Struggling with a Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Setback After Years of Recovery

[Mags]

I am looking for some advice from a place of despair. I developed tinnitus over the course of four and a half years. After the initial nightmare, which included reactivity and hyperacusis, I recovered and was left with mild to moderate tinnitus, which I got used to until last week.

While I was on holiday in a very windy location, my tinnitus spiked. It has now been one week with reactive, loud tinnitus and some hyperacusis. I am devastated that my brain has returned to that very dark place after four years. I have no idea why this happened or whether it is going to settle.

I am not sleeping and I have no energy to fight again. Has this happened to any of you, and have you recovered or gotten used to it again? I need some hope.

 

[Strife_84]

You have the tools. You did it once. It was tough, but you did it. You can do it again!

I am currently in the same situation. I had a pretty good life going, then I went to a club with earplugs on, and now I have a terrible spike that has lasted for a week already.

But we did it once! We went through the darkness and all those horrible thoughts. We survived, learned to enjoy life again, and faced setbacks along the way, but we kept moving forward! We can do this!

I've had some nasty spikes over the years. Sometimes they were my fault, like going to a club without earplugs, and other times they were caused by other factors, such as loud traffic, dental procedures, or similar situations. Usually, my spikes last about two to three weeks. I think my worst one lasted almost a month. But all those spikes eventually went away, so I believe you will be fine. Just protect your ears for now. Wind can be a nasty thing.

I usually get spikes when I start cycling.