[Wolfgang34]

Most people I know are irritable about two to three times a month. Me, on the other hand, I usually get irritable about two to three times everyday and it's usually over something minor.

I have a low patience threshold meaning that something like a slow computer, a humid day or a slow car on the road can make me easily irritated. Luckily for me in my case, I'm also very timid, but also quite rational and compassionate meaning that I don't snap and scream at people whenever I'm irritated because that usually solves nothing. So I tend to internalize it all. So while I save a person or two from a bad day it usually has an adverse reaction on me.

Aside from some headaches and dizziness here and there, whenever I'm moody I tend to ruminate on all the bad or grating people I've had to put up with, coming up with more and more complex ways of bringing serious harm to them, if not outright killing them. Mind you, this happens at least two to three times a day for me so I'm thinking of that for two to three days at a time.

Any suggestions, tips or concerns are welcomed.

Thanks.

[allimsaying]

I know what you mean. I really like my job and the people I work with but just about everyday at work I get intense anger like that. Ive gradually been diminishing the intensity with breathing and focusing on the task at hand. Experiencing intense irritation has left such a dislike of it in my mind that simply remembering how much I dont like it is enough to help me slow it down when it starts to happen.

[1Buster]

G.A.D. - Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Depression or the other thing I have that's not quite MDD - Dysthymia.

You sound like me. Often pissed at everyone, always muttering curses under my breath, but raised too well to go off on people - I save it for when I'm driving.

A couple AD meds didn't do the trick b/c of side effects but I'm a couple weeks into an anti-anxiety med that seems to be working - for now.

[bharani1008]

I think that being depressed uses so much energy that little things get us down easily. When something seems to go wrong it means we have to take action to correct it. That entails concentration and effort. If our store of energy is being used just to maintain then yeah, you get irritated. I also think that our level of frustration in life is also at a natural high since we don't get our needs met. That also makes one irritated. Perhaps you can just give yourself permission to be frustrated and irritated for a few minutes-- then let it go.
I'm a victim of jealousy too. Haven't found an effective coping mechanism for that one. I hate it. It makes me feel so petty. I really do want to be a decent person and that spoils it.
If you come up with a good way to cope with jealousy please post it.

[Pierro]

A punch bag might be a good idea as you are holding on to all this irritability. Just a thought !

[allimsaying]

I think for me, when things stack up, the frustration rises to the surface easier. Like if I have to deal with a slow car, a demanding person, time pressure, bad weather, etc., and all of it builds, I feel like Im just not adequate enough to deal with all of it and its unfair that others expect me to. Having dealt with it poorly in the past sets the course for doing the same thing over and over again.

During my cooler times I think about how irrational that is. I try to think through the reality which is these things happen to everyone and not everyone loses their temper over it. I try and tell myself these are normal situations that occur everyday to a lot of people so it isnt life being against me. Then, when those things line up again and taunt me, I have the rational understanding to turn to. That helps me keep from getting so angry.

I really do want to be a decent person too. Wanting to be is the first step to becoming I think and I think we have to give ourselves credit that even though we arent perfect in every way, we're trying and someday, if not perfect, at least we'll be able to handle this better and avoid as many unpleasant experiences as possible than if we just ignored it and said 'oh well', or worse, acted on our anger and someone gets really hurt.

Originally Posted by bharani1008

I think that being depressed uses so much energy that little things get us down easily. When something seems to go wrong it means we have to take action to correct it. That entails concentration and effort. If our store of energy is being used just to maintain then yeah, you get irritated. I also think that our level of frustration in life is also at a natural high since we don't get our needs met. That also makes one irritated. Perhaps you can just give yourself permission to be frustrated and irritated for a few minutes-- then let it go.
I'm a victim of jealousy too. Haven't found an effective coping mechanism for that one. I hate it. It makes me feel so petty. I really do want to be a decent person and that spoils it.
If you come up with a good way to cope with jealousy please post it.

Stress makes me very irritable as does too much sleep. Too little sleep doesn't seem to affect me that way. I was under extreme pressure yesterday to finish a job. Murphy's Law kept coming up. I got so frustrated I started raging and threw a little temper tantrum. Very embarrassing. I hate being immature and out of control.
Maybe you share some of these things... the too much sleep and or extreme stress.

