Poll: Does Your Tinnitus Increase/Intensify When You Meditate?

Does your tinnitus increase when you focus on your breath and do breathing exercises in a quiet place or at your desk (not a silent room, but relatively quiet).

What is the cause of your tinnitus?

 

I notice it more when I meditate. So I don't anymore.

 

I've noticed it more when I meditate. For me, I always try to meditate in as much silence as possible, so that in and of itself is a problem.

I've been making it a point to try have some constant sound or white noise going in the background. Its been less of a distraction, but I've been definitely meditating less frequently.

I've also been using some apps that have guided meditations you listen to, you may want to try that!

 

Do you just notice it more or do you hear your tinnitus gradually get more intense and increase?

 

For me personally, it is mostly me noticing it more. But there are times where it feels like it is actually increasing and getting louder.

 

I wouldn’t say it increases but I zone into it a lot more, like I really hear it in surround sound with extra base if that makes sense??

 

With no objective way to measure, it's hard to tell the difference between actually louder and noticing the same level of loudness more. So I am not sure.

 

I have noticed that I hear certain sounds less, such as a fan or laptop noise.

 

Kinda feels that way tbh

 

If Yes, then either you're not meditating correctly - or maybe meditation just isn't for you.

Try the "body scan" method, where you shift your awareness to different parts of your body starting with the toes and working your way up. The idea is to occupy your mind so that distractions are less likely to occur.

Or you can focus on your breathing. Unless your tinnitus reacts to white noise, in which case this may not work so well for you.

 

I can manipulate the tones I have to some extent with specific, focused concentration activities that are a little hard to describe but involve mentally generating the same sound in my "mind's ear" and then turning the volume on it up. This is interesting but not very practical since it takes sustained focus.

Normal breath meditation can make me notice my tinnitus more; it can also make it seem quieter as measured by perception vs background noise at beginning and end of session. That's not predictable.

Neck tension and posture during meditation, if poor, can amp things up for a while. That's less of a problem with experience, posture and good muscle tone and lack of or proper treatment of trigger points in traps/neck support muscles.