Lately the temperature has been increasing and my temper has been headed in the same direction. Whether it’s an anxiety disorder or PTSD, irritability is a very common symptom of people under stress for long periods of time. Sometimes this irritation is such a part of how you feel that everything bugs the hell out of you. It could be your girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse or even your dog that just drives you up the wall.
Clearly all people become irritated from time to time, but irritability related to anxiety disorder can be intense. I have had episodes were I literally imagine how I would have hurt someone if I wasn’t civilized. There are times when I simply wish that I could enter a cage match with my boss to settle the score, but In all fairness to my boss, he could be saying something totally non-provocative and I will still snap at him. I tend to blow things out of proportion and take things very personally. My hypersensitive nerves have also given rise to hypersensitive emotions.
I become easily annoyed and impatient with people and as a result I have to remove myself from certain situations so that I don’t insult anyone or become filled with rage. What’s up with all the sensitivity? Well simply put you and I are just tired or being tired. Having an anxiety disorder can be exhausting to your body and mind and so it follows that your annoyances build into a subconscious rejection and hostility toward all sources of stress. You eat, sleep and breathe stress, so when any external force applies any amount of additional stress you meet your limit for the day and explode (normally implode). That is why when someone says something silly or aggravating you tend to overreact. It’s not just the person that is irritating, but all the crap that you put up with over the past day(s), weeks and months.
A lot of the time you might feel like no one understands you and that people think your making this all up. The best line is “just get a grip”. Well guess what world, if I could I (you) would. Of course you and I know that the reality of anxiety disorders is much more complex and difficult to deal with then just wishing it away. Many of you have been diagnosed with this seemingly imaginary villain – don’t lose heart though. It is real and you can cope better.
So how do you deal with your irritability? I suggest you try to tone down the anxiety and therefore the irritation overtime. Try not to wait until you are ready to punch someone before you start doing a breathing exercise. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t if you need to, it’s only to point out that it is much better to reduce your stress as you feel it building up. You know exactly what I mean, you come home tired and annoyed about your day, too much going on, you feel frazzled, and short of breath and patience. It is at this point that you should find a quiet place to relax, breathe deeply and clear your mind. You can also try exercising to reduce stress and improve your mood. Otherwise you will bottle up all your tension and anger and snap on the first person that says something, well dumb. Don’t be afraid to ask for space when you need it. If you have a rough job or don’t like your co-workers, etc try coming home and asking those you live with to give you an hour of down time. No phone, no request, nothing. Just for an hour ask to be let alone, this will do wonders if you haven’t tried it. I understand your angst, but don’t let your irritability snowball and you will be much better at coping with it. Even with the heat and my anxiety symptoms I still manage to keep my cool and you can too.
Thank you for writing so clearly how it feels when you are having an “irritability attack”. This happened to me earlier and it’s you just like you, fly off the handle and it’s just overwhelming, because you can’t properly control your emotions at that point. I get so worked up over the littlest things, and my heart will start to beat fast and I go from zero to sixty, and have a feel like I can’t control my anxiety or rage. Than afterwords I feel horrible because I’ll take a xanix, to ease the stress. But feel conflicted because of how addictive that can become.
THANK YOU!! I have been driving myself (and my family) crazy because of my uncontrollable irritability and rage. Reading about myself all over this page gives me hope; direction; and a break! I am not alone nor irredeemable.
WoW! So well stated and really to my point as well! My struggle is that I don’t feel “anxious” about things on an on-going basis such as the world coming to an end, etc. It’s more a slow build over time and it’s hard to verbalize and you’ve done it well. thank u!
Could be related to ADD-PI or Bipolar disorder. I am the same way .. googling for answers ..
I am really struggling with anxiety atm. I have recently had a baby and it seems that is what has brought it on, I worry that it is going to stop me progressing in life i.e work, r-ship, being the mother i want to be…..evrything. I know theres so many people out there who suffer from it, but i just feel like I push and push everyone with my crazy outbursts of rage that theres going to come a point where they give up on me…..I know they’ll never completely dessert me because we’re a very close family, but even if it gets to the point where they don’t particularly want to be around me out of choice. That would be awful, because before this i used to be such a happy person and a joy to be around (without sounding bigheaded) and now i’m sure everyone feels like they’re on egg shells around me. This is all so new to me….I am trying to deal with it without valium as i do not wish to go down that route…..If anyone knows of any other remedies please do share! 🙂
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I am NOT a LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL nor am I a certified Herbalist. However, I am a person suffering with anxiety disorder. I have taken Xanax, Pristiq, and Citalopram, all of which were horrible for me when I took them, as well as when I got off of them. I myself decided to trade in the western medicine in search of natural remedies for my daily struggles.
