Irritability

Irritability is defined as an excessive sensitivity or touchiness to internal or external stimuli. It refers to a propensity towards getting easily annoyed, impatient, or angry.
Some key signs of irritability include:

• Feeling frustrated or angry by minor provocations


• Having a short temper


• Being overly sensitive to noises, lighting, smells, etc.


• Lashing out at others with harsh words or criticism

Irritability differs from full-blown anger because irritable moods tend to be temporary, reactive responses instead of long-lasting emotional states. However, chronic irritability can be a symptom of underlying mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or even hormone imbalances.

What Causes Irritability?

There are a few potential culprits behind increased irritability:

• Stress - High cortisol levels due to chronic stress can make it harder to manage frustrations


• Sleep deprivation - Lack of quality sleep reduces emotional control


• Hormone changes - Fluctuating or declining hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol modulate mood


• Low blood sugar - When blood sugar crashes, irritability spikes


• Inflammation - Chronic inflammation through the body can translate to inflamed nerves and mood dysfunction

If you find yourself feeling increasingly short-tempered and sensitive to daily hassles, getting to the root cause with testing can help guide effective treatment.

Could Your Hormones Be Out of Balance?

Hormones like cortisol, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone heavily influence mood and tolerance to stress.

When these major hormones decline or fluctuate dramatically, feelings of impatience, frustration and anger can surface more easily.

Symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, fatigue and irritability often improve significantly after hormones are restored to more youthful levels. Their knowledgeable staff can help you identify hormonal triggers through cutting-edge tests and create a personalized treatment plan.

Tips for Coping with Irritability

If you struggle with a short fuse, here are some useful tips:

• Practice stress management through exercise, meditation, yoga, or talk therapy


• Get 7-9 hours of sleep per night


• Eat regular, balanced meals - don't skip!


• Reduce stimulant intake from coffee, cigarettes, etc.


• Communicate feelings early before blowing up


• Walk away from frustrating situations until calmer

Learning to better manage feelings of impatience or sensitivity takes time. But both lifestyle changes and medical treatment can help in the long run.

Does this irritable mood sound familiar at all? Have you noticed correlations with your monthly cycle or aging? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments!