Irritability

Increased sensitivity to stimuli with a tendency to become easily annoyed, tense, or angered. Often caused by elevated cortisol and adrenaline as part of the body's fight-or-flight response. When cortisol remains high for prolonged periods, the brain stays in a defensive state—reducing serotonin and GABA activity while increasing dopamine and norepinephrine signaling. This heightens alertness and aggression to help the body prepare for conflict or survival, but in modern contexts it manifests as irritability, impatience, and emotional reactivity.