With chronic tinnitus, it’s not the ringing in your ears that’s the actual issue. It’s the constant never ending ringing, that’s the real issue.
Initially, this may be a mild noise that’s not much more than a bit annoying. But after a day or a week or a month, that buzzing or ringing can become aggravating, frustrating, even debilitating.
That’s why it’s crucial to have some tips to fall back on, tips that make living with tinnitus less difficult. It can make a big difference if you have a plan when you’re lying in bed struggling to fall asleep because of the ringing or buzzing in your ear.
How You Can Worsen Your Tinnitus
Chronic tinnitus, after all, is often not a static condition. Symptoms present themselves in spikes and valleys. Sometimes, your tinnitus may be an afterthought, hidden in the background of daily life. At other times, that ringing could be as difficult to ignore as a full-blown, individualized symphony.
That can leave you in a very scary place of uncertainty. You may be so worried about your tinnitus flaring up while you’re in a meeting that you have a panic attack while you’re driving to work. And the very panic attack brought on by this worry can itself trigger the tinnitus.
Tips For Living With Tinnitus
You will be in a greater position to prepare for and manage tinnitus the more you know about it. And, because there’s no known cure for tinnitus, management of symptoms is essential. There’s no reason that your quality of life has to suffer if you establish the proper treatment.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is One Approach
Several treatment options for tinnitus include some kind of tinnitus retraining therapy (or TRT). The sound of rain on a roof is a common analogy: it’s very loud and noticeable when it first begins but by the time the storm is ending you stop paying attention to it and fades into the background. It’s the same basic concept with TRT, teaching your brain to move that ringing into the background of your attention where it’s easier to ignore.
Perfecting this method can take a bit of practice.
Distract Your Brain
Your brain is constantly looking for the source of the noise and that’s one of the reasons why tinnitus can be so aggravating. So giving your brain more (and varied) stimuli to focus on can help. Try these:
- Bring a book to the park and listen to the birds while you read.
- Play music while you paint a picture.
- Read a book while soaking in a bubble bath.
You get the gist: Your tinnitus may be able to be reduced by engaging your brain.
Meditation, as an alternate approach, helps you concentrate your attention on a mantra, or your breathing which helps take your attention away from your tinnitus. Another benefit of meditation, at least for some, is that it can lower blood pressure which is a common cause of tinnitus symptoms.
Think about a Hearing Aid For Tinnitus Management
Several hearing aid companies have manufactured hearing aids that help reduce the ringing in your ear. Hearing aids are a great solution because you put them in and can forget about them the whole day, you don’t need to carry around a white noise generator or constantly use an app. You can relax and let a discreet hearing aid manage the ringing for you.
Have a Plan (And Follow-Through)
The effect of some tinnitus episodes can be lessened, and your stress response can be managed if you have a practical plan for any surges in your symptoms. Pack a bag of useful items to bring with you. Anything that will help you be more prepared and keep you from having a panic attack, like making a list of helpful exercises, will go a long way toward management.
Management is Key
Chronic tinnitus is a condition that has no known cure. But management and treatment of tinnitus is a very real possibility. Make sure you are managing your tinnitus not suffering from it by utilizing these tips and any others that you find helpful.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3303565/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5050200/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17956798/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447068/
https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008664