Reactive Tinnitus, Hyperacusis, and Noxacusis: Staying Below Sound Tolerance Is Key

[Jammer]

Here is an excellent description of my tinnitus symptoms, which I found on the Reddit tinnitus forum. It perfectly captures how severe these symptoms are and how they affect my life:

If someone has reactive tinnitus, hyperacusis, and noxacusis but is never in an environment quiet enough to fall below their sound intolerance threshold, the auditory system remains in a constant state of overstimulation. The inner ear and auditory nerves are forced to process sound that is already beyond what the system can handle, so the brain and auditory pathways stay hyper-excited. This prevents any period of rest or recovery, allowing abnormal firing patterns and central gain mechanisms to become more deeply entrenched.

Over time, this unrelenting exposure leads to both peripheral and central sensitization. On the peripheral side, damaged or irritated auditory nerves become more reactive. Centrally, the brain begins to expect pain or reactivity even from moderate or everyday sounds. This mirrors chronic pain conditions in the body, where pathways are reinforced until the system reacts automatically with distress and pain. Prolonged overstimulation can also contribute to oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and inflammation, further weakening already vulnerable auditory structures.

Symptomatically, this appears as tinnitus that grows louder, more complex, and increasingly reactive to sound. New tones may develop, and the baseline loudness may rise permanently rather than only fluctuating in temporary spikes. Hyperacusis worsens as ordinary sounds feel sharper, more piercing, and less tolerable. Noxacusis may progress into burning, stabbing, or electric pain from even small amounts of sound. In severe cases, the reactivity may extend to the body's own internal sounds, such as chewing, swallowing, or even speaking, creating the sense that the auditory system is under attack from every direction.

The psychological and functional consequences are equally devastating. A person in this condition may become homebound, unable to tolerate social interaction or daily activities, and trapped in a state of anticipatory anxiety about sound exposure. Because the auditory system is never allowed to reset, the buffer zone that once permitted some degree of coping disappears, leaving them in a constant cycle of worsening symptoms.

In the end, without access to an environment quieter than their tolerance, the auditory system remains locked in a pattern of chronic injury and overactivation. This often results in progressively worsening tinnitus, deepening sound intolerance, escalating ear pain, and the risk of permanent damage that may not reverse even if rest is eventually provided.

 

[mandyc]

This is where I'm at now, five months in. It's hard to find any real silence because of how loud the tinnitus is, and because I react to the wind and rain noise, which are constant here in Scotland. On top of that, there are so many planes overhead and birds calling, and I react to all of it.

Surely, if what I've read is accurate, then none of us would ever recover from this. Does this mean that if I don't find a quiet place, I will just keep getting worse? I already feel much worse than when this started in April.

Please help.

 

[MindOverMatter]

This is where I'm at now, five months in. It's hard to find any real silence because of how loud the tinnitus is, and because I react to the wind and rain noise, which are constant here in Scotland. On top of that, there are so many planes overhead and birds calling, and I react to all of it.

Surely, if what I've read is accurate, then none of us would ever recover from this. Does this mean that if I don't find a quiet place, I will just keep getting worse? I already feel much worse than when this started in April.

Please help.

I am putting myself out here again, and of course people are fully entitled to have different opinions, and many will. But in my view, and from my personal experience, there is no danger in letting it react. In fact, at some point you need to expose yourself to things like wind and rain simply because they are unavoidable.

I can relate one hundred percent to what you are describing, because I have been through it all. I could not tolerate wind, rain, running water, frying, driving, air conditioning, everything for a long time. You name it. My tinnitus would react to everything, and my auditory system was extremely sensitive, and I was not in a good place.

I began with counseling, and slowly I reintroduced normal soundscapes into my life. It was a long process, not linear. Patience is needed, as well as the ability to accept the situation as it is for now and look at it from a longer perspective, not day by day or week by week, but rather over months to see your progress.

Learning about the auditory system, the nervous system, and reminding your body that you are safe, no matter how your tinnitus reacts to sound, is important.

