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.

 

[Annina]

@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.

I have started to expose my ears to sounds carefully. I have noticed that the tinnitus gets worse after brushing my teeth and eating, for example. I do not know why, because these things do not actually hurt my ears at the moment.

Last night, I woke up to catastrophic tinnitus. It has never been this loud. It is already really loud during the day, but at night it becomes even more unbearable. I do not know what else to do. I do not understand what is happening.

How can tinnitus progress so quickly to such extreme levels? Day by day, it just keeps getting worse. How is that even possible?

I cannot see an ENT or go to the hospital because I can no longer drive. I cannot even cry, because it makes everything worse and triggers a migraine.

I am sorry, but I cannot stay positive. I have arranged everything in case I die because of this. I feel like I have to give up. I am so scared.

 

[Maruashen]

Don't give up. My tinnitus fluctuates a lot too. I can have five very good days, then suddenly seven really bad ones. The last two nights have been horrible tinnitus-wise, and I don't know why. But it's been like this before, and then out of nowhere, I start having better nights again. With time, you'll start to understand more about how it behaves.

That's great to hear that you've started exposing yourself to mild sounds. For me, I was just happy to walk out of my bedroom at first, even though the floors were squeaking

I know how you feel. It can seem like it gets worse each day, especially when you're not sleeping well and starting to panic more. Your body is probably extremely tense, which can add to the tinnitus.

Honestly, skip the ENT for now. There's really no point in going at this stage. Like someone mentioned earlier, CBT is helpful. It can give you insight into why you react the way you do.

I also have a theory about the cracking. When we get noise-induced hearing damage, we usually develop tinnitus and then start to panic. Because of the panic, we tense up our neck, jaw, and other muscles. This can inflame the Eustachian tube or the surrounding muscles, which is why our ears start to crack. Once people begin to habituate, this often fades—and I believe the same thing can happen with the tinnitus too. Right now, you're overwhelmed, so everything is intensified. The tinnitus and your reaction to sound, or hyperacusis, both get worse under that kind of pressure.

You will not die from this. One day, you'll look back and say, "That was a horrible period, but I got through it, and I'm ten times stronger now." Your quality of life won't stay down. You'll enjoy the things you used to, and you'll just be a bit more careful sometimes, maybe using earplugs more often.

Let me add one last thing—something I learned the hard way. Each time I removed something from my life, I moved further away from recovery. It could be anything: skipping brushing my teeth, avoiding showers, adding insulation to the windows, or wearing earmuffs for certain tasks. Every time I added a new avoidance behavior, it became harder to undo later. So only introduce changes that are truly necessary. If your blender is loud, sure, wear earmuffs. But try not to overdo it, because that makes it harder to return to a normal life.

 

[Annina]

Things haven't improved. I've been using Dymista and Nasacort off and on to treat my Eustachian tube dysfunction. Sometimes I notice that my tinnitus gets worse after taking them, and other times it doesn't. I'm not sure if it's just a coincidence. Should I stop using these medications?

I also have asthma, for which I take Symbicort. At times, my tinnitus seems to get worse after taking it, but I can't tell if it's the medication itself or the noise I hear when I use the inhaler. I've been off my asthma medication for a few days, but it doesn't seem to have made any difference to the tinnitus.

The other day and again yesterday, I took 10 mg of Propranolol for anxiety. When I turned my head, my left ear would lock up and start ringing very loudly. The sound is often loud anyway, but this was particularly sharp. I don't know if it's just a coincidence or if the medication could be causing it.

I was prescribed Mirtazapine to help me sleep, but I don't dare take it because my tinnitus is so unstable.

 

[AfroSnowman]

Things haven't improved. I've been using Dymista and Nasacort off and on to treat my Eustachian tube dysfunction. Sometimes I notice that my tinnitus gets worse after taking them, and other times it doesn't. I'm not sure if it's just a coincidence. Should I stop using these medications?

I also have asthma, for which I take Symbicort. At times, my tinnitus seems to get worse after taking it, but I can't tell if it's the medication itself or the noise I hear when I use the inhaler. I've been off my asthma medication for a few days, but it doesn't seem to have made any difference to the tinnitus.

The other day and again yesterday, I took 10 mg of Propranolol for anxiety. When I turned my head, my left ear would lock up and start ringing very loudly. The sound is often loud anyway, but this was particularly sharp. I don't know if it's just a coincidence or if the medication could be causing it.

I was prescribed Mirtazapine to help me sleep, but I don't dare take it because my tinnitus is so unstable.

