What causes irritability?

Irritability

- a common emotion. Many factors can contribute to irritability, including life stress, lack of sleep, low blood sugar and hormonal changes.

When a person is irritable, little things that usually do not bother him begin to irritate him. This makes a person more sensitive to stressful situations. Irritability over a long period sometimes indicates an underlying medical condition such as an infection or diabetes. It may also be a sign of mental health problems such as anxiety or depression.

People may experience the following symptoms along with increased irritability:

• difficulty concentrating;
• excessive sweating;
• fast heartbeat;
• rapid and shallow breathing.

What is the essence of the problem?

Photophobia is a symptom of increased photophobia, which is inherent in many diseases of the eye and brain. It is not a separate disease, but rather a symptom of other health problems, such as infection or inflammation, that may irritate the eyes.

It is not uncommon for people who are sensitive to light to experience other associated symptoms, such as headaches and eye pain when exposed to very light or bright environments.

Photophobia, or photophobia, is a medical term that refers to the excessive reaction of the eyes to light that occurs in some people. This condition can be chronic or temporary and can occur in both adults and children. Literally, this is “fear of light,” since “phobia” means fear of something, and “photo” means light. However, it is correct to talk not about fear, but about increased pathological sensitivity to light.

It's not just sunlight that irritates people with photophobia. Light sources such as fluorescent or incandescent lamps may also cause discomfort. As a rule, we are talking about bright and intense light, but there is an unpleasant sensation in the eyes even in dim lighting.

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Excessive nervousness: causes of irritability

Although irritability is the younger brother of anger, this feeling at the same time comes to our aid. Irritation over trifles is a sure sign informing that there are some problems in our body. This state indicates that something is wrong in our lives. Irritability signals: stop and think, take some action, but don’t let the situation remain the same. Excessive irritability can be a companion to somatic, neurological, and psychological problems. It can be caused by both internal factors and external circumstances. Moreover, there are an incredible variety of reasons for the development of irritability. Let's look at the main culprits. Reason 1

What is irritation as a process?
This is a natural property of the central nervous system to give a reaction to an active stimulus. The weaker and more vulnerable the nervous system, the more intense the manifestations of our sensitivity will be, that is, the more active the excitation processes will occur. Therefore, people with a choleric or melancholic temperament look more nervous than measured phlegmatic people and self-possessed 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. Melancholic people will prefer to cry into their pillow, tormenting themselves with reproaches. Knowing such innate characteristics, we need to learn to express our emotions, adjusted to the circumstances. At the peak of irritability, choleric people should retire, and melancholic people should “speak out” their emotions. Reason 2
A common culprit of irritability is depression.
When white light is not pleasant to us, we are in 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 attempts of other people to get into our “cocoon” takes us out of our rut. Reason 3
An equally formidable cause of excessive irritability is an 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 dissatisfaction and irritation addressed to the outside world. Reason 4
Often the source of excessive nervousness is hidden in an intense headache.
When our head is squeezed in a vice, pierced by arrows, any slightest sound causes nervousness. After all, all we want is to be left in complete peace and for this painful headache to disappear. Reason 5
In addition to cephalgia, any pain syndrome can make us irritable.
Be it a short-term attack, for example: pain after a bruise, or debilitating monotonous pain during a protracted illness. Feelings of pain cause torment on a physiological level and deprive you of peace of mind. Many cases have been described in which excessive irritability became a manifestation of post-traumatic stress disorder. Reason 6
Uncontrollable overindulgence is a symptom of disruptions in the endocrine system.
For example, hyperfunction of the thyroid gland quickly turns a person into a hysterical psychopath. Such endocrine problems can be easily corrected, so if you are feeling nervous, this is a reason to consult an endocrinologist. Reason 7
Irritability is a common symptom of various mental and neurotic disorders, borderline states.
Therefore, if you cannot overcome all the growing nervousness on your own, you must definitely visit a psychotherapist. Today there are many gentle medications that eliminate aggression and stabilize the emotional background. Reason 8
The obvious cause of irritability is chronic alcoholism and drug addiction.
In addition to the fact that alcoholic drinks and toxic drugs completely destroy the nervous system, withdrawal syndrome creates 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 tension lies in neurological defects caused, for example, by insufficient blood circulation in the brain and poor vascular condition.
Therefore, if nervousness was not inherent to you before, but arose sharply 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 agitation and excessive reaction to the slightest irritant.
This condition requires immediate medical attention, since chronic fatigue syndrome rarely disappears on its own, increasing the intensity of its symptoms over time. Reason 11
Various sleep disorders are the direct cause of human irritability.
When we don't get enough sleep, have a sleepless night, or are constantly awakened by frightening nightmares, feeling calm and collected is out of the question. To eliminate nervousness, you need to give yourself proper rest and take measures to restore sleep. Reason 12
Some girls are forced to be irritable several days a month by premenstrual syndrome.
It is impossible to argue with the surge in hormones on your own, but well-chosen drug therapy can completely eliminate the riot of passions. Reason 13
The obvious cause of irritability is physical fatigue and mental overload.
When a person has spent fifteen hours in a row at the computer or has been turning the wheel all day, his body requires natural rest. By straining the body further, we get obvious indignation in the form of overwhelming nervousness. Reason 14
Irritation is a common sign of incipient viral diseases.
The feeling of being “out of place” often occurs before the temperature rises in response to a virus attack. 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 unique character trait, an individual personality trait. Hot temper and anger may indicate:

• to a person who is constantly dissatisfied with what is happening and sees everything in negative terms;
• to a self-centered nature that does not know how and is not accustomed to understanding the desires of another person;
• to an ill-mannered boor who is simply not trained to respond correctly and is not familiar with such concepts as restraint, politeness and correctness;
• to a hysterical person who seeks to attract attention to himself by demonstrating irritation;
• on a busy hardworker who has taken on an unbearable burden, while striving to do everything on time and perfectly;
• to an individual of the schizoid type who denies all social norms and does not want to live in accordance with social rules;
• a person who places excessive demands on himself and others;
• on a subject with extremely low self-esteem;
• to a person who strives with all his might to please everyone without exception and does not know how to do this competently.

Of course, you need to start identifying the causes of your anger by studying the characteristics of your personality. However, quite often, close digging into our essence cannot reveal to us the roots of evil. Therefore, a piece of advice in conclusion: if irritability manifests itself with enviable regularity and intense intensity, you need to consult a psychologist.

Reasons for failure

Our visual analyzer is complex, and problems can arise not only at the level of the eyeball, but also during the passage of impulses in the form of several intermediate processes, and when reaching the cortical analyzing part of the brain.

First of all, photophobia is inherent in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases of the ocular surface, such as conjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome, recurrent erosion and corneal dystrophy, as well as similar conditions. It occurs due to irritation of the nerve endings of the cornea and conjunctiva, which are highly sensitive.

Question answer

Why does the eye twitch?

Also, severe photophobia occurs when there is inflammation of the choroid and sclera, in this case there are complaints of pain in the eyes at rest and when moving the eyes, and headaches from inflammation are often a concern.

With increased intraocular pressure, photophobia also often appears, which is combined with heaviness in the eyes and pain in the temples and head. Such symptoms are inherent in the condition of uncompensated glaucoma and require urgent treatment.

Another eye disease in which light scattering causes photophobia and a desire to squint the eye is cataracts, especially its complicated forms. In these cases, the patient sees poorly on a bright sunny day and is more comfortable in cloudy weather.

There is still no clear explanation for why photophobia occurs when there is inflammation of the optic nerve, brain, or its membranes, but it is believed that the problem is associated with the internal light-sensitive ganglion cells of the retina, which contain melanopsin. These cells detect light and create a sensation of brightness, and they can make the eye more sensitive, including causing pain.

Often, photophobia is a neurological problem that involves the communication system between the eye and the brain, not just the eye. The part of the eye that sends the light sensitivity signal to the brain is different from the part that transmits vision, which is why some people, even if they are blind, may suffer from photophobia.

People with photophobia have less tolerance to any type of light. Additionally, high visual contrast, such as when lights flash or flicker, makes it difficult to perceive, and striped patterns cause more migraines and problems for people with photosensitive epilepsy. On the other hand, fluorescent lights seem to be a leading cause of headaches, migraines, eye strain and seizures.

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Treatment

Treatments for irritability depend on the underlying cause. Medicines such as mood stabilizers and antidepressants can help treat mood disorders. Professional counseling can help relieve mood-related symptoms such as fear, anxiety, and irritability. Treatment for hormonal imbalances includes diet and lifestyle changes, as well as hormone therapy.

Some general tips for managing irritability:

• regular exercise;
• Eating a balanced diet rich in whole foods such as fruits and vegetables and low in processed foods
• maintaining a regular sleep schedule;
• practice slow breathing techniques;
• meditation;
• consultation with a psychiatrist or psychotherapist;
• keeping a journal to track mood changes.

Related article: What you need to know about bipolar disorder and anger.

Necessary therapy

If photophobia is present, the cause must first be determined and only after a diagnosis has been made by an ophthalmologist and neurologist based on an examination, which should include ophthalmological examinations and, quite often, an MRI, can treatment begin.

Some of the available therapies include medications for migraines, antibiotics or antivirals for conjunctivitis and deep vascular inflammation, artificial tears for dry eye syndrome, drugs for bacterial meningitis, and so on.

In any case, to determine the best type of treatment depending on the cause of photophobia, a comprehensive examination by an ophthalmologist and neurologist is necessary.

Irritability in children

Young children go through phases of becoming irritable. These phases are a normal part of development. Children often seem irritable if they have a viral or bacterial infection. This irritability usually goes away when they feel better. In other cases, irritability in children and adolescents may indicate a mood or behavior disorder, such as:

• anxiety disorder;
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
• oppositional - causing disorder;
• depression.

Mood and behavior disorders are relatively common. According to the study, children aged 3-17 years:

• 7.4% have conduct disorder;
• 7.1% suffer from anxiety;
• 3.2% have depression.