It has been brought to my attention that there is an epidemic going around college campuses. Extremely hungry college kids that get pushed to the point of hanger. What does it mean to be hangry?
Hanger is when you are so hungry that your lack of good food causes you to become angry, frustrated or even worse: both. Hanger is something that affects everyone, including me. It has caused me to be sassy to friends and be pushed to the point of desperation. In order to help you from abusing your friends I have pinpointed the 5 stages of being hangry. Use them as warning signs for yourself or try to spot them in your friends before it’s too late.
1. Denial
In this stage, you are most likely just going to feel that first tinge of hunger. You may think a simple, quick snack could fix this. You may look into your bookbag for a granola bar or even wonder if you have enough time to run for a quick pastry. You may even think the hunger will go away. This stage is the least threatening. There is still hope. Spot this in your friend as your running to class and you could be safe.
2. Irritation
The second stage: where you start feeling it, the anger, creeping up on you, but not in full force. You start to think back at how long it has been since you have eaten. Four, maybe five hours? You start to get angry with yourself for not packing snacks. This is where everything anyone does or says causes you to get sassy. I know on way too many occasions I have been short with my friends in this stage. This is the stage where I know my friends need food or this could get ugly.
3. Bargaining
The stomach pains have started and you feel light headed. You start asking just about anyone if they have gum, a tic tac, anything to make this feeling go away. You start internally bargaining with your teacher. “If he ends class right now just so I can grab food before my next class I promise I will look over the notes tonight.” You even bargain with yourself stating that you are so hungry you would even settle for N-wing. This stage always has me questioning why I let myself fall into this terrible cycle.
4. Sadness
You turn into a puddle. You are just straight up sad and grieving for your empty stomach. You start to not remember the feeling of being full. You wonder if you will ever eat again. You feel super weak and begin to lose your will to make it through the class. You may only have 5 more minutes of class or 5 more minutes until your friend brings you food, but you know this is the end for you. Everyone can see it on your face: defeat.
5. Satisfaction
Just when all seems lost, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You made it! Food has finally arrived. Class ended, your friend brought you food or you arrived at the destination of food just in time! This feeling is something like no other and erases everything you previously suffered through. You can rejoice with your burrito or sub or just about anything else! You apologize to all you have abused in the heat of your hanger. You vow you will never let yourself go that long without eating again. Nothing could make you happier than in that moment where you take the first bite.
I hope these stages serve as good advice to protect yourself from a hangry friend or even stop yourself from getting too hangry. Stay happy and full, collegiettes!