Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Getting irritated by people as getting older. Anyone else?

115 replies

straighttalker99 · 07/09/2025 18:20

I think this is possibly is a 'me' thing, but the older I get, the more completely and utterly irritated I find myself getting with people. (I'm 40 for context). Does anyone feel this way?

Example : I went away with a work friend last minute this week for a work event (only met her the once and had a lovely time at a recreational event we planned together) and we got on really well. We message each other a fair amount in between work too so felt I knew her well etc (but in hindsight probably don't). Anyways, spent the past few days away with her in a shared apartment and it's been really tough. She was so loud, made random noises such as burping, and weird hiccup sounds in public which I would be mortified with, counted every single penny she used and asked for every penny of costs we shared. It felt very transactional. She interrupted me multiple times mid-flow conversation and basically took over extra spaces in the apartment and made them hers. She was up late most nights and I had difficulty sleeping because she was banging about.

I am also going through a really difficult personal problem at the moment so may be a bit oversensitive and have spent most of the last few days in tears as I push through work. In the end I just left and got the train now. I'm back in the peace of my own home and my God, it is bliss!!!

Does anyone feel that you may just be done with people? I didn't realise having my own space and being on my own could feel so amazing.

OP posts:
Flump9 · 07/09/2025 18:23

Welcome to perimenopause.

SabreIsMyFave · 07/09/2025 18:23

OMG what a ridiculous, idiotic thread, FFS, just go away @straighttalker99 Good grief! 😠

Grin Joking! Yep, I feel ya. I get annoyed by a lot more now I am in my late 50s...

Other peoples small children, adverts, most noises, dogs barking, all sorts.

I am proper grumpy old woman! Hmm

😆

JacknDiane · 07/09/2025 18:23

Oh yes

Dabberlocks · 07/09/2025 18:23

Everything and everybody irritates me now.

Rightandwrong · 07/09/2025 18:24

Just wait until you are in your 70s like me OP!
I definitely think as you get older your tolerance for other people wears very thin.
And you really see people for what they are and not the facade they present.

straighttalker99 · 07/09/2025 18:29

Thank God it's not just me. 🤣🤣. And yes, I think I have turned into the ultimate grump pants lately.

OP posts:
CheerfulBunny · 07/09/2025 18:29

Dabberlocks · 07/09/2025 18:23

Everything and everybody irritates me now.

Indeed. For instance, virtually everyone I work with just drives me barmy. I have to really watch it on online meetings because my annoyance shows all over my face.

GrandmasCat · 07/09/2025 18:31

My friend and I were talking about this a moment ago, she went ballistic and almost left the church mid mass as someone from the community was doing the sermon and she did not only found igg to long and boring, it apparently ruined her Sunday. She also mentioned that she almost punched the woman next to her when she spontaneously said she found the sermon wonderful.

I understood perfectly. I almost walked out of mass one day when some traveling American volunteered to play the guitar and sing which meant the little traditional choir we had didn’t sing that day… the songs were so.John Denver I was furious… even when I loooove John Denver….

Neither of us are church birds, particularly practicantes and fall more in the agnostic side but… here we are.and we are barely 50 🤷🏼‍♀️

ginasevern · 07/09/2025 18:31

I certainly don't have the time for people that I did when I was younger. I used to sit and listen to other people's endless problems, even just random people on the bus stop, and I would usually try to help someone if I could. Well sorry but those days have gone. I'm not rude or unkind but after 68 years on this earth I've realised that it's very much a one way street.

Sunshineandswimming · 07/09/2025 19:30

Yep, absolutely understand you. I have always been a very calm & tolerant person but over the last 3 years (perimenopause) I have lost all of that! Lots of things now annoy me: people driving too slowly, people waffling & not getting to the point, loud chewing/breathing/being and in fact just people in general now irritate me. I've really reduced who I now go out with socially as there's less people who I can tolerate.
Work colleagues are testing my patience but I have 7-8 years left at work 😬
Has anyone found any miracle cures? I'm on all the HRT!

LlamaNoDrama · 07/09/2025 19:30

Yea definitely. Mid 40's here. a few times recently I've called people out on stuff I'd usually just simmer quietly over. I don't intend to, it just comes out and then I'm like fuck did I actually just say that! It's bound to bit me on the arse soon.

