How do I stop feeling irritated with the world?

[SirChenjins]

Everything and everyone is annoying me intensely and it’s getting worse. The neighbours and their petty street group chat, my team at work, colleagues, family members, other drivers, people on the TV and radio, politicians, slebs, moaners on social media…the list is becoming longer by the day. It sounds funny but it’s quite worrying - my tolerance for others is about this big > < and I’m worried that I’m going to get a name for myself for being a grumpy a-hole or that I’m going to absolutely explode one day. The mental effort it takes to keep my mouth shut and not post or email stuff I shouldn’t is exhausting. Anyone got any advice/tips/suggestions? And yes, I exercise/have hobbies /work/etc and no I can’t take HRT.

The answer is HRT, so I'd say the first thing to try is get a second opinion on whether you are able to use it.

I was on it for a while but it caused problems and the result was I was under the care of 2 consultants. Both said that I should come off it due to the risks and my GP won’t prescribe it. Hence my looking for other options.

Find more time and space for yourself, and I really recommend the book Wise Power. They talk about how we can look after ourselves through this important life transition and how to listen to our irritation - it's often telling us we NEED MORE SPACE!!

Plus, the things you've listed really are irritating, so don't feel you're being unreasonable!

A few tips from someone similarly afllicted...

Don't watch the news on the telly or listen to it on the radio. Have a 2-minute glance at the BBC/ITV website instead. That will be more than enough for one day, and who needs other people's stress in their lives anyway?

Don't buy or read a newspaper. They contain far more in the way of opinion than they do actual news. Avoid newspaper websites like the plague.
Current affairs, politicians and sleb news cannot annoy you if you have cut it out of your life.

Remember that there are other people who are just as irritated by you as you are by them, and probably for the same reason!! You can cut them some slack.

Use your new and finely-tuned bullshit radar wisely, particularly at work, where it can come in very useful.

Make time and room for you. Just you.

It's called getting older.

Join the club. What you say sounds normal.

I doubt HRT is your answer (I kind of remember your previous posts on 'why you can't' but not sure what the reason was. There is a lot of confusion on HRT by many drs who aren't really expert menopause consultants....)

However, I agree with a PP who says try to avoid stuff that makes you cross.
Obviously you can't avoid colleagues but you can learn to detach yourself and come up with your own mental 'mantra' when you feel the anger rising!

You don't need to watch TV, or use social media, or expose yourself to the crap.

I've cut loads of stuff like that out because I realised it was just a waste of time, energy and emotions. My only vice is MN and I spend too long reading some stuff there 😂

Thanks everyone - and good to hear I’m not being completely unreasonable!

I do try and get time to myself - walking the dog is my time of solitude and I love it. It’s difficult though as I work full time and manage a team so between that and family stuff I do feel a lot of like a lot of people rely on me - sometimes I feel like telling everyone to fuck right off but my rational brain tells me that’s not a good idea.

Have cut right back on watching the news and have limited my TV. Social media is mainly stuff relating to hobbies or interests (idiots on there too though) and MN (which can be brilliant - but also very annoying!)

It could be with age and menopause-induced symptoms. Did you use to bottle things up before? My mother used to do that and when she had menopause, she lashed out at us, particularly on things that we didn't agree. Try breathing techniques and meditation to manage your emotions.

Try the mantra ‘Let them’ on repeat!

Meditation app, yoga, CBD oil.

It's called getting older.
Join the club. What you say sounds normal.
I doubt HRT is your answer

Thanks for this - it made me laugh! I agree that it's an age thing more than a hormone thing.

My husband and I are both in our early 60's and our tolerance for stupidity seems to decline with each passing year😂

Think of it as a blessing. Cut all the petty stuff loose and minimize contact with people that really annoy you. Don't allow yourself to be drawn in to family or workplace drama. I find that age has brought clarity and I've become adept at prioritizing what adds value to my days.

You sound completely normal to me. You're simply becoming more discerning - embrace it!

If you find the answer let me know @SirChenjins

I can see myself being one of those mad old hermits, standing on a hill, shouting into the wind....sounds quite appealing really...

Recently everything and anything can hit me in the face and bring me down, sometimes I have the ability to pull myself up and refocus my energy but what is ALWAYS guaranteed to work for me is music I love played VERY loud singing along, dancing too is even better.
This particular tune is a go to for turning me on and giving me a kick of energy.

The The - dogs of lust

I'm lucky to have a cabin at the bottom of my garden, away from my lovely neighbours, where I don't care how loud the music is, there's a drum kit there too!!

Maybe Alanis Morissette?
Reasons I Drink
Thank U

But it's a roller coaster of emotions, there's no remedy.