, but I’ve realised that it’s a lot worse if I go for longer than a few hours without eating - I get all shaky and jittery - and I feel perfectly normal again as soon as I’ve eaten.
I’ve had blood tests recently and I’m not diabetic or prediabetic. What’s going on??

Yes I get this! Also start feeling faint and get palpitations when I haven’t eaten for a couple of hours. Definitely not diabetic, blood sugar was tested and am told it was perfectly fine. I just accept that I have to carry around emergency snacks and have a bit to eat when I start to feel jittery, it does make it difficult to control my diet though.

Yes! to the palpitations, too! Do you mind me asking how old you are,
@Blueberry40? I’m wondering if this an exciting new perimenopausal development.

I get this and also get ravenous with it.

I was always like this. Cut back a lot on sugar and feel a lot better for it, and it doesn't trouble me as much these days. my non scientific explanation is that my body was on a bit of a high/low sugar rollercoaster and I was maybe more sensitive to it than some people. Eating more protein based foods helps me too.

Yes I get this too. I'm on citalopram for anxiety and depression, it's been a literal lifesaver but when I'm hungry or too warm I still get very anxious, shaky and panicky. I'm peri so I think that could well be a cause.

Yes
been like this since I was a teen.

Yes, I do. I’ve had it for years. I’ve had so many tests and still no idea what causes it.

Your body is a machine. If you don't put good quality fuel into it on a regular basis it won't work as well as it should. It's that simple.

There is medical advice to eat if you are having an anxiety attack

I pointed out to my doc that this is hard if you feel choked up, she suggested fruit smoothies. Something to do with sugar dampening down anxiety hormones.

sorry I can't recall detail. Meds have been a lifesaver but this particular vicious cycle I can't seem to break, unless I have a smoke instead.

Sorry, how os that relevant? Do you think good diet can fend off anxiety?

@EmmaEmerald - from the OP "but I’ve realised that it’s a lot worse if I go for longer than a few hours without eating - I get all shaky and jittery - and I feel perfectly normal again as soon as I’ve eaten."

That's what I was responding to.

@Eyesopenwideawake My diet’s pretty good, on the whole, though a bit more sugar has crept in since Christmas.

Yes, but most of us need to go longer than a few hours without eating because....life?

I haven't found what I eat makes a difference. I had a very good diet in my 20s although I was a bit underweight. If anything, I have this problem less frequently now, presumably because I'm overweight.

Anyway, yes, OP, it is a thing and it's a nuisance.

I get this too but I struggled a lot with disordered eating in my early 20s so I find if I skip a meal or eat later than normal that my anxiety heightens and I get really triggering thoughts.

Yes I get this.

I used to get this, then I discovered that I was eating too many carbs, so I was getting highs and lows in my blood sugar. .

I changed to eating more fat, protein and low carb fruits and veg and I don’t get it any more.

Gosh, it really does seem to be A Thing. I’m relieved it’s not just me but also sad so many other people are experiencing it, because it’s horrible.

I get this if I have certain types of sugars ...like fructose. Having Jam in the morning can send me into a jittery mess by 11 . I would cut out all sugar especially in the morning and see if it helps .

Same here.

OP do you know what your blood sugar is?

just in case it's of relevance, we've measured fasting glucose, non fasting, and not eating 4 hours before. Every way, it came out low. It's puzzling because I love sugar and I'm fat...but maybe I like my sugar because it's too low?

I can't fathom it but tbh I've had fewer problems since getting fat (!) and also since changing work patterns - so I have very few days where I have a long stretch without food.

I really wish I was I was like my dad and sister...they can do hours without food but mum and I just get strangely anxious when hungry.

It’s not anxiety I feel when I’m hungry but impatience. Maybe a bit aggression too.

Don't most of us get hangry at times? How is this different?

@EmmaEmerald I don’t know what my blood sugar levels are like, aside from the HbA1c test I did via my GP, which was fine.
But - I’m due to get my Zoe kit in the next few days, which includes a blood sugar monitor. I’ll be really interested to see what it says.

@squishee I know hangry, and this is way beyond hangry. Unless your experience of hanger involves dizziness, palpitations, feelings of panic and impending doom, the shakes…

@SomethingNastyInTheBallPool i’m 42 and am almost definitely perimenopausal (joy!) but have had these issues for as long as I can remember apart from the palpitations- I read somewhere that they can be caused by low oestrogen so think it might be that causing them