Do you often get annoyed by the smallest things? Does your irritation sometimes manifest in ways that push your loved ones away? Are you frustrated with yourself for not being able to ignore the minor mistakes of others?
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can be difficult to avoid clashes and conflicts with those we are close to. Irritation, anger and frustration are natural emotions that actually have an important function.
But they shouldn't get the better of you.
If you're easily irritated, there may be several good reasons - both physical and psychological.
In this article, we'll look at some of the typical reasons why you get irritated easily.
You'll also get a few tips on what you can do to manage your irritation and get rid of inappropriate reactions.
Irritation is a common emotion that everyone experiences, just to different degrees.
In our culture, we tend to view irritation, anger, frustration and other related emotions as ‘unpleasant’ and ‘unacceptable’ feelings to be dealt with as quickly as possible.
However, just like any other emotion, your irritation actually has a practical and beneficial function if you use it constructively:
Among other things, your feeling of irritation can mobilise energy and try to create development in a more ideal direction. It can also tell you that either you or someone else has violated your boundaries or values that are important to you.
In this way, the feeling is a healthy reaction to something that is not okay for you.
But is irritation a good thing?
It all depends on how much irritation is in your life and how you deal with it.
Many of us tend to let irritation and anger express itself either as an explosion of verbal abuse and threatening body language towards others, or it can be turned inwards in the form of self-criticism and self-recrimination towards ourselves.
Rarely does anything good come of it.
Later in this article, we'll discuss how you can deal with your irritation in a constructive way.
But first, let's take a closer look at the factors that can often shorten your temper and make you more irritable than usual.
This is a good place to start if you want to have more mental energy.
We are all different and have different thresholds for when and how often we get irritated. Some people get irritated more easily than others.
But if you're feeling more irritable and intolerant of others than usual, it might be a good idea to look inwards and find the underlying cause.
Here are some causes of irritation and mood swings:
In some cases, severe irritation and anger can also be caused by more serious underlying conditions. If you feel an abnormally high level of irritation or if you are irritable for a prolonged period of time, it is therefore a good idea to consult your doctor or another professional.
READ MORE: Moods Swings in Females: Here Are the Reasons
Let’s dive a little deeper into some of the common reasons why our tempers can become shorter than usual.
Stressful periods in life are one of the most common causes of a short fuse.
When overwhelmed by difficult life circumstances, it's only natural to become less tolerant of yourself and those around you and to find it harder to deal with ‘forbidden’ emotions like irritation.
There can be many circumstances that make you feel pressurised in life.
For example:
Most of us feel stressed from time to time, and that's okay. But if you feel under pressure for a long time, you should take the signs seriously and make an active effort to get back in balance.
Sleep is one of the most important things you can give your body to keep it in mental and physical balance.
Unfortunately, sleep is also one of the first things we're willing to sacrifice when there are too many plans and too few hours in the day.
And lack of (good quality) sleep can make you more irritable and grumpy.
In fact, studies show that one in three adults don't get enough sleep.
Do you? If not, this is a good place to start.
The hormonal system plays an important role in our health and well-being.
Imbalances in the hormonal system can affect your body in several ways, both physically and mentally.
This also applies to your mood.
If you're easily irritated, hormonal imbalances may be the cause.
There are several different reasons why hormones can become imbalanced, including:
We've written this article about signs of hormonal imbalance, which you can read if you want to know more about the topic.
Pssst... A dietary supplement can also help you to balance your body and mind. 4HER is a range of supplements specially developed to create harmony in the female body:
What did you eat today?
Refined carbohydrates, white bread, fizzy drinks and sugar - or maybe you skipped lunch altogether?
If so, this could be an explanation for why you're feeling more annoyed and irritable.
Your blood sugar affects your mood. When blood sugar levels are low, we feel tired and unrested, but some of us are also more easily irritated.
Some simple tips to keep your blood sugar stable:
There are various tips and techniques for dealing with irritation in a constructive way.
Which method works depends on your personality and the underlying causes of the irritation, among other things.
Here are three tips.
Every emotion comes with a message.
What is the message of your irritation?
Are you sleeping too little? Are you eating too little? Is your hormonal system out of balance? Are you stressed, in crisis or otherwise unhappy with your life? Is there someone who has hurt you? Something you need to apologise for? Are you not setting your personal boundaries?
When you address the causes and try to create a life you're happier and more fulfilled in, your irritation threshold will automatically increase.
If you're easily irritated, it could also be that you're doing too many things for others and forgetting to fulfil your own needs.
Remember that it's okay to say no and look after yourself as you would look after a good friend or family member.
Many of us tend to beat ourselves up and blame ourselves for the mistakes we make.
However, self-criticism and self-hatred don't do any good.
Did you get angry and speak badly to another person? Were you not brave enough to stand up for yourself and mark your boundaries when someone stepped on your toes?
We all make mistakes and that's the way we learn, one step at a time. Be compassionate with yourself and don't expect yourself to be perfect.
For some, it works well to physically vent their frustration. If you can feel yourself getting irritated, ask for some alone time and leave the room.
Perhaps hitting a pillow, going for a run or getting the irritation and aggression out through other forms of physical activity works?
Others prefer to take a break to think by counting to ten and breathing calmly and deeply.
You can also start meditating regularly to achieve greater calm and mental balance.
You can also take a daily supplement for a balanced body and mind.
4HER is a range of supplements specifically designed for the health challenges many women face, including menopause and hormonal imbalances.
But remember: if the bad mood persists and you're not getting better, it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor. 4HER is a dietary supplement and cannot relieve symptoms of illness.
Try 4HER now.
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