What I experienced in the beginning was the feeling that I was getting worse every time I exposed myself to sound. But in most cases, that is not true in my opinion, except in rare extreme cases with painful hyperacusis and so on. That said, do not overdo it in the phase you are in now. Take a step back when needed. If you go for a walk on a windy day, either wait or use earplugs with a decibel reduction that suits you.

With time, you will start to build resilience, and your nervous system will calm down. Most likely, there is nothing functionally wrong with your ears.

 

[mandyc]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, this is all really helpful. Yes, I do keep thinking the tinnitus will get louder with more noise exposure. I'll go slow and easy with the exposure and try to look at it over months rather than days.

I'll work on not getting too frustrated or angry at myself and the situation when I have bad days, and instead try to see them as temporary setbacks rather than the bleak future I currently imagine them representing.

I'm also terrified that the hyperacusis will turn into pain hyperacusis if I expose myself to sounds.

I have fibromyalgia, so I don't have the energy for exercise, sadly. I do some yoga and take small walks around the garden when I can. I'll stay outside when planes fly over, but it does mean I'm only out for about 15 minutes before I have to go back in. The singing robins are currently irritating my ears as well.

My pudendal neuralgia has also returned mysteriously this week after being absent for about four years.

 

[kingsfan]

Does this mean that if you have random loud noise encounters that cause pain and a menthol-like burning sensation, you are making things worse? Or does it only mean that continuing to expose yourself to painful environments for hours at a time is the real problem?

I usually manage fine by avoiding triggers on most days, but once or twice a week something still gets me. Sometimes I need to be out for many hours and travel long distances just to get things done around here. I can handle most of it, but after a few hours I start to feel that menthol-like cold sensation in my outer ear.

It even happened today, right after I took a shower while wearing hearing protection, but of course I have to shower.

 

[mandyc]

Sorry to hear that it happened after you took a shower. For me, being exposed to too much general noise for hours at a time is a real problem, and it gives me spikes that can last for days.

 

[HighleyTall]

I haven't dined in a restaurant for years because of my tinnitus and hyperacusis. I reached out to a local restaurant by email, explaining my condition, and they kindly offered a private, quiet room for my wife and me to enjoy a meal without background music. The six-course dinner was served over four hours, allowing us to savor the experience at a relaxed pace.

My wife brought a book so we could enjoy moments of silence, as speaking too much can aggravate my tinnitus. Despite the calm environment and limited conversation, my tinnitus became reactive. By the time we returned home, my ears were ringing intensely, as if I had spent hours at a loud party. The overwhelming noise left my head feeling heavy and chaotic.

To cope, I took GABA and melatonin and applied double lidocaine patches, but sleep still wouldn't come. After an hour and a half of struggling, I took 1 mg of Clonazepam, which finally helped me drift off. Today, I'm managing, but the experience was exhausting. Normal sounds may not bother healthy ears, but for trauma-damaged ears like mine, even low levels of sound can be painful and disruptive. I won't be dining out again anytime soon.

My worsening sound tolerance is frightening, and it's clear that my tinnitus and hyperacusis are closely connected. My symptoms can best be visualized as a steadily rising sawtooth pattern, with sharp peaks of discomfort that keep climbing over time. I wish I could at least flatten the curve.

 

[mandyc]

It's just so unfair that what should have been a pleasant experience has turned into something that caused a spike. I'm 7 and a half months in and I feel like I'm getting worse. I seem less able to tolerate sounds now than I could in the beginning. I'm frightened that my sound tolerance seems to be getting worse, and I keep wondering when it will stop. At first I could handle voices, but now each syllable feels like a stab in my brain. I used to be able to mask and fall asleep listening to podcasts, but that could never happen now. Subtitles all the way for me. I feel like my ears are exhausted from listening to tinnitus and soundscapes all the time with no respite.