I second the common advice to focus on calming your system, whether through medication, exercise, yoga, hot baths, or anything else that helps ease your emotional response.

As for the crackling, because just like you, I started experiencing it after the onset of my tinnitus, I think in my case some of it was due to increased awareness. I became extremely sensitive to everything related to my hearing, which may have brought certain sounds to my attention that I had previously filtered out or ignored before the injury.

Just a thought. Take care of yourself.

 

[Annina]

Thanks for all the replies!

I have been living in my room for the past six weeks, mostly isolating myself. In the last few weeks, I've had to move into my closet because sounds carry into the room. But even that doesn't seem to stop my tinnitus from getting worse.

I've been outside occasionally. I live in the countryside, and according to the decibel meter, it's about 35 to 50 dB outside. The sounds are mostly birdsong and wind. These don't hurt my ears, and I can tolerate them, but how can I know for sure they won't make my tinnitus worse?

I've tried staying in silence, but I've also tried exposing my ears to sounds that don't cause pain or irritation.

I don't know how to calm my nervous system because it seems like everything I do makes my tinnitus worse. Eating, walking, stretching, massaging, and even being outside all seem to trigger it.

I know I can't cure my anxiety by living in a closet, but even the quiet sounds of daily life, like sitting outside, seem to make my tinnitus worse. I can't pinpoint exactly which sounds cause the worsening, because it doesn't always happen in the moment, it builds up over the course of days or weeks.

What should I do?

 

[Maruashen]

Thanks for all the replies!

I have been living in my room for the past six weeks, mostly isolating myself. In the last few weeks, I've had to move into my closet because sounds carry into the room. But even that doesn't seem to stop my tinnitus from getting worse.

I've been outside occasionally. I live in the countryside, and according to the decibel meter, it's about 35 to 50 dB outside. The sounds are mostly birdsong and wind. These don't hurt my ears, and I can tolerate them, but how can I know for sure they won't make my tinnitus worse?

I've tried staying in silence, but I've also tried exposing my ears to sounds that don't cause pain or irritation.

I don't know how to calm my nervous system because it seems like everything I do makes my tinnitus worse. Eating, walking, stretching, massaging, and even being outside all seem to trigger it.

I know I can't cure my anxiety by living in a closet, but even the quiet sounds of daily life, like sitting outside, seem to make my tinnitus worse. I can't pinpoint exactly which sounds cause the worsening, because it doesn't always happen in the moment, it builds up over the course of days or weeks.

What should I do?

I think you already know deep down what you should do, @Annina. Let's sort some things out. I want to help.

You've mentioned several medications and the potential side effects. How quickly does your tinnitus get worse after taking them? I mean, there must be some kind of delay before a medication actually begins to take effect. The sudden, loud ringing that lasts for ten seconds to a few minutes is something I experience all the time, about one to three times a day, often in just one ear.

About isolating yourself in your room, I did that too for a long time. It was a horrible experience. To me, it felt like every sound became louder and louder, even the sound of moving clothes or a pillow. The best response to that is to stop isolating yourself. Do you ever wear earplugs or earmuffs? If so, when?

Being outside, especially if you live in a quiet area, is completely safe. It's actually a great way to start reintroducing normal sounds to your ears. I think you know deep down that sounds up to 70 dB won't hurt you, so 50 dB is definitely safe, even for a sensitive ear.

I believe you need to first get control over your anxiety and how you react to sounds. That's incredibly difficult, because your brain is currently telling you that every sound is a threat. What helps me is repeated exposure to the same sound. For example, putting my phone down on a table creates a sound. The first time, I might think, "Oh no, that hurt my ears!" The second time, the same reaction. But after five to ten times over several days, I usually calm down. I realize it didn't actually hurt me. That's why it's so important to continue exposing yourself gently to normal everyday sounds. Staying in your closet will not help you heal in the long run.

I'm not a doctor, I'm just speaking from personal experience, and I'm sure others may see things differently.

 

[Annina]

Thank you for your help, @Maruashen.

Usually, the worsening from medications or vitamins begins about 10 to 30 minutes after taking them. I had been taking Propranolol once a day, 10 mg, when on the second day my ear started to feel blocked. The same thing happened again the following day after I had taken the medicine.

Nowadays, I use earplugs and earmuffs in the shower, when flushing the toilet, and if I have to travel by car. I do not use earplugs in the kitchen because I no longer cook or wash dishes. I also do not use earplugs when I am home alone, as I practically do nothing loud, like cleaning. I have to stay in my room or closet as much as possible when my child is home, because she is loud and often drops toys on the floor.

