Irritability is also a telltale sign of stress. It may seem like small things that once barely caught our attention now set off short fuses. Snap reactions, a short temper, impatience with loved ones and colleagues – these are all ways that stress can permeate our daily interactions, creating friction where there need not be. As daunting as these emotional and mental effects of stress may be, understanding them is the first step towards managing them. Recognizing that your anxiety, depression, or irritability could be linked to stress can empower you to seek strategies that address the root causes, rather than just the symptoms. In the following sections, we will explore how to tackle stress head-on with practical, proactive methods that promote mental and emotional resilience.