I was doing okay 2 weeks ago when I had a not too bad week. I was able to get 3 hours of sleep without sleeping tablets. By not too bad, I mean I could tolerate a 13-mile car journey, use an electric screwdriver, rustle plastic wrappers, and clang dishes without too many issues. I even sat next to an open window during the 60 mph winds that went on for about 3 days without too much trouble.

Then out of nowhere this insane hissing sound started, which is worse than the high-pitched whine that's always there. It's like someone is using tinfoil and flossing my brain with it. The burning scalp sensations continue, and I don't wash my hair anymore because it makes my tinnitus worse. Then, mysteriously, I woke up one night during my usual 3 or 4 a.m. wake-up and the tinnitus had vanished. Completely gone. I just lay there for a couple of hours, enjoying what finally felt like real peace and quiet with no pain. It eventually all came back, though.

I can't believe the toll this takes on all of us. But I have to say, this site is so helpful and so desperately needed for me, because I read that others are going through the same thing. I feel suicidal like others here do, and I admit that I've been storing the sleeping tablets my doctor gives me. Reading others' experiences helps me realise I'm not about to have a stroke or a brain haemorrhage, that this is tinnitus. Although I do wonder if some of this could be migraine-related and whether a nerve block or tablets might help, but I'm too scared to go down that route.

The hyperacusis and audiologist I see every fortnight says that going through tinnitus habituation is not linear and that there will be lots of setbacks. Others here say the same, and I'm so grateful this site is here to remind me of that.

 

[kingsfan]

Be careful with wind at high speeds. It is a broadband sound, covering a wide range of frequencies all at once.

 

[Scruffiey]

It's just so unfair that what should have been a pleasant experience has turned into something that caused a spike. I'm 7 and a half months in and I feel like I'm getting worse. I seem less able to tolerate sounds now than I could in the beginning. I'm frightened that my sound tolerance seems to be getting worse, and I keep wondering when it will stop. At first I could handle voices, but now each syllable feels like a stab in my brain. I used to be able to mask and fall asleep listening to podcasts, but that could never happen now. Subtitles all the way for me. I feel like my ears are exhausted from listening to tinnitus and soundscapes all the time with no respite.

I was doing okay 2 weeks ago when I had a not too bad week. I was able to get 3 hours of sleep without sleeping tablets. By not too bad, I mean I could tolerate a 13-mile car journey, use an electric screwdriver, rustle plastic wrappers, and clang dishes without too many issues. I even sat next to an open window during the 60 mph winds that went on for about 3 days without too much trouble.

Then out of nowhere this insane hissing sound started, which is worse than the high-pitched whine that's always there. It's like someone is using tinfoil and flossing my brain with it. The burning scalp sensations continue, and I don't wash my hair anymore because it makes my tinnitus worse. Then, mysteriously, I woke up one night during my usual 3 or 4 a.m. wake-up and the tinnitus had vanished. Completely gone. I just lay there for a couple of hours, enjoying what finally felt like real peace and quiet with no pain. It eventually all came back, though.

I can't believe the toll this takes on all of us. But I have to say, this site is so helpful and so desperately needed for me, because I read that others are going through the same thing. I feel suicidal like others here do, and I admit that I've been storing the sleeping tablets my doctor gives me. Reading others' experiences helps me realise I'm not about to have a stroke or a brain haemorrhage, that this is tinnitus. Although I do wonder if some of this could be migraine-related and whether a nerve block or tablets might help, but I'm too scared to go down that route.

The hyperacusis and audiologist I see every fortnight says that going through tinnitus habituation is not linear and that there will be lots of setbacks. Others here say the same, and I'm so grateful this site is here to remind me of that.

I'm really sorry to hear you're going through all this, actually your current state sounds a bit like my experience, I can tell you my loudness hyperacusis did eventually resolve for the most part albeit the pain unfortunately remains if not as constant but I can now handle one-on-one conversations with ease although with 2 others got to be careful or it starts flaring up for the rest of the day with a reasonable sleep resetting things which wasn't the case in the worst throes... I effectively get a bandwidth for the day of how much noise I can take now.

