Depression is not always easy to identify. Not everyone has the same experiences with this mood disorder. Some people may withdraw from friends and family, while others may continue behaving as usual while concealing feelings of sadness and hopelessness. In some cases, depression can make people irritable. Irritability as a prominent symptom is especially common in children and adolescents, but adults can experience it as well. Mayo Clinic says that depression symptoms may include “angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters.” If you have depression, you may feel irritable for many hours nearly every day. As a result, you may find yourself wanting to spend more time alone. 

While irritability and wanting to be alone can be signs of depression, they aren’t always. Other possible reasons for these feelings include stress, anxiety and grief. Getting a more in-depth understanding of depression’s effects and other causes for irritability may provide insights into your own experiences.

How depression can make you feel irritable and want to be alone

When you think of how depression impacts people, you may imagine someone who is sad all the time. Depression can look different for everyone, though. Some people feel deep sadness, while others feel empty or numb. For many, depression causes irritability and a strong desire to be alone.

Here are some reasons why depression might lead to those feelings:

• Feeling overwhelmed — When you’re depressed, even small things can feel like too much to handle. Simple tasks, like answering a text or making a decision, can feel exhausting. This might make you short tempered and easily annoyed by things that typically wouldn’t bother you.
• Social exhaustion — Depression can make social interactions feel like a chore. Talking to friends or family may be too much for you, even if you love them. You might prefer to be alone because it takes too much energy to pretend to be OK or to engage in conversation.
• Negative thoughts — Depression might fill your mind with negative thoughts, like “Nobody understands me” or “I’m a burden.” These thoughts can make you want to isolate yourself, even when the people around you want to help.

Other reasons for irritability and wanting to be alone

While depression can be a major cause of these feelings, it’s not the only explanation. Many other things can cause irritability and a desire for solitude, including: 

• Stress and burnout — If you’re dealing with a lot of stress, you might feel easily annoyed or overwhelmed. Stress can drain your energy and make you want to retreat from social interactions. Burnout, which happens when you’re emotionally and physically exhausted, can also cause you to become irritable and withdrawn. This is common for students, caregivers and people with demanding jobs.
• Anxiety — Anxiety can make social situations feel overwhelming. If you constantly worry about what others think of you or feel nervous in conversations, you might prefer to be alone. Anxiety can also cause irritability, especially when you feel overstimulated or out of control. If anxiety is causing you distress, you may benefit from professional treatment.
• Grief or emotional pain — Grief can have many causes. If you’ve recently lost a loved one, ended a relationship or gone through another emotional hardship, you may feel irritable or want to be alone. Grief can cause sadness, and it can also make you feel angry, frustrated or numb. If you’ve been grieving for many months and your pain doesn’t seem to be getting any better, you may be experiencing persistent grief disorder. Professional mental health treatment can be key to processing your grief and moving forward.

Get mental health support at Lightfully to feel less irritable and alone

Irritability and wanting to be alone can be signs of depression, but they can also be caused by other factors like stress, anxiety and even a lack of sleep. If these feelings are lasting a long time or getting in the way of your life, it’s important to seek help.

At Lightfully, we’re here to help you find the treatment that fits your needs and guide you toward a healthier, happier life. We’ll work with you to identify the cause of your symptoms and provide tailored treatment. Everything we do centers around evidence-based, whole-person-centered care provided by deeply compassionate experts. We take a unique approach to care called Precision Care Model (PCM), which you can think of as a fully personalized framework to address your needs. PCM is designed to target the drivers behind mental health disorders and symptoms with the goal of promoting long-term relief and improvement.

Change is possible. If you want to learn more about your condition or you’re ready to take the first step toward treatment, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.