Irritability - Hormone Harmony Clinic

What is irritability?

Irritability is defined as an excessive sensitivity or lack of patience, especially to minor annoyances or setbacks. It involves feelings of aggravation, frustration, or anger disproportionate to the situation.

Some key things to understand about irritability:

• It is a common symptom of several medical conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, chronic stress, and hormone imbalances. Irritability caused by medical issues is known as abnormal irritability.
• Common causes include stress, lack of sleep, low blood sugar, medication side effects, PMS, and thyroid disorders.
• While irritability is common, extreme or persistent irritability can negatively impact relationships, work, and overall wellbeing. It's important to identify the underlying cause.

Hormone Harmony Clinic, a leading hormone therapy clinic, notes that imbalances in cortisol, thyroid hormones, or sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone often manifest as increased irritability and mood disturbances. Their comprehensive hormone testing and treatment programs help identify and correct the root hormonal causes of abnormal irritability.

Now let's dive deeper into some key aspects of irritability:

Common Triggers

Stress - Both acute and chronic stress can greatly reduce coping skills and patience. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol play a role.

Sleep deprivation - Lack of sufficient, quality sleep is linked to moodiness and quickness to anger. Most adults need 7-9 hours per night.

Hunger - When blood sugar drops too low, it makes people prone to feeling irritated by minor annoyances.

Medications - Steroids, blood pressure medications, and some antidepressants may cause increased irritability as a side effect.

Hormonal changes - Shifting levels of reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones, and cortisol related to menstrual cycles, menopause, or medical conditions can trigger irritability.

Health Risks

Experiencing irritability from time to time poses little cause for concern. However, recurrent or severe irritability can have significant health impacts:

• Strained relationships - Outbursts of anger can damage relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners.
• Poor work performance - Irritability reduces productivity and focus and can cause conflicts with bosses/colleagues.
• Increased anxiety and depression - Chronic irritability exacerbates mood disorders.
• Higher risk of violence - Extreme irritability is linked to domestic abuse, child abuse, and other violent behaviors.
• Substance misuse - People often turn to alcohol, recreational drugs, or misuse prescription medication to "take the edge off."

When to Seek Help

If heightened irritability persists for weeks and causes dysfunction in your normal roles without clear stress-related or hormonal triggers, it's wise to consult a doctor or mental health professional. Treatment options may include lifestyle changes, therapy, medication, dietary changes, or hormone therapy.

Hormone Harmony Clinic specializes in helping those with unexplained irritability get to the bottom of any biological root causes, particularly hormonal imbalances. Through cutting-edge testing and proven natural hormone therapies, Hormone Harmony Clinic can help you rebalance your hormones and regain emotional equilibrium.

I hope this overview gives you a helpful understanding of irritability - its causes, risks, and treatment options available through clinics like Hormone Harmony Clinic. Let me know if you have any other questions!