Still, it's a small win and means I can potter around the house and garden, not in a state of constant vigilance, and baths are no longer nerve-wracking experiences... although any more than a light dish clanking is definitely still out.

It felt like ages but actually improved relatively speedily in the grand scheme once it started to ease, even though it didn't feel like it was getting better and was just as mentally draining until it had nearly resolved.

Of course these are just my experiences and we and our damage are all different but even though it probably still sounds terrible and it definitely still is misery inducing, mentally I feel much more like my old self and if I'd been 15 years older and in a better place in life personally, I'd probably be willing to see things through and for all we know, you might recover far better than I.

It sounds like you might have just pushed things a little too quick with the electric screwdriver (it may not the same for everyone, but those high pitched mechanical noises are definitely the worst for me) and the wind, the results of upsetting the ears don't always show up instantly which can confuse matters and I know when my hyperacusis is flaring my tinnitus is definitely worse so that might be all you're experiencing with the new hiss, a spike which will fingers crossed gets back to where you were before improving further in the hopefully not too distant future.

I feel I have to tell you, though... I understand the desire, I'm not one to lecture on that choice and ethically I believe it's the decision of the individual but firstly, wait for things to improve mentally and otologically before those sorts of choices and I assure you it will improve and second don't try and use sleeping tablets for that purpose, it's nearly certain they won't work (back when that sort of thing did work they were prescribing barbiturates) and you'll end up in a worse position than before, possibly with lots of outpatient care you won't want, or worse still, inpatient with no control over noise.

 

[mandyc]

Thanks for that. Going to a hospital would be awful right now with no control over noise, light or smells. All affect me. Sorry to hear the pain hasn't gone away though. I hope it is a spike and will go down soon. Pain from it is very intense.

 

[Nick47]

over noise, light or smells.

Sounds like you have migraines, @mandyc.

 

[Scruffiey]

Thanks for that. Going to a hospital would be awful right now with no control over noise, light or smells. All affect me. Sorry to hear the pain hasn't gone away though. I hope it is a spike and will go down soon. Pain from it is very intense.

No problem. While it's, shall we say, a sensitive subject, I feel it's better that people are informed about the fact that it really isn't as easy to do as many presume. It can have catastrophic consequences if it goes wrong with pretty much any method. It should ideally always be done through an assisted route if it ever becomes a necessity, although that's unfortunately still a contentious topic for many people. I hope that one day this changes, but that's probably a discussion for a different forum.

No, the pain hasn't gone, but it's certainly improved. It's nowhere near as constant or regular now. The recovery time's shorter when it flares up, and I even get the occasional day where my ears feel relatively normal for a while. Unfortunately, although my general sound tolerance improved massively (at one point running taps made my ears burn and light switches felt like being punched in the head, not to mention the stabbing nerve pain and feeling like my head was about to burst) and most day to day sounds are back to their normal levels again, including birdsong, there's always been a ceiling that hasn't moved. Unfortunately, that ceiling's no more than average talking volume, around 65 dB, before I start getting into flare-up territory. Basically, as long as nobody laughs loudly or tries to talk over each other, I'm usually absolutely fine, and the reaction's less severe now as long as I remove myself from the situation quickly.

But that may be completely different for you. My ears aren't yours, and neither's my brain. I can't live anything close to my old life, and obviously, the bad tinnitus days are still pretty horrendous, but it's still much more livable. The anxiety and depression eventually mostly lifted, even if the misery remained.

Honestly, while relaxing at home with quiet TV, I feel a lot more like my old self, which I never believed would happen. While I've no intentions of going on for 30 plus years like this, if you gave me a pill right now that'd end it all instantly, I'd say thanks, put it in a drawer for later, and tell you that I'm still going to try to squeeze out a couple more years and do my best to have whatever fun I can. I was so suicidal that I'd planned it, acquired the necessities, and written the notes.

This probably still sounds bleak from where you're at, but I'm not the type to sugarcoat anything with "life's great again, I'm all habituated, better, and you just need to calm your nervous system and get on with living your new life." So trust me when I say that it'll really get better without you doing much more than waiting it out through whatever means work for you. You may feel differently later depending on your eventual results, which may be far better than mine, or even back to relative normality for all anyone knows.

