Irritability Diagnosis

Irritability involves excessive feelings of frustration and annoyance. You might become impatient or angry. These emotions, in adults, may occur during a specific situation or randomly without provocation. Although many of us feel irritable on occasion, which is normal, it is diagnosed as a problem when such excessive responses to stimuli are inconsolable. If untreated, irritability can trigger other problems or lead to unhealthy behavior, such as drug abuse, in order to get rid of such uncomfortable feelings.

Causes

• Disease or illness such as a brain tumor or cancer can cause irritability. Other causes include alcohol or drug use, mental disorders, dementia, menopause and insomnia. Medications can also cause agitation. Most commonly, irritability arises due to stress, depression or anxiety.

Signs for Diagnosis

• For a doctor to diagnosis irritability, she will want to know if there is a known cause for your upset, how long this behavior has been going on, do these feelings come and go or are they constant, what makes you feel better or worse, are there other symptoms such as illness or allergies, and are you taking medication.

Stress

• Emotional stress is not considered a formal psychological disorder but stress can certainly be uncomfortable and lead to illness as well as irritability. If your life is not going the way you think it should, irritability can take over and you may lash out angrily--either physically or with words. To relieve stress, figure out what is bothering you. Walk away from a situation that causes stress and creates irritability. Take control of these feelings by taking deep breaths to calm yourself down and relieve the stress.

Depression and Anxiety

• Depression and anxiety can become serious health issues possibly caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Persistent emotional difficulties such as depression or anxiety can cause feelings of irritability. If untreated, serious anxiety or depression will most likely lead to deeper mood swings as well. Feeling sad or having deep feelings of despair and nervousness are normal if there is a reason, such as the loss of a loved one, and only if the intensity of the reaction to the loss lasts for a few days. However, if it persists, then other actions are needed to deal with the depression and anxiety and to stop the agitation.

See Your Doctor

• If you have been displaying irritable behaviors for more than two weeks, consult a doctor for proper diagnosis. Long-term irritability most likely affects relationships with family and friends as well as your work performance. Sometimes a person doesn't even realize this. Receiving medical support can diagnose and define a cause for your irritability, and treat your individual feelings and behaviors.

Medication and Nutrition

• Medications may be prescribed if your irritability is due to an illness or condition that needs medical attention. Sometimes, irritability may be be alleviated with vitamin and nutrition therapy. Nutritionists recommend limiting your intake of sugar, yeast, caffeine and alcohol as ways to manage irritability. Also, food allergies can be the culprit. If you suspect you have an allergy to food, stop eating the suspected food for two weeks. Then begin to introduce the food slowly into your diet and see if there is a mood shift.