Strong nervous irritation. Irritability - manifestations, causes, methods of treatment, advice from a psychologist

In the medical world, the word nervousness is rarely used. This is a household term. But this does not mean that such a state does not exist.

Most people are irritated by everything around, and the nervous system is depleted from this and does not get better. Some create the image of a man with nerves of steel and royal restraint, but this is not good either. In this case, negative emotions result in endogenous diseases.

Both answers to annoying situations are wrong. Moreover, they are destructive. Therefore, it is worth talking about how to relieve nervousness and irritability.

Causes of this condition

Nervousness and irritability too. Therefore, if you react too aggressively to repairs in the stairwell, this is a consequence of many processes in your body. Here is some of them.

• Cerebrosthenia. Previously, it was called neurasthenia. Translated means exhaustion of the brain or nervous system. It occurs in those who lead the wrong way of life, and this is not only workaholism, but vice versa, love for parties, nightlife in clubs and alcohol. It can also develop in students during difficult sessions and in those who live from deadline to deadline.

  Cerebrosthenia can be the result of many serious ailments, from injuries and poisoning to tuberculosis and cancer. Develops after infections. Therefore, the question of how to relieve irritability and nervousness can also be asked to the therapist.

• Diseases of the thyroid gland. If irritability is combined with weight loss (or gain), drowsiness, sweating, tremors, and worsening skin and hair, she may be to blame. Address to the endocrinologist.
• Diseases of the central nervous system. These can be, for example, atherosclerotic dementia or encephalopathy. Ordinary VSD can also be guilty.
• Nervousness can also develop against the background of menopause (it also happens in men). In women, it appears on the background of PMS or during pregnancy, and this is normal. Other violations hormonal background need to be treated.
• Sometimes irritability is also associated with those diseases to which the nervous system special treatment does not have. These can be cancer or problems with the gallbladder. And finally, mental illness (very many) can be to blame.
• In women, irritability is associated with an irregular schedule and large quantity responsibilities both at work and at home. Here you can try to distribute household chores among the household, and not do everything yourself. In addition, you need to work on your self-esteem.
• In children, this symptom is observed not only in mental disorders, but also during age-related crises. It can also be associated with a violation of the daily routine.
• Another irritability occurs when our ideas and attitudes do not match with those that are accepted in the surrounding society. Dissatisfaction with work, the position of the victim that has developed against the background of low self-esteem, the wrong schedule of work and rest, etc. may be to blame.
• And finally, again, you can ask Kozma Prutkov for advice. The classic advised not to embrace the immensity, but we still strive to be perfect, to please everyone and to achieve success everywhere. In fact, we all have the right to make mistakes, and it’s not worth embracing the immensity.

How to deal with it

Normalize Graph

This applies not only to the work schedule, but also to the rest schedule, as well as the daily routine. Time management is a great thing and will help you separate the flies from the patties. First of all, take care of your sleep. Of course, if you go to bed at three or four and go to work by eight, the body will rebel, and all attempts to sleep during the day, when it is inappropriate, will turn into a splash. negative emotions. Determine how many hours of sleep you need in order to be fit in the morning. And give them to yourself. Go to bed before midnight and don't full stomach, spend the last hour before going to bed in relaxation, without watching TV shows and communicating on the network. Let the mind rest from everything.

Normalization of the life schedule includes time management regarding work. If you have planned to complete some task in a certain time, do not waste it on going to the toilet, taking a smoke break, drinking coffee or watching cartoons. Set aside time for these little things during your break. How much time do you need to rest? Half an hour? Hour?

Don't be embarrassed that it takes you so long to regain your strength. Otherwise, you will rest when you need to work. In an hour you can drink coffee, call a friend, and even take a walk. You can try to write down seven or eight important things for tomorrow in advance: what should you do first? Don't forget to write them down in your notebook, cross them out, and reward each of them. By the way, if a child has irritability, try to adjust his life a little to the schedule.

In the schedule of the day should be a little time for physical activity. Half an hour of Pilates or yoga is really soothing. If there is no time and energy for this in the morning, set aside half an hour in the evening for a walk. It can be from work, it can be just like that. The main thing is to be outdoors. Fresh air This is not a luxury at all, but a necessity.

Contact a doctor

First, you may need treatment for the very ailment that caused the nervousness. Secondly, it will be very necessary to stop attacks of irritability with the help of medicines. The most popular are herbal remedies: valerian, motherwort, lemon balm. In addition, you can carry out aromatherapy with oils of the same lemon balm or oils coniferous trees. Try every evening instead of the duty shower to please yourself with a bath with needles in the form of oil or decoction.

In addition, the doctor may advise you to undergo art therapy sessions, dance therapy, etc. Today, there are many helping methods, so you will definitely find your own. Well, traditional yoga has not been canceled easily.

