Are you feeling irritable, dissatisfied, grumpy, and disagreeable? We all feel irritable from time to time, but this feeling can become pervasive and long-lasting. And when it does, it can affect not only you but all those around you.
Irritability lowers your tolerance to adversities, turning even the simplest problems into huge sources of frustration. You’ll lash out at those around you, spreading irritation and anger. When you’re irritable, everyone will try to avoid you, and this can lead to significant problems with your personal and professional life.
Of course, the person that most suffers from all this irritability is yourself. The resulting stress and anxiety will make you jump and react at the slightest thing. Everyone and everything will seem like a source of trouble and something to avoid.
Unfortunately, we usually react to irritation by becoming even more irritated, by feeding the monster even more. Here are a few solutions you can try:
Try to figure out the origin of the problem. What made you irritated in the first place? Many times the source of stress is something simple. Just remember that while this feelings might seems overwhelming, their trigger is probably something simple.
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Too much of these substances is sure to make you more susceptible to the fight-or-flight mechanisms. Consider cutting back — these substances are poisons after all.
Try to be more tolerant of all the little things. There’s no point in wasting time with every little annoyance that comes your way. We only live once, after all. Focus on the big things, and don’t waste energy on useless stuff.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Irritability will make you more prone to negatives thoughts, feeding your anxiety and stress. Try to bring back some positive thoughts, even if these thoughts feel fake at first.
Find a quiet place and have some alone time. Just for a few minutes, try to forget all the bad things in the big bad world. Then, listen to some music, read a nice book, or take a hot bubble bath. After that, you’ll return to the world with a much more positive attitude.
The trick is always to step back, remember the world is not about to end, take a deep breath, and be more compassionate towards yourself and others.
Images from pixabay
