The real problem with chronic tinnitus isn’t only that you have a ringing in your ears. It’s the continuous non-stop ringing, that’s the real issue.
The continuous noise, possibly somewhat moderate in volume, may begin as little more than an annoyance. But after a day or a week or a month, that ringing or buzzing can become aggravating, frustrating, even incapacitating.
That’s why it’s crucial to have some tips you can rely 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 Exacerbate Your Tinnitus
It’s important to keep in mind that tinnitus is often not static. There are spikes and valleys in the presentation of symptoms. There are times when your tinnitus is minimal and virtually lost in the background. In other moments, that ringing could be as hard to ignore as a full-blown, individualized symphony.
That can leave you in a rather scary place of uncertainty. Perhaps you even get panic attacks while driving to work because you’re concerned about your tinnitus flaring up during a meeting. That panic attack, in and of itself, can cause the very episode you’re concerned about.
Tips For Coping With Tinnitus
You will be in a better position to plan for and control tinnitus the more you understand about it. And, because there’s no known cure for tinnitus, control of symptoms is vital. With the right treatment, there’s no reason that chronic tinnitus needs to negatively impact your quality of life.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy is One Option
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a standard strategy for tinnitus management. The analogy that gets floated around most often is the sound of rain on your rooftops: it’s very loud and obvious when it first begins but by the time the storm is ending you stop paying attention to it and recedes into the background. TRT uses the same concept to teach your brain to push the tinnitus symptoms into the background of your thoughts so you will have an easier time tuning it out.
It can take training to get this technique down.
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 a range of different sounds to concentrate on can be really helpful. You could:
- Have music playing while painting a picture.
- Bring a book to the park and listen to the birds while you read.
- Enjoy a book while taking a bubble bath.
You get the idea: Your tinnitus might be able to be decreased by engaging your brain.
Meditation, as an alternate path, helps you concentrate your attention on a mantra, or your breathing which helps take your attention away from your tinnitus. Some individuals have found that meditation decreases their blood pressure, which can also help with tinnitus.
Think about a Hearing Aid For Tinnitus Management
Many hearing aid companies have developed hearing aids that help decrease the ringing in your ear. This option is really convenient because they are small and out of your way compared to other strategies. The ringing will be handled by the hearing aid and you can relax and enjoy your life.
Make a Plan (And Follow-Through)
The effect of some tinnitus episodes can be lessened, and your stress response can be controlled if you have a practical plan for any spikes 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.
The Key is Management
Chronic tinnitus is an affliction that has no known cure. But that doesn’t mean that individuals cannot manage and treat their tinnitus. Make sure you are dealing with 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
