I have a really bad spike too. Do you consider your spikes to come from extremely loud noise? Do you describe your tinnitus as severe? Does the severity even matter?
I've had really bad spikes at different times. Although I think I've mostly returned to a baseline, I can also say that I've gotten worse over time. The really bad spikes scare me so much, and I can't imagine getting any worse.
The latest one I posted about was a truck in an underground garage. It happened so fast. I was let out of a friend's car, and I regret the entire series of events. I was wearing foam earplugs because that was all I had with me, and I had forgotten my earmuffs at home. I'm so mad at myself for going in there, but my question is, what can I do now?
Sorry to hear about your recent spike. Incidents like the one you describe are, to a certain degree, pretty much unavoidable unless you move out of the city and go somewhere completely remote. Spikes and setbacks are part of this journey, unfortunately.
The situation you describe has happened to me a couple of times as well, and they all settled down with time. Have I gone into "freak mode," thinking I can't live like this? Yes, many times. You had foam protection in, and the exposure was short. It should resolve, but it could take weeks or even several months.
The severity discussion is not something I find very meaningful, as it's extremely subjective. Many people here say, "If you can hear it over the shower, it's severe." I don't like that word at all. If that's the definition, then mine would certainly qualify, but I don't use such labels myself. Personally, I'm used to this level by now. I don't remember silence anymore. This is my normal, and I've come to terms with it. It took a lot of time and effort to reach that point. That doesn't mean it doesn't act up—multitonal, fluctuating, reactive tinnitus makes that impossible—but it is what it is. I try not to fight it and let it run its course.
This is not a contest of who has it worse. Most people on this forum have some degree of bothersome tinnitus, or they wouldn't be here. Some are clearly much worse off and really struggling.
To answer your question, yes, most of my spikes come from loud incidents. Every time I go into worst-case scenario thinking, the spike only lasts longer. Sometimes it helps to step back, look at the situation, and remind yourself of similar episodes you've been through before.
The sadness you mention when these incidents happen is very familiar to me. I know that place. It's hard, and it's only human to feel sad when intrusive thoughts keep circling around. But staying in those valleys for too long is something I've worked hard to avoid over the years. I have better tools now, as I've had therapy on and off for about five years. My therapist specializes in tinnitus and hyperacusis, and that support has helped me a lot.
You're still here, and this too will pass somehow. That's what you need to hold on to, in my opinion. There are no certain answers with this, since individual factors matter a lot, including how the brain perceives it as a threat.
