Poor moods when I'm hungry

Beelze

The problem is in the title, when I don't eat every 4 or 5 hours my mood gets especially dark. I get depressed very badly and it can snap to anger. If I try to center into a good mood I lose it within minutes. the state reminds me of a nervous breakdown.

I've got a high metabolism as it is, I take a multivitamin, d and b supplements, and fish oil.

I'm on Abilify for depression and Lamictol for bipolar.

I don't have such a problem with it when I'm at home, I can eat whatever I please whenever. It's when I'm at work. The job is in the food industry and we're forbidden to eat on the clock, I'm sneaking food so I don't freak out.


Any idea what it could be? Should I see a doctor?

DodgeBlan

take snack food bars and eat them outside with the smokers?

Aurora Borealis

Yes go see a dr. Get your blood sugar checked. I have a similar problem, it is a prediabetic symptom and I have to be really careful.

If nothing else a dr. can confirm this is a legit medical issue and you may be able to force your work place into giving you adequate break time to eat.

SammyF

I'm hypoglycemic. Missing two meals in a row puts me in something near to a murderous rage. I tend to make sure I have bag of trail mix near at hand and try to make sure that I'm eating vegetables and proteins with every meal (I digest carbohydrates so fast that I'm hungry again an hour later if I don't eat anything with more substance).

Casual

SammyF wrote: »

I'm hypoglycemic. Missing two meals in a row puts me in something near to a murderous rage. I tend to make sure I have bag of trail mix near at hand and try to make sure that I'm eating vegetables and proteins with every meal (I digest carbohydrates so fast that I'm hungry again an hour later if I don't eat anything with more substance).

This. I can say with 99% certainty (IANAD) you're hypoglycemic like me.

If you work in the food industry is the rule that you're not allowed to eat food you're making or you're not allowed to eat food period? Because if it's the latter I would consider informing your employers you have this condition and have to snack to keep your blood sugar up.

As for what to snack on? Cerial bars, flapjacks and bananas work wonders for me.

ceres

Try looking into your company's handbook and see if you can't suss out what would be required for you to be able to either take a break every so often to leave the building so you can eat something, or to have something stashed away in your drawer. If you have a medical requirement there is usually a way to work something out, assuming the requirements are met. I would think this would take the form of a doctor's note or something, but it might be more complicated than that. I know there are some people around who work in HR who might be able to give you general information. I seem to recall VisionOfClarity being one of those people, so you might try asking her.

Esh

ceres wrote: »

Try looking into your company's handbook and see if you can't suss out what would be required for you to be able to either take a break every so often to leave the building so you can eat something, or to have something stashed away in your drawer. If you have a medical requirement there is usually a way to work something out, assuming the requirements are met. I would think this would take the form of a doctor's note or something, but it might be more complicated than that. I know there are some people around who work in HR who might be able to give you general information. I seem to recall VisionOfClarity being one of those people, so you might try asking her.

I'm pretty sure there isn't a state out there where you're not required to be provided breaks when you work shifts of a certain length.

ceres

Esh wrote: »

ceres wrote: »

Try looking into your company's handbook and see if you can't suss out what would be required for you to be able to either take a break every so often to leave the building so you can eat something, or to have something stashed away in your drawer. If you have a medical requirement there is usually a way to work something out, assuming the requirements are met. I would think this would take the form of a doctor's note or something, but it might be more complicated than that. I know there are some people around who work in HR who might be able to give you general information. I seem to recall VisionOfClarity being one of those people, so you might try asking her.

I'm pretty sure there isn't a state out there where you're not required to be provided breaks when you work shifts of a certain length.

I don't think so either, but the frequency might be the issue here, and the fact that at Company X you can't have anything at your desk. But even the strictest places have to give at least some heed to a doctor's note, I would think.

Anyway, yes, whatever the case you need to see a doctor, OP. You need to find out if you are actually hypoglycemic, because first of all it's a very important thing to know in general, and second it's a diagnosable condition and it's entirely possible that in your state your company is legally required to accommodate you.

Epi

The trick is he said he works in the food industry. I'm assuming that translates to either "I'm a cook" or "I'm a server" and with either of these it makes zero difference what state you're in or what 'company policy' is. If you try and pull the 'legally obligated break' card at any point, you'll just get laughed at.

That being said, shouldn't be hard to bring your own sustenance and eat it in the alley if you've got a quick 5 minutes before service. I've known plenty of cooks that keep meal replacement shakes and the like in the low-boys for when they get a second.

Would something like a naked juice, et al. cover your food needs? cause you could probably get away with a lidded cup or something.

Organichu

if you don't feel like making trouble with work there's a simple solution: get one of those little 6 oz soda bottles, fill it with a meal replacement shake. carry it in your pocket. it takes 10 seconds in a corner to take off the cap and take a gulp and put it back in your pocket.

AlyceInWonderland

My old highschool health teacher had this problem to the point where one time he didn't eat for two hours, when the principal came on the loud speaker to tell the teacher that their checks weren't going to come until next week, my teacher ripped the chalkboard off the wall...that was bolted into our cinderblock walls...

Yeah.

Talk to your boss or something. Hopefully he'd let you step out for 2 minutes to eat some crackers or something.

SammyF

AlyceInWonderland wrote: »

My old highschool health teacher had this problem to the point where one time he didn't eat for two hours, when the principal came on the loud speaker to tell the teacher that their checks weren't going to come until next week, my teacher ripped the chalkboard off the wall...that was bolted into our cinderblock walls...

