You are irritable, impatient, and frustrated with most aspects of your life. It’s an unhappy place to be, and you would much rather be stress-free and relaxing. So why can’t you? It is possible that depression could be at the root of your irritability.
It might be difficult to remember exactly when you felt like you ran out of patience, but it has been a while and pretty much everything is getting on your nerves. However, you just can’t figure out what’s behind your perpetually sour mood. You may be asking yourself questions like, “Why am I so irritable all the time?”, “Why am I always angry and irritated for no reason?” or perhaps “Why do I randomly get sad and then feel angry and depressed?”
Our emotional states are not always easy to track, especially if we don’t have practice in being conscious about our moods and how they are impacted. It is likely that at some point you have linked your irritability to stress, or maybe that you are not sleeping as well, or you may feel justified in blaming it totally on those around you.
However, if you stop and reflect for a moment or two, does it seem like your outlook has done a solid shift to the negative side? Have there been other times where you haven’t reacted so strongly to similar issues? Is there a possibility that behind your anger, depression has taken hold? If the answers are yes, your irritability could signal that you are actually experiencing lesser-recognised effects of clinical depression.
Understanding the Link between Depression and Irritability
Depression is understood as a mood disorder, an impairment in the regulation of emotions. It is often characterised by feelings of hopelessness and feelings of sadness, as well as a loss of interest in hobbies or other activities typically enjoyed.
But when is not crying a sign of depression? The typical connection between overwhelming sadness and depression, and a narrow sense of “this is what sadness feels like”, is what feeds into the idea that irritability isn’t a sign of depression. If you try to define cranky, for example, or describe an irritable definition, depression may not be a term that you’d immediately use.
However, depression is often termed as “anger turned inward,” and the increased hostility that many people struggling with depression feel can easily be demonstrated externally as well, resulting in a combination of irritability and depression. For some people with depression, anger and an overall irritable mood are common aspects of their condition.
Is Irritability a Sign of Depression?
Research has shown that people living with depression are more negatively biased in the way they perceive and process life around them. When someone with depression receives any input or information, they tend to interpret this in a negative way. Therefore, people who are inclined to express negative perceptions with anger or impatience will clearly exhibit that with others, which could feed into irritable depression.
According to one long-term study, symptoms like irritability and anger are associated with more severe and longer-lasting depression, as well as reduced impulse control, higher rates of substance abuse and anxiety disorders, and less overall life satisfaction. This type of irritable depression may also be linked to bipolar disorder in some cases. Studies like this demonstrate that feeling both sad and angry is not only possible, but is a potential warning sign of clinical depression.
Symptoms of Depression
People living with depression can experience a range of symptoms including:
- Irritability, impatience, hostility and angry outbursts, even at small things
- Erratic behaviour, such as hanging up on someone or driving aggressively
- Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness or sadness
- Loss of motivation or interest
- Lack of energy and slowed speech, movements or thoughts
- Back pain, headaches, and other physical ailments without a clear source
- Impaired thinking, concentration, memory and decision-making
- Persistent guilt, anxiety and self-blame
- Insomnia, or oversleeping
- Significant changes in appetite resulting in weight loss or gain
- Recurrent thoughts of death, or suicidal ideation or attempts
Why Is Irritability an Overlooked Symptom of Depression?
Despite being increasingly recognised as a factor in major depressive disorder, irritability is not always linked to depression in psychological literature, and is sometimes overlooked or mistakenly linked to other conditions such as bipolar disorder. The reality is that irritable behaviour like persistently starting arguments, or being overly critical or mean, is a potential symptom for people living with depression in any age group. If you’re asking yourself questions like, “Why am I so irritable?” depression may very well be at the root.
How to Manage Depression-related Irritability?
1. Decide how you want to react
For many people dealing with irritability or their strong reactions to certain people or incidents may seem entirely justified. Instead of asking ourselves, “Why am I irritable?” we may simply react to this feeling, which can cause conflict or hurt the feelings of those around us. We are often irritable with people closest to us – our partners, family members and good friends – and despite their love for us, constant anger or criticism can weigh heavily on even the most solid of relationships.
