Hello folks, one ringy boi in their mid-30s here!
What tinnitus is to me
I've lived with tinnitus for as long as I can remember. I even have memories from as early as age three, wishing the air conditioner fan was running so I could fall asleep.
My tinnitus is a high-pitched squealing or hissing, which feels like it's made up of two close-together tones, including a cyclic pulsing. I use a fan for white noise (a Lasko Wind Machine
). If the fan or power goes out and the room falls silent, the ringing becomes almost deafening and impossible to ignore, and I start to feel a sense of pressure in my skull. When the fan comes back on, it feels like it releases that pressure.
Most of the time, I can ignore the ringing. But if there's a sudden drop in volume in something I'm watching or listening to, I'll usually notice it again. I can always hear the ringing if I pay attention to it, at almost any volume, with the exception of extremely loud constant noises—which I avoid anyway.
Over time I've learned to live with tinnitus. I can go an hour or more without noticing it, even though it's always there. I'm grateful that its impact is minimal most of the time. However…
The issue
Within the last few years, I've developed a growing amount of anxiety around nearly every aspect of my life. I plan to seek treatment once I have insurance.
Sometimes the anxiety results in nights where my tinnitus becomes significantly louder and harder to ignore, even with masking sounds. At times I hear additional frequencies too, which then feed into the anxiety and make it worse.
What I knew and what I've learned
I learned early on that tinnitus is fairly common and that there aren't treatments beyond sound therapy. Because of that, I never really thought about seeking treatments or cures—until a recent video by Benn Jordan (you might know the one).
Thankfully, I also learned about the huge number of scams out there claiming to relieve tinnitus, so I know what to avoid.
Hope
Even so, it gives me hope to know that research is moving forward in some promising directions (and not just Lenire, which seems hit or miss). As a lifelong sufferer, I would love to participate in a trial one day.
Above all, I hope to experience what true silence is like. It feels like an alien concept that I can't even imagine. Even quieter ringing would be a miracle. For now, I'm glad to know there are support groups like this. I hope to contribute my experiences and help in whatever small way I can.
What tinnitus is to me
I've lived with tinnitus for as long as I can remember. I even have memories from as early as age three, wishing the air conditioner fan was running so I could fall asleep.
My tinnitus is a high-pitched squealing or hissing, which feels like it's made up of two close-together tones, including a cyclic pulsing. I use a fan for white noise (a Lasko Wind Machine
). If the fan or power goes out and the room falls silent, the ringing becomes almost deafening and impossible to ignore, and I start to feel a sense of pressure in my skull. When the fan comes back on, it feels like it releases that pressure.Most of the time, I can ignore the ringing. But if there's a sudden drop in volume in something I'm watching or listening to, I'll usually notice it again. I can always hear the ringing if I pay attention to it, at almost any volume, with the exception of extremely loud constant noises—which I avoid anyway.
Over time I've learned to live with tinnitus. I can go an hour or more without noticing it, even though it's always there. I'm grateful that its impact is minimal most of the time. However…
The issue
Within the last few years, I've developed a growing amount of anxiety around nearly every aspect of my life. I plan to seek treatment once I have insurance.
Sometimes the anxiety results in nights where my tinnitus becomes significantly louder and harder to ignore, even with masking sounds. At times I hear additional frequencies too, which then feed into the anxiety and make it worse.
What I knew and what I've learned
I learned early on that tinnitus is fairly common and that there aren't treatments beyond sound therapy. Because of that, I never really thought about seeking treatments or cures—until a recent video by Benn Jordan (you might know the one).
Thankfully, I also learned about the huge number of scams out there claiming to relieve tinnitus, so I know what to avoid.
Hope
Even so, it gives me hope to know that research is moving forward in some promising directions (and not just Lenire, which seems hit or miss). As a lifelong sufferer, I would love to participate in a trial one day.
Above all, I hope to experience what true silence is like. It feels like an alien concept that I can't even imagine. Even quieter ringing would be a miracle. For now, I'm glad to know there are support groups like this. I hope to contribute my experiences and help in whatever small way I can.
