How Do I Know If I Imagine Tinnitus or Not?

So I made a thread here a few days ago where I said that following a mild self inflicted blow to the left ear, I woke up with ringing and was concerned about tinnitus.

Well, now it's a bit different. Now I'm not sure if this episode scared me and made me imagine things even after the actual ringing from the hit disappeared.

Why do I think it may be imaginary? First, I don't notice it at all when I am doing everyday stuff, it's only when I go to bed and it's really quiet that I hear the noise.

AND, even more curiously, it's in both the left and right ear now, but I never hit the right ear. Some times, when I focus on things such as YT videos while in bed I also don't notice.

This is kind of driving me mad, not knowing for certain. I also try to put fingers in ears to see if I hear a noise then, and some times I do while other times I can't really tell.

Other than that, I do notice that some times when I do this, the ears get painful, as if I have an infection. Could the infection be the answer?

Full of questions here, just need some clarification from people who have personal experience with this. I don't know what to think. I mean, it's not like I am a party goer or did anything crazy with my ears - except that time when I was a kid and attended a wedding where the music was so loud that you could feel every word hit your chest.

That was so insane, but so many years ago. Also I don't think I have hearing loss, I hear like an eagle compared to others around me. First to hear distant phone vibrations, low tone talks in a closed room and such. Don't think I have hearing loss.

 

Go to an ENT doc to get your ears checked.
If your T is so mild that you are wondering if you are imagining it, then I suggest you stop looking for the answer. The more you focus on it the more you could be "imagining it". It's not bothering you during the day, so let it go, and put a fan at night if it helps you drown it.

 

If you think you are crazy, you most likely are not. If you think you imagine a sound, you most likely don't.

 

I think I'm crazy and I know I am.