Dr. Tiffany Taft is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the psychological and social effects of chronic medical illness. She is the founder of Oak Park Behavioral Medicine LLC, an independent private practice of psychologists, social workers, and counselors near Chicago. She previously worked as an associate professor and director of psychogastroenterology research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.\n
Education\n
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The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, MA, PsyD\n
Keller Graduate School of Management, MIS\n
University of Illinois, Chicago, BA\n\n
Certifications\n
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Licensed Clinical Psychologist\n\n
Professional Accomplishments\n
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Award for Contributions to Meeting Psychological Needs of IBD Patients, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation\n
Poster of Distinction Award, American Gastroenterology Association \n
Completed fellowship in psychogastroenerology at Northwestern University in 2011\n\n
Irritability may be caused by psychological and physical conditions, such as anxiety, hormonal changes, and blood sugar fluctuations. Coping strategies include exercise and deep breathing, among others.
Irritability refers to feelings like anger, impatience, agitation, and annoyance.
When you’re irritable, you’re more likely to become frustrated or upset easily with things that don’t normally bother you.
This may be caused by temporary situations like a lack of sleep or being hungry, but it could also be a symptom of a mental or physical health condition.
Babies and young children often feel irritable, especially when they’re tired or sick. For example, children may become fussy when they have ear infections or stomach aches.
Keep reading to learn more about the causes, symptoms, and coping strategies of irritability.
The causes of irritability could be divided into two general categories: psychological and physical.
Psychological causes
Irritability is a symptom associated with at least 15 conditions in the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR).
Irritability is also a common symptom associated with several other mental health conditions that may affect children, adolescents, and adults, including:
The authors of a 2024 review found that irritability at a younger age is associated with depression and suicidal thoughts later in life, regardless of whether it’s linked with a mental health condition.
If you notice a child or adolescent is frequently irritable, consider speaking with them or trying to connect them with a healthcare professional who could develop a management plan to help them cope.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, you’re not alone. Help is available right now. Reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or text “HOME†to 741741.
People often describe irritability as being in a bad mood, such as feeling angry, annoyed, or on edge.
Feeling irritable could lead you to lash out at others when you normally wouldn’t or feel like you need to be on guard and ready to react, even in situations where this isn’t usually necessary.
You may also experience other symptoms if irritability is associated with another condition. For instance, if irritability is associated with a mood disorder like anxiety, you may also experience:
Consider speaking with a healthcare professional if you feel irritable regularly and don’t know why.
To identify the cause, they may perform a physical examination and go over your medical history. This may include asking you questions about:
other symptoms you may be experiencing
medical conditions you may have
medications you may be taking
lifestyle habits, such as sleeping patterns, physical activity level, and alcohol consumption
possible sources of stress in your life
Depending on your symptoms and medical history, they may order several tests to identify physical causes. For instance, a blood test may be used to examine your blood glucose levels for diabetes.
They may also refer you to a mental health professional for evaluation.
A doctor may recommend other types of treatment depending on the underlying cause of irritability. For instance, they may suggest hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause or antibiotics for an infection.
If you find you’re frequently irritable, some coping strategies may help you relax.
The first step is recognizing when you’re feeling irritated. According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), this could help you take the necessary steps to calm down.
The NHS recommends the following coping strategies:
take a moment to breathe before reacting to a trigger
Irritability refers to a feeling of agitation, annoyance, and impatience.
You may experience irritability from time to time due to lack of sleep or hunger. However, frequent and severe irritability may be a symptom of an underlying health condition.
Speak with a healthcare professional if you or a child in your care experience frequent irritability. They could help develop a management plan.
How we reviewed this article:
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American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association