Irritating feelings are often there because there is too much acid in your system.

All medications leave an acid residue or ash.

You can correct that by taking potassium gluconate (which helps increase alkalinity of your tissues and fluids or you can squeeze 2 lemons in water and drink it.
Any citric acid food is good for helping with alkalinity. (99mg of elemental potassium is equal to 600 mg. potassium. 2 tablets of 99 mg elemental potassium are the maximum one would need.)

If you aren't better in 4 hours, repeat the "lemon thing", I call it. It works for
some of us.

The usual ingestion of potassium is about 1600 mgs. per day. You'll get enough
in your diet if you have one that allows for many alkaline-reacting products.

These things help reduce the acid load of stress, drugs, some diet habits that include too much sugar, wheat, etc., the most acid-producing foods in digestion.
That would include diet sodas (containing aspartame--which is extremely acidic),
coffee, tea, chocolate, etc. It's all available for you to read online.

It may help with anxiety as well as irritability and impatience. No need for you to
be so irritable, especially while driving an auto. That might place you more at risk
for an accident. We need to keep the system calm.

[1Buster]

Originally Posted by genetic

Irritating feelings are often there because there is too much acid in your system.

All medications leave an acid residue or ash.

You can correct that by taking potassium gluconate (which helps increase alkalinity of your tissues and fluids or you can squeeze 2 lemons in water and drink it.
Any citric acid food is good for helping with alkalinity. (99mg of elemental potassium is equal to 600 mg. potassium. 2 tablets of 99 mg elemental potassium are the maximum one would need.)

If you aren't better in 4 hours, repeat the "lemon thing", I call it. It works for
some of us.

The usual ingestion of potassium is about 1600 mgs. per day. You'll get enough
in your diet if you have one that allows for many alkaline-reacting products.

These things help reduce the acid load of stress, drugs, some diet habits that include too much sugar, wheat, etc., the most acid-producing foods in digestion.
That would include diet sodas (containing aspartame--which is extremely acidic),
coffee, tea, chocolate, etc. It's all available for you to read online.

It may help with anxiety as well as irritability and impatience. No need for you to
be so irritable, especially while driving an auto. That might place you more at risk
for an accident. We need to keep the system calm.

Say wha.... ?! Look, I'm all for trying whatever will help me, certain supplements included, but if just taking a few more vitamins and minerals would make me feel all better, I'd go smack all my docs in the face.

We're irritable and impatient because of our conditions and we've reinforced that behavior over time. It's impulsive and irrational and it will take many things (drugs, therapy, support, not being such a dumbass and recognizing it immediately, etc.) and much time to change that.

I don't know anything about your citric acid theory, but I do know that citrus fruits are contra-indicated with some of my meds, so I'd be careful about recommending such things universally.

Originally Posted by 1Buster

Say wha.... ?! Look, I'm all for trying whatever will help me, certain supplements included, but if just taking a few more vitamins and minerals would make me feel all better, I'd go smack all my docs in the face.

We're irritable and impatient because of our conditions and we've reinforced that behavior over time. It's impulsive and irrational and it will take many things (drugs, therapy, support, not being such a dumbass and recognizing it immediately, etc.) and much time to change that.

I don't know anything about your citric acid theory, but I do know that citrus fruits are contra-indicated with some of my meds, so I'd be careful about recommending such things universally.

________________________________________________

Citric acid theory is not mine. It is hotly contested by some sights on
the internet and strongly recommended by other sites. The major problem with those who contest it is that citrus fruits often contain too much sugar, which is very acidifying to tissue and fluids. The lemon and lime do not fit that category, and potassium is known to be effective in lowering acidic states of fluids and tissues--completely different from the Ph of the system which remains stable within a very narrow margin.

Sorry, I needed to say, as I usually do, that it works for some of us.

I couldn't find evidence of any meds that require one to avoid potassisum, but would like to know which ones do, because I'd make it a point to avoid it if possible---just for myself.

It is generally known that stress causes strong acidity and anything
that helps avoid that may have beneficial value, in my view.

