What Causes Irritability?

When a person feels agitated, minor things seem to be annoying. The resulting tension can make a person more stressed and sensitive towards the situation.

Irritability is a common emotion, and several factors contribute to this unpleasant emotion. They can be life’s stress, lack of sleep, low blood pressure, or even hormonal changes.

Extreme irritability can sometimes indicate an underlying condition, such as diabetes. It may also be a sign of a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression.

In this article, we will look at those factors that cause irritability both in adults and children.

Life Stress

Stress can make anyone anxious and irritable. It can happen to anyone at any place – be it work, school, or even home. People find it challenging to manage stress, and thus they become overwhelmed, leading to emotional exhaustion. Therefore, recognizing the early signs of stress and taking necessary steps to relieve it can help immensely.

Depression

Depression causes persistent sadness, fatigue, and anxiety. Irritability is one of the first signs of depression in a person’s life. A person who is depressed due to any reason will feel more irritation. Therefore, managing depression early is vital; otherwise, prolonged depression can lead to fatal results.

Lack of Sleep

Not getting enough sleep or sleep deprivation may cause any person irritability. Children are usually affected by this factor, and thus they start behaving cranky and irritable. If a person gets tired and does not get enough sleep, he may not be able to refresh his mind and mental status. It can lead to insomnia in several cases. Getting enough good quality sleep is vital for health. It plays a role in boosting cognitive performance, concentration, and immune system function, and it also reduces the risk of heart disease and depression.

Low Blood Sugar

Low blood sugar is known as hypoglycemia in medical terms. It can affect a person’s psychological and physical health to a great extent. It commonly affects people with diabetes, taking them towards irritability and lightheadedness. The symptoms of hypoglycemia also include difficulty in concentrating and drowsiness.

Apart from the above factors, other ones are premenstrual syndrome and hormonal imbalance. It is vital to speak with your doctor or a trained mental health professional if they cannot manage their irritability.

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