It is not comfortable… but you’re OK. If irritability isn’t gone already, it will likely be gone soon. Go easy on yourself. (If you’ve been a jerk to friends, you can apologize.) You’re good. You’ve got this.

Of course, not everyone experiences the same things. If some of the themes in this guide do not apply to you, feel free to take anything that works and leave what doesn’t.

If you are feeling irritable or overwhelmed right now, hold on. As J. Cole puts it, "meditate, don't medicate." There are lots of types of meditation: the right one will work. The wrong type may actually unsettle you. Experiment with guided meditation (following a directed recording or guide) vs free (just noticing your thoughts as they drift by); movement vs still. Check out the meditations from the Mindfulness Institute of Emerging Adults (MIEA) for some examples to get you started.

Also, consider trying to locate emotions inside you. We hold feelings in our body. Where do you keep anxiety? (stomach, head, neck, somewhere else?) Where do you keep tension and irritation? (jaw, shoulders?) Knowing the physical location of our feelings helps us recognize and exist with them.