Whatwouldnanado · 07/09/2025 19:38

Yup. As the hormones have dropped so has my tolerance for nonsense and any concern for What Other People Think. Just yesterday I pointed out to a check out girl that telling me I’’m “not a problem “ after I thanked her was perhaps not the best idea!
This and the joy of not worrying about contraception is the joy of menopause.
The woman you went away with sounds like a completely rude loon and should be dropped from all future contact.

LaurieFairyCake · 07/09/2025 20:06

I only actively like about 3 people.

i love my 50s Wink

VanessaFence · 07/09/2025 20:26

Just yesterday I pointed out to a check out girl that telling me I’’m “not a problem “ after I thanked her was perhaps not the best idea!

I agree. You clearly are a problem

Hummingbirdtree · 07/09/2025 20:28

straighttalker99 · 07/09/2025 18:20

I think this is possibly is a 'me' thing, but the older I get, the more completely and utterly irritated I find myself getting with people. (I'm 40 for context). Does anyone feel this way?

Example : I went away with a work friend last minute this week for a work event (only met her the once and had a lovely time at a recreational event we planned together) and we got on really well. We message each other a fair amount in between work too so felt I knew her well etc (but in hindsight probably don't). Anyways, spent the past few days away with her in a shared apartment and it's been really tough. She was so loud, made random noises such as burping, and weird hiccup sounds in public which I would be mortified with, counted every single penny she used and asked for every penny of costs we shared. It felt very transactional. She interrupted me multiple times mid-flow conversation and basically took over extra spaces in the apartment and made them hers. She was up late most nights and I had difficulty sleeping because she was banging about.

I am also going through a really difficult personal problem at the moment so may be a bit oversensitive and have spent most of the last few days in tears as I push through work. In the end I just left and got the train now. I'm back in the peace of my own home and my God, it is bliss!!!

Does anyone feel that you may just be done with people? I didn't realise having my own space and being on my own could feel so amazing.

I feel this way increasingly. I just find other people intensely annoying.

Alwayssnacking · 07/09/2025 20:39

SabreIsMyFave · 07/09/2025 18:23

OMG what a ridiculous, idiotic thread, FFS, just go away @straighttalker99 Good grief! 😠

Grin Joking! Yep, I feel ya. I get annoyed by a lot more now I am in my late 50s...

Other peoples small children, adverts, most noises, dogs barking, all sorts.

I am proper grumpy old woman! Hmm

😆

🤣

SabreIsMyFave · 07/09/2025 20:41

Alwayssnacking · 07/09/2025 20:39

🤣

😘

ShoeeMcfee · 07/09/2025 20:43

Rightandwrong · 07/09/2025 18:24

Just wait until you are in your 70s like me OP!
I definitely think as you get older your tolerance for other people wears very thin.
And you really see people for what they are and not the facade they present.

I agree with you, but let's not be friends :)

BollyKnickerz · 07/09/2025 20:43

Yes I do. I think I'm perimenopausal. People that keep talking get me the most. just.stop.talking. especially when it's inane drivel.

More and more I realise what a con marriage is too. Women pick up the grunt work. And men get all whiney and needy re: sex and think somehow that'll get us in the mood. Pfft. (Yes I've got an axe to grind this evening) 😁

Platypusdiver · 07/09/2025 20:45

No, I don't find people more annoying in general as I get older. But I do find older people certainly have less patience (and are ruder than needs to be). Maybe you are just meeting each other?

FunkyMonks · 07/09/2025 20:48

Yep I am the same and I’m 38 I don’t know if it’s age or just Covid and the lockdowns but I’m finding more and more I don’t like people everyone seems so rude and self centred and lack basic manners.

declutteringmymind · 07/09/2025 20:52

Wait until you piss yourself off. I currently am rage triggered by my own voice. It’s maddening.

Shayisgreat · 07/09/2025 21:13

Yeah, I'm irritable now when I used not to be.

I really have to school my face in work and socially as I can feel it frowning when someone says something else fucking stupid.

Also, when people respond to my (admittedly very direct) emails with "Hi, I hope you're well and enjoying the nice weather" before answering my questions I just get so annoyed.

AnnoyedAsAllHeck · 08/09/2025 11:07

LaurieFairyCake · 07/09/2025 20:06

I only actively like about 3 people.

i love my 50s Wink

That's about 4 more than me. 🙃😬😎😉

PumpkinSeasonOctober · 08/09/2025 11:09

To be fair your work friends vulgar behaviour is enough to drive anyone to irritation.

Swipe left for the next trending thread