At least you'll be making those irreversible decisions by choice, with a clearer head, likely getting better sleep, and not while you're in the middle of an unfortunately slow and torturous recovery.

So fingers crossed for you that the current situation's just a spike and doesn't last too long, and hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, you'll be feeling more like your old self again.

Oh, and my tolerance also got worse before it got better, so what you're experiencing isn't a sign of a long-term trend or anything to read into. It's just part of the adjustment process while your brain works things out.

 

[Scruffiey]

Sounds like you have migraines, @mandyc.

I think she's mentioned having them elsewhere on the forum. I believe there are some available medications to address the pain they cause, certainly something worth consulting with the doctor about, along with the ideations.

With that Dr. Djalilian article you posted the other week, I wonder if anyone on here has tried migraine treatments for severe tinnitus/pain hyperacusis?

 

[mandyc]

I did wonder if I was having migraines and if they were to blame, since too much bright light makes the tinnitus worse. But I do not want to risk it getting any worse by taking drugs for migraines that are known to make tinnitus worse.

Thank you, @Scruffiey. What I am going through does sound like what you have been going through. I had 2 nights over the past 2 weeks when the tinnitus disappeared completely. It just switched off all by itself. But of course it comes back, and so does the pain, since it is so high-pitched that it gives me pain sometimes. I guess that ties in with what you were saying, that it can lessen without me actually doing anything specific to make that happen.

I really miss speaking with friends and enjoying being outside on a windy day. Watching TV with the sound down low makes me feel a bit more normal, and feeding the birds every day helps too. I just have to hang in there, like everyone else is doing, and hope it gets better as time goes on.

 

[Scruffiey]

I can certainly understand the desire not to make things worse by experimenting with new medications, although it might be something to consider once you have become more used to the tinnitus and things have settled a bit. I cannot say I have ever heard of bright light making tinnitus worse, so a neurologist referral might be helpful, although ocular issues do seem to go hand in hand with tinnitus fairly often.

Disappeared completely? That is amazing. I have had days where it became quiet enough that it did not bother me, but it never just switched off. That sounds like bliss and is definitely a positive sign.

All of this really comes down to an endurance test. There is no real treatment in the vast majority of cases, so it becomes a matter of keeping yourself distracted while your brain slowly does its job and returns things to a level of homeostasis. It is extremely rare for that not to happen. For some people, the distraction is tinnitus retraining therapy or pursuing whatever treatment they feel helps them cope, and for others, it is hobbies, exercise, or walks in nature. Some people benefit from antidepressants and therapy.

Personally, I am a big fan of the hobby route. Art is an excellent distraction, easy to get lost in for hours, and you end up with something positive. On days when even that was too difficult to focus on, gaming helped entire days pass, and I was glad when they were over.

For the most part, I can now sit outside on a windy day and watch TV at a normal level, and if I knew anyone locally, I would have no issue with someone coming over for a coffee or a quiet evening. It might still flare things up a little, but it is easier to cope with now and the flare-ups pass more quickly. I do believe you will get those parts of your life back. I also hope you have more interesting birds in your area than I do. The best I could manage was trying to tame one of the local pigeons, since they eat anything before the others even get a chance.

Do talk to a doctor if the ideations are becoming too much. No medication is entirely safe for tinnitus or for anything else, but most people here seem to do well with low-dose Mirtazapine, and it can help with sleep. If you can get some emergency Clonazepam for the particularly rough days, even better.

 

[Nesty]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, this is all really helpful. Yes, I do keep thinking the tinnitus will get louder with more noise exposure. I'll go slow and easy with the exposure and try to look at it over months rather than days.

I'll work on not getting too frustrated or angry at myself and the situation when I have bad days, and instead try to see them as temporary setbacks rather than the bleak future I currently imagine them representing.

