Irritability is a common emotion. Many factors can cause or contribute to irritability, including life stress, a lack of sleep, low blood sugar levels, and hormonal changes. When a person feels irritable, small things that would not usually bother them can make them feel annoyed or agitated.
So when you find yourself sweating the small stuff, it might be a sign that there are other, deeper problems you aren't dealing with, making you liable to blow a gasket at any moment. Many people who overreact tend to overthink situations that don't go their way, leaving them incapable of thinking about anything else.
Individuals with undiagnosed anxiety may find themselves lashing out and becoming frustrated over everyday occurrences that usually do not warrant an emotional reaction. Road rage is a perfect example of this. Traffic and crowds are often triggers of anxiety, which can result in becoming angry with people on the road.
It also suggests that the anger of adult ADHD may begin in childhood. Some reasons why ADHD may make a person angry include: Poor impulse control : ADHD affects executive function, which is the brain's ability to regulate emotions, plan activities, and control impulses.
Problems with emotional dysregulation, in particular with anger reactivity, are very common in people with ADHD. You are not alone in struggling in this area. Anger may indicate an associated mood problem but often is just part of the ADHD.
When you struggle with anxiety even small everyday tasks can seem like mountainous obstacles. As a result, you'll start to feel even more overwhelmed and nervous because you can't get things done. That's because anxious thoughts tend to “blow up” even the smallest things.
If you are stressing out over small things, perhaps lack of sleep is the cause. When your body is sleep deprived, you are not thinking clearly, and your mood is altered. You may feel like you are on the brink of being angry or crying over small things. This is an indicator that more sleep is essential in your life.
Irritability is common in ADHD, even though it is not a defining diagnostic feature.
With ADHD, a child or teen may have rapid or impulsive speech, physical restlessness, trouble focusing, irritability, and, sometimes, defiant or oppositional behavior.
Symptoms of Mood Swings in ADHD
Switching from excited one moment to sad, angry, or anxious the next. Fluctuating between having trouble paying attention and hyperfocusing on an activity. Having bursts of energy and fatigue through the day. Feeling emotions intensely and having difficulty regulating them.
Instead, it usually is diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder. The term "high-functioning anxiety" represents people who exhibit anxiety symptoms while maintaining a high level of functionality in various aspects of their lives.
Brain imaging shows that anxiety is the result of a biological problem in the brain. These changes in brain function can be caused by several things, including hormonal imbalances, exposure to toxins, or nutritional deficiencies.
Highly sensitive people (HSPs) tend to get overwhelmed or over-stimulated because they “process more information from their environment and from within than others do,” said Jean Fitzpatrick, LP, a psychotherapist who specializes in working with HSPs.
Overwhelm is a feeling all too familiar to anyone with ADHD or neurodiversity. When you're constantly bombarded with stimuli and your to-do list seems impossible to manage, it's easy to feel like you're drowning. One of the best ways to combat overwhelm is to write things down.
Panic Disorder (Characterized by Anxiety or Panic Attacks)
This condition, which is often marked by extreme anxiety, may cause you to feel panicked about small things, and these feelings may escalate during times of stress. Sadly, many people with panic disorders may struggle with embarrassment.
Increased anxiety: Yelling may trigger a “fight or flight” response, aggravating ADHD symptoms. Diminished self-esteem: Chronic exposure to harsh words could cause a decline in self-worth and self-confidence.
Common ADHD-Related Problems
Impulsive spending or overspending. Starting fights or arguing. Trouble maintaining friendships and romantic relationships. Speeding and dangerous driving.
These include feeling anxious and worrying more days than not for at least six months and other signs such as restlessness, trouble sleeping, muscle tension, and irritability. These problems need to cause clinically significant distress or impairment to warrant an anxiety disorder diagnosis, per the CDC.
It's not uncommon for people with anxiety to be misdiagnosed with ADHD, or vice versa.
Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and prioritize, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social plans. The inability to control impulses can range from impatience waiting in line or driving in traffic to mood swings and outbursts of anger. Adult ADHD symptoms may include: Impulsiveness.