Suicidal Two Months After Tinnitus Onset from a Child's Scream

[Annina]

Hi,

I really need some support. My tinnitus started at the beginning of May when my child was screaming. My right ear became blocked, and the tinnitus began. By that evening, it had stopped or quieted down so much that I didn't notice it.

A couple of days later, it started again and hasn't stopped since. Within a few weeks, it spread to my other ear. At first, it began to improve, or maybe I was starting to get used to it.

But then it became much worse. I couldn't sleep anymore, which made everything feel even more overwhelming. In the evenings and at night, it became unbearably loud. I also began to experience ear crackling and pressure. Then came the sensitivity to sound, and the tinnitus started reacting to external noise. Musical tinnitus developed, and new tones began to appear every day.

Now, two months later, the tinnitus is getting even worse. Sleeping like I used to no longer helps. I feel extremely anxious. I can't eat, and I'm unable to take care of my child. I've isolated myself in my room because sounds physically hurt my ears.

I avoid everything that makes noise, such as showering, doing housework, or even eating. The tinnitus increases with any sound. I can't go outside or drive anymore. Even flushing the toilet while wearing earplugs caused a spike.

I always wear earplugs when I leave my room, and I often wear earmuffs on top. Maybe I didn't protect my ears enough during the first few weeks. The problem now is that the tinnitus is so loud, wearing earplugs for extended periods is difficult.

I've tried Magnesium, Vitamin B6, and Melatonin. I've also tried Nasacort, Dymista, and Cetirizine. None of them helped. When the tinnitus became unpredictable, these medications actually made it worse and caused spikes.

I saw an ENT specialist, and she said my ears look fine.

There was previous noise exposure, and my child's scream seems to have been the final trigger that set everything off.

I feel incredibly anxious and have lost hope.

 

[Sydnears]

Can you get to a doctor, or at least do an online consultation? You need medication to help calm your anxiety. It is undoubtedly making the tinnitus worse, and you are spiraling. You can get help, and you can make it through this.

Everyone here is rooting for you. Keep posting.

 

[Kam75]

Hi @Annina,

Sorry to hear about what you're going through.

Two months is really not a long time. Your situation may very well improve in the coming months if you continue to protect your ears when needed.

It is important never to expose yourself to loud noise again once you have tinnitus, because your ears remain more vulnerable for life.

Very disabling tinnitus can become more manageable over time, even after years of isolation. I know what I am talking about—I have been there.

It is also important to try to stay as positive as possible, since depression obviously does not help the situation.

I do not know the details of your life, but if you have a child, you likely have a husband as well—hopefully someone who can support you.

Try to remind yourself that there are people in more difficult situations. It might help you put things into perspective.

For example, I am 34 and have had tinnitus since I was 21, even though I always protected my ears at parties with custom-made hearing protection. I will probably never have a wife or children because I am forced to live in complete isolation.

There is always someone worse off.

Take care of yourself, think of your child who needs their mother, and trust that you will feel better in time—I truly believe that.

 

[hey]

Hello @Annina,

I'm sorry you are going through all of this. The fact that it has only been two months is actually a good sign. It means there is still a chance for things to improve or for you to get used to it.

The best advice I can give is to protect yourself from any sounds that hurt or bother you. This is different for each person, so it will take some time to figure out what works best for you.

Some people also try steroids early after an acoustic shock, but it does not help everyone. A few people have even felt worse afterward, although that is rare.

You are not alone. Stay strong. We understand what you are going through.

 

[Marcuso22]

In my opinion, it sounds like you are experiencing emotionally triggered tinnitus, where you have become hyper-focused on what is happening with your ears. It also seems that you may be overprotecting your ears, which can potentially lead to worsening hyperacusis.

You want to gradually expose your ears to ambient sounds. At night, when everything tends to feel louder, it can help to listen to white noise, pink noise, or another type of background sound at a low volume, or to play gentle meditation music while you sleep.

The scream probably did not cause additional acoustic damage to your inner ear, but the experience may have triggered something to go off track in your auditory system. This is very likely temporary and treatable through sound therapy, along with learning about the cycle of stress-induced tinnitus and coping strategies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

You might also consider seeing an audiologist who can test your hearing up to 16 kilohertz.

