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What causes irritability?
Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP — Written by Jamie Eske on June 26, 2019
Life stress
Depression
Anxiety
Phobia disorders
Lack of sleep
Low blood sugar
Hormonal imbalance
PMS
In children
In older adults
Treatments
Management
Summary
When a person feels irritable, small things that would not usually bother them can make them feel annoyed or agitated. The resulting tension can make a person more sensitive to stressful situations.
Irritability is a common emotion. Many factors can cause or contribute to irritability, including life stress, a lack of sleep, low blood sugar levels, and hormonal changes.
Extreme irritability, or feeling irritable for an extended period, can sometimes indicate an underlying condition, such as an infection or diabetes. It may also be a sign of a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression.
People may experience the following symptoms along with increased irritability:
confusion or difficulty concentrating
excessive sweating
a rapid heartbeat
fast or shallow breathing
In this article, we look at what can cause irritability in adults and children and provide tips for managing irritability.
Life stress
Life stress is one of the major causes of irritability.
Going through a stressful period can make a person feel more irritable than usual.
When someone experiences a stressful life event — which may tie in with work, school, trauma, or grief — they may find it more difficult to manage their emotions and can become overwhelmed. They may feel less tolerant of the people around them.
Feeling overwhelmed by life stress is normal, but prolonged periods of stress can lead to emotional exhaustion. Recognizing the early signs of stress and taking steps to relieve this feeling can help people avoid burnout.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provide useful tips for coping with life stress.
Depression
Depression affects nearly 16 million adults in the United States. It can manifest in a wide range of symptoms and often causes persistent sadness, fatigue, and irritability.
One of the early signs of depression or a depression relapse is stronger feelings of irritability.
Irritability is more likely to be one of the symptoms of depression in men than in women, and it often occurs alongside aggressive feelings, risk-taking, and substance abuse.
The National Institute of Mental Health state that people may have depression if they experience any of the following symptoms for 2 or more weeks:
feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or hopelessness
loss of interest in once pleasurable activities
fatigue
concentration or memory problems
headaches
digestive problems
sudden changes in appetite or weight
Not everyone experiences every symptom of depression. Symptoms can vary in severity and duration.
Anxiety
Feelings of anxiety often arise in response to stressful situations in life, such as problems at work, preparing for an important exam, or going through significant life changes. This type of anxiety usually goes away once the stressful situation passes.
However, anxiety may linger or worsen over time and can severely affect a person’s daily activities, work performance, and personal relationships.
If a person has excessive anxiety or worry that lasts for 6 months or longer, they may have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which affects up to 20% of adults in the U.S. each year.
The symptoms of GAD can occur in other types of anxiety disorder and may include:
irritability
a rapid heart rate
shallow breathing
muscle tension
difficulty concentrating or making decisions
problems falling asleep or staying asleep
People may also experience panic attacks. A panic attack refers to a period of intense fear that develops with little to no warning and peaks within minutes. The exact triggers vary from person to person, and they may not always be apparent.
People who experience panic attacks may find themselves worrying about when the next attack will occur. They might go out of their way to avoid situations, places, or behaviors that could trigger an attack. Thinking about triggers and panic attacks can make a person feel overwhelmed and irritable.
Phobia disorders
The term phobia describes an intense fear or aversion to a certain object, person, or situation.
Thinking about or having exposure to the phobic situation or item can make a person feel overwhelmed, panicky, and more irritable than usual.
People who have a phobia disorder may feel intense fear or anxiety about:
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More information
What causes irritability?
Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP — Written by Jamie Eske on June 26, 2019
Life stress
Depression
Anxiety
Phobia disorders
Lack of sleep
Low blood sugar
Hormonal imbalance
PMS
In children
In older adults
Treatments
Management
Summary
When a person feels irritable, small things that would not usually bother them can make them feel annoyed or agitated. The resulting tension can make a person more sensitive to stressful situations.
Irritability is a common emotion. Many factors can cause or contribute to irritability, including life stress, a lack of sleep, low blood sugar levels, and hormonal changes.
Extreme irritability, or feeling irritable for an extended period, can sometimes indicate an underlying condition, such as an infection or diabetes. It may also be a sign of a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression.
People may experience the following symptoms along with increased irritability:
confusion or difficulty concentrating
excessive sweating
a rapid heartbeat
fast or shallow breathing
In this article, we look at what can cause irritability in adults and children and provide tips for managing irritability.
Life stress
Life stress is one of the major causes of irritability.
Going through a stressful period can make a person feel more irritable than usual.
When someone experiences a stressful life event — which may tie in with work, school, trauma, or grief — they may find it more difficult to manage their emotions and can become overwhelmed. They may feel less tolerant of the people around them.
Feeling overwhelmed by life stress is normal, but prolonged periods of stress can lead to emotional exhaustion. Recognizing the early signs of stress and taking steps to relieve this feeling can help people avoid burnout.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provide useful tips for coping with life stress.
Depression
Depression affects nearly 16 million adults in the United States. It can manifest in a wide range of symptoms and often causes persistent sadness, fatigue, and irritability.
One of the early signs of depression or a depression relapse is stronger feelings of irritability.
Irritability is more likely to be one of the symptoms of depression in men than in women, and it often occurs alongside aggressive feelings, risk-taking, and substance abuse.
The National Institute of Mental Health state that people may have depression if they experience any of the following symptoms for 2 or more weeks:
feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or hopelessness
loss of interest in once pleasurable activities
fatigue
concentration or memory problems
headaches
digestive problems
sudden changes in appetite or weight
Not everyone experiences every symptom of depression. Symptoms can vary in severity and duration.
Anxiety
Feelings of anxiety often arise in response to stressful situations in life, such as problems at work, preparing for an important exam, or going through significant life changes. This type of anxiety usually goes away once the stressful situation passes.
However, anxiety may linger or worsen over time and can severely affect a person’s daily activities, work performance, and personal relationships.
If a person has excessive anxiety or worry that lasts for 6 months or longer, they may have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which affects up to 20% of adults in the U.S. each year.
The symptoms of GAD can occur in other types of anxiety disorder and may include:
irritability
a rapid heart rate
shallow breathing
muscle tension
difficulty concentrating or making decisions
problems falling asleep or staying asleep
People may also experience panic attacks. A panic attack refers to a period of intense fear that develops with little to no warning and peaks within minutes. The exact triggers vary from person to person, and they may not always be apparent.
People who experience panic attacks may find themselves worrying about when the next attack will occur. They might go out of their way to avoid situations, places, or behaviors that could trigger an attack. Thinking about triggers and panic attacks can make a person feel overwhelmed and irritable.
Phobia disorders
The term phobia describes an intense fear or aversion to a certain object, person, or situation.
Thinking about or having exposure to the phobic situation or item can make a person feel overwhelmed, panicky, and more irritable than usual.
People who have a phobia disorder may feel intense fear or anxiety about:
flying
heights
needles
blood
being outside
social situations
specific animals, such as dogs or snakes
Explanation: