Are You Feeling a Little Bit Irritable?

There are many reasons why you might suddenly find yourself feeling irritable. Stress, poor diet, and significant lifestyle changes are among the reasons that you can suddenly find yourself facing irritability. Cancer, Diabetes, and Hypoglycemia also have been shown to cause irritability, and there is another significant change in a woman’s life that can cause irritability; that is menopause. Menopause has been known to cause irritability because of hormonal imbalance.

Last time we talked about moodiness as a possible symptom of menopause, irritability is another emotional symptom of menopause. The physical signs are apparent and well-discussed, and most women know and understand what to expect. However, emotional symptoms like moodiness and irritability are generally overlooked. Some symptoms of irritability may include increased stress, trouble sleeping, feeling on edge, lashing out in anger or frustration, reduced patience, overreacting to situations, and less tolerance for people and events.

The good news is with emotional symptoms of menopause; there are natural solutions that you can try. You do not have to resort to taking hormone replacement therapy. Some experts suggest starting with talking to your family and friends; if they understand what you are going through, it might help alleviate some of the stress and make things a little bit better. Another suggestion is to try relaxation exercises. Many different activities could help, including yoga or something as simple as taking a walk; you could also try a hot shower or relaxing bath. Everyone relaxes differently, so it works best if you try to figure out what works best for you and then go from there. If natural treatments do not work and talking to your family doesn’t help, then some HRTs have been shown to help.

Irritability might not be the worst symptom of menopause. However, it can be an underlying condition caused by some other symptoms; because you have night sweats and insomnia, you are more likely to be irritable, and irritability can cause you not to be able to sleep, thereby repeating the cycle. Doctors at this point are unsure about the exact causes of irritability as it relates to menopause; some have concluded that it is associated with a hormonal imbalance, while others believe that it is related to other symptoms. Hot Flashes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain, and irregular periods can all cause a woman to start feeling depressed and irritable.

There is hope; you do not have to suffer through the irritability alone; you can seek help from trained professionals, family and friends, and supplements. Most Doctors also agree that, like the other symptoms, irritability will eventually end, and you can go back to living a pretty everyday post-menopausal life. However, there is some argument about how long you will experience each symptom.