The real problem with chronic tinnitus isn’t only that you have a ringing in your ears. The real problem is that the ringing doesn’t stop.
The continuous noise, perhaps rather moderate in volume, might start as little more than a nuisance. But after a day or a week or a month, that ringing or buzzing can become aggravating, frustrating, even debilitating.
That’s why it’s crucial that if you are coping with tinnitus you follow some tips to make life easier. When you’re lying in bed, having trouble falling asleep because you keep hearing buzzing from your left ear, having a plan is going to help you a lot.
How You Can Exacerbate Your Tinnitus
Chronic tinnitus, in fact, is commonly not a static problem. There are increases and decreases in the manifestation of symptoms. There are times when your tinnitus is minor and virtually lost in the background. At other times the sounds will be shrieking in your ears so loudly it’s impossible to dismiss.
This can be a really uncertain and frightening situation. You may be so worried about your tinnitus flaring up during a meeting that you get a panic attack while driving to work. That panic attack, in and of itself, can cause the very situation you’re worried about.
Tips For Coping With Tinnitus
You will be in a greater position to plan for and manage tinnitus the more you know about it. And, because there’s no known cure for tinnitus, control of symptoms is vital. There’s no reason that your quality of life needs to suffer if you put in place the right treatment.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is One Option
Many treatment options for tinnitus involve some form of tinnitus retraining therapy (or TRT). The sound of rain on a rooftop is a common analogy: very noticeable 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. TRT uses the same concept to teach your brain to move the tinnitus symptoms into the background of your thoughts so you will have an easier time ignoring them.
It can take training to master this method.
Distract Your Brain
One reason tinnitus can be so frustrating is because your brain is constantly searching for the source of that noise, trying to signal you to its presence. So supplying your brain with more (and varied) stimuli to focus on can be helpful. Try these:
- Take a bubble bath while reading a book.
- Bring a book to the park and listen to the birds while you read.
- Play music while you paint a picture.
You get the idea: engaging your brain can help you manage your tinnitus.
Meditation, as an alternate approach, helps you concentrate your attention on a mantra, or your breathing which helps take your focus away from your tinnitus. Another advantage of meditation, at least for some people, is that it can reduce blood pressure which is a common cause of tinnitus symptoms.
Consider a Hearing Aid For Tinnitus Management
Numerous hearing aid companies have developed hearing aids that help minimize the ringing in your ear. This solution is really convenient because they are small and out of your way compared to other strategies. You can relax and let a discreet hearing aid take care of the ringing for you.
Make a Plan (And Stick to it)
The effect of some tinnitus episodes can be decreased, and your stress response can be managed if you have a practical plan for any surges in your symptoms. Consider having a “go bag” containing stuff you might need. Anything that can help you be equipped for a tinnitus spike, even generating a list of helpful exercises will be good because it will keep you from having a panic attack!
Management is Key
Chronic tinnitus is a condition that has no known cure. But control and treatment of tinnitus is a very real possibility. Make certain you are dealing with your tinnitus not suffering from it by using 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