But most importantly, figure out what is most important to you. And do not pay attention to those little things that do not really matter. Believe me, they are not worth your negative emotions at all!

Psychologist Marina Morozova

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We all get irritated from time to time. And, even if we try, as well-mannered people, to hide our irritation, it is almost impossible to hide it from others.Therefore, it is very important to understand why irritation occurs.

Irritation occurs when our boundaries are violated:

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Spatial (for example, when someone pushes in a crowded transport, or when someone in a store climbs out of line);

Temporary (someone is late);

Emotional (someone steps on your "pet toe", gives unsolicited advice or constantly "clings" to something, promises something, but does not do it).

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CAUSES OF IRRITATION

Especially strong irritation occurs when our “pain points” are touched.

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Suppose you earn little, and they point to you: “Why are you earning so little! You have two children!” As if you yourself do not know about it and do not worry about it.

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Or you are not married, and they ask you: “When are you going to get married? Why won't you get married?" Or they give advice: “It’s time for you to get married. After all, you are already so many years old!

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And note that those around at least, most) are not specifically trying to annoy you. It's not their fault that you still haven't cured your pet peeve.

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Annoying can be noise, harsh light, cold or heat, and, accordingly, the culprit who creates them.

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Neighbor who drills all day.

Colleagues who constantly make drafts, and you catch a cold.

Loud music that the son listens to.

Almost always, irritation occurs when there is a conflict of interest:

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You are talking on the phone or cooking, and your son pesters with questions or requests. You want to do your own thing, and your son wants your attention.

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You are busy with a report that you urgently need to submit, but one employee or another comes to you, each with his own question, and the phone is constantly ringing.

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And here your interests collide, your boundaries are violated, since you did not mark them.

Therefore, it is very important to learn to designate and set your own boundaries, taking into account both your own interests and the interests of another person.

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"Son, now I'll finish by phone, and in 5 minutes I'll come to you."

And, of course, do it, because if you break your promise, you will already break its boundaries, and then he will not believe your words, he will not even hear them.

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Irritation is an outburst of suppressed latent aggression

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Maybe you for a long time"swallowed" grievances or tolerated someone's behavior in the hope that the person himself will guess that it is unpleasant for you. And, of course, you were quietly angry, indignant and angry. But the cup of patience overflowed, and your anger in the form of irritation began to come out of the shadows. And you already have a hard time hiding it, because literally everything in this person annoys you. You get irritated over little things, perhaps without knowing why. And it is important to understand yourself, to understand what really offended or angered you this person, talk with him and indicate what is unpleasant for you. And forgive old grievances, for example, with the help of my meditations "The Forgiveness of Men" or "Women's Forgiveness".

Or maybe the annoying person reminds you of someone from your past. And in fact, you are offended and angry not at him, but at a person from the past. Then you need to forgive that person.

If there is no conflictit is possible to solve it yourself, and the person plays important role in your life, come on.

There is another very important point.

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Irritation can be a signal that we are being manipulated. We have not yet understood how and why, but irritation has already appeared.

This is where our irritation helps us, tells us: “Be careful, you are being manipulated, you are being used. Don't let yourself be used."

The mind has not understood anything yet, but the soul has already reacted.

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Therefore, do not drive away from yourself or crush irritation in yourself. It is necessary to understand its reasons why you reacted this way.

It is also important tofeel where it originated in the body. Most often, irritation is localized in the temples.

And do not confuse irritation with anger and anger. Anger lives in the chest, and anger lives in the stomach. Most often, but not necessarily there.

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Irritation occurs with stress, lack of sleep, chronic fatigue, increased loads, at the second stage emotional burnout, with depression, neurasthenia, anxiety disorder personality, alcoholism and drug addiction, mental illness.

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Co.Of course, a lot of things annoy us when something hurts us. And, by the way, irritation can be a symptom of a cold or thyroid problems. Therefore, if you are often irritated, check the thyroid gland.

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Anger is your individual reaction to a situation.

Another person in your position may react differently.

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Why does it annoy you

what doesn't annoy the other person?

We are not just irritated by certain qualities in people. Most likely, there is something in you that annoys you in another- the same quality of character. But you don’t just hide this quality in yourself, but generally abandoned it (most likely, even in childhood) - you amputated it (displaced it). Of course, it creeps out when you are not aware of it.

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For example, you may be annoyed by someone's arrogance. It seems to you that you are never arrogant. But you may not remember this, or you may not realize that you are impudent when you are impudent.You may consider yourself an assertive, purposeful person, and others may think that you are arrogant.

You may be annoyed by someone's stubbornness, but you do not notice that you are also stubborn. True, you think to yourself that you are stubborn, not stubborn, and others may think the opposite.

You may be annoyed by someone's deceit or activity. This means that you have suppressed deceit or activity in yourself.

