Irritability vs agitation

Irritability: Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By April Kahn — Updated on August 6, 2019

Overview

Irritability is a feeling of agitation. Although, some describe “agitation” as a more severe form of irritability.

Regardless of the term you use, when you’re irritable, you’re likely to become frustrated or upset easily. You might experience it in response to stressful situations. It may also be a symptom of a mental or physical health condition.

Babies and young children are often reported to feel irritable, especially when they’re tired or sick. For example, children often become fussy when they have ear infections or stomach aches.

Adults can also feel irritable for a variety of reasons. If you feel irritable on a regular basis, make an appointment with your doctor. You may have an underlying condition that requires treatment.

Many things can cause irritability. The causes can be divided into two general categories: physical and psychological.

Several common psychological causes of irritability include:

stress
anxiety
autism

Some mental health disorders have been associated with irritability, including, but not limited to:

depression
bipolar disorder
schizophrenia

Common physical causes can include:

sleep deprivation
low blood sugar
ear infections
toothaches
some diabetes-related symptoms
certain respiratory disorders
flu

Medical conditions that cause hormonal changes can also affect your mood. Examples include:

menopause
premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
polycystic ovary syndrome (POS)
hyperthyroidism
diabetes

You may also experience irritability as a side effect of medication that you’re taking. Other potential causes include:

drug use
alcoholism
nicotine withdrawal
caffeine withdrawal

Most people feel irritable from time to time. For example, it’s normal to feel cranky after a poor night’s rest.

Some people feel irritable on a more regular basis. If you find that irritability is interfering with your daily life, talk with your doctor. They can help you identify potential causes of your irritability.

In some cases, your feelings of irritability may be accompanied or preceded by other symptoms.

For example, these symptoms might include:

sweating
racing heart
fast breathing
confusion
anger

If a hormonal imbalance is causing your irritability, you may have other symptoms such as:

fever
headache
hot flashes
irregular menstrual cycles
reduced sex drive
hair loss

If you feel irritable on a regular basis, and you don’t know why, make an appointment with your doctor. They can help you identify possible causes. They can also discuss treatment options and strategies to help manage your mood, once the cause is identified.

During your visit, your doctor will likely request your medical history, including any medications that you’re taking.

They’ll also ask about your history of psychological conditions. Your lifestyle habits, such as sleeping patterns and alcohol consumption or any other substances you may be using will likely be discussed. Your doctor will want to know about sources of stress in your life.

Depending on your symptoms and medical history, they may order one or more tests, including blood and urine analyses. The level of certain hormones in your blood may point to a hormonal imbalance. The level of glucose in your blood or urine may point to diabetes.

They may also refer you to a mental health professional for evaluation.

Your doctor’s recommended treatment plan will depend on your specific diagnosis. The best way to treat irritability is to address its underlying cause.

If your doctor diagnoses you with a mental health condition, they may refer you to a professional for counseling. Prescription medications may be recommended to help control your mood. Talk therapy and medications are often combined to treat conditions, such as depression.

If they suspect your irritability is caused by alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, or other drug withdrawal, your doctor may recommend a combination of talk therapy and medications. Together they can help control your cravings.

If you’re diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance, your doctor may recommend hormone replacement therapy. This treatment isn’t right for everyone. Carefully discuss your options with your doctor before trying hormone replacement therapy on your own.

If you’re experiencing irritability as a symptom of an infection, it’ll likely resolve when your infection clears. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or other medications to help treat it.

Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes to help control your mood. For example, they may encourage you to adjust your:

diet
exercise routine
sleep habits
stress management practices

Last medically reviewed on August 6, 2019

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Your health and hormones. (2016).
hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones
Judd L, et al. (2012). Prevalence and clinical significance of subsyndromal manic symptoms, including irritability and psychomotor agitation, during bipolar major depressive episodes. DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2011.12.046
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Mood disorders.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mood-disorders/basics/definition/con-20035907

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Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By April Kahn — Updated on August 6, 2019

Irritability: Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By April Kahn — Updated on August 6, 2019

Overview

Irritability is a feeling of agitation. Although, some describe “agitation” as a more severe form of irritability.

Babies and young children are often reported to feel irritable, especially when they’re tired or sick. For example, children often become fussy when they have ear infections or stomach aches.

