The real problem with chronic tinnitus is not just that you have a ringing in your ears. The real problem is that the ringing won’t stop.
The constant noise, perhaps rather modest in volume, might begin as little more than a nuisance. But the ringing can become aggravating and even debilitating if it goes on for days or months or more.
That’s why it’s essential 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 unable to fall asleep because of the buzzing or ringing in your ear.
Your Tinnitus Can be Exacerbated
Chronic tinnitus, in fact, is frequently not a static problem. Symptoms present themselves in spikes and valleys. There are times when your tinnitus is mild and practically lost in the background. At other times the noises will be screeching in your ears so loudly it’s impossible to disregard.
That can leave you in a rather scary place of uncertainty. Maybe you even experience panic attacks while driving to work because you’re concerned about your tinnitus flaring up while you’re in a meeting. And the very panic attack caused by this worry can itself cause the tinnitus.
Tips For Coping With Tinnitus
You will be in a better position to plan for and control tinnitus the more you know about it. And management is the key since tinnitus doesn’t have a known cure. There’s no reason that your quality of life needs to suffer if you put in place the right treatment.
Consider Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
Many treatment options for tinnitus include some form of tinnitus retraining therapy (or TRT). The analogy that gets used frequently is the sound of rain on your roof: very apparent at the beginning of a storm, but you stop focusing on it after a while and that rain-on-rooftops sound goes into the background. It’s the same basic idea with TRT, training your brain to move that ringing into the background of your attention where it’s easier to dismiss.
It can take practice to master this method.
Get Your Brain Distracted
Your brain is continuously 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 concentrate on can be helpful. Try these:
- Take a book to the park and listen to the birds while reading.
- Do some drawing or painting while listening to music.
- Read a book while soaking in a bubble bath.
You get the idea: Your tinnitus might be able to be decreased by engaging your brain.
Alternately, many individuals have discovered that meditation helps because it concentrates your attention on something else, your breath, a mantra, and etc. Another advantage of meditation, at least for some, is that it can reduce blood pressure which is a common cause of tinnitus symptoms.
Manage Tinnitus With a Hearing Aid
Numerous hearing aid companies have manufactured hearing aids that help reduce the ringing in your ear. This option is very convenient because they are small and out of your way compared to other strategies. You can relax and let a discreet hearing aid deal with the ringing for you.
Make a Plan (And Follow-Through)
The effect of some tinnitus episodes can be lessened, and your stress reaction can be controlled if you have a good plan for any surges in your symptoms. Plan on having a “go bag” full of stuff you might need. Anything that can help you be equipped for a tinnitus spike, even making a list of useful exercises will be good because it will keep you from having a panic attack!
The Key is Management
Chronic tinnitus is a condition that has no known cure. But that doesn’t mean that people cannot manage and treat their tinnitus. Make sure you are managing your tinnitus not suffering from it by utilizing these tips and any others that you find helpful.
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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