Why Am I So Irritable?
Do you ever feel really irritable and maybe don’t know why? Are you quick to snap at people, or find yourself easily angry? One of the lesser known symptoms of anxiety is irritability. Anxiety can come with a slew of different symptoms and can manifest in different ways for different people. Often when people think of anxiety what comes to mind is excessive worrying, increased heart rate, feeling tense and restless or even panic or rapid breathing. All of these are a part of what someone might encounter when experiencing anxiety, but a symptom that's less often spoken about in connection to anxiety is the irritability that some people experience.
It can be comforting to understand the root of your irritability. Maybe you even feel some relief because you now know it possibly stems from your anxiety. But now what? What do you do next to ease that irritability?
To create targeted change in your irritability levels, here are four tangible things for you to do:
Get enough sleep
Having a good sleep routine can make a world of difference! If you are well rested, you are setting yourself up to be able to better handle what your day throws at you.
2. Be cognizant of your caffeine intake
Because caffeine is a stimulant, it can increase anxiety for some people. And because irritability can be a symptom of anxiety, anything that's going to decrease your overall anxiety will in turn decrease your irritability levels. See if reducing your coffee or tea intake has any influence on your anxiety/irritability.
3. Be mindful of your triggers
Figure out if there are any particular triggers that affect your feelings of irritability. A helpful tip is to keep a running list in your notes app on your phone for a couple of weeks and see if you can detect a pattern.
4. Prioritize relaxation
If you’re feeling irritable or feel like some anxiety or irritability might be brewing, intentionally trying to relax yourself is a great way to ward off those unwanted feelings.
This is where you can get creative. Maybe try meditation, read a book, watch a good TV show, bake something yummy, get in a cathartic and endorphin-filled workout. Really anything that will help you wind down and feel good.
Irritability can be such a difficult symptom of anxiety to experience, because it can feel so hard to control. It can be unsettling to feel out of control of your own emotions or reactions.
If you are struggling with anxiety, and/or the symptoms of irritability that accompany it, do not hesitate to reach out to any of the psychotherapists at Be You Psychotherapy. Let’s explore this irritability, why it occurs and how we can eliminate it.
