How do you manage irritability due to anxiety?

[thetrickistokeepbreathing]

Does anyone find that their anxiety makes them more irritable?  One issue I have is that when I'm anxious I become irritable.  I feel almost constant anxiety, and often feel tired and irritable. Then I end up feeling guilty for being irritable/short with people (particularly my family), and then feel anxious because of that.

How do you manage irritability, short of isolating yourself from people?

[tigerpaw]

In the beginning of my anxiety I was so focused that I was rude and angry at people for little reason.

[momtoaprincess]

I understand how you feel.  I sometimes feel like such a crappy mom and wife for being "snippy".  I'm trying to learn to recognize when I start feeling really anxious and irritable and do something about it, like exercise or go out on my front porch and just breathe.  I also have Valerian root drops (b/c I don't take any meds) so sometimes I'll use that.  Believe me tho it can be hard, I have a little child who takes up a lot of my attention and BOTH me and my husband work from home a lot.  So sometimes also cut yourself some slack!