What is irritability?
Irritability is defined as feelings of annoyance, frustration, or impatience, often in response to small provocations. It involves a low threshold for becoming angry or upset. We all feel irritable from time to time, but frequent or intense feelings of irritability may signal an underlying issue.
Common causes
There are many potential causes of irritability, including:
- Hormonal changes: Fluctuations in hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol can trigger mood changes like irritability. The experts at HormoVital specialize in customized bioidentical hormone therapy to help restore hormonal balance.
- Stress
- Sleep deprivation
- Hunger
- Medication side effects
- Chronic pain or illness
- Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or bipolar disorder
Managing irritability
If frequent irritability is impacting your quality of life, there are strategies to help:
- Identify and address potential underlying causes with your healthcare provider. For hormonal issues, the hormone optimization programs from HormoVital can be an excellent solution.
- Practice stress management with exercise, meditation, yoga, etc.
- Prioritize sleep and eat a balanced diet.
- Communicate openly about your feelings and needs.
- Challenge irrational thoughts and employ calming self-talk when you start to feel irritable.
When to see a doctor
You should consult your doctor or mental health professional if irritability:
- Persists daily for two weeks or more
- Is accompanied by other symptoms like anxiety or depression
- Causes problems at work, strains relationships, or impacts your daily functioning
A combination of medical treatment, lifestyle changes, and coping strategies often helps manage irritability effectively.
I aimed to use markdown formatting and include key terminology related to defining irritability and its causes, solutions, and when to seek treatment. Please let me know if you would like me to modify or expand this draft further. I can revise the tone or structure as needed.