 

[henkess]

Have you tried 500 mg of Magnesium? It helps me. It is a high dose, but it makes things a little better. I think this is just a spike for you. Try to rest your ears, and I believe it will improve soon. It took me three months to recover after a dog barked in my ear outside.

 

[Annina]

Can you get to a doctor, or at least do an online consultation? You need medication to help calm your anxiety. It is undoubtedly making the tinnitus worse, and you are spiraling. You can get help, and you can make it through this.

Everyone here is rooting for you. Keep posting.

Thanks for your reply and encouragement! I have been to the doctor three times. They prescribed me Propranolol for anxiety, but I have not tried it because I am worried it might make the tinnitus worse. They also could have prescribed SSRIs, but I do not think it would be wise to take them, as they are also considered ototoxic.

Have you tried 500 mg of Magnesium? It helps me. It is a high dose, but it makes things a little better. I think this is just a spike for you. Try to rest your ears, and I believe it will improve soon. It took me three months to recover after a dog barked in my ear outside.

Thank you! I took Magnesium Citrate, 350 mg per day, for a week or two. Then I stopped taking it. When I tried to start again, it caused a spike.

Should I try a different Magnesium supplement?

 

[Mark F.]

Should I try a different Magnesium supplement?

Magnesium Glycinate.

 

[Tex]

After about 15 years of living with this high-volume ear screeching, I would say: do whatever it takes to manage your stress, whether through medical support or physical activity. Manage your environment by avoiding situations with potentially high noise levels. I guess my wife and friends will never truly understand that I can't go to parties anymore.

Getting proper sleep is essential. My doctor prescribed the lowest dose of Valium years ago, just to help with sleep. Make sure to get exercise—lots of it—preferably outdoors. Exercise has been my savior. I can never get enough, and it never feels like too much.

High stress leads to higher volume. Low stress helps reduce the volume.

Surprise loud noises are brutal.

Sleep, sleep, and more sleep.

Walk, do aerobic exercise, lift weights—anything physical, and do it outside. Get out of the house!

I am sorry to say it, but as bad as this is for us, most people just do not get it. It does not rank alongside cancer or heart disease. We are sick, but not "sick enough" in their eyes.

 

[kingsfan]

Thank you! I took Magnesium Citrate, 350 mg per day, for a week or two. Then I stopped taking it. When I tried to start again, it caused a spike.

Should I try a different Magnesium supplement?

Magnesium Citrate and Magnesium Oxide both cause spikes for me. Magnesium Glycinate and Magnesium L-Threonate do not.

 

[Watasha]

Hi,

I really need some support. My tinnitus started at the beginning of May when my child was screaming. My right ear became blocked, and the tinnitus began. By that evening, it had stopped or quieted down so much that I didn't notice it.

A couple of days later, it started again and hasn't stopped since. Within a few weeks, it spread to my other ear. At first, it began to improve, or maybe I was starting to get used to it.

But then it became much worse. I couldn't sleep anymore, which made everything feel even more overwhelming. In the evenings and at night, it became unbearably loud. I also began to experience ear crackling and pressure. Then came the sensitivity to sound, and the tinnitus started reacting to external noise. Musical tinnitus developed, and new tones began to appear every day.

Now, two months later, the tinnitus is getting even worse. Sleeping like I used to no longer helps. I feel extremely anxious. I can't eat, and I'm unable to take care of my child. I've isolated myself in my room because sounds physically hurt my ears.

I avoid everything that makes noise, such as showering, doing housework, or even eating. The tinnitus increases with any sound. I can't go outside or drive anymore. Even flushing the toilet while wearing earplugs caused a spike.

I always wear earplugs when I leave my room, and I often wear earmuffs on top. Maybe I didn't protect my ears enough during the first few weeks. The problem now is that the tinnitus is so loud, wearing earplugs for extended periods is difficult.

I've tried Magnesium, Vitamin B6, and Melatonin. I've also tried Nasacort, Dymista, and Cetirizine. None of them helped. When the tinnitus became unpredictable, these medications actually made it worse and caused spikes.

I saw an ENT specialist, and she said my ears look fine.

There was previous noise exposure, and my child's scream seems to have been the final trigger that set everything off.

I feel incredibly anxious and have lost hope.

