Why have I been so irritable lately? | Incheon Mood Swings, Nervous Exhaustion
If you're struggling with emotional regulation, what you need right now isn't willpower, but resilience.
Hello. This is Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic.
There are people who sigh as soon as they enter the consultation room.
“Doctor, I've been feeling strange lately. I don't know why I get so irritable. It's over nothing, but I get so angry that I even surprise myself.”
I can't sleep deeply, I often experience heart palpitations, and my emotions won't settle.
“My family also asks, 'Why are you so sensitive?' But I don't know why either. It just flares up.”
I hear these words surprisingly often. And many people worry, “Am I just becoming like this as I get older?”
But in such cases, I always tell them this:
“That's not a personality issue; it could be a problem with your neurological circuits.”
Lately, the number of people experiencing this has been increasing. It's as if their nerves are completely on edge, their emotions explode over small things, they can't sleep at night, and their body remains tense while they struggle to concentrate.
In the past, this state was referred to as ‘neurasthenia.’ Although that diagnostic term is no longer used, its underlying meaning remains relevant.
It's a state where the entire body and mind are exhausted, and self-regulation is compromised. However, it's too complex to simply categorize it as just ‘anxiety,’ ‘depression,’ or ‘anger.’
We are able to regulate our emotions thanks to the brain, particularly the frontal lobe. For the frontal lobe to function properly, it requires energy. Adequate sleep, stable blood sugar, and a balanced nervous system are essential for the brain to act as a ‘brake,’ helping us manage our emotions.
However, when fatigue accumulates, sleep becomes shallow, and stress is repeated, as is common recently, this frontal lobe ‘brake’ can malfunction. When this happens, the brain becomes preoccupied with ‘immediate reactions’ rather than ‘situational judgment,’ and emotions that arise then burst out into action without any restraint. This isn't a sign of mental weakness, but genuinely a problem with your internal neurological circuits.
In Korean Medicine, this state is referred to as ‘Yi-ro (易怒),’ which translates to a condition where one easily gets angry. While various pattern differentiations are possible – such as Gan Gi Ul Gyeol (肝氣鬱結, Liver Qi Stagnation), Dam Hwa Sang Yeok (痰火上擾, Phlegm-Fire harassing upwards), Sim Sin Bul Gyo (心腎不交, Heart-Kidney Disharmony) – the common underlying principle is that ‘the Qi (vital energy) within the body surges upwards.’
If the body is deficient, the foundation for emotional resilience crumbles. When Qi becomes stagnant due to stress, it will inevitably erupt as anger eventually. This cannot be resolved by simply thinking, 'I need to suppress my anger.' If your internal rhythm is already disrupted and the energy needed to regulate emotions is depleted, willpower alone will not suffice.
Therefore, treatment must center on recovery, not mere suppression.
Beta-blockers like Propranolol and benzodiazepine-based medications can provide momentary calm, but they don't restore your body's overall balance, do they?
The Korean Medicine approach simultaneously addresses autonomic nervous system recovery, Qi circulation regulation, and the elimination of Phlegm-Fire (Dam Hwa). Acupuncture treatment corrects Seung Gang Sil Jo (升降失調, imbalance of ascending and descending Qi), calms tense sympathetic nerves, and reduces excessive tension around the cervical spine. Herbal medicine resolves Gan Gi Ul Gyeol (Liver Qi Stagnation), eliminates Dam Seup (痰濕, Phlegm-Dampness), lowers Sim Hwa (心火, Heart Fire), and regulates the autonomic nervous system.
And what must also be considered is your lifestyle rhythm. If your sleep patterns, meal intervals, and activity levels are all imbalanced, recovery won't truly happen, no matter how much medicine you take or acupuncture you receive.
Therefore, in the consultation room, I often say this:
“You're not simply sensitive. On the contrary, the fact that your body can still send signals means its responsiveness is still active.”
The real crisis is a state of apathy where no emotions are felt. Right now, when you feel angry, tense, and your mood fluctuates, your body is still actively sending you a warning signal.
What you need right now isn't ‘willpower’ to suppress your emotions, but ‘resilience’ to restore a rhythm where your emotions can be regulated once more.
#Neurasthenia #MoodSwings