The real issue with chronic tinnitus is not simply that you have a ringing in your ears. It’s the constant non-stop ringing, that’s the real issue.
The constant noise, possibly somewhat modest in volume, may begin as little more than an annoyance. 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 critical that if you are coping with tinnitus you adhere to some tips to make life easier. It can make a huge 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 Exacerbate Your Tinnitus
It’s important to remember that tinnitus is commonly not static. Symptoms manifest themselves in spikes and valleys. There are times when your tinnitus is minor and practically lost in the background. In other moments, that ringing could be as hard to ignore as a full-blown, individualized symphony.
This can be a really uncertain and frightening situation. You may be so worried about your tinnitus flaring up during a meeting that you have a panic attack while driving to work. That panic attack, in and of itself, can lead to the very episode you’re concerned about.
Tips For Living With Tinnitus
The more you know about tinnitus, the better you can prepare for and control the effects. And management is critical 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 proper treatment.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is One Option
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a common approach to tinnitus management. The analogy that gets used frequently is the sound of rain on your rooftops: it’s very loud and obvious when it first starts but by the time the storm is ending you stop focusing on it and recedes into the background. It’s the same basic concept with TRT, teaching your brain to move that ringing into the background of your thoughts where it’s easier to disregard.
It can take training to master this method.
Get Your Brain Distracted
Your brain is constantly searching for the source of the sound and that’s one of the reasons why tinnitus can be so frustrating. So giving your brain more (and varied) stimulation to focus on can help. You could:
- Enjoy a book while soaking in a bubble bath.
- Enjoy some time outside listening to the sounds of nature.
- Have music playing while you paint a picture.
You get the gist: engaging your brain can help you control 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. Some individuals have found that meditation decreases their blood pressure, which can also be helpful with tinnitus.
Manage Tinnitus With a Hearing Aid
Several hearing aid companies have developed hearing aids that help reduce the ringing in your ear. Hearing aids are a great option because you put them in and can forget about it the entire day, you won’t need to carry around a white noise machine or constantly use an app. The ringing will be handled by the hearing aid and you can relax and enjoy your life.
Have a Plan (And Follow-Through)
The effect of some tinnitus episodes can be lessened, and your stress reaction can be managed if you have a good plan for any surges in your symptoms. Consider having a “go bag” containing things you might need. Anything that can help you be ready for a tinnitus surge, even generating a list of useful exercises will be good because it will keep you from panicking!
Management is Key
There is no cure for tinnitus which is often chronic. But that doesn’t mean that individuals cannot regulate and treat their tinnitus. Make certain you are managing your tinnitus not suffering from it by using 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