As for striking your doctors in the face, I wouldn't advise that. You might find yourself in a serious lawsuit. The truth is that many doctors don't really know that much about what their medications are doing to patients who suffer serious side effects. Many will tell you that it often takes 3 or more changes in medications during treatment to reach a satisfory "coctail" to treat mental illness.

And then there's the problem of what to do about the acidic ash of those meds.
I wonder why the psychiatrists don't give us information on that? I think many probably do who are knowledgeable about what helps relieve it.

[allimsaying]

Im not on meds Gen. Couldnt I just drink from the store bought lemon juice? Im not talking about lemonade, but the bottled juice. Or does it have too many additives?

Originally Posted by allimsaying

Im not on meds Gen. Couldnt I just drink from the store bought lemon juice? Im not talking about lemonade, but the bottled juice. Or does it have too many additives?

_______________________

I would think that would be fine, Allimsaying. It's the potassium that is
so helpful in keeping a more alkaline state of tissues and fluids.

Take care.

Gen

[fyftfe]

I react the same way when I get to the point in my depression that I just can't take anything anymore. When I'm in that mindset, I will literally blow up at everything and everyone that causes me even the slightest bit of irritation.

This past Friday was a perfect example ... I honestly think I spent the entire day in an irritated state (I was definitely guilty of snapping at a few people, including my boss).

It really sucks, because it's a vicious circle -- you get irritated and start flying off the hinges, then you feel guilty about flying off the hinges so you get depressed even more (which in turn makes you even more irritated).

[shortandcute]

Originally Posted by bharani1008

I think that being depressed uses so much energy that little things get us down easily. When something seems to go wrong it means we have to take action to correct it. That entails concentration and effort. If our store of energy is being used just to maintain then yeah, you get irritated. I also think that our level of frustration in life is also at a natural high since we don't get our needs met. That also makes one irritated. Perhaps you can just give yourself permission to be frustrated and irritated for a few minutes-- then let it go.
I'm a victim of jealousy too. Haven't found an effective coping mechanism for that one. I hate it. It makes me feel so petty. I really do want to be a decent person and that spoils it.
If you come up with a good way to cope with jealousy please post it.

I agree with you on this one. I know that this is true for me. I heard (or read) somewhere that irritability can be a sign or sypmtom of depression.

Well, Shortandcute, there is one way that might help---I'm sure there are many others. But the idea seems to me that if you don't judge yourself based on somebody else's intelligence or bearing or attitude or anything else, you'll learn to evaluate who you are by looking at your deepest inner principles and living by them.

That way, we tend not only to keep from judging others, but also, we don't judge ourselves. We just evaluate who we are and if we live by those principles, we'll be fine in life.

Then, have proper self-esteem for yourself. You're unique, you know; there's no
other person exactly like you, and you have an ability that no one else has.

Take care of yourself and remember, don't ever judge yourself based on somebody
else's thoughts or conditions or words. Just let your life be one of evaluating.
You'll free yourself from a lot of psychic pain, I think.

[1Buster]

Originally Posted by genetic

________________________________________________

Citric acid theory is not mine. It is hotly contested by some sights on
the internet and strongly recommended by other sites. The major problem with those who contest it is that citrus fruits often contain too much sugar, which is very acidifying to tissue and fluids. The lemon and lime do not fit that category, and potassium is known to be effective in lowering acidic states of fluids and tissues--completely different from the Ph of the system which remains stable within a very narrow margin.

Sorry, I needed to say, as I usually do, that it works for some of us.

I couldn't find evidence of any meds that require one to avoid potassisum, but would like to know which ones do, because I'd make it a point to avoid it if possible---just for myself.

It is generally known that stress causes strong acidity and anything
that helps avoid that may have beneficial value, in my view.

As for striking your doctors in the face, I wouldn't advise that. You might find yourself in a serious lawsuit. The truth is that many doctors don't really know that much about what their medications are doing to patients who suffer serious side effects. Many will tell you that it often takes 3 or more changes in medications during treatment to reach a satisfory "coctail" to treat mental illness.