Adults can also feel irritable for a variety of reasons. If you feel irritable on a regular basis, make an appointment with your doctor. You may have an underlying condition that requires treatment.

Many things can cause irritability. The causes can be divided into two general categories: physical and psychological.

Several common psychological causes of irritability include:

stress
anxiety
autism

Some mental health disorders have been associated with irritability, including, but not limited to:

depression
bipolar disorder
schizophrenia

Common physical causes can include:

sleep deprivation
low blood sugar

ear infections
toothaches
some diabetes-related symptoms
certain respiratory disorders
flu

Medical conditions that cause hormonal changes can also affect your mood. Examples include:

menopause
premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
polycystic ovary syndrome (POS)
hyperthyroidism
diabetes

You may also experience irritability as a side effect of medication that you’re taking. Other potential causes include:

drug use
alcoholism
nicotine withdrawal
caffeine withdrawal

Most people feel irritable from time to time. For example, it’s normal to feel cranky after a poor night’s rest.

In some cases, your feelings of irritability may be accompanied or preceded by other symptoms.

For example, these symptoms might include:

sweating
racing heart
fast breathing
confusion
anger

If a hormonal imbalance is causing your irritability, you may have other symptoms such as:

fever
headache
hot flashes
irregular menstrual cycles
reduced sex drive
hair loss

During your visit, your doctor will likely request your medical history, including any medications that you’re taking.

They may also refer you to a mental health professional for evaluation.

Your doctor’s recommended treatment plan will depend on your specific diagnosis. The best way to treat irritability is to address its underlying cause.

If you’re experiencing irritability as a symptom of an infection, it’ll likely resolve when your infection clears. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or other medications to help treat it.

Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes to help control your mood. For example, they may encourage you to adjust your:

diet
exercise routine
sleep habits
stress management practices

Last medically reviewed on August 6, 2019

How we reviewed this article:

Your health and hormones. (2016).
hormone.org/your-health-and-hormones
Judd L, et al. (2012). Prevalence and clinical significance of subsyndromal manic symptoms, including irritability and psychomotor agitation, during bipolar major depressive episodes. DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2011.12.046
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior.
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Mood disorders.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mood-disorders/basics/definition/con-20035907

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By April Kahn — Updated on August 6, 2019

Causes of human irritability. How to avoid nervousness.

Gimranov Rinat Fazylzhanovich
Neurologist, neurophysiologist, experience - 33 years;
Professor of Neurology, MD;
Clinic for Rehabilitation Neurology. About the author

Publication date: January 10, 2022

It can be both a trait and a sudden deviation. In the second case, it is a sign that something is wrong with the person. A person can learn to control himself, and then an episode of irascibility will manifest itself in the form of a rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, changes in facial expression. Unfortunately, irritation is more often manifested by anger and aggression, not always directed at the cause of the situation.

Irritability is an increased reaction to internal and external stimuli, leading to outbursts of anger, a constant uncomfortable feeling of internal rejection of what is happening.

Content of the article:

1 Reasonability causes
- 1.1 Physiological causes
- 1.2 Psychological discomfort
- 1.3 Diseases
2 Methods0023

Causes of irritability

To figure out how to get rid of increased irritability, how and how to relieve constant severe nervousness for no reason, how to treat such a condition, the doctor determines what caused the attacks to occur in the first place.

Constant anger and very strong irritability, manifestation of aggression for no reason, nervousness require treatment, however, what to do, how to stop an attack and what drugs to take, the physician should decide.

Such a state of mind may turn out to be:

a character trait that accompanies a person constantly and not always under control;
response to constant or episodic stimuli;
is a manifestation of a disease or disorder that disrupts the neurophysiology of the brain [1].

Hot temper is a dangerous sign if a person before this period was calm and not prone to aggression.

So if a person began to complain that he was constantly irritated and angry for no reason, nervous and very psychotic, then what to do in such a state should be decided by a specialist after a thorough examination. It is extremely important to consult a doctor if this character trait has not been observed before.

Physiological causes

Increased, persistent strong feeling of irritability is not a normal condition, the causes of which need to be investigated.

Common reasons for attacks of anger:

temperament warehouse. The property of mental processes, which stems from the characteristics of the functioning of the nervous system. If a choleric person has a mobile, unstable central nervous system, then his irritability will be brighter than that of phlegmatic people.

