When do you get annoyed

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About a decade ago, fellow journalist Flora Lichtman and I made that claim in a book called Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us — and in the intervening years, no one has challenged us. After we noted the lack of studies on this topic, did scholars step up to the plate?

Did even one university create a Department of Annoyance Science … endow a Distinguished Chair for Continuing Research Into Annoyance … or offer a major in annoying studies? Quite the opposite. Consider the explosive, ineluctable growth of Twitter: Once a seemingly benign social media platform , it now intrudes on every sphere of existence, tempting us to address matters we should rightly have no interest in.

Line cutters … Narcissists … Low talkers … Celebrities … Bigots. First: It must be noxious without being physically harmful. Second: It must be unpredictable and intermittent.

The loud ticking of an alarm clock or the odor of a cat litter box may at first be annoying, but with constant exposure over time, it ceases to be noticeable. Yet when an unpleasant noise or smell comes and goes, it becomes annoying each time it shows up. The intermittent nature of annoyances makes them hard if not impossible to anticipate and thus to prepare a defense against.

But when the slowdown is unexpected, it gets to you before you can stop yourself. Third and finally: To be truly annoying, something has to persist for an uncertain period of time. As for an example of annoyances varying by culture: If a U. In some Mediterranean countries, plopping down right next door is the norm, but that would cause many Americans to seethe.

But that individuality may be useful in certain settings. A psychiatrist friend of mine notes that while her patients may be reluctant to talk about their private dark thoughts, they have no problem railing about the people and situations that annoy them. Encouraging people to share their annoyances could be an easier way to open a window into their psyches.

An intriguing thing about annoyances is how they appear to change over time. Then, cell phone conversations seemed annoying only to the people not on the phone. The thinking seems to be, Why call when a text will do? Then, your heart might beat faster. Your palms might grow sweaty. Your blood pressure might rise.

Taking a few slow, deep breaths can calm your physiological response. When your body grows a little calmer, your brain might grow calmer too. Hold your breath for just a second and then exhale slowly through pursed lips for a count of three.

Do that three times and see if you feel a little better. Walk away for a minute and take an adult-sized time-out. Taking a quick break might be all you need to charge your batteries again so you can re-enter the situation feeling refreshed. Whether a break for you means a quick walk around the building or it means a few minutes of listening to music in your bedroom with the door shut, find something that can help you calm down fast.

Research shows that getting exercise can be good for your mental health. Physical activity has been used as an effective treatment for anxiety, mood disorder, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. So if irritability stems from a mental health issue, working out can help. On the flipside, however, too much exercise may increase irritability. If your exercise regimen seems to be worsening your mood, talk to your physician.

Chewing gum might be a quick way to relieve stress, which may be helpful in reducing your irritability. A study found that people felt less anxious and less stressed when they were chewing gum. It also improved their focus and attention. So the next time you feel a little irritable, reach for a piece of gum.