Hyperacusis/Noxacusis Healed by Tackling Mental Health

[jhammi20]

My heart breaks for everyone experiencing this terrible condition. I am not a doctor, and this is not medical advice. I simply want to give others hope that healing is possible.

I made a promise to myself that I would share my success publicly if and when I got better. I should add the caveat that I firmly believe my hyperacusis was related to mental health and not the result of sound exposure.

Here is my story:

 

[Saba]

What level of decibel protection do you use in church? That's my next step, to try ear protection during the music and louder parts of the service. Should I go with foam plugs, musician's earplugs, or the type that resembles wax? Or maybe it doesn't really matter, as long as the ears are protected from high-decibel acoustics.

I'm very happy for your progress. I also went the psychiatrist route. Fear is still a bit of a battle for me, especially the worry that noise will spike the tinnitus. You've given me hope. Thank you, and God bless.

 

[MindOverMatter]

Thanks for sharing your story @jhammi20. There is definitely a need for stories like yours in the community.

And yes, there is ALWAYS hope. If you lose hope, there is no way forward.

The medical route you took might not be the right one for everyone, as you pointed out. But sometimes it is necessary to take the edge off things.

 

[Sodlin]

WOW! Thanks for sharing. Did you also experience tinnitus spikes after certain sounds when you were afraid of them? I would love to see a second part where you talk a little more about your tinnitus and how it reacted.

I can really relate to much of your progress. I also deal with a tense jaw, neck issues, and anxiety (mostly from the condition itself). I have always wondered if maybe it is just mental and I am overly tense, which could explain all these symptoms. At the same time, the fear locks me in and makes it hard to have the courage to expose myself to sound, because it makes my tinnitus louder and freaks me out.

Thanks again for sharing!

 

[Maruashen]

Thanks for sharing!

It is tough to know what is really behind it all. I got my tinnitus from a loud noise, but my hyperacusis developed gradually over the following weeks, which makes me think it could also be related to mental health.

And yes, tearing a square of paper from a toilet roll can sound loud when you are really deep in the rabbit hole. I am slowly climbing out of that hole now, but it takes time.

 

[HighleyTall]

It's probably a great story, but it is useless for anyone suffering from tinnitus and hyperacusis caused by sound trauma or barotrauma.

 

[MindOverMatter]

It's probably a great story, but it is useless for anyone suffering from tinnitus and hyperacusis caused by sound trauma or barotrauma.

No stories like these are useless. They are important for the tinnitus community. I would also like to add that even if his case was not due to sound exposure or trauma, many of the same mechanisms are at play nevertheless.

 

[Escalado]

Can you update your status once you have fully tapered off Prozac, please?

 

[delta784]

It's probably a great story, but it is useless for anyone suffering from tinnitus and hyperacusis caused by sound trauma or barotrauma.

Not really. I have seen many cases get better after sound trauma, it depends purely on luck.