The real issue with chronic tinnitus is not only that you have a ringing in your ears. It’s the continual never ending ringing, that’s the real issue.
The constant noise, perhaps somewhat modest in volume, might start as little more than a nuisance. But the ringing can become frustrating and even debilitating if it persists 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 ringing or buzzing in your ear.
Your Tinnitus Can be Made Worse
It’s beneficial to remember that tinnitus is frequently not static. Symptoms present themselves in spikes and valleys. There are times when your tinnitus is mild and virtually lost in the background. In other moments, that ringing could be as difficult to ignore as a full-blown, individualized symphony.
That can leave you in a pretty scary place of uncertainty. Perhaps you even get panic attacks while driving to work because you’re worried about your tinnitus flaring up during a meeting. That panic attack, in and of itself, can trigger the very situation you’re concerned about.
Tips For Living With Tinnitus
You will be in a better position to prepare for and control tinnitus the more you understand about it. And, because there’s no known cure for tinnitus, management of symptoms is vital. There’s no reason that your quality of life has to suffer if you establish the right treatment.
Think About Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a common strategy for 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 begins but by the time the storm is ending you stop focusing on it and fades into the background. It’s the same basic concept with TRT, training your brain to move that ringing into the background of your thoughts where it’s easier to ignore.
It can take training to master this method.
Get Your Brain Distracted
Your brain is continuously looking for the source of the sound and that’s one of the reasons why tinnitus can be so frustrating. So supplying your brain with a range of different sounds to concentrate on can be very helpful. You could:
- Do some drawing or painting while listening to music.
- Enjoy some time outdoors listening to the sounds of nature.
- Take a bubble bath and read a book.
You get the gist: Your tinnitus may be able to be decreased by engaging your brain.
Alternately, many people have discovered that meditation helps because it concentrates your attention on something else, your breathing, a mantra, and so on. Another benefit of meditation, at least for some people, is that it can lower blood pressure which is a common cause of tinnitus symptoms.
Manage Tinnitus With a Hearing Aid
Several hearing aid companies have manufactured 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 approaches. The ringing will be handled by the hearing aid and you can relax and enjoy your life.
Make a Plan (And Follow-Through)
Having a plan for unexpected spikes can help you control your stress-out response, and that can help you minimize certain tinnitus episodes (or at least keep from exacerbating them). Think about having a “go bag” containing things you might need. Anything that will help you be more ready and keep you from panicking, like making a list of practical exercises, will go a long way toward management.
Management is Key
Chronic tinnitus is an affliction that has no known cure. But that doesn’t mean that people cannot regulate and treat their tinnitus. Make sure 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