The state of irritability occurs when something or someone does not correspond to some norms, rules, behavioral system, worldview, etc. in person's perception. As a continuation of the previous article, “How to stop reacting to irritants and become calmer,” let’s look at several ways to cope with your irritation and learn to manage your reactions. Awareness of your feelings. Each person reacts to stimuli differently. Some people become aggressive and impulsive, others become withdrawn and aloof. The way we react can say a lot... Aggression is defense in attack. Alienation is also a defense, but in an attempt to hide and close yourself off. When you feel your irritation growing, ask yourself: “how am I feeling right now?” ...by switching attention from the source of irritation to our feelings, we can see the true cause of internal tension and irritability. To become aware of your emotions, it is useful to keep an “emotion diary.” In the diary we write down all the situations in which we experienced negativity. The benefit is that when we keep notes, we can look at the situation from the outside and analyze our condition. Breathe deeply. Breathing is one of the most effective ways to calm down. Deep breathing helps reduce adrenaline and cortisol levels in the body. Try taking a deep breath in through your nose, holding it for a few seconds, and then exhaling more slowly and calmly through your mouth. Focus on the present moment. When we focus on the present moment, we cannot think about the past or future, which helps us get rid of negative emotions. Try to close your eyes and imagine that you are in a quiet and peaceful place. Or switch your attention to actions that are more important to you at the moment. Don’t fight with others. You know there is such a phrase: “we are irritated in other people by what we do not accept in ourselves.” Many people have a lot of prohibitions and restrictions in their heads, for this reason a person can be annoyed by those who can afford more than him. Everything always starts with us, with our attitude towards ourselves. It is impossible to change another person, but it is possible to change your own attitude so as not to destroy yourself. There are always options: accept the situation and the person as is, become more free and open, and if you cannot accept, minimize contact with the person who is annoying. Find ways to relax. Relaxation is a good way to relieve stress, find what works for you. This could be meditation, yoga, reading a book, drawing (art therapy), just a walk in the fresh air, etc. It is important to find something that really helps you calm down. Change your surroundings. If you feel that your environment is causing you stress, try to change it. Move your desk, change the lighting in the room, make a larger rearrangement, or perhaps you want to redecorate or move altogether. Ask for help. If your reactions to stimuli become too strong and interfere with your life, seek help from a specialist. A psychologist or therapist can help you learn to manage your emotions and improve your mental health. There is also a benefit to our irritability. These emotions are an indicator of our discomfort, something that we should never tolerate or try to suppress within ourselves. This is like a bell of an impending psychological breakdown (outburst of anger, depression). Such reactions may be indicators that there are situations or people that we cannot influence in any way that can destroy us and perhaps we should think about just getting away from it... Irritants surround us everywhere, but we can learn to manage your reactions and become calmer. This will help us better cope with life's challenges and improve our quality of life..