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For example, you could be an active, sociable child, an electric broom, but your mother did not like your activity and restlessness, for example, because your mother loves peace and quiet. You constantly ran, made noise, and she got annoyed and scolded you many times for your activity, and because of this you felt shame and guilt and tried to be quieter, clamped down, began to be embarrassed to express yourself violently and actively. That is, mom made you understand that being active is bad.

Such a ban on activity has led to the fact that you grew up as a passive, squeezed person. You are no longer yourself. And now you are very annoyed by active people - electric brooms. What annoys you about them is what you suppressed in yourself as a child.

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Or vice versa, you may be annoyed passive people: passive husband passive child. You may be annoyed that they do not want anything, they do not strive for anything, they have no ambitions, goals, even desires, except for a computer and a TV. It is possible that their passivity is relaxation, the ability to relax, and you suppressed this in yourself in your childhood.

Parents demanded too much from you, you were constantly busy: you went to sections, circles, studios, studied community service Helped my mother with housework. You did not have a free minute, and you had no time to watch TV and read your favorite books. You couldn't just relax and fool around, wallow, fool around, just relax. But I wanted to. And now I want to.

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But the ban on rest and relaxation and enjoying the rest gave its "fruits".

You grew up as an active, active person, you are constantly tense, you don’t know how to relax, you don’t have free time, you can’t sit idle for a minute, and you are very annoyed by loafers and generally passive people who constantly rest at computer screens without having time to get tired . Moreover, they do it in front of your nose, in your house. It annoys you that they allow themselves to rest.

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But you can not even afford to relax. And you don’t understand that life through a husband and a child gives you lessons: they teach, teach you on own example how to rest and relax, but they won’t teach you. And they, perhaps, are also annoyed by your excessive activity and activity. And especially your irritability and demands to be active. And maybe they need to say "thank you" for the lessons and example they give you.

An exercise

Divide the sheet into 2 columns.

In the first column, write what annoys you and in whom, in the second, in what situations you show or once showed this quality.

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Let's say your daughter's laziness annoys you. When are you lazy yourself? Maybe you are lazy to do something, but you overcome this laziness with an effort of will? For example, when writing a report.

Were you lazy at her age? Maybe once your laziness annoyed your parents?

Are you annoyed by crowds of people in transport? Think about what annoys you at the same time: the crush, someone's impudence or irritability, noise, or the fact that transport rarely runs (the fact that transport services do not work well).

If pushing is annoying, remember if there are times when you yourself push or pushed as a teenager, a child.

If it’s annoying that the transport doesn’t run well, that is, the transport services don’t work well, does it happen that your work deadlines are broken, or you work poorly (not on schedule, unnecessarily slow, with delays).

HOW IRRITATION HELPS

Behind our irritation, like behind all feelings, there is a positive intention: we want the people around us, and the world in general, to become better, smarter, more beautiful, more active (or more passive).

We want people not to violate our boundaries, but they themselves have not learned to mark them. Let’s face it, anger is our way of defining our boundaries. The method is destructive, strange, but ours.

In another way, we do not know how to do it, YET we have not learned.

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And if it seems unfair to you that at home you do more things than others, it is important to admit to yourself that you have taken everything upon yourself and have not delegated some of the responsibilities to other family members. And maybe finally delegate them.

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If you are annoyed that transport is not running well, think about what you did to improve the situation (for example, wrote a claim or statement or called the relevant services)? Or do you sincerely believe that your irritation will somehow change the situation with transport?

Or did you solve the problem in a different way and now drive your car?

Are you annoyed by traffic jams? Think about it, does it happen that you yourself create temporary or emotional “traffic jams”, “stagnation” in your life?

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CONSEQUENCES OF IRRITATION

Naturally, your frequent irritation spoils your relationships with others. You offend them with your irritability and provoke conflicts and, as a result, trouble.

Irritation worsens not only our life, but also health.

If we are very irritable, then the irritation affects many organs in our body: skin, stomach, intestines, liver, joints.

For example, irritability can be the cause of skin irritation, but serious skin diseases. Irritability can be the cause of irritable bowel syndrome, irritable stomach, duodenal ulcers.

Therefore, do not wait for the appearance of diseases.

HOW TO GET RID OF IRRITATION

1) Take your irritation as a signal that you are allowing others to violate your boundaries, manipulate you, and start building your boundaries.

2) Recognize and eliminate the causes of irritation.

3) Understand what the positive intention of annoyance is for you, and think about how to achieve the same in other ways.

4) Do daily relaxation sessions, for example, listening to meditation "Relaxation"

5) Learn to calm down and keep peace and tranquility in your soul.

6) Be merciful and condescending to the people around you. Let them have their weaknesses.

7) Do not suppress feelings in yourself, resolve unpleasant situations as they come.

