The real problem with chronic tinnitus is not just that you have a ringing in your ears. It’s the continuous non-stop ringing, that’s the real issue.
At first, this may be a mild noise that’s not much more than a little annoying. But the ringing can become aggravating and even incapacitating 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. When you’re lying in bed, having difficulty falling asleep because you keep hearing ringing from your right ear, having a plan is going to help you a lot.
Your Tinnitus Can be Made Worse
It’s important to remember that tinnitus is commonly not static. There are increases and decreases in the manifestation of symptoms. There are times when your tinnitus is mild and virtually lost in the background. At other times the noises will be screeching in your ears so loudly it’s impossible to dismiss.
This can be a very uncertain and scary situation. You might 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 cause the very episode you’re concerned about.
Tips For Coping With Tinnitus
You will be in a better position to plan for and manage tinnitus the more you know about it. And, because there’s no known cure for tinnitus, management of symptoms is essential. There’s no reason that your quality of life has to suffer if you establish the proper treatment.
Consider Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
Tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) is a standard strategy for tinnitus management. The analogy that gets used frequently is the sound of rain on your roof: it’s very loud and obvious when it first begins but by the end of the storm you stop paying attention to it and recedes into the background. It’s the same basic idea with TRT, training your brain to move that ringing into the background of your attention where it’s easier to disregard.
Mastering this method can take some practice.
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 a variety of different sounds to concentrate on can be really helpful. You could:
- Enjoy a book while soaking in a bubble bath.
- Play music while you paint a picture.
- Enjoy some time outside listening to the sounds of nature.
You get the gist: engaging your brain can help you control your tinnitus.
Alternately, many people have discovered that meditation helps because it focuses your attention on something else, your breathing, a mantra, and etc. Another advantage of meditation, at least for some people, is that it can decrease blood pressure which is a known cause of tinnitus symptoms.
Manage Tinnitus With a Hearing Aid
Many hearing aid companies have developed 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 managed by the hearing aid and you can relax and enjoy your life.
Have a Plan (And Stick to it)
The effect of some tinnitus episodes can be minimized, and your stress reaction can be managed if you have a good plan for any surges in your symptoms. Think about having a “go bag” full of things you might need. 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.
Management is Key
There is no cure for tinnitus which is usually chronic. 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 utilizing 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