Reasons, Symptoms, & Causes Of Irritability. Answering The "Why Am I So Irritable?" Question
Updated June 02, 2020
Reviewer Wendy Boring-Bray, DBH, LPC
We all know what it's like to be irritable. Sometimes there are just things that seem to get under your skin and people who seem to irritate you. There are a lot of reasons why you might struggle with irritability. Understanding these reasons can help you learn how to overcome these struggles in a healthy way.
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Asking yourself why you're so irritable is the first step you need to take to overcome your irritability. When you know the cause, then you can identify the most effective ways to address it.
Why Am I So Irritable?
Feelings of irritability and stress, along with their inherent symptoms, generally flare up when life becomes challenging. For instance, if you frequently have to interact with difficult people, it can breed irritation. Feelings of helplessness and stress-inducing changes are also likely to cause irritation. In general, irritability usually stems from your surroundings, your interactions with others, or uncontrollable circumstances.
While knowing the cause is important, knowing how to handle irritability is equally critical. Left unchecked, habitual irritation eventually takes a toll on your mental health and overall wellness.
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Stress
Stress is arguably the most common reason behind irritability, and it crops up when we're faced with demands and threats. You may also experience stress when you feel helpless or out of control, which might lead to irritability. Think about it -- when was the last time you experienced irritability? What caused it? Were you stuck in traffic, unable to connect with a loved one, or faced with a seemingly-impossible challenge? Each of the circumstances described above shows how stress and irritability are closely linked and relatively common.
Despite the fact that occasional irritability is normal, constant irritability can have adverse effects on our relationships and daily experiences. Continually snapping at friends after the slightest affront may damage those friendships. Being grumpy toward your coworkers may alienate them while breeding a hostile work environment. Furthermore, being short with family members can make your family life very unpleasant. One of the best ways to curb irritability is to minimize your stress. Everyone will benefit, you included.
Mood/Anxiety Disorders
While stress is the most common reason for irritability, mood and anxiety disorders are a close second. Often, people underestimate the importance of mental health and its impact on our emotions. Anxiety and bipolar disorders are the most chronic mental health ailments that breed irritability. For instance, individuals suffering from bipolar disorder often experience agitation, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, and self-destructive habits, all of which can lead to, you guessed it, irritability.
Similarly, irritability is linked anxiety disorders and other mental health problems. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association cites irritability as one of the prime causes of overall anxiety disorders. People suffering from various mood and anxiety disorders are often unable to overcome them alone. However, medication and therapy can work miracles.
Medical Conditions
Last but not least, irritability often accompanies various medical conditions. Unfortunately, people faced with Alzheimer's disease, Graves disease, diabetes, the flu, and other ailments may experience feelings of irritability in addition to their other symptoms. Chronic illnesses can also breed irritation because it's frustrating to be sick all of the time.
Symptoms of Irritability
Anger, confusion, rapid breathing, sweating, and an increased heart rate are all normal symptoms of irritability. While fleeting feelings of irritation and these symptoms can happen any time, prolonged or habitual feelings of irritability may breed stronger symptoms. These include hot flashes, hair loss, weakened sex drive, fevers, headaches, and even irregular menstrual cycles for women.
Knowing the symptoms of irritability is virtually meaningless if you fail to look within and discover the root cause of your irritation. Granted, stress, mood/anxiety disorders, and medical conditions are common causes, but each person must evaluate their own experience.
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You may want to take a close look at the patterns of your daily life. When are you at ease? When do feelings of stress or irritability surface? Are you calm or agitated when you're alone or with company? Are there specific people, situations, locations, or circumstances that irritate you more often than not?
Do not feel pressured to evaluate your life by yourself if you're uncomfortable doing so. After all, pressure can breed further irritation! It's okay to seek help from friends, family members, or other loved ones. Often, being with loved ones can combat feelings of stress, tension, and irritability as well.
How to Handle Irritability Symptoms
If you're struggling from the undesirable symptoms of irritability, there are precautions and steps you can take to prevent, remedy, and decrease them. According to Psychology Today, reducing caffeine/alcohol, warding off nervous energy, and pinpointing the source of your irritability can all work wonders.
Reducing Caffeine/Alcohol
Despite the popularity of alcohol and caffeine, these beverages can increase irritability for many people. This doesn't mean that one should never drink a cup of coffee or enjoy a glass of wine, but habitual consumers of alcohol and caffeine might benefit from cutting back.
Getting Rid of Negative Energy
Toxic energy tends to fester, especially when left unchecked. Sometimes a jog down the block, an intense workout at the gym, or even a hot, steamy shower can help you release negative energy that would have otherwise increased your irritability.
Despite the merits of the above tips, one of the most effective ways to prevent irritability is to find the source of the problem. If you can stop irritability before it starts, you'll be much happier.
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Pinpointing Your Triggers
While prescribed medication could be a viable solution for you, sometimes tackling irritability is as simple as finding the underlying cause. For instance, do interactions with a particular individual often dampen your mood? Is your job or current occupation doing more harm than good? When was the last time you went on a vacation, took a day off, or spent some quality time with a loved one? These are essential questions to ask yourself if you're struggling with persistent irritability. Sometimes, all you need to do is take a step back to regroup and evaluate the situation to solve the problem.
Using Therapy to Help
Sometimes, however, working with a certified and licensed professional is the best way to deal with chronic irritability. You deserve to be happy, prosperous, and successful in your daily life. Irritability is a sign that something is not right and needs to be addressed.
If you need help, you can reach out to BetterHelp's counselors. In addition to caring psychologists, counselors, therapists, and social workers, BetterHelp also has countless success stories and testimonials from individuals who have benefited from our services. You can read a few of our reviews below, from people experiencing similar issues.
Counselor Reviews
"Steve is amazing and does a good job at making this seem like less of a counseling session and more of a conversation between friends. He helped me talk through my anger issues and road rage and gave me lots of problem solving tools. I highly recommend him!"
"Regina helped me pinpoint where my anger issue stemmed from in the very first session, and has been helping me become more self aware of my warning triggers. Very insightful and helpful!"
Conclusion
Managing stress, mood/anxiety disorders, and medical conditions can help you combat irritability. However, you can also reach out to BetterHelp's licensed and certified professionals for support. You can beat irritability and enjoy your life again. Take the first step today.