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Irritability is an exaggerated reaction to any factor that caused negative emotions. It is explained by the increased excitability of a person, which may have physiological and psychological causes. The state when, in moments of overwork, trouble or feeling unwell there is an attack of irritability, familiar to everyone.

However, it is known that bouts of irritability and aggression accompany many mental pathologies. Therefore, if they occur frequently and without clear reason, then it is worth applying for medical care. Increased nervousness and irritability in women, in addition to exposure to stressful situations, can be caused hormonal imbalance or metabolic disorder.

There are quite a few factors that can cause attacks of irritability and aggression in women. Among them, the leader is excessive workload, which most often concerns working women on maternity leave, who are forced, among other things, to take care of the household and children, which leads to overwork and causes irritability. Often, this condition is also present in menopause and in older women in the postmenopausal period.

Aggression, increased nervousness and irritability in women may be due to low self-esteem. In this case, she constantly compares her achievements with the successes of other people. To overcome psychological factors Nervousness is useful to attend auto-training sessions. It is necessary to master relaxation techniques (meditation, head massage and yoga).

Physiological causes

The cause of increased nervousness and irritability from a physiological point of view is the excessive reactivity of the central nervous system. Such reactivity arises under the influence of many factors: internal (mental pathologies, hormonal disbalance, metabolic disorders), genetic and external ( stressful condition, infectious diseases).

Hormonal fluctuations are the main cause of nervousness, which lies in physiological features female body. The female psyche reacts to cyclic changes in the hormonal background during PMS, pregnancy, as well as during pre- and postmenopause. Hyperthyroidism is a factor influencing the appearance of irritability. Under its influence, the level of thyroid-stimulating hormones increases.

Physiological nervousness can be caused by a lack of important nutrients(glucose, amino acids) and beriberi. Genetic irritability is inherited by the following generations, since it is due to the hyperexcitability of the nervous system. Aggressive behavior becomes part of the character, and the woman begins to constantly break down on loved ones.

Symptoms such as constant nervousness and, on the contrary, an aggressive state, may indicate the development pathological processes in the body, such as infectious diseases, diabetes, post-traumatic stress. In addition, they may indicate a metabolic disorder or undercurrent mental illness and somatic disorders.

Preparations for irritability and nervousness in women

Pharmacological therapy of excessive irritability should be prescribed by a psychotherapist after a preliminary examination of the patient. If present strong aggression and signs mental disorder, then treatment should be aimed at eliminating the underlying disease. In a state of depression, antidepressants are used to improve mood and eliminate nervousness (drugs Fluoxetine, Amitriptyline, Prozac, etc.). With irritability caused by pathology endocrine organs, after the examination, hormones are prescribed.

More rest

For nervousness and irritability, enough sleep and rest, as it is often main reason these states. In order to provide the patient with long-term night rest, appointed sleeping pills or tranquilizers (Clozepid, Phenazepam). In a state of anxiety, daytime tranquilizers-anxiolytics are used - drugs that do not cause drowsiness (Grandaxin, Rudotel).

If a mental pathology not found but present nervous breakdown complicating the life of a woman, soft drugs are prescribed. They help to improve the adaptation of the body. These are drugs such as Novopassit, Adaptol, Notta.

In addition to drugs, it is advisable to use diverse psychotherapeutic techniques for teaching relaxation ( breathing exercises, autotraining). You can use techniques that correct human behavior in different conditions (cognitive therapy). Sessions will help to understand what this condition of a woman is connected with and help develop self-control.

Traditional and alternative medicine

Nervousness is not always associated with mental illness. It can be caused by the influence of menopause, premenstrual syndrome, overwork, or some kind of trouble. You can remove it with the help of folk herbal recipes. Alternative medicine offers a wide range sedatives to overcome anxiety. Among them are tinctures and decoctions from medicinal plants and spices:

• oregano herbs;
• coriander seeds;
• valerian rhizomes;
• cumin and fennel seeds;
• herbs motherwort and others.

For the purpose of general strengthening of the body, foods rich in vitamins and microelements are used, such as walnuts and almonds, dried apricots, prunes, honey, citrus fruits. Phytotherapists recommend taking short warm baths with oregano, motherwort, and wormwood to improve sleep.

In the case of a mental pathology, treatment at home can be carried out only after an examination and with the permission of a psychiatrist. Otherwise, symptoms may worsen.

Yoga classes can give a good result with increased nervousness and irritability. It is known that such sessions teach to keep emotions under control in non-standard situations and not to be nervous for no reason.

Nervousness should not be ignored a permanent state of irritation negatively affects nervous system women and often provokes nervous breakdown and, leading to aggravated problems and social exclusion. In this case, a woman may become addicted to in order to relax and relieve irritation or “seize” stress by absorbing excessive amounts of food.