And then there's the problem of what to do about the acidic ash of those meds.
I wonder why the psychiatrists don't give us information on that? I think many probably do who are knowledgeable about what helps relieve it.

I'm very curious about all of your info. I'm going to print your response so I can research, espec. the low-sugar citrus thing. My response last night was a little pissy - my mood last night.

I've never heard of "acidic ash," so that's where I'll start. Thanks!

[dg1983]

Hi Wolfgang,

I can relate to getting irritated often. For me it's probably once everyday, before it was more like three times a day when I was driving to work. I still get extremely irritated when driving and I also come up with plots to get back at people...I find that driving is draining because of that.

As for what worked in the past for me was some of these exercises in the power of now book...because it helped me personally to rationalize why I would feel so irritated at these drivers, or any people or situations that would irritate me. In the case of driving and irritability, when someone would cut me off, I would feel threatened. This fear translated itself into anger, and anger is a product of fear. What I came to realize is that in the moment I am safe and there wasn't any accident...it's hard to do in the moment, but when I feel myself wanting to plot against people, I try to remind myself that.

Originally Posted by dg1983

Hi Wolfgang,

I can relate to getting irritated often. For me it's probably once everyday, before it was more like three times a day when I was driving to work. I still get extremely irritated when driving and I also come up with plots to get back at people...I find that driving is draining because of that.

As for what worked in the past for me was some of these exercises in the power of now book...because it helped me personally to rationalize why I would feel so irritated at these drivers, or any people or situations that would irritate me. In the case of driving and irritability, when someone would cut me off, I would feel threatened. This fear translated itself into anger, and anger is a product of fear. What I came to realize is that in the moment I am safe and there wasn't any accident...it's hard to do in the moment, but when I feel myself wanting to plot against people, I try to remind myself that.

______________________________________
Interesting, dg1983. I've always understood that anger is the frustration of the drive for love. It's not the opposite of love because both are emotions. The real opposite of love is indifference, which is the withdrawal of emotions. Interesting perspective that anger is a product
of fear; I can see that, easily--especially as fear for oneself in possible injurious circumstances, etc.

[allimsaying]

I never thought of it as the drive for love Genetic. To me, it was fear, but looking deeper, I can see that the fear is connected to love in how Im afraid something will happen which disconnects me from something I love if that makes any sense. Like if I get so mad that I lose my job, then I cant take care of myself. If I cant take care of myself, I wont be in a position to help my aging mom, instead, I might become dependent on her or friends which I fear might make them love me less. So I can see how its inter-related. Its being loving to myself (and them) when I try to learn to manage my anger and prevent my fears from becoming reality. Thanks to you and dg for giving me the opening to look at that closer.

Also, what George and bharaini said about stress and jealousy. Stress, jealousy, fear, anger, and love. All connected. Discussion! Yeah!

Yes, I agree with you all on this.

[Wolfgang34]

Weird. I was irritated at times, sure, but then it hit me from out of nowhere. Even when I'm in a better mood, the feeling of irritation is in the back of my mind and don't know why.

I'm like this, too.

[Wolfgang34]

A lot of people are apparently.

[Wolfgang34]

Back after months and today I can't even remember why I'm in this pissy mood in the first place. I think it just came out of nowhere, like most of these angry or depressed feelings do. Everything right now is pissing me off for no reason. Noise, messing up while I type, this slow computer, thinking, not being able to concentrate, etc.

So far, I range from okay/normal, to sad and depressed, to angry and full of rage. I get quickly irritable over anything. I curse out loud to no one, think of how to kill and hurt people and sometimes attack our pets when it's time to cater to them.

I'm just sitting here ruminating on all the things that make me angry because I'm too pissed to try anything else (boxing, meditating, etc), as if those methods will help anyway. I'm trying to listen to music, but it's not really helping. What does help though is to let it go away on its own and not to do much in between.


I've always bottled up my anger and it's getting worse. I think it was a history of mine to do that. I've had a history of bottling up, only to explode on someone as a kid. I was bullied in school and had to sit by and listen to my family members argue and fight. I felt like the odd member out. I had no one (and still no one) to really talk to.

[aakriti90feb]

your harsh truths are absolutely right. worth accepting.