Overwhelmed and Frightened: My Struggle with Sudden, Constant Tinnitus After a Stressful Breakup

SadGirl

Member
Author
Oct 7, 2025
1
Tinnitus Since
2025
Cause of Tinnitus
Unknown
Hi everyone,

I have been experiencing a constant high-pitched ringing in my ears for the past week and a half. Although I have had it before, it used to come and go; it was never there all the time. I used to think, "Huh, what is that electronic sound?" I assumed I just had sensitive hearing and was picking up sounds from outlets, TVs, or other electronic devices. But it would always go away.

I had a very stressful breakup with my boyfriend of 14 years on September 27 and spent that night screaming and crying, overwhelmed by stress. I have been a weed smoker for 12 years, an ex-smoker who vaped nicotine for 5 years, and I also used Kratom for 5 years to manage chronic pain from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and PCOS. The next day, when I smoked weed, the ringing suddenly started and has been there nonstop since. Loud and unrelenting.

I panicked and began doing a lot of research. I quit weed and Kratom cold turkey after reading that certain substances can cause tinnitus. I'm also weaning off nicotine using patches and trying to get through the withdrawals as best I can. While the ringing was definitely louder when I smoked weed, it hasn't gone away. Tomorrow will mark two full weeks of constant ringing, and I'm losing my mind every night. I bought a sound machine, but it barely helps. The sound is so high-pitched that it changes when I move my head or mouth or when I'm exposed to other sounds. I've had to start taking Xanax every night just to cope.

I saw an ENT who said, "It's probably stress-related, it will go away," and I also saw an audiologist. She only tested my regular hearing, not the higher frequencies, and said my hearing was normal. Nobody seems to know what actually causes this, as it's apparently a symptom of something else.

I'm terrified this might be permanent. I don't know what caused it, and I don't know what to do. I've cried to my mom every day for the past two weeks, and she keeps telling me, "It will go away." But what if it doesn't? From what I've read, it doesn't just disappear for everyone.

I've lost most of my friends because of my chronic illnesses, and now I don't have my boyfriend either. I feel like my life is over if this is something I have to hear for the rest of my life. I can't relax, find peace, or even enjoy music anymore. I wake up three or four times a night and feel dread every morning when I realize the sound is still there. I'm doing my best to stay outside and spend time with my mom to distract myself, but it's almost impossible. I hear it everywhere.

I feel so alone and scared.
 
Hi everyone,

I have been experiencing a constant high-pitched ringing in my ears for the past week and a half. Although I have had it before, it used to come and go; it was never there all the time. I used to think, "Huh, what is that electronic sound?" I assumed I just had sensitive hearing and was picking up sounds from outlets, TVs, or other electronic devices. But it would always go away.

I had a very stressful breakup with my boyfriend of 14 years on September 27 and spent that night screaming and crying, overwhelmed by stress. I have been a weed smoker for 12 years, an ex-smoker who vaped nicotine for 5 years, and I also used Kratom for 5 years to manage chronic pain from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and PCOS. The next day, when I smoked weed, the ringing suddenly started and has been there nonstop since. Loud and unrelenting.

I panicked and began doing a lot of research. I quit weed and Kratom cold turkey after reading that certain substances can cause tinnitus. I'm also weaning off nicotine using patches and trying to get through the withdrawals as best I can. While the ringing was definitely louder when I smoked weed, it hasn't gone away. Tomorrow will mark two full weeks of constant ringing, and I'm losing my mind every night. I bought a sound machine, but it barely helps. The sound is so high-pitched that it changes when I move my head or mouth or when I'm exposed to other sounds. I've had to start taking Xanax every night just to cope.

I saw an ENT who said, "It's probably stress-related, it will go away," and I also saw an audiologist. She only tested my regular hearing, not the higher frequencies, and said my hearing was normal. Nobody seems to know what actually causes this, as it's apparently a symptom of something else.