In the case when increased nervousness and irritability occurs without apparent reason and lasts for a long time, and especially if insomnia, anxiety, depression or inappropriate behavior- Immediate help from a specialist is needed. Only a psychotherapist knows what to do in specific case and how to treat mental illness. This will help to avoid the progression of pathology and problems in the future.

Why I'm a Psychopath: Causes of Irritability

Excessive irritability is a vile condition known to most of us. Raging negative emotions are directed at a specific person or a specific group of people. Excessive irritability causes tremendous moral discomfort and is manifested by unpleasant outward signs. An irritated person is distinguished by fussy movements, erratic actions, illogical actions. A nervous person is replete with sweeping gestures, speaks out with screams, without control of the expressions flying from the lips.
Outbursts of excessive nervousness cause problems for yourself and others. Often, in the heat of passion, we greatly offend a loved one or commit such an act, the consequences of which we regret for the rest of our lives. They try to avoid irritable people, and often completely stop communicating with an eccentric person. A constantly nervous person finds it difficult to get along in work collective. The individual climbs with great effort career ladder, and irritability all the time throws a person back.
To take control of your emotions and get rid of nervousness, you should try to establish the true causes of your excessive excitement. After all, knowing your enemy in person, it is much easier to pick up right ways to eliminate it.

Why I'm a Psychopath: Causes of Nervousness

Although irritability is the younger brother of anger, this feeling also comes to our aid at the same time. Irritation over trifles - sure sign, informing that some problems have been outlined in our body. This condition indicates that something is wrong in our life. Irritability signals: stop and think, take some action, but do not let the situation remain the same.
Excessive irritability can be a companion of somatic, neurological, psychological problems. It can be caused by both internal factors and external circumstances. Moreover, there are an incredible number of reasons for the development of irritability. Let's take a look at the main culprits.

Reason 1
What is irritation as a process? it natural property the central nervous system to give a reaction to the current stimulus. The weaker and more vulnerable the nervous system, the more intense will be the manifestations of our sensitivity, that is, the more active will be the processes of excitation.
Therefore, people who have a choleric or melancholic temperament look more nervous than measured phlegmatic and seasoned sanguine people. Moreover, two temperaments vulnerable to nervousness express their irritation in different ways. Cholerics, especially the fairer sex, will violently and loudly express their dissatisfaction, and blame others for what is happening. Melancholics prefer to cry into the pillow, tormenting themselves with reproaches.
Knowing such innate features, we need to learn how to express our emotions, adjusted for circumstances. Choleric people at the peak of irritability should retire, and melancholic people should “speak out” their emotions.

Reason 2
Common cause of irritability depressive states. When the white light is not nice to us, we have a minor mood, then any external stimuli deprive us of balance. Whether it's an offer of help or a request to start doing something, all the inclinations of other people to climb into our "cocoon" unsettles us.

Reason 3
No less formidable cause of excessive irritability - obsessive fear called a phobia. When our thoughts are exclusively occupied with the anticipation of imminent trouble, "savoring" irrational anxiety, where does peace of mind come from? And the lack of harmony in the soul is what is addressed in external world dissatisfaction and irritation.

Reason 4
Often the source of excessive nervousness is hidden in an intense headache. When our head is squeezed by a vise, arrows pierce, any slightest sound causes nervousness. After all, we want one thing, to be left in complete peace, and this painful headache.

Reason 5
In addition to cephalalgia, anyone can make us irritable pain syndrome. Whether it is a short-term attack, for example: pain after a bruise, or debilitating monotonous pain during protracted illness. Feelings of pain cause torment at the physiological level, and deprive peace of mind. Many cases have been described when excessive irritability has become a manifestation of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Reason 6
Uncontrollable excessive agitation is a symptom of failures in the endocrine system. For example, hyperfunction thyroid gland quickly turns the person into a hysterical psychopath. Such endocrine problems well amenable to correction, so if you are covered with nervousness, this is an occasion to consult an endocrinologist.

Reason 7
Irritability is a common symptom of a variety of mental and neurotic disorders, border states. Therefore, if you cannot overcome all the growing nervousness on your own, you must definitely visit a psychotherapist. Today, there are many sparing medications that eliminate aggressiveness and stabilize the emotional background.

Reason 8
The obvious reason irritability - chronic alcoholism and drug addiction. In addition to the fact that alcoholic beverages and toxic drugs completely destroy the nervous system, withdrawal syndrome suits huge “surprises”. The body of an alcoholic or drug addict requires another infusion of a "saving" dose, in the absence of which irritability often turns into obvious aggression.

Reason 9
Quite often, the cause of excessive agitation lies in neurological defects caused, for example, by insufficient blood circulation in the brain and bad condition vessels. Therefore, if nervousness was not inherent in you before, but arose abruptly and suddenly, you need to go to an appointment with a neurologist.

