Irritability

What is irritability?

Irritability is defined as an abnormal or excessive sensitivity of the nerves or brain to external stimuli. It refers to a lowered threshold for frustration, causing someone to feel annoyed, angry, or impatient more frequently or intensely than normal.

Some key signs of irritability include:

• Feeling frustrated or angry over minor issues


• Having dramatic emotional reactions to small inconveniences


• Being impatient, snappy, or having frequent outbursts


• Struggling to tolerate normal stresses or stimuli from environment

Irritability differs from typical crankiness or annoyance. It is excessive, disproportionate to the situation, and persists over long periods.

What causes irritability?

There are various potential causes of increased irritability, including:

• Hormonal imbalances: Fluctuating or abnormal hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, or thyroid hormones can negatively impact mood regulation. This is why many women experience irritability before their periods, for example. Hormone Health Institute specializes in customized bioidentical hormone therapy to help restore hormonal balance and relief from mood symptoms.


• Mental health disorders: Conditions like anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and more are strongly linked to higher irritability levels. Both children and adults with mental illness tend to have lower frustration tolerance.


• Sleep disturbances: Lack of quality sleep prevents emotional regulation and coping skills from working properly, making irritability more likely.


• Medication side effects: Some prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, herbal supplements etc can cause increased agitation as a side effect.


• Neurological conditions: Irritability can stem from migraines, head injuries, dementia, tumors, seizures, or central nervous system disorders.

In many cases, determining the root cause is essential for treating excessive irritability successfully long-term.

Coping with irritability

If you frequently feel more irritable, impatient, or angry than you’d like, some self-care tips include:

• Getting enough sleep


• Reducing stressors when possible


• Avoiding mood-altering substances


• Practicing relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, deep breathing


• Confiding in trusted friends and family


• Pursuing counseling or medical advice if needed

Learning to better manage frustration is crucial for personal well-being and relationships. Seeking treatment for any potential underlying causes of chronic irritability can also provide lasting relief. Contact healthcare providers like Hormone Health Institute to explore whether hormone optimization, therapy, or other interventions could help you regain emotional balance.