So many of us have been there. Two months is nowhere near enough time to assume you are going to feel this way forever. It took me about a year to truly come out of the fog. Hang in there. Rule out possible causes with medical doctors, stay away from negative message boards, and focus only on success stories. Also, consider looking into CBT for tinnitus while we wait for a treatment to be discovered.

 

[Annina]

I'm starting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy next week. My tinnitus is getting worse every day and every week. I'm trying to avoid all loud noises, but apparently even talking seems to make it worse now. I started taking Zinc, but it hasn't helped. It might even be making things worse.

Last night was the worst so far. I can't take this anymore. I'm trying my best, but I feel like giving up. I don't see any signs of improvement. Only worsening. I'm trying to sleep as much as I can, but I wake up several times during the night, and in the morning, I just can't fall back asleep.

I don't understand why this is getting worse so quickly and not returning to its previous baseline.

I should add that my tinnitus is so reactive, loud, and multi-tonal that it cannot be masked.

The crackling in my ear has also gotten worse and is very loud. I'm starting to wonder if it could actually be causing further noise damage.

 

[Jon R.]

My hyperacusis began after a child's scream in a queue. The toddler was being held up by the mother, so the child's mouth was at the same height as my ears. I had no idea they were standing right behind me. Suddenly, the child let out the highest-pitched scream I have ever heard.

After that, my tinnitus also changed in character. It went from sounding like a car tyre deflating to more of a harsh, high-pitched whine, similar to the sound of a flashbang or concussion grenade in a video game.

 

[Watasha]

I'm starting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy next week. My tinnitus is getting worse every day and every week. I'm trying to avoid all loud noises, but apparently even talking seems to make it worse now. I started taking Zinc, but it hasn't helped. It might even be making things worse.

Last night was the worst so far. I can't take this anymore. I'm trying my best, but I feel like giving up. I don't see any signs of improvement. Only worsening. I'm trying to sleep as much as I can, but I wake up several times during the night, and in the morning, I just can't fall back asleep.

I don't understand why this is getting worse so quickly and not returning to its previous baseline.

I should add that my tinnitus is so reactive, loud, and multi-tonal that it cannot be masked.

The crackling in my ear has also gotten worse and is very loud. I'm starting to wonder if it could actually be causing further noise damage.

That is wonderful you are starting CBT. Have you seen an ENT to rule out treatable causes?

 

[Maruashen]

@Annina, your symptoms and story feel a lot like mine. It is almost as if I am reading my own timeline.

I want to address something first. My ears also started to crack after I got my damage six months ago, and I used to worry that it might actually cause further harm. But guess what? I am pretty sure it has not. So try to put that worry aside now, and stop stressing about the cracking.

I am six months in, and I want to share what I would do differently if I could start over.

I got my tinnitus after New Year's Eve. I was sitting indoors having dinner, and a window was slightly open. A loud firework went off outside. The next day, I noticed tinnitus in my left ear. The first week was manageable. I tried to protect my ears and stayed relatively calm. But when the second week came and the tinnitus was still there, I started to panic more and more. I began protecting my hearing excessively with earmuffs.

What did that do? I am pretty sure it made my ears even more sensitive to sound, and I developed a fear of everyday noises because I thought they might cause more damage. I slept very poorly. My thoughts were racing every night, and I kept focusing on the tinnitus constantly.

After four months of that lifestyle—this was in late April—I had reached a breaking point. By then, I was wearing earmuffs everywhere except in my bedroom. It was awful, so I decided to break the cycle and gradually reduce how often I used them. At first, it was extremely difficult. Every sound felt overwhelming. Now, two months later, I have improved, but I still have a long way to go.

My point is this: give it time, because time really does help. Protect your ears from loud noises, but do not overprotect. Overprotection was the worst thing I have done to myself, and it is very easy to fall into that trap, especially when reading posts on forums. You see people say they got tinnitus from brushing their teeth, opening a door, or even eating.

When you say that sounds physically hurt your ears, that might truly be the case for you. But it could also be your nervous system reacting with panic each time you hear a sound—like a fight-or-flight response.

By the way, I got my initial tinnitus back in late 2017. It took me about four to five months to recover quite well, and after eleven months I was doing really good. So as many people say, two months is nothing—you need to give it more time.

Tell me, what is your biggest fear right now? Is it the tinnitus as it is? Is it the fear of it getting worse? Or is it loud noises in general?

I am completely certain that you can get through this.