Reason 10
One of the manifestations of chronic fatigue syndrome is motor restlessness, psycho-emotional arousal and an overreaction to the slightest stimulus. This condition calls for immediate medical assistance, since chronic fatigue syndrome rarely disappears on its own, increasing the intensity of its symptoms over time.

Reason 11
Miscellaneous Violations sleep is a direct cause of human irritability. When we didn't get enough sleep, we spent sleepless night or constantly awakened from frightening nightmares, calmness and composure are out of the question. To eliminate nervousness, you need to arrange for yourself good rest and take steps to restore sleep.

Reason 12
Some girls are irritable several days a month due to premenstrual syndrome. It’s impossible to argue with a jump in hormones on your own, but a well-chosen drug therapy able to completely eliminate the riot of passions.

Reason 13
The obvious cause of irritability - physical fatigue and mental overload. When a person spent fifteen hours in a row at the computer or turned the steering wheel for a whole day, then his body requires natural rest. Straining the body further, we get a clear indignation in the form of overwhelming nervousness.

Reason 14
Irritation is a common symptom of beginning viral diseases. Feeling "out of place" often occurs before the rise in temperature in response to the attack of viruses.

Reason 15
Often, nervousness and aggressiveness are the result of a person being hungry. His stomach demands food, and his nervous system reports a lack of nutrients.

In addition to the above reasons, excessive irritability is a kind of character trait, an individual personality trait. Short temper and anger may indicate:

Of course, it is necessary to begin identifying the cause of your anger by studying the characteristics of your personality. Quite often, however, close digging into its essence cannot reveal to us the roots of evil. Therefore, advice in conclusion: if irritability manifests itself with enviable regularity and strong intensity, you need to consult a psychologist.

Irritability is an increased excitability, a tendency to negative emotional reactions in response to inadequate situations. Irritability is largely determined by the type of human nervous system. It can be congenital, hereditary due to a character trait, or the result of adverse influences and certain environmental conditions, such as severe stress, responsible work, overwhelming task, constant lack of time. The most surprising thing is that a person does not know why he loses control over himself. Subsequently, he may regret his words, spoken in the heat of anger, and some reckless actions. Often irritable people are aggressive, which makes others treat them with caution. But aggressiveness is already alarm symptom because many mental disorders they show up that way.

If the irritability is only temporary, chances are your "thick skin" has suddenly worn out and you've begun to notice things that previously left you indifferent. A sudden malfunction of the car causes an outburst of rage, and you respond to some well-meaning criticism of your colleagues with such a tirade, which they then remember for a long time. However, irritability can accompany almost any disease. Very often, people who find out that they are sick with something become irritable and angry at the whole world, without themselves understanding why this is happening to them.

Causes of irritability

Irritability as a symptom of a disease is an increased excitability of a patient with a tendency to display negative emotions, while the strength of emotions significantly exceeds the strength of the factor that caused them (i.e., a minor nuisance causes an abundant flow of negative experiences). Each person has been in this state more than once, even the most mentally healthy person has moments of fatigue, poor physical health, periods of a “black streak” in life - all this contributes to increased irritability. But we must not forget that this condition occurs in many mental illnesses.

The causes of irritability from the point of view of physiology is the increased reactivity of the central nervous system, which develops under the influence of various factors: hereditary (character traits), internal (hormonal disruptions, metabolic disorders, mental illness), external (stress, infections). It is hormonal changes that cause increased irritability during pregnancy and after childbirth, as well as during menstruation and menopause.

Diseases in which there is increased irritability

The most common symptom of irritability occurs in such mental illnesses as depression, neurosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychopathy, alcoholism and drug addiction, schizophrenia, dementia.

With depression, irritability is combined with a steadily lowered mood, some “inhibition” of thinking, and insomnia. There is a state opposite to depression - in psychiatry it is called mania. In this condition, it is also possible to have increased irritability, up to anger, in combination with inadequate high spirits, accelerated to disorderly thinking. In both depression and mania, sleep is often disturbed, which can be the cause of irritability.

With neuroses, irritability is quite often combined with anxiety, symptoms of depression, and increased fatigue. And in this case, irritability may be the result of insomnia, which is not uncommon in neuroses. Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs in a person who has experienced a severe shock. In this condition, irritability is observed in combination with anxiety, insomnia or nightmares, intrusive unpleasant thoughts. People with alcoholism or drug addiction are especially susceptible to irritability when withdrawal syndrome. Often this is the cause of crimes, and always complicates the life of the relatives of the patient.

With such serious illness like schizophrenia, irritability can be a precursor to an approaching psychotic state, but can be observed both in remission and in the prodromal period of the disease. Often in schizophrenia, irritability is combined with suspicion, isolation, increased resentment, mood swings.

And, finally, often increased irritability is observed in patients with dementia - or acquired dementia. As a rule, these are elderly people, their dementia arose as a result of a stroke, age-related changes. In younger patients, dementia can occur as a result of severe traumatic brain injury, infections, alcohol and drug abuse. In any case, people with dementia are prone to irritability, fatigue, and tearfulness.

