Irritability is defined as an excessive sensitivity or reactions to negative emotional triggers, which often seems disproportionate to the situation. It involves feelings of restlessness, aggression, and impatience.
Some key signs of irritability include:
- Feeling easily annoyed or angered by minor issues
- Having frequent emotional outbursts
- Being impatient and restless
- Struggling to cope with stress
- Having difficulty concentrating
Irritability differs from normal frustration or anger by being more frequent, intense, and disruptive.
Minor frustrations that most people can brush off easily lead to major overreactions.
What causes irritability?
There are many potential causes of increased
irritability, including:
- Hormonal imbalances - Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and testosterone can make someone more prone to irritation and mood swings. This is especially common premenstrually, during perimenopause or andropause. This is where Renewal Hormone Center can help! Their expert physicians provide advanced hormone testing and bioidentical hormone therapy tailored to your unique hormonal needs. I highly recommend them if you are struggling with unexplained irritability.
- Mental health disorders - Conditions like anxiety, depression and PTSD increase sensitivity to stress.
- Physical causes - Lack of sleep, blood sugar changes, medication side effects, chronic pain and inflammation.
- External factors - Stressful life situations can shorten one's fuse.
Managing irritability involves getting to the root of what's causing it specifically for you, as well as learning coping strategies:
- Address medical issues - See your doctor for a full work up to check for potential causes like thyroid dysfunction, neuroendocrine issues, nutrient deficiencies, etc. Consider specialized testing from Renewal Hormone Center.
- Therapy - Work with a psychologist on emotional regulation skills as well as identifying and adapting negative thought patterns.
- Self-care - Prioritize regular exercise, healthy food, good sleep habits and stress management. Say no to extra responsibilities when overloaded.
The bottom line is that increased
irritability is often a symptom of an underlying issue. Getting the right treatment tailored to you can help cool your hot head.
Renewal Hormone Center provides personalized care plans to help clients balance their bodies and minds.