I'm terrified this might be permanent. I don't know what caused it, and I don't know what to do. I've cried to my mom every day for the past two weeks, and she keeps telling me, "It will go away." But what if it doesn't? From what I've read, it doesn't just disappear for everyone.

I've lost most of my friends because of my chronic illnesses, and now I don't have my boyfriend either. I feel like my life is over if this is something I have to hear for the rest of my life. I can't relax, find peace, or even enjoy music anymore. I wake up three or four times a night and feel dread every morning when I realize the sound is still there. I'm doing my best to stay outside and spend time with my mom to distract myself, but it's almost impossible. I hear it everywhere.

I feel so alone and scared.
Sorry that you are here. Things can get better; we all remember what it was like in the beginning. It's very hard to stay positive, so I won't patronize you, but I want you to know that it can improve.

Substances can definitely cause tinnitus. Are you a headphone user? Have you been around any loud noises recently? Have you ever had recurring ear infections? It might also be worth reviewing the medications you're taking.

There can be quite a few reasons for tinnitus to be triggered. Sometimes there's no obvious cause. The way I understand permanent tinnitus is that it's usually not caused by stress, though I'm not a doctor.

Keep trying sound therapy—only certain sounds worked for me, usually rain sounds. The best advice I can give you is to keep busy. I know it's really hard in the early days, when it feels like the noise always distracts you and stays on your mind. If you have any hobbies, try to spend time on them. I found that going outside and being around birds and nature sounds was quite helpful, especially once the sound sensitivity eased.

If it truly is stress-related, it should fade after a while. If it turns out to be permanent, like for many of us, it can still get much better. I want to reassure you of that. It takes time, so try to be patient.

Be careful with Xanax, as it's addictive and stopping it too quickly can cause problems.
 
Sorry that you are here. Things can get better; we all remember what it was like in the beginning. It's very hard to stay positive, so I won't patronize you, but I want you to know that it can improve.

Substances can definitely cause tinnitus. Are you a headphone user? Have you been around any loud noises recently? Have you ever had recurring ear infections? It might also be worth reviewing the medications you're taking.

There can be quite a few reasons for tinnitus to be triggered. Sometimes there's no obvious cause. The way I understand permanent tinnitus is that it's usually not caused by stress, though I'm not a doctor.

Keep trying sound therapy—only certain sounds worked for me, usually rain sounds. The best advice I can give you is to keep busy. I know it's really hard in the early days, when it feels like the noise always distracts you and stays on your mind. If you have any hobbies, try to spend time on them. I found that going outside and being around birds and nature sounds was quite helpful, especially once the sound sensitivity eased.

If it truly is stress-related, it should fade after a while. If it turns out to be permanent, like for many of us, it can still get much better. I want to reassure you of that. It takes time, so try to be patient.

Be careful with Xanax, as it's addictive and stopping it too quickly can cause problems.
Thank you. I don't really use headphones or earbuds very often, and when I do, I try to be mindful of the volume. Not when I was a teenager though, I used to blast it back then, but I haven't for a long time. I also don't go to many loud events or anything like that. I have autism and misophonia, so certain noises and loud sounds really bother me. I usually prefer quiet activities. I've never had any ear infections, except as a baby.

I wasn't taking any medications, just marijuana for my chronic pain, and later added Kratom. I've done some research, and there are reports of people experiencing tinnitus from marijuana, Kratom, and nicotine—all of which I've been using for years. The weirdest part is that I've experienced the sounds before, but they were usually fleeting and didn't last. Why would one major stressor cause it to stay now? When my father died two years ago and I was under even more stress, I didn't have it. I just don't understand.

The hardest part for me is that I'm terrified it might be permanent. I already have bad anxiety in general, and I'm trying not to slip back into a deep depression because of this, but I can see myself becoming suicidal if it continues for too long. I've had insomnia for the past week, even while using sound therapy. The sound seems to cut through everything I play because it's so high-pitched. It sounds like an old camera shutter clicking, or a TV. I've also noticed it gets worse when I move my head a certain way or clench my jaw.