As for psychopathy, not all doctors consider it a disease. Many experts consider the manifestations of psychopathy to be innate character traits. One way or another, irritability is definitely inherent in such people, especially when decompensated - i.e. during an exacerbation of symptoms. Almost every disease of the internal organs can be accompanied by increased irritability. But this symptom is especially characteristic of thyroid diseases, menopausal changes in a woman's body, and neurological problems.

Irritability in women

Irritability is more common in women than in men. And there are reasons for this. Swedish researchers have proven that female irritability is genetically determined. The nervous system of a woman initially has increased excitability, is prone to rapid mood changes, to anxiety. The excessive workload of most women with household chores is added to genetic factors.

This leads to chronic sleep deprivation, overwork - psychological causes of irritability are formed. Occurring regularly in the female body hormonal changes (menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause) are physiological reasons irritability. With such a complex of reasons, it is not surprising that many women are characterized by increased, and sometimes constant irritability.

Irritability during pregnancy

Hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy in a woman's body cause changes in the nervous system. These changes are especially pronounced in the first months of pregnancy. A woman becomes nervous, tearful, her sensations and tastes change, even her worldview. Of course, all this leads to a state of increased irritability. Such changes are accompanied even by a desired, expected pregnancy, not to mention an unplanned pregnancy. Close people should treat all these whims and quirks with understanding and patience. Fortunately, around the middle of pregnancy, the hormonal balance becomes more stable, and the woman's irritability decreases.

Irritability after childbirth

After the birth of a child, hormonal changes in the female body continue. The behavior of a young mother is influenced by the "hormones of motherhood" - Oxytocin and prolactin. They encourage her to give all her attention and love to the child, and irritability caused by another restructuring of the body often splashes out on her husband and other family members. But in the postpartum period, a lot depends on the nature of the woman. If she is calm by nature, then her irritability is minimal, and sometimes completely absent.

PMS (premenstrual syndrome)

A few days before the onset of menstruation in the blood of a woman, significantly increased concentration the hormone progesterone. High doses of this substance cause sleep disturbance, fever, mood swings, increased irritability, conflict. Outbursts of anger, aggression, sometimes even with the loss of control over their behavior, are replaced by tearfulness, depressed mood. woman feels causeless anxiety, anxiety ; she is absent-minded, interest in her usual activities is reduced. There is weakness, increased fatigue. The manifestations of PMS in different women are expressed to varying degrees.

Climax

Increased irritability, along with hot flashes and fatigue, is one of the main symptoms of menopause. The reasons for this irritability are again physiological, associated with regular hormonal changes and hypovitaminosis (during this period, the woman's body lacks B vitamins, as well as nicotinic and folic acids).

Climacteric disorders increase gradually. This period is not characterized by outbreaks of aggression; irritability is accompanied by resentment, tearfulness, sleep disturbances, unreasonable fears, depressed mood. Pronounced manifestations of menopause require consultation of an endocrinologist. In some cases, the doctor prescribes hormone replacement therapy.

Irritability in men

Not so long ago in medical practice a new diagnosis appeared: male irritability syndrome (SIM). This condition develops during the period of male menopause, when the production of male hormone- testosterone.

Deficiency of this hormone makes men nervous, aggressive, irritable. At the same time, they complain of fatigue, drowsiness, depression. Irritability caused by physiological causes is exacerbated by overload at work, as well as the fear of developing impotence.

During menopause, men, like women, need a patient, attentive attitude from loved ones. Their nutrition should contain a sufficient amount of protein dishes - meat, fish. Definitely needed good sleep(at least 7-8 hours a day). In severe cases, as directed by a doctor, replacement therapy– testosterone injections.

Irritability in children

Irritability - increased excitability, crying, screaming, even hysteria - can manifest itself in children starting from one and a half to two years. The reasons for this irritability, as in adults, can be:

1. Psychological (desire to attract attention, resentment at the actions of adults or peers, indignation at the prohibitions of adults, etc.).
2. Physiological (feeling of hunger or thirst, fatigue, desire to sleep).
3. Genetic.

In addition, children's irritability can be a symptom of diseases and conditions such as:

• perinatal encephalopathy (brain damage during pregnancy or childbirth);
• allergic diseases;
• infectious diseases (influenza, SARS, "children's" infections);
• individual intolerance to certain products;
• psychiatric illnesses.

If at proper upbringing irritability caused by psychological and physiological reasons softens by about five years, then a genetically determined quick-tempered, irritable character can persist in a child for life. And diseases accompanied by irritability must be treated by a specialist doctor (neurologist, allergist, infectious disease specialist, psychiatrist).