*PLEASE NOTE: Herbs dried or fresh, in tincture or any other form, can be EXTREMELY powerful, just as powerful as any western drug.*
It is imperative that you do a little of your own research about some of these herbs and their side effects before use. *Consulting your doctor wouldn’t hurt either, especially if you are already taking an SSRI, SNRI, an anti-depressant, or any other medication.* Herbs can negatively interact with your medication, especially St. John’s Wort. However, herbs do tend to have less of the nasty side effects that many drugs used to treat mood, anxiety, and panic disorders do. *WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT AND BREAST FEEDING SHOULD USE CAUTION WHEN USING HERBS TO MEDICATE THEMSELVES UNDER ANY PRETENSE.*
Dandelion, Calendula (marigold), Chamomile, and St. John’s Wort have all been reputed over time and across cultures as natural remedies for treating anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and other general mood disorders. I warn against the use of borage for individuals taking any anti-depressant. When the two are mixed, it can be extremely dangerous. While there is no evidence to prove that this herb does effectively treat anxiety, it has gained a popular reputation with herbalist for the treatment of anxiety. Just be certain that you do not take this herb without the permission of your doctor.
When first starting out, try to focus on using one or two herbs at a time, in order to understand the benefits/drawbacks of each one, how they effect you specifically, and how they interact with one another. There are also other herbs, such as lavender and rosemary, which can aid with sleep disturbances that might be a symptom of your anxiety. I often find it difficult to get to sleep, and I wake myself up at very early hours in the morning. I have my own recipe for this, which I consider sacred. So don’t ask for it.
You may have other disturbances related to your struggles, which you may want to treat in order to decrease stress levels and increase function. For instance, Ginger and Hawthorn do not sooth nerves like Chamomile does. However, they stimulate the circulatory system to give you energy without the jittery and anxious effects of a heavy intake of caffeine. This goes especially for all of you coffee drinkers out there! I find sometimes what most distresses me is the dysfunction my own distress causes me, which then causes more dysfunction, followed by more distress. It is a horrible cycle, and, once you start spinning, you feel (and often truly are) without control, which creates frustration. There are days where I don’t feel that I physically or mentally have the activation energy necessary to get out of bed, to brush my teeth, or to walk around, let alone to write a six page report for my abnormal psych class. I find it difficult even to be warm and cheerful to mother on the phone. It is important to recognize your own symptoms in order to develop the best herbal treatment plan for yourself.
Tincture Method:You can make a tincture from the herbs of your choice by putting a cup of the dried herbs into a mason jar and filling it to the brim with apple cider vinegar, pure white vinegar, or 80 proof alcohol. I use white vinegar. Then tightly seal it and keep it in a dry place at room temperature for approximately four weeks. Strain the herbs from the liquid (most use a cheesecloth for this purpose) and dispose of used herbs. Then store the liquid in a container of your choice, preferably one that is glass with a dropper attached to the lid. Don’t forget to label it for safety. Then use 2-3 drops of the tincture in any beverage of your choice(*Note: It is possible to overdose on a tincture. A few drops will go a long way. Tinctures become more heavily concentrated the longer they diffuse in the vinegar/alcohol.*).
Tea Method: You can also use the loose leaf herbs in a tea. If you live near a whole foods or organic foods market, you can look for the “Organics” brand teas. Each tea is named after the primary herb in the tea and the box gives instructions and advisement about how often to take the tea and mentions any restrictions.
Cold Water Infusion: If you happen to live in a hot environment and you have access to your desired herbs in your garden or a friend’s garden, you can make a cold water infusion by steeping the fresh clippings from the plants in a glass of ice cold water for an hour. Then drink.
Home remedies are very easy to make. Finding the herbs you need is the hardest part. Try to go to a local herbal specialist, organic/natural foods store, or herbal apothecary to satisfy your herbal needs. I wouldn’t trust things packaged over the internet. Some apothecaries/ herbalists will even sell herbs by the ounce, which makes it really affordable. Always ask lots of questions, find the best herbs for you. Do as much research as you can about the herbs you wish to medicate yourself with, your own condition(s), the medications you are already prescribed, and the credentials/ education of the people treating you.
Having a say in one’s own treatment plan in conjunction with the guidance of a medical professional, mental health specialist, holistic doctor, or spiritual leader gives one a sense of dignity. Being part of your own solution to confront your struggles can be the biggest step in overcoming them. There is no greater way to boost confidence or to relieve stress than by eradicating your own fears of inadequacy or isolation. The strong person is the one who is willing to admit their struggles, who takes an active role in addressing their negative thoughts and/or behaviors, and who asks for help when they need it. If you can reach out to fight for your exist, then, in a way, you have already won, despite the fact that you may continue to struggle with a disorder causing you pain. There is no quick fix. Things are easier said than done, and any good or healthy treatment plan requires time. Always remember to be patient with yourself and others.
OMG. Did you write that about me? What’s happening to me. I am at work and every tiny noise anyone makes from crunching on popcorn to constant idiotic chit chat is making me want to punch in the face. My husband is very good at handling me when I feel like this but how long should he have to deal with this??
Hey BW, When you’ve had enough is when you should seek treatment in earnest. It can be a real pain to face your fears and seek help but I’m afraid that’s the only way to deal with this issue.
Paul
I have appointment with doc today but I know he will say back to Prozacseek counseling. Well Prozac and all the other anti depress I’ve tried have nasty side affects and I become zombified. Counseling? I don’t think I can sit with someone and just talk about me and have them fully understand what I am going through.
I’ve been on Prozac now for a little over two weeks and have found I am super agitated/irritable. Will this ever end?