I'm also terrified that the hyperacusis will turn into pain hyperacusis if I expose myself to sounds.

I have fibromyalgia, so I don't have the energy for exercise, sadly. I do some yoga and take small walks around the garden when I can. I'll stay outside when planes fly over, but it does mean I'm only out for about 15 minutes before I have to go back in. The singing robins are currently irritating my ears as well.

My pudendal neuralgia has also returned mysteriously this week after being absent for about four years.

I feel for you. I also have Fibromyalgia, which I developed in 2019. Although my Fibro symptoms are milder than many other people's, I have ongoing fatigue issues because of a dose of Ciprofloxacin in 2022, often referred to as being floxed. That experience made my tinnitus worse and added another, louder layer to it.

I have been wearing hearing aids since October for high-frequency hearing loss. I was doing fairly well for a few years, but then in September I started monitoring my tinnitus more closely, and now I cannot seem to not notice it.

I am using the hearing aids in an attempt to give my brain some of the sounds it craves. However, I find that after wearing the aids for around 7 hours, my eardrums start to hurt. I do think I have recruitment and hyperacusis issues, as my tinnitus is reactive. I do prefer quiet environments, although that does not really help me, as when I encounter sounds, my tinnitus increases. I am not sure whether the hearing aids are helping or not.

When I am out, it feels like my brain is noticing nearly every sound, whereas previously I probably just did not register them.

It feels like my brain has suddenly lost its habituation.

 

[mandyc]

Hi @Scruffiey and @Nesty.

I'm really struggling now. I've written goodbye notes today. I just can't take it anymore. I feel I owe it to myself and my loved ones to at least try 1 drug to see if it can help. I'm losing the ability to think clearly or do anything because of the lack of sleep. I'm scared to try drugs, but if it's that or killing myself, do I really have anything to lose?

I keep hoping for better days, but at the moment, my days are spent lying in bed, trying to breathe deeply and stay out of fight or flight mode. I need to take something to reduce my anxiety, because breathing deeply and trying to stay calm isn't working. I didn't get to sleep until 4:30 am last night and was awake again at 7:30 am. I also had restless legs to contend with, which come and go.

I've stopped eating all the foods I enjoy because I'm worried they'll make the tinnitus worse. I'm on a low-glutamate diet, which means you can hardly eat anything. I'm also worried about high salicylate foods and high histamine foods, but I've noticed that not eating stresses my body out and makes the tinnitus seem worse.

Can you take Clonazepam now and again, or is it addictive?

It really is an endurance test. I see that we all fluctuate with suicidal feelings with this. Sometimes the relatively manageable days make the bad days feel even worse because we've had a reasonable day. I think I'll try the Phenelzine anti-histamine tonight, even though it means I won't sleep the following night.

It's difficult, @Nesty, having fibro contributing to all of this, because it means we don't have the energy for exercise or walking that others can use as a distraction. Other people on here are taking medication for their tinnitus and haven't been put off by scare stories, so I wonder if I should too.

 

[Scruffiey]

Hi @Scruffiey and @Nesty.

I'm really struggling now. I've written goodbye notes today. I just can't take it anymore. I feel I owe it to myself and my loved ones to at least try 1 drug to see if it can help. I'm losing the ability to think clearly or do anything because of the lack of sleep. I'm scared to try drugs, but if it's that or killing myself, do I really have anything to lose?

I keep hoping for better days, but at the moment, my days are spent lying in bed, trying to breathe deeply and stay out of fight or flight mode. I need to take something to reduce my anxiety, because breathing deeply and trying to stay calm isn't working. I didn't get to sleep until 4:30 am last night and was awake again at 7:30 am. I also had restless legs to contend with, which come and go.

I've stopped eating all the foods I enjoy because I'm worried they'll make the tinnitus worse. I'm on a low-glutamate diet, which means you can hardly eat anything. I'm also worried about high salicylate foods and high histamine foods, but I've noticed that not eating stresses my body out and makes the tinnitus seem worse.

Can you take Clonazepam now and again, or is it addictive?