Do some people's cases really go away? There's so little known about what causes this symptom that it's hard to find reliable information on it or its root causes.

I know about Xanax too, but unfortunately, it's the only thing that helps me sleep right now, especially while withdrawing from weed, Kratom, and nicotine. Otherwise, my doctor was going to give me Ambien, which I'm even more scared to use.
 
Thank you. I don't really use headphones or earbuds very often, and when I do, I try to be mindful of the volume. Not when I was a teenager though, I used to blast it back then, but I haven't for a long time. I also don't go to many loud events or anything like that. I have autism and misophonia, so certain noises and loud sounds really bother me. I usually prefer quiet activities. I've never had any ear infections, except as a baby.

I wasn't taking any medications, just marijuana for my chronic pain, and later added Kratom. I've done some research, and there are reports of people experiencing tinnitus from marijuana, Kratom, and nicotine—all of which I've been using for years. The weirdest part is that I've experienced the sounds before, but they were usually fleeting and didn't last. Why would one major stressor cause it to stay now? When my father died two years ago and I was under even more stress, I didn't have it. I just don't understand.

The hardest part for me is that I'm terrified it might be permanent. I already have bad anxiety in general, and I'm trying not to slip back into a deep depression because of this, but I can see myself becoming suicidal if it continues for too long. I've had insomnia for the past week, even while using sound therapy. The sound seems to cut through everything I play because it's so high-pitched. It sounds like an old camera shutter clicking, or a TV. I've also noticed it gets worse when I move my head a certain way or clench my jaw.

Do some people's cases really go away? There's so little known about what causes this symptom that it's hard to find reliable information on it or its root causes.

I know about Xanax too, but unfortunately, it's the only thing that helps me sleep right now, especially while withdrawing from weed, Kratom, and nicotine. Otherwise, my doctor was going to give me Ambien, which I'm even more scared to use.
It's hard to pinpoint the cause, but I agree with you. If it were stress-related, I think it would've happened earlier. It could be from the medications. Honestly, tinnitus is such a beast that sometimes there just isn't an obvious or straightforward answer.

It's very hard to sleep during the first few weeks. I remember that time as one of the toughest periods of my life. The anxiety and panic make it worse, and it's so difficult to control.

You can keep using Xanax to help with sleep, as getting rest is very important to break the cycle of stress and sleeplessness, which only makes everything feel worse.

I won't pretend it's a quick fix. It took a few weeks before I noticed any improvement, and a couple of months before it started to become less noticeable.

But it did get better. It might sound strange, but I'd suggest preparing yourself for the possibility that it could be permanent, yet fade to the point where you barely notice it anymore—like a fan humming in the background.

It's important to work on reducing anxiety and panic. Tell yourself, "I hear you, but you're just a sound. You can't hurt me." Try to stay busy and distracted.

And make sure your doctor is monitoring your Xanax use as well.

It really can get significantly better. Don't lose hope!
 
I wrote a response earlier but just realized I never posted it. I went through something similar after a breakup, four days later my tinnitus started. The breakup was such a shock that my body didn't know how to handle it. I had no idea it was coming, and I probably could have managed it better if I hadn't been blindsided.

I got some Xanax early on to help me relax, but it didn't help me sleep. Whatever helps you get rest is better than not sleeping at all. I really struggled with sleep and felt desperate. I would fall asleep only to wake up again to the noise. The battle for sleep is real. I tried different medications, and some worked, but they left me groggy all day. Since I had to work, I couldn't afford to feel like that constantly.

I eventually settled on Ambien, though I know you are not very keen on it. Why is that? It helps me fall asleep, which can be very hard. In the beginning, I would get about three hours of rest, which was still better than no sleep or constant grogginess. Over time, I got used to the tinnitus, and it stopped bothering me as much.

The noise is still there, but I don't focus on it. I keep myself busy so that I am tired by bedtime. Do what works for you, we are all different but facing a similar challenge: survival.

With time, you will get better.
 

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