Both eating, starvation and misuse of drugs can affect the neurotransmitters in the brain and thereby reduce feelings of discomfort. One then feels calmer and better.

The following are examples of unpleasant feelings which may be reduced by eating or starving:

Stress, melancholy, tiredness, depression, anxiety, guilt feelings, irritation, anger, inferiority feeling, loneliness, insecurity, shame, boredness, digust, embarrassment, exhaustion, jealousy, sadness, shyness, etc.

The abuse of food, hunger, gambling, tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs can be momentarily tempting, but in the long run it leads to a far worse life than the alternative, which is to face up to one's unpleasant feelings and get to grips with unsolved problems.

More information

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How does one identify other real feelings which can be confused with hunger and satisfaction?
Dichotomous Thinking
How do you describe dichotomous thinking of Borderline Personality Disorder?
Weight Loss and Psychology: Why Eating when I am Not Hungry
Weight loss and psychology are related. You eat to suppress unpleasant feelings. By allowing these feelings to come forward, you can learn to live with them without overeating.
Confusing other Real Feelings with Hunger or Craving
Which other real feelings can be confused with craving?
Living a Healthy Lifestyle: Learning to Recognize Hunger and Satisfaction
How do you learn to recognize the signals of hunger and satisfaction?
To be Satisfied when You Have Eaten Enough; Reduce Food Craving
Why are other people satisfied, when they have eaten enough, but not me?
What is This Feeling that Causes me to Eat?
People with eating disorders often cannot properly distinguish between physical hunger and other feelings.
Difference between People with Eating Disorders and Other People; Comfort by Eating
In what way are people with eating disorders different from other people?
Learning to recognize the real feelings behind an improper craving?
How do you learn to recognize your real feelings?
Articles about feelings, hunger and emotion.
A list of articles in Web4Health about feelings, hunger and emotions.