Yesterday, I was sitting in the yard when a car drove by. I quickly ran a few steps inside during that time. I do not think there were any overly loud sounds, because I had time to get indoors. But later, when I came back inside, the tinnitus spiked significantly and the reactivity in both ears worsened again. That same morning, I was putting on my earmuffs when my mom came to talk to me. As I was putting them on, she said something, and the sound reflected off my left ear in particular. Now, my left ear is ringing even louder than before.

I keep experiencing setbacks every day, even though I try to be careful. This incident, combined with being outside and exposed to other noises, was probably too much.

Now the ringing is even louder, and it reacts to every sound again. Maybe I should just stay in my room for at least another month, if it is not already too late.

I went to the doctor on Tuesday because my mom insisted. She drove me there, and I wore both earplugs and earmuffs. I kept them on most of the time at the clinic, except when I took them off to have my ears examined and to speak with the doctor. That visit did not cause any noticeable worsening of the tinnitus. But now, simply being outside, which is much quieter, is making it worse? Or is this a delayed spike?

 

[SpiralPath]

Hey @Annina,

Honestly, I am shocked by your story. I still cannot understand how a condition that can be triggered by something so harmless can still exist without any effective treatments. It is truly horrible and completely unacceptable.

I am not an expert, but from what I have seen, people with similar levels of severity and reactivity often recommend being cautious with both noise exposure and medications.

I hope you feel better soon.

 

[da-gan]

Hi @Annina,

You're showing many symptoms of acoustic shock syndrome: ear fullness, clicking or crackling sounds (which can be caused by the tensor tympani muscle contracting abnormally), hyperacusis, sound-induced ear pain (otalgia), and severe tinnitus. It is very concerning that you have such extreme reactivity. What is your pain like—does it come on immediately or with a delay? And what does the pain feel like?

I agree that you need to be very careful with sound exposure and medication. Antidepressants and benzodiazepines can worsen tinnitus and hyperacusis. Certain sleep medications, like Zopiclone and Zolpidem, can have similar effects.

I lost my ability to tolerate digital sound by relying on it too much in the aftermath of my trauma. Feeling panic is normal, especially in the beginning, but it does get easier with time. It may take six months or longer. Protect yourself from sounds that cause pain and reactivity, but try to maintain at least one environment where you can be without protection. Once you have stabilized a bit, you will be able to assess your options more clearly.

When I was at my worst, even typing on a computer keyboard, walking, putting on clothes, or hearing distant sounds through earmuffs caused pain. Even opening pages in a book hurt. But I have improved a little over time.

Do not bother with ENTs or audiologists. They cannot help you. Their tests might make your condition worse, and they often give poor advice. They are not equipped to deal with issues that go beyond structural problems and basic hearing loss. At this point, your problem is at least partly neurological.

Mirtazapine in low doses (7.5 to 15 mg) should be acceptable for sleep. It is one of the gentler antidepressants. Just be aware that it tends to lose its sedating effect at higher doses.

 

[Paul201]

This is a tough one, but you will recover.

My advice is to stop overprotecting your ears. Everyday sounds will not damage your hearing or prevent healing.

At some point in the future, you will look back and wonder what all the fuss was about. It might feel unreal right now, but you need to take a step back and calm down. Your ears will begin to settle when you relax and start doing normal things again over the next six months or so.

I would suggest going for a swim once or twice a week. Take cotton wool balls, dip them in Vaseline, and place them in the outer ear, not inside the ear canal. Then pull a hat down over your ears and swim for about 45 minutes. Swimming will calm you down more than you can imagine. It can be a lifesaver. It is that good. Give it a try.

 

[Annina]

Hi @Annina,

You're showing many symptoms of acoustic shock syndrome: ear fullness, clicking or crackling sounds (which can be caused by the tensor tympani muscle contracting abnormally), hyperacusis, sound-induced ear pain (otalgia), and severe tinnitus. It is very concerning that you have such extreme reactivity. What is your pain like—does it come on immediately or with a delay? And what does the pain feel like?

I agree that you need to be very careful with sound exposure and medication. Antidepressants and benzodiazepines can worsen tinnitus and hyperacusis. Certain sleep medications, like Zopiclone and Zolpidem, can have similar effects.

I lost my ability to tolerate digital sound by relying on it too much in the aftermath of my trauma. Feeling panic is normal, especially in the beginning, but it does get easier with time. It may take six months or longer. Protect yourself from sounds that cause pain and reactivity, but try to maintain at least one environment where you can be without protection. Once you have stabilized a bit, you will be able to assess your options more clearly.

