Struggling

Hello everyone,

My name is Jake and I am a junior at the University of Kansas. I've had tinnitus for the last 2 and a half months after attending an all day concert/festival. To get straight to the point, I would do anything to get rid of this constant torment. Being a natural worrier with some previous anxiety issues, I cannot express the sense of fear that I experience on a daily basis about the possibility of my tinnitus getting worse. At times, I've almost questioned sanity; knowing that this demon will most likely never leave me. I try to stay positive and to keep a good attitude, but sometimes I just don't know what to do with myself. I've been coming to this site for the past couple of weeks for some form of encouragement. Today, I decided to get involved and connect with all of you who are fighting this with me.

 

Hi Jake
I'm in a bit of the same situation, 4,5 months in.
This forum helps me a lot. I enjoy reading about research and learning about what I have, it is a lot easier to cope that way I think.

 

Before settling into the idea that this may be a condition you have to manage, though don't forget it's a possibility, if you haven't already I strongly urge that you see a doctor and get a referral to a specialist if they can't do anything about it. Even ear wax has been said to cause tinnitus. It'd probably be a long shot to pin your hopes on something like that, but again don't immediately settle into the idea that your tinnitus is indefinitely there to stay, it'll only make you more stressed and potentiality discourage you from finding the help that may be available.

Welcome to the forums.

 

Hello Jake, welcome to the forum. Don't give up hope, it may go away or the volume may become so low it won't bother you much.

 

Hi Jake,

I know how you feel. Try to be around friends and lively surroundings (with low decibels). Do not spend too much time alone in your room except for sleeping. Even study in a library or the common study areas.

Avoid drugs of all kinds except the one which are prescribed as an absolute necessity (call your doctor's office if unsure) keeping in mind that alcohol, nicotine and caffeine are forms of drugs.

And yes, do get this checked by your doctor if you haven't already done so and they might even refer you to an ENT and an audiologist.

Hang in there Jake, it will get better in one way or another.

Peace,
Observer

 

Hey there, Jake: Tinnitus triggered a severe anxiety/panic response for me, although I had no history of an anxiety disorder before. It does for many people. That's because tinnitus can cause the brain to trigger the automatic nervous and limbic systems, which are responsible for our "fight or flight" reaction.

You need to get your anxiety under control in order to tackle the tinnitus. I don't want to repeat myself... so here is a link to a post from McGee, where I offered my take on the anxiety side. You can scroll through and see if any of it helps. I posted twice on this thread.

Good luck. The anxiety was the worst part for me but four months after onset, it is SOOOOoooo much better now.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/please-help-very-scared.1976/#post-17239

 

Thank you so much for the support. LadyDi, I will definitely check that out. TJPositive, I have my appointment with an ENT tomorrow so we'll see how that goes. Thanks again!

 

Try this exercise:


Every time you get bothered by your head music. Stop for a moment and think: "This is just a sound. It can't harm me in any way. If a stop desire it to go away. My suffering will end." I know its hard in the beginning. But I have done this the last days, its really helpful. You T will not go away, but that is not the point. The point is to stop reacting to it, and when you can do that skill. You will more easily ignore your tinnitus. Even to the point you dont even notice it.

 

Oh Jake, two other things:

1. Not to give you false hope... but at this early point, your tinnitus may not be permanent. But the more you can do early on, the better. KU has a med school, yes? If so, see if they have a hearing disorder or otolaryngology dept. where they are doing research and see if you can get treatment there

2.) I spent my college years in your part of the world. A proud graduate of the University of Missouri. Go Tigers!