What Are the Causes of Extreme Irritability?

Society is fueled by caffeine, deadlines, massive responsibility and a constant state of anxiety. People lead busy lives and many live life in a constant state of pressure and stress to get things done. As a result, depression and anxiety disorders run rampant throughout America. Extreme irritability has many potential causes including: depression, anxiety disorders, improper diet, lifestyle stress and hormone imbalances. They key to treating irritability is finding the root cause of the problem and if symptoms increase or do not go away, a physician's care may be necessary.

Lifestyle Stress

• Constant stress puts the brain in a perpetual state of "fight or flight," the body's natural fear mechanism to combat danger. The brain becomes flooded with hormones like adrenaline and cortisol thereby increasing your heart rate and causing hypertension. Living daily with high stress causes irritability and increases the risk of: anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia, heart disease, diabetes, hormonal imbalances and even skin problems. By practicing stress reduction techniques like massage, breath-work, yoga and meditation, people can reduce the stress and potential for serious illness.

Mental Illness

• Mental disease such as bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder are common and have a variety of potential causes. Certain disorders like bipolar disorder can be inherited from parents and acquired from toxin exposure in the womb. Other factors such as chemical and hormonal imbalances are also causes of most mental disease or defect. Psychiatrists performing a patient intake take all of these factors into consideration including life experience, lifestyle and family history.

Hormonal Imbalances and Women

• Chemical and hormone imbalances are twice as likely to affect woman than men. The National Institute of Mental Health has shown that hormonal imbalances directly affect emotions and mood by changing brain chemistry. During puberty, monthly menstruation, childbirth and menopause women may experience: depression, anxiety, change in sleep and appetite, skin disorders, changes in sex drive, hair loss and extreme irritability for what appears to be no reason. Frustration at these changes may also trigger depressive episodes and irritability; symptoms may be treated by a physician.

Nutrition and Substance Abuse

• As Dr. Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive The Mental Health Foundation writes, "We know that the brain is made up in large part of essential fatty acids, water and other nutrients. We know that food affects how we feel, think and behave." In addition, substances like drugs and alcohol literally change human brain chemistry, altering the way people feel and think. A balanced diet and abstinence from harmful substances supports healthy brain chemistry and reduces the risk of anxiety and depression, the leading causes of irritability.