Yeah.

Talk to your boss or something. Hopefully he'd let you step out for 2 minutes to eat some crackers or something.

While living in Germany, my ex-girlfriend once had to tackle me to the ground before I could come within arm's reach of an Italian woman who was more than a little bit careless about those faces in which she accidentally blew her cigarette smoke. I don't remember very much of that. I do remember thinking that the pizza I ate when I finally sat down to feed was the best tasting thing I'd ever experienced.

It's kind of a fascinating medical condition. And totally manageable once you're aware of it. It may be helpful to diagnose it with a GP so that you can explain how it's managed to your boss.

Esh

Epi wrote: »

The trick is he said he works in the food industry. I'm assuming that translates to either "I'm a cook" or "I'm a server" and with either of these it makes zero difference what state you're in or what 'company policy' is. If you try and pull the 'legally obligated break' card at any point, you'll just get laughed at.

That being said, shouldn't be hard to bring your own sustenance and eat it in the alley if you've got a quick 5 minutes before service. I've known plenty of cooks that keep meal replacement shakes and the like in the low-boys for when they get a second.

Would something like a naked juice, et al. cover your food needs? cause you could probably get away with a lidded cup or something.

This is true (a veteran myself) but there's no way he can't eat before work, and then take a 5 minute break to wolf down a Power Bar or something.

Casual

Dude needs to eat some porrage. Oats are a hypoglycemics best friend. They release energy slowly and last you until lunch.

Beelze

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'll be eating oats for breakfast and carrying meal replacement shakes to work with me. I can sneak food but it's all rolls, and my attempting to follow a low carb diet don't go well with that.

I'll go to the walk in clinic on my next day off *thumbs up*

Esh

Beelze wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'll be eating oats for breakfast and carrying meal replacement shakes to work with me. I can sneak food but it's all rolls, and my attempting to follow a low carb diet don't go well with that.

I'll go to the walk in clinic on my next day off *thumbs up*

Maybe you shouldn't sneak food. Wouldn't it suck to be fired for stealing? Just bring a Cliff Bar or Power Bar to work with you.

Beelze

Esh wrote: »

Beelze wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'll be eating oats for breakfast and carrying meal replacement shakes to work with me. I can sneak food but it's all rolls, and my attempting to follow a low carb diet don't go well with that.

I'll go to the walk in clinic on my next day off *thumbs up*

Maybe you shouldn't sneak food. Wouldn't it suck to be fired for stealing? Just bring a Cliff Bar or Power Bar to work with you.

Won't be doing that anymore, risky and breaks diet.

poshniallo

Beelze wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'll be eating oats for breakfast and carrying meal replacement shakes to work with me. I can sneak food but it's all rolls, and my attempting to follow a low carb diet don't go well with that.

I'll go to the walk in clinic on my next day off *thumbs up*

Don't low carb diets make you feel shaky sometimes? I don't know the biology well, but I hear that kinda thing from people trying them.

Spacemilk

poshniallo wrote: »

Beelze wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'll be eating oats for breakfast and carrying meal replacement shakes to work with me. I can sneak food but it's all rolls, and my attempting to follow a low carb diet don't go well with that.

I'll go to the walk in clinic on my next day off *thumbs up*

Don't low carb diets make you feel shaky sometimes? I don't know the biology well, but I hear that kinda thing from people trying them.

I dunno about people doing it to lose weight, but for hypoglycemics (which my sister and father are) it's the opposite: eating lots of carbs and sugared up food makes them shaky and weak. We found out my sister was hypoglycemic after she ate a carb heavy meal, didn't eat for a few hours, and fainted.

SammyF

Spacemilk wrote: »

poshniallo wrote: »

Beelze wrote: »

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'll be eating oats for breakfast and carrying meal replacement shakes to work with me. I can sneak food but it's all rolls, and my attempting to follow a low carb diet don't go well with that.

I'll go to the walk in clinic on my next day off *thumbs up*

Don't low carb diets make you feel shaky sometimes? I don't know the biology well, but I hear that kinda thing from people trying them.

I dunno about people doing it to lose weight, but for hypoglycemics (which my sister and father are) it's the opposite: eating lots of carbs and sugared up food makes them shaky and weak. We found out my sister was hypoglycemic after she ate a carb heavy meal, didn't eat for a few hours, and fainted.

It goes through our metabolism like tissue paper in a fireplace. A brief flash, and it's gone.

FeatherBlade

A good solid breakfast with protein could help. I've found that a couple of eggs, toast (something that says multi-grain, or whole grain), and tea with milk keeps me going with no major crashes. I like to make sure that the bread I get has no high-fructose corn syrup in it, though I don't know if that makes a real difference.

If you can find some kind of hot cereal brand that includes multiple grains (I like "Montana's Cream of the West") it's a lot like oatmeal, but with a more interesting taste and texture.

You might also consider picking up a packet of glucose tablets. They'd be easy enough to keep in your pocket, and take while you work.

Also, if you can manage it, try drinking more water. I know that being well-watered helps me not drift off into a hypoglycemic stupor even when I'm hungry.

And those meal replacement shakes are pretty good. I used them as an after-work snack back when I had an hour-long commute. Can't remember what brand they were, but they came in a burgundy plastic bottle, and I bought them at Wal-Mart.

Mentioning this to your boss is probably a good idea. And Ceres is right, if disability accommodation is the only way you can convince them to let you have a snack, it has to be diagnosed by a doctor.