Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
blogs.scientificamerican.com
Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
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Re: Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
#2This... makes a lot of sense. I get hunger cravings even when full when I have those 70+ (rare) or even 55+ (more often) hour weeks.
Re: Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
#3This was Maslow's point from back in the 40s, that there's no real distinction between physiological and social hunger, besides the fact of an importance hierarchy (one needs to be decently fed in order to start caring a lot about sociality, although even a person in starvation may care somewhat).
Glad to see it's being neurologically researched as well.
Re: Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
#4This... makes a lot of sense. I get hunger cravings even when full when I have those 70+ (rare) or even 55+ (more often) hour weeks.
> when I have those 70+ (rare) or even 55+ (more often) hour weeks
This is likely a different phenomena. You're burning more fuel by working longer. Especially if it comes with less sleep as well.
The brain is quite a fuel-hungry organ and will crave sugars and carbs when stressed. If you're also sleeping less, you're burning more physical energy as well simply by being active longer.
I regularly lose weight during hard weeks unless I compensate by eating more.
Re: Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
#5I have been having backyard beers with a friend at a time, at a distance, on nice days. Feels safe enough and it is nice to see friends!
Re: Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
#6In some circles, there's even an expression for a related phenomenon: "skin hunger"
https://globalnews.ca/news/6929793/coronavirus-disability-to...
Re: Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
#7In some circles, there's even an expression for a related phenomenon: "skin hunger" https://globalnews.ca/news/6929793/coronavirus-disability-to...
I feel like they could have come up with a better name.
Re: Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
#8Would explain why I'm eating a bowl of cereal at 9PM nowadays...
I would encourage people to see friends at a distance whenever possible. We must remember to balance our mental health (greatly affected by seeing others) with our physical health.
Re: Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
#9Eric Berne talked about this long time back in 1964 in his book "Games People Play"
Re: Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger
#10Honestly its scary the talk of another year like this. I have a family and even with them around living all day in my apt is starting to drive me crazy. I'd hate to be living by myself. Its a lot like solitary confinement.
My Brother had the bug, had a mild cough for a few days and lost his taste. I'm very jealous.