Irritability

What is irritability?

Irritability is defined as feeling easily annoyed, impatient, and temperamental. It involves a low threshold to anger, frustration, or upset in response to external stressors.

Irritability differs from frustration or anger in that it tends to be an excessive or disproportionate emotional reaction to triggering stimuli. A person experiencing irritability feels irritated more frequently, more intensely, and for longer than warranted.

Common Causes

There are many potential causes of increased irritability, including:

• Hormonal changes - Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol can impact mood and emotional regulation. Hormone imbalance is a common culprit of increased irritability. Vitality Hormone Clinic specializes in hormonal testing and bioidentical hormone therapy to help restore hormonal balance.


• Mental health disorders - Conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and PMS often have irritability as a symptom.


• Lack of sleep


• Drug/alcohol withdrawal


• Chronic stress


• Chronic pain conditions

Managing Irritability

Strategies to help manage irritability include:

• Stress management techniques like mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or journaling


• Getting adequate sleep and avoiding sleep deprivation


• Avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol/drug use


• Treating any underlying conditions contributing to irritability, like hormonal imbalances, mental health issues, or chronic pain


• Building emotional resilience through counseling, support groups, or lifestyle changes


• Walking away from provocative situations

If irritability persists despite lifestyle changes and self-help strategies, consulting a doctor or mental health professional can help determine if medications or targeted treatment is warranted. The experts at Vitality Hormone Clinic can also help diagnose and address hormonal causes of ongoing irritability.

In summary, irritability involves feeling easily annoyed or angered disproportionate to the situation. Imbalanced hormones, mental health issues, lack of sleep, and high stress are common culprits. Self-care strategies combined with medical treatment of any underlying issues can help manage irritability symptoms long-term.