What is irritability?
Irritability is defined as an excessive response to stimuli that is often seen as inappropriate and causes distress. It involves feeling easily annoyed, frustrated, or angered by things that may not bother others as much.
Some key things to know about irritability:
- It is a common symptom or side effect of various medical conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, sleep deprivation, pain disorders, and more. Irritability can also be a side effect of certain medications.
- For some, irritability tends to be situational and comes and goes. For others it is more frequent and persistent over time.
- While we all get irritated sometimes, if irritability is severe, frequent, and distressing it may indicate an underlying issue that should be addressed.
Causes and risk factors for increased irritability can include:
- Mental health conditions like depression, anxiety
- Lack of sleep or poor sleep quality
- Side effects of medications
- Hormonal changes and imbalances
- Physical illnesses like chronic pain
- External stressors
If you struggle with frequent irritability it's important to see your doctor or a mental health professional. Treatment options may include:
- Therapy to learn coping strategies
- Changes to environment/lifestyle
- Medications - antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds can help
- Addressing underlying causes like lack of sleep, hormone issues, pain, etc.
At Hormone Harmony we specialize in using bioidentical hormone therapy to restore optimal hormonal balance. Imbalances in hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and others can definitely contribute to increased irritability. We provide personalized care including hormone testing, monitoring, and evidence based hormone treatments designed specifically for your unique needs.