Easily annoyed or irritated

16 Jan

Irritability is one of anxiety’s least recognised forms. When you’re tense or overwhelmed, your tolerance shrinks. Small frustrations feel bigger. Noise, interruptions, and other people’s needs can suddenly feel like too much.

Anxiety keeps the system under strain. When resources are low, patience is often the first thing to go.

Irritability is a signal that your capacity is being exceeded. It’s information, not a character defect.

Persistent irritability can erode personal and professional relationships, create guilt or shame, and contribute to a feedback loop of heightened anxiety.

When anxiety starts leaking out sideways like this, it’s often a sign that something needs addressing — not pushing through.

In this short series, I unpack the seven common experiences of anxiety. These are patterns many people recognise in themselves — sometimes quietly, sometimes uncomfortably. If you see yourself in one or more of these, it may mean your nervous system has been working hard for a long time.

Easily annoyed or irritated

Feeling afraid

Feeling restless

talk 2 therapy