Hi Becca_Maria,
I have this issue, I also have 'Bipolar' and ADHD. I wear ear plugs everywhere I go, and have constant tinnitus because I perceive the high pitch frequencies of electrical systems. On top of that I have something called intuitive empathy, which means whenever someone near me experiences an emotion, it resonates in my body as though I am feeling it. So I've learnt some things that maybe will help you.
For me, my irritability stems from the difficulty in achieving a state of focus, or the way that events and noises draw my attention to something less desirable than whatever my objective is. This is a valuation and a perception on my part of what the distraction means to me at that point in time. eg the distraction could be a child running out onto the road after a ball infront of my car, which would be a very positive distraction. ( sorry for the cliche ) For me I also have a heightened awareness of whats going on around me, I hear every noise, see every bird that flies past the window, etc. every emotion I experience is intense, which is the result of a powerful nervous system sending every message to my head with high voltage. This intensity is also a commonality in alot of wealthy people i've met, which I see as a blessing, this means you also have a strong awareness.
Emotions are the reason anyone does anything, so you're blessed to feel them intensely, as characterised by the condition 'Bipolar'. Bipolar is not necessarily bad if you can condition your thoughts, perceptions, environment and habits to use the intensity with which you experience this or that for positive effect. Easy to say, not so easy to do. The older you are, the more potentially bad habits of thought you may have.
The most successful technique ive found so far is to write, just keep writing everything that makes you feel something. Eventually this brings me to a state of balance and slight exhaustion. Then I can make a list of all the crap in my life that's really causing distress, and make a step by step process on how to get rid of it. It is a slow gradual process, keeping a list helps keep spirits up. One critical routine for me is a ten minute run, push ups and the four tibetan core exercises when i first get up, then I take a cold shower. starting the day the same way everyday for me sets a chemical baseline, which helps. I tell myself dont miss a day, and no excuses.
