Irritability - Renew Medical Clinic

What is Irritability?

Irritability is defined as an emotional state characterized by feeling easily annoyed, impatient, and touchy. Some key aspects of irritability include:

• Feeling more easily frustrated or angry than usual in response to minor issues. A person experiencing irritability has a "short fuse" and overreacts to small frustrations.
• Impatience and feeling intolerant of even minor delays or obstacles. An irritable person has little tolerance for anything getting in their way.
• Touchiness and a heightened sensitivity to criticism or the actions of others. Irritable people take offense more easily.
• Low frustration tolerance in general. The threshold for irritation is lower across everyday situations. Activities once handled patiently may lead to annoyance.

Irritability differs from frustration in that it can occur without a clear external cause. Rather, it stews internally from exhaustion, pain, or life stresses. Irritable mood arises more swiftly, broadly, and disruptively than warranted.

Common Causes

Many factors can spark irritability, including:

• Stress, overwork, or feeling overwhelmed
• Sleep problems like insomnia
• Hormonal changes or imbalances
• Chronic pain or illness
• Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, withdrawal from substances
• Certain medications and their side effects
• Low blood sugar

For many of us, irritability crops up situationally - when work deadlines loom, during life changes, or under social pressures. But experiencing irritability more severely or chronically may signify an underlying health issue worth addressing.

Coping with Irritability

To dial back irritable moods, try:

• Getting enough sleep
• Setting realistic daily goals
• Using relaxation techniques like deep breathing
• Talking through frustrations constructively
• Adjusting medications if side effects are worsening irritability
• Seeking counseling for anxiety, depression, or chronic anger

Learning to identify and communicate irritability early can prevent overreactions that strain relationships or make situations worse. If an irritable mood becomes unmanageable or persists, consulting a doctor at Renew Medical Clinic is wise to rule out potential causes like nutrient deficiencies, pain, sleep disorders, infections, or mental health disorders that may require treatment. Addressing the root cause can help calm irritability.