When I was at my worst, even typing on a computer keyboard, walking, putting on clothes, or hearing distant sounds through earmuffs caused pain. Even opening pages in a book hurt. But I have improved a little over time.

Do not bother with ENTs or audiologists. They cannot help you. Their tests might make your condition worse, and they often give poor advice. They are not equipped to deal with issues that go beyond structural problems and basic hearing loss. At this point, your problem is at least partly neurological.

Mirtazapine in low doses (7.5 to 15 mg) should be acceptable for sleep. It is one of the gentler antidepressants. Just be aware that it tends to lose its sedating effect at higher doses.

Thank you @da-gan.

At the moment, I haven't been exposed to loud noises that would cause me much pain. Mostly, it just feels uncomfortable. I think my hyperacusis is sometimes better and sometimes worse. But why is it that the hyperacusis was improving, while the tinnitus keeps getting worse, even though I haven't been exposed to any loud noise?

Today, I tried to expose myself to some sounds for about half an hour. I sat in my room without ear protection while my mother and children were in the kitchen eating. According to the decibel meter, the sounds were between 30 and 55 decibels. This caused the tinnitus to get significantly worse again.

Should I still try to stay in complete silence all day, or how can I start exposing myself to sounds?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been of no use, as all the exposure exercises just make things worse. The therapist also claims that tinnitus doesn't actually get louder or change, and that it only seems that way because you're paying more attention to it. I completely disagree with this. Often, I'm not even thinking that a sound or event might worsen the tinnitus, but after a while, I notice more sounds coming in, and they clearly get louder.

 

[RattleKat]

I believe you can beat this. Try looking at it this way: you know that the sounds causing your symptoms to worsen are not physically damaging your cochlea or any other ear structures. So, there is no physical reason at all for an escalation of your symptoms. That means the brain must be responsible for increasing your symptoms in an attempt to warn you away from perceived danger.

That is the foundation of reactive tinnitus and hyperacusis. As you probably know from your CBT, that loop is hard to break. You fear sound, your brain triggers symptoms upon exposure to keep you safe, and then the worsened symptoms validate your fears and prompt your limbic and autonomic nervous systems to keep monitoring the symptoms and react even more strongly to the same stimulus next time. It is the exact opposite of habituation, an increasingly volatile reaction to an otherwise safe stimulus.

It is hard to break the cycle because, on one hand, you are not wrong. Your symptoms are getting worse—louder, more reactive. But crucially, that does not mean they are permanent. It means your brain's filtering and threat detection systems are misfiring.

Think about how real the mind can make other situations feel, even when they are not actually dangerous. During a panic attack, your heart races, your face and extremities can go numb, and your thoughts may spiral. It can feel like dying. There is no physical reason for these very real sensations. The brain has decided to generate them, which shows just how powerful the mind is over our bodies and perceptions. And for some people, once a panic attack has occurred, the brain can trigger another one in response to an otherwise perfectly safe situation, just because of learned association.

Some people experience chronic dizziness even when there is no medical explanation. They overcome it by retraining their nervous system to stop monitoring and by using somatic tracking. Others live in chronic pain—agony for years—and then recover.

I believe this loop is breakable. But it takes belief, time, and patience. You have to truly believe you are safe during sound exposure to begin desensitizing your system.

If you have not already, look into graded exposure and somatic tracking. The Way Out is a good, if somewhat basic, book. Dr. Yonit Arthur, who has a YouTube channel called The Steady Coach, helped me believe that recovery is possible.

The main thing to remember is that, as bad as it seems right now, this is just a moment in time. It is not forever, even if your brain is telling you it is. People have recovered. People do recover. And for all of them, the first step was believing that they could.

You are in a deep hole. I know, I have been there. It is the fight of a lifetime, the hardest thing you will ever do. But you can do it. Read only success stories. Learn from those who have healed, not from those who are still suffering.

Do not give up!

 

[ErikaS]

Hi @Annina, so sorry to hear about your tinnitus onset and worsening. For many of us, the first few months are the hardest. This is not only a complete shock to your auditory system, but also to your limbic and nervous systems. Research has shown that the limbic system, which is involved in emotional processing, plays a crucial role in the experience and perception of tinnitus.

It is so unfair, because the more anxious, fixated, scared, or stressed we are about it, the worse it can sound and feel. It is terrifying when it is objectively getting worse, with things like new tones, reactivity, and other changes. I also experienced an increase in the number of tones, just like you, and I have had reactivity since the onset of my tinnitus. I was just as scared as you are now, so everything you feel is entirely valid. But you can improve, no matter how bad it seems at the moment. Many of us have.

