Why Do I Feel Irritated All the Time?

Feeling annoyed every so often is natural. You might get wound up when your child is throwing a tantrum or when you’re stuck in a traffic jam on the way to work.

However, there becomes a point where you start to feel irritated all the time, and even the smallest things cause you to feel frustrated.

What is Irritability and What Causes it?

Irritability refers to feelings of agitation and frustration. There are many situations that have the potential to cause irritability. Most commonly, it’s in response to a stressful or worrying situation, such as waiting on the phone for several minutes or spilling a carton of milk all over your floor.

Individuals with certain mental health conditions may also experience increased irritability, including depression, bipolar disorder, and mood disorders. Physical problems may also increase irritability, such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hormonal imbalances, ongoing pain, toothache, and the flu.

If you’re a coffee lover or a smoker, you might also experience an increase in irritability and anxiety when you try to quit caffeine or tobacco.

How Can You Overcome Irritability?

Although it’s normal to feel irritable sometimes, if you find yourself constantly feeling irritable it’s important to address the underlying causes and even consult with a healthcare practitioner.

In the meantime, here are some great things you can do to try and calm your body and mind, and feel more relaxed.

• Practice mindfulness to help you to learn how to live in the present moment
• Practice gratitude to remind yourself of the positive things in your life
• Reframe your thoughts from negative to positive so that you start to focus more on the good aspects of every situation
• Exercise more to stimulate the release of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine .
• Counseling or therapy sessions to target and change your thought patterns
• In some cases, medications may be helpful, such as medications to balance hormones or blood sugar levels.