Hormonal fluctuations. Hormones affect the functioning of almost every system in the body. Seriously affect the brain, its reactions to external stimuli. As a rule, such phenomena are observed in women before menstruation (PMS), during pregnancy or menopause. Men are also not immune from this imbalance.

Psycho-emotional overload. Without proper rest, the nervous system gradually slips into imbalance. The usual rhythms of excitation and inhibition are disturbed, the tendency to violent, uncontrolled reactions increases. At the same time, a person assimilates and analyzes the information received worse, the ability for critical thinking suffers. Against this background, there is a constant domestic irritation.

Lack or excess of physical activity. Increased irritability, a tendency to break loose, to show aggression occurs in the case of a sedentary lifestyle or the regular presence of too much physical exertion, overwork. Both situations gradually lead to an imbalance of the nervous system, a shift in the normal processes of excitation and inhibition.

Vitamin deficiency. Trace elements and vitamins are involved in the work of all body systems. Their chronic or acute shortage leads to bouts of apathy, increased irritability, and a feeling of chronic fatigue.

Sleep deficit [2]. If a person does not get enough sleep on a regular basis, the level of the stress hormone cortisol rises in the body. This is a defensive reaction of the body, caught in a stressful situation and ready to aggressively defend itself.

You can often hear from a woman that she has become very irritable and angry, nervous, everything infuriates her and she breaks down at people, what to do in such a situation should be decided only after visiting a doctor and passing special tests.

Features of the female body, hormonal changes, often lead to a sharp temporary change in character.

Psychological discomfort

Constant irritation and anger for no reason, nervous tension, bad mood, outbursts of emotions often cause instability of the nervous system, why this happens, what to do and how to remove this condition tells psychology.

Characteristic problems leading to some inadequacy, aggressiveness of behavior are:

Dissatisfaction, inconsistency of any sphere of life with inner desires and aspirations. Passionate desire often leads to constant irritation, develops into attacks of aggression.

Neuropsychic exhaustion. Constant nervous and intellectual loads gradually lead the body to neuropsychic exhaustion. A person can no longer fully rest, recover and respond to external stimuli. Efficiency and the ability to communicate with people quickly decrease, irascibility, absent-mindedness appear.

Stressful conditions [3]. Daily mental stress at work, the continuous action of irritating factors, conflicts and experiences, lead to a deterioration in the state of the nervous system. The brain subconsciously prepares to repel an attack. This leads to increased sensitivity, too strong a reaction to any stimuli.

Frustration, a state when a person desperately wants to perform some action and at the same time does not have the opportunity to do so. Frustration has an extremely negative effect on the nervous system, because a person experiences constant disappointment and discontent, turning into anger.

Wrong education. If a child grows up surrounded by adults for whom constant outbursts of irritation are the norm, then he quickly adopts a similar reaction to external stimuli. During the teenage hormonal boom, this reaction is fixed as the only true one, it becomes a permanent character trait.

Psychology considers why strong unreasonable irritability appears, increased internal aggressiveness arises, what to do with this condition and how to reduce its manifestations, what needs to be got rid of for this.

Diseases

If the feeling of irritability has become a permanent condition or occurs in attacks, then the cause may be a disease affecting the nervous system.

Not only mental deviations can make a person aggressive and constantly angry. But it is they who, most often, manifest themselves in a similar way.

Diseases, the symptom of which is irritability:

Personality disorders. Pathologically formed character with hypertrophied personality traits. One of the common traits in this case is constant irritability.

Chronic schizophrenia. Irritability often appears in a period of unstable remission. Gradually aggravated, as the patient loses the ability to adequately perceive the world around him.

Neurotic disorders. Hot temper is the leading symptom of neurosis. In the absence of help, it gradually flows into a depressive state, attacks of aggression.

Poisoning with salts of heavy metals that damage neurons and brain tissue. In particular, such phenomena are characteristic of chronic lead intoxication [4].

Pathologies of the endocrine system. Hormonal diseases lead to imbalance and have a negative impact on the functioning of the brain and nervous system.

Dependence on alcohol, drugs. Drug addiction and alcohol abuse cause serious damage to the central nervous system and areas of the brain that regulate volitional and cognitive functions. Attacks of aggression are characteristic of the withdrawal syndrome, when a sick person does not receive the desired substances.