I want to echo everything @RattleKat shared above. I also encourage you to consider something to help with anxiety, even temporarily. Many of us have taken low-dose Remeron for sleep, which truly saved my life for a while. I am no longer taking it, but it served its purpose when I needed it most. Others have used higher doses of Remeron for depression, and it seems to be one of the most well-tolerated antidepressants for tinnitus, without causing spikes or worsening symptoms.

From my experience, and from what many others have described, your brain may be stuck in a loop that says, "Sounds are harmful and dangerous, so we have to increase symptoms to protect ourselves," even when the sounds are not actually causing damage. I suggest using protection as needed, especially if it helps you stay calm. But over time, work with your therapist to balance that with allowing some quiet, ambient sounds back in, along with retraining your thoughts. You will be helping your brain learn that it does not need to stay in this extremely alert, protective mode. With practice, you might be amazed at how your ears respond.

Also, everyone is different. I am someone who cannot wear in-ear protection, because it makes my reactivity and tones worse. Some of my worst spikes happened after using in-ear protection. It feels like the nerves in my ear canals, combined with the occlusion effect, do more harm than good. So now I only use over-ear protection in rare situations, like when my husband is using the blender, when rain is pounding on the roof, or when I am on an airplane.

I just returned from a vacation at the beach with my family, where I did not wear ear protection outside of the car ride there. I took auditory breaks and paid close attention to when I needed to rest or slow down. Five days back home, and no real tinnitus spike. I still have reactive tinnitus, but it has become more manageable. My reactivity tends to calm when I am calm.

Others rely much more on in-ear protection because it helps them. You will need to find what works for you, but I believe in finding a balance. And over time, it can help to gradually reduce protection so your brain and ears can begin to accept safe sound levels again.

Take it one day at a time. We are here for you, and we do not want you to give up. You can improve. Read success stories to remind yourself of that.

 

[Jupiterman]

Thank you @da-gan.

The therapist also claims that tinnitus doesn't actually get louder or change, and that it only seems that way because you're paying more attention to it. I completely disagree with this. Often, I'm not even thinking that a sound or event might worsen the tinnitus, but after a while, I notice more sounds coming in, and they clearly get louder.

This is typical rhetoric from a therapist when it comes to severe tinnitus. No therapy from anyone will change your tinnitus.

There is a common narrative that "normal" sounds will not cause further damage to your already compromised auditory system, including the inner ear and cochlea. I disagree with this. I believe severe tinnitus and reactivity indicate damage beyond that of a typical tinnitus sufferer, which is what most people on this forum seem to represent. Sounds above the 70 dB level have the potential to inflict additional harm on already damaged cells, just like a broken leg is more vulnerable to further injury than a healthy one.

Next point: even if your hearing is not worsening, something people often try to reassure you with, your tinnitus can absolutely worsen, as you are already experiencing. But do not expect anyone to take that seriously. Your therapist has already shown that by essentially calling you a liar when you described your symptoms accurately.

You are in a very difficult place, and unfortunately, there is no cure or adequate support. You will need to make decisions for yourself and live with the consequences.

Just remember, your therapist or anyone else who advises you to expose yourself to sound does not have to live with the monster in your head.

 

[Annina]

Thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate them.

@RattleKat, @ErikaS,

I think that's exactly what's going on. I used to feel anxious because I thought I didn't protect my ears enough in the very beginning. But looking back, I actually started using earplugs right away and kept adding more protection. Now I feel guilty that I might have caused this situation by overprotecting myself. Then again, there was no way I could have known things would turn out like this. I have to admit that I'm easily anxious.

I'm not surprised my nervous system is so messed up, because I don't do anything that resembles a normal life anymore. I don't exercise at all. I just sit or lie down all day. I barely eat. I don't see people, and I don't go outside. Whatever I do, I keep wondering whether a particular sound might make my tinnitus worse. I can't even walk normally because I'm afraid of the floor creaking.

It's hard for me to figure out what kind of sound exposure I should do and how much is safe each day. My nervous system is so overloaded that I can't make any exposure feel safe.

Only now am I starting to understand what's really happening. But I no longer know how to break the cycle. I slowly started protecting myself from normal everyday sounds, because the tinnitus began from what I thought was a normal sound. The child wasn't even screaming directly into my ear. If it had started after something clearly loud, like a concert, I might have believed that protecting my ears only from loud sounds would be enough.

Of course, all this is just speculation. But I'm trying to understand how things ended up like this.