With chronic tinnitus, it isn’t the ringing in your ears that’s the actual problem. It’s the continual non-stop ringing, that’s the real problem.
The constant noise, perhaps rather modest in volume, might begin 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 that if you are coping with tinnitus you follow some tips to make life easier. It can make a huge 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.
How You Can Exacerbate Your Tinnitus
Chronic tinnitus, after all, is often not a static condition. Symptoms present themselves in spikes and valleys. There are times when your tinnitus is minor and virtually lost in the background. At other times the noises will be screaming in your ears so loudly it’s impossible to disregard.
This can be a very uncertain and frightening situation. You might be so worried about your tinnitus flaring up during a meeting that you have a panic attack while you’re driving to work. That panic attack, in and of itself, can cause the very episode you’re worried about.
Tips For Living With Tinnitus
You will be in a greater position to prepare for and manage tinnitus the more you know about it. And management is crucial since tinnitus has no known cure. There’s no reason that your quality of life needs to suffer if you put in place the proper treatment.
Think About Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a common strategy for tinnitus management. The sound of rain on a rooftop is a common analogy: it’s very loud and obvious when it first starts but by the time the storm is ending you stop focusing on it and fades into the background. TRT uses the same principle to train 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 practice to master this method.
Distract Your Brain
One of the reasons that tinnitus can be so frustrating is because your brain is constantly searching for the source of that sound, trying to alert you to its presence. So giving your brain a range of different sounds to concentrate on can be really helpful. Try these:
- Do some drawing or painting while listening to music.
- Bring a book to the park and listen to the birds while you read.
- Read a book while taking a bubble bath.
You get the idea: Your tinnitus may be able to be reduced by engaging your brain.
Meditation, as an alternate path, helps you focus your attention on a mantra, or your breathing which helps take your attention away from your tinnitus. Some individuals have discovered that meditation reduces their blood pressure, which can also be helpful with tinnitus.
Consider a Hearing Aid For Tinnitus Management
Numerous hearing aid companies have developed hearing aids that help minimize 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 take care of the ringing for you.
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. Pack a bag of practical items to bring with you. Anything that can help you be ready 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 an affliction that has no known cure. But that doesn’t mean that people can’t regulate and treat their tinnitus. These daily tips (and more similar to them) can help make certain you are living with tinnitus, and not suffering from tinnitus.
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