Long-term severe illness that interferes with a full normal life. Organic damage to the nervous system.

Diseases of the brain and head injuries lead to disturbances in the interaction between neurons. This manifests itself in an aggressive reaction to stimuli [5].

What causes irritability, why nervousness appears, a sign of which is aggression, the doctor must decide, he also determines how to relieve seizures and what to do with them, how to cure the condition.

Self-medication can often not only bring no results, but also harm a person, aggravating the course of the disease.

Diagnostic methods

The correct answer to the question of what to do if a person is constantly irritated and very angry is to go to the clinic.

A psychologist or psychotherapist will be able to determine whether psychological or physical causes led to the onset of seizures. and prescribe appropriate therapy.

Effective methods of diagnostics are:

conversation, medical survey, which help to determine the range of problems and irritants;
observation of a patient, medical examination, assessment of a person's reaction to communication with a doctor;
interviewing relatives and close people about the patient's abnormal behavior;
psychological tests, questionnaires and questionnaires.

Instrumental examinations and analyzes are not always prescribed. When there is a suspicion of a physical illness, and non-psychological treatment is required. For example, blood tests for sex hormones.

Treatment

Due to the large number of causes of irritability, irritability and nervousness in men and women, treatment is prescribed after passing the necessary studies.

Effective treatments for temper tantrums are:

Group therapy helps to learn a different type of behaviour. The patient is relieved of an internal feeling of dissatisfaction, they are taught to express grievances and comments without creating a conflict.

Individual sessions with a psychologist will help to identify a specific problem that leads to a feeling of dissatisfaction and irritation and resolve it, to find inner peace.

Physiotherapeutic procedures for the normalization of the functional state of the nervous tissue. They give results when there is no gross pathology in the brain and there is no need for large-scale measures.

Drug treatment is prescribed when a serious mental or physiological abnormality in the functioning of the nervous system and brain is detected.

How and how to treat severe irritability and irascibility in a man, what to do for a woman who falls into a state of excessive nervousness, depends on the identified problems [6].

Often the cause is a combination of overlapping factors.

Prevention

The state when everything infuriates and irritates is familiar to almost every person. It does not necessarily mean that you are sick and in need of therapy. Following the advice of psychologists, you can try to cope with the problem yourself.

To maintain a sense of calm, we recommend:

Regular rest. Change the type of activity, arrange a little trip for yourself, do what you love.

Pay attention to the intimate side of life. Lack of contact with the opposite sex is a common cause of a tendency to irritability.

Find a hobby that will help you cope with a strong psychological load and distract you from problems.

Change your diet. Eliminate drinks containing caffeine and other stimulants, give up alcohol.

Generate positive emotions. Treat yourself to at least something small every day.

Take up exercise. Moderate physical activity normalizes the functioning of the nervous system. But do not overdo it: fatigue will give a negative result.

Use aromatherapy. Soothing and relaxing scents, combined with meditation or a pleasant activity, will help you relax and calm down.

If you cannot cope with the situation on your own, and the attacks continue, consult a doctor.

In a specialized clinic, they will help you find a way out of the current situation, feel calm. And with the help of the NeuroHack complex, improve cognitive abilities.

References

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What to do if the child has increased irritability.

June 25, 2020

Increased excitability and irritability of a child can be the result of many reasons, including physiological ones, associated with the immaturity of the nervous system, its reaction to various negative effects during pregnancy (mother's illness, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical and emotional overload), as well as premature birth, by caesarean section, or in difficult natural childbirth. Irritability can be a response to the environment or excessive demands on the child, without taking into account the age and individual characteristics of the psyche.

Up to 3 years any reason - improper diet, loud noises, bright lights, uncomfortable clothing, change of scenery, manifestation of negative emotions of adults - can cause irritation, tearfulness, sleep problems, and rapid fatigue of the child. What can parents do?

- Try to eliminate the discomfort and calm the child as soon as possible. Ensure compliance with the daily routine, proper nutrition, physical and psychological stress, adequate to his age and condition. Don't try to build endurance and endurance in a young child, this will only make him more uncomfortable and make it harder to return to an emotionally stable state.