An important question to ask yourself is, in general, how would you like to handle situations that make you feel angry or irritable? Do you want to know how to be less irritable? If the way you answer those questions is different from the way that you often react to your frustrations, then that is a good place to start. It is important to remember that our initial feelings don’t have to dictate how we act, and that taking a pause to get in touch with our mind rather than immediately reacting to irritability and depression can help us align our actions more closely towards who we would like to be in our interactions with others.
2. Talk to people you trust, and ask for accountability
When you’re in the thick of irritability and depression and your frustrations with the world around you are at a high, it can be very difficult to ascertain when your reactions may be disproportionate. This is where those you love and trust can be very helpful in supporting you as you work through your irritability.
Find someone you know can be honest yet kind with you about your behaviour when you’re struggling with irritable depression, and ask them to help let you know when your irritability may be getting the best of you. Make a commitment to make amends with those you may have hurt, and reflect back on what might be underlying your emotions when you’re experiencing irritability and depression.
3. Seek answers through meditation
Easier said than done for anyone living with irritability linked to depression, the act of simply sitting down and connecting with what you are feeling in your body can offer tremendous insights into your symptoms of irritable depression and their triggers. To begin, find a quiet, relaxing place, get comfortable and take some deep breaths.
Don’t be surprised if the impatience you have been feeling with life in general also extends to initial attempts to slow down and scan your thoughts. Try to accept this feeling as part of a learning process, and note how your body reacts to it. Do you feel tense? Prickly? Like your heart is racing? See if you can start to consciously alleviate some of these feelings related to irritability and depression; this can help you practice keeping your temper in check in your interactions with others as well.
4. Reach out for professional support
If you’re struggling with understanding your irritability meaning, talking to someone can help. Because irritability and external anger are often signs of more complex depression, it is important to get in touch with a mental health professional to discuss your symptoms and consider other potential avenues for support and treatment. In some cases, being prescribed medication for anger and depression may be helpful alongside other types of therapeutic treatments. Ultimately, there are many different options for managing the symptoms of depression, which can help you live a happier, less stressful life.
Beginning Your Healing Process with The Dawn Mental Health Retreat Thailand
Are you ready to stop feeling angry, sad, and irritable, and to start feeling better than you have in a long time? The Dawn Wellness Centre and Rehab Thailand is a unique residential facility that provides highly personalised mental health treatment to clients living with a variety of mental health conditions, including depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Located in scenic Thailand, a country that has seen no cases of locally-transmitted Covid-19 since mid-May, The Dawn offers a safe, relaxing environment in which to focus solely on your health and wellbeing.
The Dawn offers you compassionate, knowledgeable support to explore the nuances of irritable depression, and understand how to live a happier life. Call us today to learn more.
Q: Is irritability a side effect of depression?
A: Depression is often termed as “anger turned inward,” and the increased hostility that many people struggling with depression feel can easily be demonstrated externally as well, resulting in a combination of irritability and depression. For some people with depression, anger and an overall irritable mood are common aspects of their condition.
Q: What mental illness causes irritability?
A: According to one long-term study, symptoms like irritability and anger are associated with more severe and longer-lasting depression, as well as reduced impulse control, higher rates of substance abuse and anxiety disorders, and less overall life satisfaction. This type of irritable depression may also be linked to bipolar disorder in some cases.
Q: What is high irritability a symptom of?
A: Does it seem like your outlook has done a solid shift to the negative side? Have there been other times where you haven’t reacted so strongly to similar issues? Is there a possibility that behind your anger, depression has taken hold? If the answers are yes, your irritability could signal that you are actually experiencing lesser-recognised effects of clinical depression.
Q: Is irritability a symptom of major depressive disorder?
A: Despite being increasingly recognised as a factor in major depressive disorder, irritability is not always linked to depression in psychological literature, and is sometimes overlooked or mistakenly linked to other conditions such as bipolar disorder. The reality is that irritable behaviour like persistently starting arguments, or being overly critical or mean, is a potential symptom for people living with depression.
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