Are you quick to lose your temper all the time? Have little tolerance to what once did not bother you? Do you wonder why you are always cranky? And it appears to be for no reason. Well there is always a reason but you may just not know what it is. The only way to stop feeling cranky is to find out why.
Of course, lack of sleep and hunger are two obvious reasons. But if these do not apply to you, do yourself a favour and find out why. You will also be doing those around you a favour for it is not very nice being around someone who is always cranky. It makes people walk on eggshells never knowing how you will react.
It is important to take some time out to find the source of your crankiness. Here are some possible reasons you find yourself being cranky all the time.
Hormonal levels
Does your crankiness occur at the same time every month? If so, then it could be your hormones playing havoc with your emotions during your monthly cycle. During each month your ovaries produce progesterone and estrogen. A week before your period begins, progesterone levels reach their peak and then suddenly drop. And this can cause your crankiness as well as anxiety and agitation.
Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is what causes these hormonal changes. Also, when you go through menopause, your progesterone levels can drop to zero, and this will cause crankiness and irritability.
The good news is there is a solution if you are cranky during this time. Studies show taking omega-3 daily can help you ward of the effects of PMS and menopause. If this does not help during menopause, talk to your doctor about hormone replacement therapy.
Too much caffeine
Most of us enjoy a coffee to start the day. And, of course, coffee is a stimulant so you do not want to overdo it during the day and avoid it at night. So, if you are someone who drinks a lot of coffee or caffeinated drinks this could be causing your crankiness. Even small amounts coffee can cause:
- anxiety
- restlessness
- headaches
- nervousness.
But the thing with caffeine is that when you stop drinking it this can cause withdrawal symptoms such as moodiness and tiredness. Drinking coffee and caffeinated drinks in moderation can stop you feeling cranky. What is moderation? The Mayo Clinic says that up to 400 mg of caffeine a day appears to be safe. But this may not work for everyone. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others so you may need to reduce your intake more to relieve your cranky feelings.
Not eating well
How often do you forget to eat because you are too busy? Did you know that your brain needs good, healthy food to help you perform at your best? The longer you go without eating, the more likely you are to feel cranky and irritable. And grabbing junk food on the run to stave off hunger pains can make the way you feel even worse.
Your brain needs glucose to keep it energised. So, skipping meals causes your blood sugar levels to drop. This causes your brain to release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline which flood your bloodstream. These are stress hormones that cause your energy levels to drop. They also cause crankiness, impair your ability to focus and can put you on edge. This can make you snap at the people around you.
There is an easy solution if this is what makes you cranky. You need to eat food high in nutrients so you feel better. Because your crankiness is a direct result of your lack of food intake, you should:
- Enjoy eating up to six meals or snacks every day. Make sure what you eat is healthy and balanced so your brain gets the glucose it needs for peak performance. Ensure you eat a good mix of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains and lean meats.
- Try to avoid junk food as it can make you crankier with their high levels of processed fats and sugar. Studies show that fats like trans fats have links to increased feelings of aggression, depression and irritability. While you may enjoy them and eat them to stave off hunger, they have little or no nutritional benefit. And they add to your crankiness.
Sleep habits
While you think you may be getting enough sleep, are you really? Many people pride themselves on functioning daily on just a few hours a night. If you are one of these people, this could be the cause of your crankiness. Depriving yourself of sleep can also cause depression and anxiety. Your body recharges and repairs itself while you sleep so aim for seven to nine hours a night so you are not sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation can cause depression, and make you crankier and more irritable towards the people in your life.
Sleeping environment
No matter how many hours of sleep you get a night, you will still wake up tired if your bedroom is not conducive to sleep. It needs to be comfortable. Too much light from the street, a reading lamp, television or even your alarm clock can disturb the quality of your sleep. Too much light will decrease your production of melatonin which you need for a good night’s sleep. But these are all things you can fix.
Put up good block out curtains or wear a sleep mask to bed to block out any annoying light. Turn the clock so it faces way from the bed and put the television on a timer if you need it to help you get to sleep.
Wrong time of the day
We all know about people who are morning people or night owls. If you are a night owl, getting up early even when you get enough sleep can be enough to make you cranky. You are getting up when all you want to be is fast asleep.
Being a night owl can be tough when your daily schedule gets you up too early. The solution to this, if you have a flexible work schedule, is to start work later in the day.
If none of this works, visit your doctor for there may be an underlying problem behind your lack of sleep.
Underlying mental health disorder
Unexplainable crankiness can be the result of depression, anxiety or other mental health issues. Low levels of dopamine or serotonin can negatively impact your moods and how you feel. While you may feel cranky all the time you may also lose interest in all the things that once brought you joy. You may also isolate yourself from friends and family, and not feel like socialising. And you may have trouble concentrating and neglect your responsibilities.
When you think this may be the case, seek out professional help for you may not be able to deal with what is happening to you alone. There is nothing worse than not knowing what is making you cranky all the time.
Keep in mind
We all get cranky and irritable from time to time. One minute you are on top the world and the next you are on edge without knowing why. Being cranky can ruin your day and affect the people around you.
Now you understand what can cause you to feel this way all the time, you can do something about it.
Get help
Contact us to find out how I can help you or someone you are close to deal with a mental health issue so that crankiness becomes a thing of the past. We can help with all types of mental health disorders. Call us on 1300 236 272 when you need help.
We can work with you in our Spas, over the phone or via Skype wherever you are in the world. Book in today for my Emotional Empowerment Program. I have an introductory offer for just $79 so you can start taking back control of your life. We can help most people replace mental illness with peace, joy and happiness in a matter of weeks. Contact us today.
Let me help stop the effects of mental health issues
My Emotional Empowerment Program has helped thousands of people like you control their mental health issues so they live happier lives. With my help you can learn to stop these crippling symptoms taking over your life without the use of prescribed medications. I can help you replace crankiness and irritability with happiness, peace and contentment in weeks not years. Have a listen to what Nikola has to say about my program after a few sessions.