Is Anxiety the Culprit Behind These Symptoms?

Recently I've been having other symptoms with my tinnitus.

Tension headaches and stomach cramps to be specific.

Is anxiety the culprit behind these symptoms? I notice when I take 1 mg of Ativan these feelings abate and I am able to sleep and function.

But I know I can't take it for ever and my doctor specifically told me she wouldn't prescribe it again as she knows it's damaging and addictive.

What can I do about this without resorting to benzos? Especially when these symptoms are so real.

 

Yes, i definitey had tension headaches and stomach cramps when tinntus started. Its all that anxiety and consent worry about T. But now thats gone. Only take the benzos when you're feeling really bad. They will come in handy.

You can visit my thread i posted on dealing with the anxiety the way i do. My own techniques. But yeah its definitely anxiety to answer your question.
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...om-anxiety-tinnitus-associated-anxiety.22257/

 

I lost ten kilos over two months at the beginning. Not a diet plan I'd recommend though I have to admit it did work.

 

@Believin' Steven Yeah, I bet it's anxiety. I lost 5 lbs the first couple weeks that I had my recent spike about a month ago, but it's flattening out a bit. Sometimes I'm not as hungry as I used to be, but I'll still eat - I'm Italian lol. I do get mild headaches occasionally but an XS Tylenol or two usually helps. I was on Ativan 30 years ago and just remember it being really strong. Any way you can take Xanax or Valium instead? I haven't taken a Xanax in several weeks, but have instead been meditating a little to help with the anxiety. xoxo RM

 

Anxiety is horrible and it can do many things to your mind and body. I handle my anxiety and stress by going for a walk . You can Possibly do this as well...it is all up to you...

I was having serious withdrawls from a supplement and walking has been helping me....for me exercising has been very instrumental in not letting tinnitus overwhelm me.... It has helped me relax the mind and the body as well....

 

Is something in your diet contributing to this too - poor eating habits abound when your anxious or depressed. Also how long on the meds. That could be a withdrawal symptom if it happens when you stop. Not sure about that particular med but Xanax can get you physically addicted in as little as 2 weeks. So even if it is not a true physical dependence you could be ramping up. Tension headaches could just be tense muscles so maybe massage or talk to your Dr about that. Not sure if muscle relaxants are better than benzos though. Sounds like you need a long term.plan on battling the anxiety. Lots of good suggestions already on here. I'll just add that walking/hiking and disc golf have helped me. I had a mental block towards exercise and just found something enjoyable to do instead. The disc golf was a lark. My son wanted to play and I thought I might as well too rather than just standing there. I found concentrating on it a good distraction.

 

Hey @fishbone, it's great that the walks help you, definitely helped me with my panic attack in school once. If you have time give some of my anxiety fighting techniques a try for a while. Doesn't hurt.
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...om-anxiety-tinnitus-associated-anxiety.22257/

 

Yeah I'm a big dude and I've lost about 15 kilos. Friends say I look great, if only I felt the same though...

 

Ideally I don't want to take anything. It's been 2 days and sleeping is near impossible. I have really bad head T without it and it feels as if my head will explode at any minute. Pretty crazy what this condition can do.

 

@fishbone

I would really like to go for a walk but it's 5 degrees Celsius and I don't want a cold or anything like that. I was doing yoga for a bit and then stopped for no real reason, maybe I'll start again. May I ask what supplement caused these withdrawals?

 

@light rain

I've been really strict about my diet since T onset. Haven't touched sugar and use salt sparingly. Very little complex carbs and try to stick to naturally occurring foods (anything you can hunt or grow). Most of the time I don't feel anxious, I just have this piercing sound in my head and it angers me. Other times it does get the best and I break down for some hours (I've cried a couple times, very cathartic for me actually).

 

Sorry about how your feeling. Has the Dr addressed your headaches. I've had migraines and I don't notice the T really affecting that. Are you making sure your blood pressure is OK. I think sometimes we attribute everything to the T but it might not always be the case.

I don't go crazy about dieting - I love salt and have to have some caffeine. I just know when depressed I've eaten very poorly - like a few oreos or bbq chipd and calling that a meal. Then you wonder why you don't feel right. I also moved to a warmer climate. Its helped just being able to take long hikes in Jan! Still kind of amazed about that. So I know how it is when you have to deal with that cold weather. Take care.

 

@Believin' Steven What kind of doctor's care are you under? I have an appt with an audiologist next month, but besides that I talk to a mental health therapist who helps with cognitive solutions and also my yoga teacher who helps on the spiritual side. I see them both as tools to help me with this condition, and actually I consider Xanax a tool too. I only take it when needed - I have a cool pill box with "Chill Pills" written on it and keep with me! Just knowing it's there helps even though I haven't had one in weeks. How about a sleep specialist? Not sleeping will make the T worse and drive you crazy - you have got to get some consistent sleep. I took Klonopin for months when my Meniere's first kicked in and it helped tremendously! Then my doctor weaned me off of it. Just because you take something now doesn't mean you'll take it for the rest of your life. Just my humble opinion...

 

@Rosemerry
Have a gp that only wants to prescribe SSRI's but no way in hell am I touching those. Going to a therapist today, first ever in my life. Going to ask for Valium so I can taper a lot more effectively. I was doing yoga under the guide of YouTube videos, too embarrassed to go to a class as a 21 yo male. Looking to go to an acupuncturist my audiologist referred me too. Have a mother who cares but doesn't know what to do as she tells me. Dad cares a little but thinks I'm being dramatic. (If only he could experience this for a day). And that's about it.