Get to know agitation, a condition related to mental disorders

Feelings of anger or irritation are common to everyone. However, under certain conditions, this anger can be very severe or what is commonly known as agitation. If this happens to you, you better be vigilant. The reason is, agitation is a condition that can be a sign of certain mental disorders. To find out more, see the full review of agitation below.

What is agitation?

Agitation is the feeling of irritation, anxiety, irritability, or anger that a person experiences. This condition is generally triggered by a certain situation or pressure that often occurs in every life. You may experience agitation because of pressure at work, school, or other conditions.

However, agitation can also arise without a known cause. In this condition, the agitation you experience needs to be aware of. The reason is, agitation can be a sign of certain medical conditions, including mental health problems, that can interfere with your daily life.

Not infrequently, agitation in this condition is often accompanied by various other signs. This includes unusual gestures, speaking harshly, behaving badly or aggressively, to violent tendencies. The unusual movements in question can be in the form of wringing hands, clenching fists, shuffling legs, pacing, or pulling hair, skin, or clothes.

These signs of agitation can come on suddenly or develop over time, over a long period of time. This can last for minutes, weeks, or even months.

In the first stage of its appearance, a person may simply feel irritable, agitated, or irritated. Then, if agitation increases, he may start pacing back and forth, speaking harshly, clenching his fists, until he starts behaving aggressively and threateningly.

Meanwhile, reported by MedlinePlus, if agitation is accompanied by a change in alertness, this can be a sign of delirium. Generally, delirium is caused by certain medical conditions that must be checked by a doctor immediately.

Agitation is a condition caused by the following factors

Agitation is a mood disorder caused by various factors. The following are various causes of agitation that may occur:

• Stress

Stress is the most common cause of agitation. This condition can arise due to various factors, such as pressure from work (eg burnout syndrome), school, financial problems, relationship problems, or certain traumatic events.

• Hormonal imbalance

Hormones that are out of balance, such as thyroid hormones, can also cause agitation. This includes an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). This hormonal imbalance can have an effect on brain function, so that various neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as mood changes (including agitation) and cognitive changes, often occur.

• Autism

People with autism have problems with social skills, behavior, speech, and nonverbal communication. This condition can then cause people with autism to become irritable or experience agitation.

• Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that causes sufferers to experience hallucinations, delusions, to have irregular thoughts and behavior. This condition often causes unexpected agitation.

• Anxiety disorders, depression, and bipolar disorder

Anxiety disorders, depression, and bipolar disorder are mental disorders that often affect a sufferer's mood. Apart from prolonged sadness and anxiety and a lack of energy, they can also cause feelings of irritability and anger or agitation.

Apart from the factors above, here are other conditions that can be a cause of agitation:

• Alcohol addiction or alcohol withdrawal.
• Pain in certain body parts or fever.
• Allergic reactions
• Excessive caffeine consumption.
• Abuse of illegal drugs, such as cocaine or marijuana.
• Infections, especially in the elderly.
• Poisoning, such as carbon monoxide.
• Use of drugs, such as amphetamines, theophylline, and corticosteroids.
• Vitamin B6 deficiency.
• Diseases that affect the central nervous system, such as brain tumors, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or head injury or trauma.

How to deal with agitation?

Agitation is a condition that can still be controlled with various medications. However, how to control or treat this condition depends on the cause of the agitation itself.

For example, psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs are often given to people with anxiety disorders, and can be a way to treat bipolar disorder. One of the therapies offered is usually in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Meanwhile, if agitation occurs because of stress, you can do certain ways that are suitable for you to relieve stress. For example, yoga, meditation, or breathing techniques. Other causes of agitation also require specific methods. Consult your doctor for the right type of treatment.

Apart from specific ways, agitation can also be treated in other general ways. Here are some common ways to help with symptoms of agitation:

• Creating a calm environment.
• Reduce the lighting in the house during the day and at night.
• Get plenty of rest and sleep.
• Taking sedative drugs, such as benzodiazepines, both oral and injection, especially in severe conditions. Consult with your doctor whether you need to consume this drug or not.

To find the right type of treatment, a diagnosis from a doctor is of course very necessary. Therefore, you should consult your doctor immediately if you or your relatives experience severe agitation for a long time, have no known triggers, or are often accompanied by other symptoms. In severe cases, agitation can lead to a tendency to hurt yourself, others, or the urge to commit suicide.

Why are agitation and depression related?

People with depression are often described as sluggish, always moping, hard to concentrate, and unproductive. However, some depressed people can go on to school, work, even stay hangout with his friends as usual.

They do this in an effort to cover up the symptoms of depression they have. Some people choose to hide their depression with smiles and laughter or what is often called hidden depression.

On the other hand, some depressed people are more likely to exhibit negative behaviors, such as anger, irritation, and excessive frustration. This is a "shield" or as a form of self-defense to ward off nosy questions around people when one day they see it looks more gloomy and sad.

This condition is known as agitation depression. Agitational depression is a subtype of the type of clinical depression aka major depression (major depressive disorder/ MDD). Apart from excessive anger and anxiety, this type of depression can also produce psychomotor symptoms, such as pacing, playing or twisting hair, biting fingers or nails, rubbing or scratching the skin, screaming, or talking a lot.