It really is an endurance test. I see that we all fluctuate with suicidal feelings with this. Sometimes the relatively manageable days make the bad days feel even worse because we've had a reasonable day. I think I'll try the Phenelzine anti-histamine tonight, even though it means I won't sleep the following night.

It's difficult, @Nesty, having fibro contributing to all of this, because it means we don't have the energy for exercise or walking that others can use as a distraction. Other people on here are taking medication for their tinnitus and haven't been put off by scare stories, so I wonder if I should too.

If the ideations are getting that strong, you need to talk to a doctor or a crisis team ASAP. Hell, even go to A&E if you need to. And if you feel you cannot do that, at least talk to a friend or partner. Someone has to know how this is affecting you.

I know it can feel like that is the only way out, and I felt exactly the same as you, down to the letter. But hey, I am still here, aren't I? I truly promise it will get better. As you said yourself, you are not thinking clearly and you are not sleeping properly. That will not be the case forever, and you need a clear head.

Also, as you said, what have you really got to lose by giving some form of treatment at least a try?

Please put those notes away. You will think back on them in 1 year's time and feel very differently.

Yes, as you have seen from my posts, there are still shit days when those feelings come back. But they are much fewer and further between, and the pull to act on them is much reduced. They show the worst of my mental health when I am not thinking clearly, or my frustration with the condition and how it has not been given the recognition it deserves. I do not come here to talk about the days when I had a fairly normal, boring time.

Besides, I would not use me as a good guide. I am not a medical professional, I have no training, and my views, feelings, and ethics are my own. I am just a fellow sufferer, doing my best to hopefully help people stay safe, get through this, and hoping I do not say the wrong thing.

There are people on here with much more experience than me, and they all have that experience because they pulled through. You have to get through it to learn how to handle it. One day, you will probably be sharing your own advice and theories with new sufferers.

As for Clonazepam, yes, it is highly addictive, as are all benzodiazepines. But if you only use it now and again, most people seem to be able to use it just fine. Considering that heavy use and withdrawal can increase all these ear issues, you will probably be fairly motivated to treat it gently.

 

[Nesty]

Hi @mandyc,

I can fully sympathise with your struggles. It is an absolutely wretched condition.

Last night, Sunday, I could not really sleep. I got about 2 to 3 hours. I woke up after a bad dream at 2 am and could not get back to sleep, so I was in a right state for work in the morning. My tinnitus was really high. I have often had thoughts about ending it, though I know it would devastate my parents and my daughter.

If you are having problems sleeping, it is very important to deal with this aspect.

When I got floxed by Ciprofloxacin in 2022, one of the main symptoms was twitching legs and massive insomnia. I cannot tell you how bad the insomnia was. I was getting about 2 hours a night, if that. Every time I went to sleep, I jolted awake. That went on about 30 times a night. It lasted for weeks, and I ground to a halt. I could not even function or get out of bed. I did not know who I was anymore.

I was placed on the antidepressant Sertraline, and my sleep started to improve. SSRIs supposedly can make tinnitus worse, but I was at the point of last ditch. I came off them after 9 months, and now I can often sleep really well unaided. I have Melatonin from the USA, which is really good at helping you drop off, but I only use it now and then.

If you can get your sleep regulated, other things might improve too.

Regarding headaches, I had some bad ones in 2024. I went to the GP, who said it was trigeminal neuralgia type 2 and prescribed Pregabalin. It completely scared the crap out of me.

After being given Ciprofloxacin for an infection I never had, I am wary of taking prescription meds now, especially from NHS GPs.

What I found in the end was that it was referred pain from my trapezius muscles. If the tension is there, I can press a spot and the headache feeling comes on. I got a PulseRoll massage machine, which helps break that tension.

A couple of other things I am going to try for my tinnitus: I know I clench my teeth, so I am going to try a mouth guard to sleep with. I am wondering if jaw tension is contributing to mine.

If your body is not relaxed, the tinnitus will prey on you more. It is not easy to break the cycle, and I get that.