Irritability is a feeling of being easily annoyed, impatient, and prone to anger. It is a common symptom or side effect of many mental health disorders, medical conditions, and hormonal imbalances. What causes irritability? There are many potential culprits:
- Mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD can all cause increased irritability as a symptom. The stresses and thought patterns associated with these conditions make someone more on edge.
- Medical problems like chronic pain, sleep disorders, and headaches can understandably make someone more easily annoyed and angered. Dealing with constant discomfort doesn't put you in the best mood!
- Medication side effects are another common source of increased irritability. Many medications like steroids, blood pressure drugs, and stimulants can provoke agitation as a side effect.
- Hormonal imbalances are a major yet often overlooked cause of irritability. Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol can significantly influence mood. Irregular periods, menopause, perimenopause, and andropause are especially associated with irritability.
- Stressful circumstances like work pressure, financial problems, or relationship issues can understandably make someone feel impatient and on edge. The constant stresses provoke agitation.
How do you reduce irritability? Making lifestyle changes and getting the right treatment can help decrease feelings of excessive irritability:
- Get checked for any underlying conditions contributing to irritability like hormonal imbalances, mental health disorders, or medical problems. Determining the cause is the first step.
- Reduce stress through self-care activities like yoga, meditation, nature walks, massage, talking to a friend, or taking a long bath. Lowering life stresses can have a big influence on irritability.
- Get good sleep as sleep deprivation strongly affects mood and patience levels. Aim for 7-9 hours per night.
- Exercise regularly as physical activity releases feel-good endorphins and reduces tension in the body.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol which can provoke anxiety and agitation.
If lifestyle changes don't help enough with irritability, further medical treatment may be warranted, such as hormone therapy, medications, counseling, or cognitive-behavioral therapy.
The physicians at Hormone Harmony Clinic specialize in hormonal balance and can provide customized bioidentical hormone therapy to help stabilize moods like irritability. We offer integrative treatment plans to address irritability at its root cause, whether it's due to periomenopause, andropause, PCOS, thyroid disorders, or other hormone imbalances. Our compassionate team focuses on the whole person for long-lasting results. Contact us today to see how we can help you feel more balanced and less irritable!