Why Are You Irritable? Simple Ways To Overcome It.

Overcome that niggling feeling of irritation by taking these simple steps.

The pandemic has turned our world upside down, and even after a year, we are still grappling with getting accustomed to the new normal.

Things that we use to take for granted are not available right now. We have to get used to wearing masks outdoors while spending our time in close proximity with family as we all work remotely from home.

Living in close proximity with others can be very stressful even in the best circumstances considering people’s diverse personalities and complexities in general. Combine that with the added stress of a possible loss of income or a worsening health issue; it is no wonder that we are on the verge of a meltdown of epic proportion.

As we are still working remotely and kids studying online, our world has narrowed down to the confines of our home, leading to increasingly stressful and volatile situations. There has been a reduction of personal space and time because of the proximity of people in everyday lives, resulting in anxiety and irritability.

Nowadays, people are more irritable than ever as they struggle with losing jobs, dwindling income, and restricted outdoor mobility.

What is irritability?

It is a mental condition when people lose their sense of calm and balance.

If anger can make you see red, irritability is a milder version that lurks in the background, ready to burst at any moment into a full-fledged emotional outburst.

When faced with increasingly stressful situations, people tend to become grumpy and lash out at each other for the slightest reason. They become defensive and sensitive to criticism that affects their overall mental wellbeing.

Most often, irritability is aggravated by lack of sleep and exercise, irregular and unhealthy eating habits, stressful work situations, a tendency to do too much, and lack of physical and mental space.

Why is being irritable toxic for your wellbeing?

We all have mild irritation in our lives. It can be incidents like not having a good night’s sleep, screaming toddlers, or workplace stress. Whatever be the trigger, it can create friction in your close relationships if ignored.

Shouting, blaming, and generally irritable and grumpy people often alienate their friends and family, causing more harm to themselves in the end.

Irritable and frustrated emotions can affect your mental and emotional balance and make you lose your peace of mind. It often leads to social isolation as we mostly distance ourselves from highly irritable people. Isolation can aggravate more negative feelings of sadness and depression.

A constant state of irritability can be a byproduct of stress and anxiety and other more serious mental disorders in adults. Studies claim that irritability and depression can also be the first signs of Alzheimer’s disease in some cases.

How do we overcome irritability in life?

Like most mental disorders, irritability affects people in varying degrees depending on their temperament, attitude towards life in general.

People with control issues, having perfectionist tendencies, and anger issues are more susceptible to bouts of irritability and crankiness than those having a more well-rounded personality.

Though a person’s personality traits play a significant role in how they will face the ups and downs in their life, we can take certain steps to overcome or at least manage those niggling feelings of anger and irritation in our everyday lives.

Here are some ways you can manage your emotions in stressful situations and control your irritation.

Become aware of your mental state-

Becoming aware of your mental state can help you name the emotions you are feeling inside. Defining a problem is often the first step in solving it. Knowing beforehand your triggers for getting down the rabbit hole of anxiety and irritability can save you from such self-defeating emotions well in advance.

Some common instances that make you irritable are when you lack sleep, when you missed a meal or before a big presentation in your workplace.

Knowing the triggers in advance will help you prepare and keep yourself calm and stop those harmful emotions from rising altogether.

Avoid multitasking and micromanaging-

We love to be on top of things happening in our lives and often go out of our way to solve people’s problems close to us. We believe that our valuable opinions are just what our loved ones need to solve their problems in life.

Our need to control our lives and others can leave us open to such negative emotions that make us feel unbalanced, leading to bouts of anxiety and irritability.

Learn to trust yourself and others around you and stop controlling factors that are genuinely out of your control. In life, we can only do so much that we can directly handle. After that, we must surrender and hope that things will get better with time.

Give space to your loved ones and encourage them to solve their problems. Avoid taking on other people’s issues unless requested to do so. Practice detachment and concentrate on your wellbeing.

Ask for help-

All of us need help sometimes in our lives, and there is no shame in asking for assistance when we need it. Trying to do everything on your own will stress you out and increase your irritability. Honestly, assess your situation, and ask for help even when you just need someone to listen to you.

Prioritize yourself-

Your irritability signifies that you are neglecting yourself while trying to solve other pressing issues in your life. It is time to focus on yourself and prioritize self-care habits that make you feel good.

Go for that morning run, soak in a bath and relax those tired muscles, spend time walking in nature, and indulge in some hobbies of your own.

When was the last time you took your eyes off your problems and devoted some time exclusively to nourish your body, mind, and soul?

In difficult times, take a moment to nurture yourself. You need to be in a peaceful state of mind before you can tackle the outside forces threatening your sense of stability.

Get things in perspective-

Learn to think on the grand scale of things or see the bigger picture. Life is passing you by as you are stewing about problems that will become insignificant in a few months from now.

That meeting you messed up or that interview you failed will not matter in a few months from now. Life has a way of getting itself right. So, don’t worry about things that you cannot control. Take one day at a time, and soon you would see things working out to your advantage.

Develop and nurture a robust support system-

We all have thousands of virtual friends, but how many can you count on in times of crisis? It is time now to remove your rose-tinted glasses and look at your friendships and relationships.

Take stock of people and develop and nurture those connections that will grow with you. Spend time with people who help you get better and reciprocate your generosity.

Developing and nurturing strong relationships and friendships will help you get through a rough patch in life, if only by giving you their undivided time and attention.

Have faith-

No matter how strong and capable you are, sometimes you have to surrender and have faith that a more significant force is at play in your life. At the end of the day, there is only that much you can do to get forward in life and leave the rest to God.

To maintain a calm and balanced mind and avoid anxiety, you must have a deep and abiding faith in God. Acknowledge the presence of God or whatever higher force you believe in, and pray regularly to him. Ask for divine guidance, and you will find your path in life.

Practice gratitude-

No matter how bad your situation is, there is always something that can make you feel grateful. A roof over your head, loving family and friends, meals at your table are all reasons that can make you feel thankful and look optimistically at your future.

Be thankful for what you already have in your life and practice gratitude. Soon you will find things getting better. Maintain a gratitude journal to write down everything you are grateful for in your life. You will see more things to write about every day, and your feeling of positivity will ensure that your gratitude journal will continue to fill up, making your life fulfilling in the long run.

Don’t forget to have fun-

Yes, you must celebrate every second of your life because life is in the moment. No one knows how things will turn out in the future. The future is unknown, and the past is gone. Today is the present that you must nurture.

No matter what the circumstance is, please don’t take it seriously. Have some fun. Play with your kids, walk your dog, Enjoy some of your childhood hobbies. Looking at the lighter side of life can make you forget your troubles and relieve some anxiety.

Final Thoughts-

Handling emotions may not come to you easily, considering the distressing times we are in currently. But taking little steps can help you at least take charge of your emotions and tame those negativities in your life.

By being in the moment and savouring the good with the bad, you can deal with whatever curveball life throws at you.

Practice patience and look at the positive side when things get rough. Self-awareness and the ability to laugh at one’s temper tantrums can be your secret weapon to handle irritability in your life.