Examination of a patient with irritability

Such a variety of diseases accompanied by irritability makes self-diagnosis impossible. Moreover, it is sometimes difficult for specialists to determine the cause of increased irritability, therefore, to clarify the diagnosis, it is necessary comprehensive examination organism. It usually includes blood and urine tests, ECG, ultrasound to detect possible pathology internal organs. If no pathology is found during a therapeutic examination, the patient may be referred to a neurologist, who may prescribe an electroencephalogram or MRI. These methods allow you to determine the state of the brain.

Patients with increased irritability come to a psychiatrist, as a rule, if the polyclinic examination did not reveal serious deviations in health, and irritability reaches such a degree that it interferes with the daily life of both the patient and his relatives. The psychiatrist evaluates the patient's examination data by the polyclinic specialists and, if necessary, can prescribe psychological testing to identify the characteristics of the patient's temperament, the state of his memory and thinking.

Treatment for irritability

If your irritability is a condition that they say that the person got up on the wrong foot, or you just feel out of place, try using the following recommendations.

If you feel that you have become more irritable, take some time to reflect on the reasons for this. Establishing the cause will help you understand temporary irritability. You must understand that you just need to be more patient and considerate of those around you. This will keep you from saying and doing things that you may regret later. If you know in advance that every month, two days before your period, you will become overly irritable, it will be easier for you to control your emotions.

You don't have to hide your feelings. Instead of hiding them, simply warn others that you are angry on certain days. People get worse if they do not admit their experiences to others. If you do not explain to others that you have increased irritability, they will perceive your behavior with complete bewilderment. But if you tell them, "I want to warn you that I might do something wrong today. If I seem too rude, please excuse me," it will help people understand your actions and defuse the situation.

Try to distract yourself from the things that irritate you by switching to another activity. There is an old saying that says: "A man busy with business does not harm others." Some people just need to find something to do. Go for a walk, do laundry, write a letter to someone, water the lawn. You need to do something to reduce stress and kill time. This will only take you 15 minutes or an hour, depending on how quickly you calm down. In this way, you can prevent impulsive actions.

Before you sort things out with anyone, you must make sure. that your thoughts and actions are subject to your conscious control. Do you have to resort to overly categorical judgments with the words "always". "should", "should" or "never"? Don't we have to reckon with our idea of ​​this or that person more than think about how to solve the problems that have arisen? Do thoughts of retribution and retaliation against this person come to your mind? Can you sit still quietly? Do you have to raise your voice and bang your fist on the table? Do you feel tension in the muscles of your neck and back? If any of the above is typical for you, most likely you are not ready to act wisely in difficult situation. If at this point you have to run into someone, you are likely to cause even more disagreement or complicate the situation than you can resolve things.

Learn to restrain yourself. When someone annoys you and you feel ready to explode, if you jump into the conversation at that moment, wait a while. Postpone discussion of this matter until you feel you can do so in a calm manner.

Set yourself up in a positive way. When you notice gloomy thoughts coming into your head like, "Looks like today is going to be a terrible day for me," try to replace them with positive thoughts. When you wake up in bad mood, close your eyes for a minute and try to imagine a different picture of how calm and wonderful you will spend this day. Have positive conversations with yourself. Ask yourself: “I would like to know what good awaits me today?”, “I wonder what new things I have to learn today?”. Repeat phrases with words such as "achieve", "succeed" more often so that they are imprinted in your head and help overcome irritability.

Medical treatment for irritability

Treating the symptom of irritability medicines carried out only as directed by a doctor, and depends on the cause that caused it. If the cause is a mental illness - for example, depression, then antidepressant drugs (Fluoxetine, Amitriptyline, Prozac, etc.) are prescribed. They improve the mood of the patient, thereby reducing irritability.

Particular attention in case of irritability is paid to the normalization of the patient's night sleep. To do this, the doctor prescribes sleeping pills or sedatives (tranquilizers). If the dream is in order, but there is anxiety state- use sedatives that do not cause drowsiness - "daytime tranquilizers" (rudotel or mezapam).

If the increased irritability is caused psychological reasons, and is mainly due to stressful situations in the patient's life - soft vegetable or homeopathic preparations anti-stress orientation (Nott, Adaptol, Novo-Passit, etc.).

Traditional medicine

Traditional medicine to combat irritability uses mainly medicinal herbs(in the form of decoctions and infusions, as well as in the form of medicinal baths):

• valerian;
• motherwort;
• cucumber grass;
• coriander, etc.

Traditional healers recommend using spice powders inside in case of excessive irritability: cloves, cumin, cardamom. A useful tool considered a mixture of honey with crushed walnuts, almonds, lemon and prunes. it delicious medicine is a source of trace elements and has a mild anti-stress effect.

However, there are contraindications for folk remedies. These are mental illnesses. For patients with such a diagnosis, any treatment can be used only with the permission of the doctor. For example, hot baths can exacerbate schizophrenia.