Always On Edge? Why Irritability Might Be More Than Just a Bad Day

Tell me if this sounds familiar: a small inconvenience, like the coffee spilling or someone cutting in line, makes your body tense up as rage boils deep within you like a pot simmering on the stove.

If you can relate to the message above, you may also have feelings of shame and guilt when irritability and anger control you. You know these things shouldn’t make you that mad, but it's just one of those days when it seems like everyone and everything is against you. Unfortunately, bad moods are part of the human experience, but if you’ve noticed this type of irritation showing up more days than not, it may be more than just a bad mood. Chronic irritability is a common sign that you may not be living life in a way that aligns with your values and purpose. Furthermore, chronic irritation is often connected to stress, anxiety, or depression, and can impair our relationships, productivity, and general sense of self. 

The Emotional Iceberg

It is easy to discount our emotions as something to move past when in reality, they can be important guides for deeper understanding. Just like an iceberg, the irritation you feel may seem small, but underneath the surface is a large mass of unresolved emotions, relationship issues, or chronic stress that shouldn’t be ignored.

When to Pay Attention

It’s normal to feel irritable throughout life. We all go through ups and downs, and everyone has their moments. But if you notice that irritability is showing up a lot, and it’s starting to impact how you connect with people you care about, how things go at work, or just how you feel day to day, it may be a sign that it’s worth paying closer attention to. Sometimes, irritability can be a clue that something deeper, like stress, exhaustion, or even underlying anxiety or depression, is asking to be explored and quieted.

Coping Strategies for Stress and Irritability

Stress and irritability are part of being human, but they don’t have to take over. With a few simple tools—like slowing down your breathing, moving your body, or giving yourself a break—you can create more space between the feeling and your reaction. Exercise is a great way to decrease stress and general irritability. In addition to connecting you to your body, exercising deepens your breathing, releases endorphins, and gives you an influx of mood-boosting oxygen.

Approaching your day with more awareness can also help mitigate the effects of a bad mood. Finding ways to engage with your five senses can slow you down and bring you into the present moment. A great place to do this is outside in nature.  Studies have shown that even a short walk outside can have the power to reset our mood and reenergize our bodies.

Finally, a routine involving self-care activities that bring you joy, awe, or a sense of peace can have long-lasting effects. What is most important is to find techniques that work for you.

How TheraQ can Help

Research has shown that emotions are what make us human. I want to clarify that emotions aren’t just something that happens to us, but rather they are how we make sense of the world. By developing curiosity about our emotions and their root causes, we can change the way we engage with the people around us, and perhaps not be as affected by that spilled coffee, a late assignment, or someone bumping into us at the store.

We're here to help you grow your sense of curiosity, understand the root causes of your irritability, and provide you with personalized tips, tricks, and coping skills/tools that reflect your lifestyle. If you're experiencing more bad days than good and irritability is affecting your relationships, consider scheduling a free phone consultation with one of our qualified therapists. You have the power to create the life you want for yourself, and we’re here to support you in that journey. 

Click Here to Start Your Journey