The real issue with chronic tinnitus isn’t simply that you have a ringing in your ears. It’s the constant never ending ringing, that’s the real problem.
The continuous noise, possibly somewhat moderate in volume, may start as little more than a nuisance. But the ringing can become aggravating and even incapacitating if it persists for days or months or more.
That’s why it’s crucial to have some tips you can rely on, tips that make living with tinnitus less difficult. When you’re lying in bed, having trouble falling asleep because you keep hearing ringing from your left ear, having a plan is going to do you a world of good.
Your Tinnitus Can be Exacerbated
Chronic tinnitus, after all, is often not a static condition. There are increases and decreases in the manifestation of symptoms. At times, your tinnitus may be an afterthought, lost in the background of everyday life. At other times, that ringing could be as hard to ignore as a full-blown, personalized symphony.
This can be a very uncertain and frightening situation. You might be so worried about your tinnitus flaring up while you’re in a meeting that you get a panic attack while you’re driving to work. 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 greater position to prepare for and manage tinnitus the more you understand about it. And management is crucial since tinnitus has no known cure. With the correct treatment, there’s no reason that chronic tinnitus needs to negatively impact your quality of life.
Think About Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a common approach to tinnitus management. The analogy that gets floated around most often is the sound of rain on your roof: it’s very loud and noticeable when it first starts but by the end of the storm you stop paying attention to it and recedes 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 tuning it out.
Mastering this method can take some practice.
Distract Your Brain
One of the reasons that tinnitus can be so frustrating is because your brain is continuously searching for the source of that noise, trying to signal you to its presence. So giving your brain more (and varied) stimulation to focus on can help. You could:
- Play music while painting a picture.
- Take a bubble bath while reading a book.
- Enjoy some time outside listening to the sounds of nature.
You get the gist: Your tinnitus may be able to be decreased 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. Another advantage of meditation, at least for some, is that it can reduce blood pressure which is a known cause of tinnitus symptoms.
Consider a Hearing Aid For Tinnitus Management
Many 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 deal with the ringing for you.
Have a Plan (And Follow-Through)
The impact of some tinnitus episodes can be lessened, and your stress response can be managed if you have a practical plan for any surges 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 practical exercises, will go a long way toward management.
The Key is Management
Chronic tinnitus is a condition that has no known cure. But control and treatment of tinnitus is a very real possibility. These daily tips (and more like them) can help make certain you are living with tinnitus, and not suffering from tinnitus.
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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