Yes, irritability is 100% normal in early sobriety, as is anxiety.
Your brain got accustomed to being artificially sedated, and when you take away the sedative, there's a rebound effect.
Fear is a good initial motivator for getting sober, but it rarely works as a long-term strategy. The idea is to continue to want to be sober more than you want to be drunk, on an ongoing basis, no matter what happens in your life. This usually means making some fundamental changes.
For a start, why not join one of the Newcomer's Daily Support threads here on SR? Here's a link:
Newcomer's Daily Support Threads - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information
Regular participation here can help get your quest for a sober life off to a running start.