- Prepare the child in advance for any changes, tell and explain what will happen, soften the content of unpleasant information. For example, tell us why you need to go to the doctor and why it is good, when and for what reason guests will come to you, how much time the child will spend without you (with a grandmother or a nanny), what he will do in a children's institution. If it's time to end the game and go to bed, tell them that the toys are tired, look sleepy and suggest putting them to bed first, and then going to bed yourself.

- Keep calm yourself, do not get infected by the child's emotions. While the parent is calm, he is able to influence the situation and help the child cope with emotions. Do not show your fear or disappointment, do not frighten the child with suggestions of what might happen, and do not tire him with moralizing.

Preschool age. The older the child becomes, the more important factors in the development and consolidation of irritability become parenting, so parents should pay attention to the parenting strategies used and their own behavior, which the child can copy.

- Be an example of constructive conflict resolution and respect for all family members. Do not be afraid to apologize if you were wrong or said hurtful words in the heat of the moment. Learn to switch your emotional state, recognize and prevent outbursts of irritation. Watch your psychological health, do not bring yourself to a state of exhaustion and "driven".

- If your child is anxious and reacts violently to failures, give him more independence in situations that do not threaten his health, do not surround him with excessive care. The experience of overcoming difficulties is important for the child, this gives him confidence in his abilities.

- At the same time, demand a respectful attitude towards elders, observance of the daily routine, rules of politeness and norms of behavior in public places. Otherwise, permissiveness and complete freedom can lead to frequent irritation and expression of dissatisfaction, even with necessary and reasonable demands.

- Talk to the child, explain your position to the child. Be patient and willing to spend as much time as it takes for the child to understand you and come to the appropriate conclusions. Rudeness, neglect, threats, blackmail injure the child's psyche and are unacceptable in education.

- Suggest and analyze together possible options for behavior in situations that cause irritation in a child, ways to respond to troubles. Encourage his reasoning and engage in dialogue, helping the child learn to overcome difficulties. Praise and support if things don't work out. For example: “You are good for trying to cope on your own. Learning is always difficult, but you will soon learn it.”

In younger schoolchildren , feelings and irritability will also be associated with high responsibility, academic workload, relationships with classmates and teachers, and the atmosphere in the classroom. Your task in a calm home environment is to help the child respond to insults, support him and help switch attention.

- Talk to your child about situations that trigger an emotional response. Children's awareness of their own thoughts, emotions and actions occurs with the help of adults. Therefore, by analyzing the situation, we help the child to be aware of it. The habit of keeping feelings inside can lead to nervous tension, increased anxiety, night terrors, and even the development of somatic diseases.

- Do not demand perfect completion of assignments in all subjects, this will cause irritation and reluctance to do anything before starting work. It is normal that children are more capable of some sciences, some subjects are easier for them than others. Do not push or scold the child, do not compare with other children or with yourself in childhood.

- Organize your child the opportunity to relax, change the type of activity and communicate with peers outside the school team - in various circles, sports clubs, a music school, with friends in the yard.

Increased irritability, aggressiveness, nervousness are characteristic features of adolescence . Their appearance is primarily associated with hormonal changes occurring in the body. The nervous system cannot quickly adapt, teenagers often do not realize and cannot control their emotions, they feel loneliness due to their emotional instability.

- Talk kindly, be interested in the experiences of a teenager. Show more attention and love to him, just for what he is. Then the teenager will feel more confident, his self-esteem will increase.

- Help a teenager to understand the reasons for his irritability by speaking in detail about various situations in order to teach a teenager to better understand and control his psychological state.

- Teenagers already consider themselves adults and will defend their rights if you treat them like children. Explain to him that being an adult is a big responsibility, that he must be able to control his emotions and be responsible for his actions.

- Give your teenager more freedom, subject to your agreements with him (calling at certain times, some important restrictions). Let him say on his own when he comes, do something himself and praise him for the result, then the joy of success and the desire to do and be better arise.

- Do not blame, but try to understand the teenager - see his problems, put yourself in his place, remember what experiences you had at that age. After all, teenagers often think that no one understands them, that significant people are indifferent to their interests and feelings.

Learn more

Irritability vs agitation

Irritability: Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

Irritability: Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis

How we reviewed this article:

Read this next

Causes of human irritability. How to avoid nervousness.

Causes of irritability

Physiological causes

Psychological discomfort

Diseases

Diagnostic methods

Treatment

Prevention

References

What to do if the child has increased irritability.