Tinnitus... and Depression, Fear, Anxiety.

[Krystie]

I was a swimmer, unfortunately quit something I loved.
Diagnosed when I was a kid. I don't know If I'm going crazy. Its hard for me to focus on my studies without this buzzing ringing noise. I feel insecure, scared, not safe, and sad. I can't go to bed without playing a bit of music next to my pillow. How do I survive this?

 

[Markku]

How old are you now? Did it get worse recently? (Just asking because you've had it since childhood).

Were you habituated to the noise earlier, and now something triggered it to be a bigger problem?

Many of us are studying or working, and managing with tinnitus. There can be difficult times, but in the end you'll cope.

Best wishes,
Markku

 

[daedalus]

How old is your tinnitus ?

I used to feel exactly that way. Worse in fact, i wanted to commit suicide. I couldn't concentrate, study or sleep without dazing myself with music. Strangely after a few months i realized i could read again even though it seemed impossible before. Little by little i regained my abilities. Including being able to relax.

The funny thing is it happened without a reduction of tinnitus volume or undergoing expensive therapies. It just happened trough the tincture of time. It is very common, old timers with tinnitus often cease to suffer from it.

All you need is patience. If you can't study now you will be able later.

 

[Danny]

I was a swimmer, unfortunately quit something I loved.
Diagnosed when I was a kid. I don't know If I'm going crazy. Its hard for me to focus on my studies without this buzzing ringing noise. I feel insecure, scared, not safe, and sad. I can't go to bed without playing a bit of music next to my pillow. How do I survive this?

REmove negative thoughts from your head in regards, It'll be tough but you can do it, and practice patience really realy hard, read some of the threads here much positive reinforecment, it's awesome for bad days..you will survive this...

 

[Karen]

I agree with all of the above. Also, it's too bad you quit swimming, a sport you love. I think it would be good therapy for you to go back to swimming, as soon as you feel able to do so.

All of us who have had tinnitus for awhile used to feel that we could not concentrate, could not function, could not live normally with this condition. But after awhile, you'll find that you are able to return to the activities you loved, and to reading and studying, just like before. Don't let the tinnitus rule your mind! Easier said than done, but try to find distracting activities that will help you focus on something else. That is the best remedy we have found so far!

 

[Krystie]

How old are you now? Did it get worse recently? (Just asking because you've had it since childhood).

Were you habituated to the noise earlier, and now something triggered it to be a bigger problem?

Many of us are studying or working, and managing with tinnitus. There can be difficult times, but in the end you'll cope.

Best wishes,
Markku

Im now a senior in High School, I got it during my early middle school days. Yeah, it got worse because I'm noticing it more frequently now. I thought it was normal, because I was in the swimming team ever since elementary school. Thanks

 

[Markku]

Im now a senior in High School, I got it during my early middle school days. Yeah, it got worse because I'm noticing it more frequently now.

Do you think it actually physically got worse, i.e., louder in volume or type, or is it only that you are now focusing on it more so it annoys you more?

Nowadays high school is quite stressful, isn't it? Have you been stressed? Does a stressful period coincide with the increased difficult with dealing tinnitus?

Stress can play such a big part in this that I wanted to ask...

 

[Krystie]

Do you think it actually physically got worse, i.e., louder in volume or type, or is it only that you are now focusing on it more so it annoys you more?

Nowadays high school is quite stressful, isn't it? Have you been stressed? Does a stressful period coincide with the increased difficult with dealing tinnitus?

Stress can play such a big part in this that I wanted to ask...

I think its a bit of both. Yeah, Im pretty stressed because of school, and I keep on noticing it more and more. During the day and night. It got louder in volume and higher in Pitch. When I'm outside, I don't notice it. When I'm using the bathroom, sleeping, in my room or in a quiet classroom.. it bothers me.

 

[Karen]

Krystie,
Have you tried any type of background sound in your room, such as a sound machine, or a fan? That can help. I know it's really hard to be in a quiet environment with tinnitus! Try to avoid really quiet environments whenever you can.

 

[Krystie]

Krystie,
Have you tried any type of background sound in your room, such as a sound machine, or a fan? That can help. I know it's really hard to be in a quiet environment with tinnitus! Try to avoid really quiet environments whenever you can.

Thanks a lot Yeah I use meditation music a lot.. Im wondering, Is there anywhere to reduce the sound?

 

[Karen]

Well, there are lots of possibilities for things that can help you, depending on what caused your tinnitus, and how long you've had it. Right now, there is a lot of research being done on tinnitus remedies, but no one has come up with the perfect cure as yet! Those of us on this forum have found lots of ways to cope with it, however.

I use a sound machine as background noise (I like water sounds, such as the sound of a babbling brook, or ocean sounds). Those really help. Other natural things you can do (with your parents' approval and your doctor's OK) would be to take a supplement at bedtime, such as melatonin, to help you sleep. There are many other natural supplements, too, that work for some people more than others. It would probably be best to discuss those with your doctor, such as an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. Supplements that may help are: Gingko biloba, magnesium, B vitamins, and zinc/copper.

Also, it is a really good idea to invest in a pair of high-quality ear plugs, for when you are in noisy environments. You'll want to protect your hearing, and not make your tinnitus worse, and that is the best way to do it. You should probably carry the earplugs with you wherever you go, so that you can use them when needed.

Most of us with tinnitus have found that, with time, it gets more bearable. When your brain gets used to it (adjusts or habituates to it), you will get to a point where you're not very conscious of it. That may take awhile, so protect your hearing in the meantime, and read some of the great information on this forum!

 

[Krystie]

Well, there are lots of possibilities for things that can help you, depending on what caused your tinnitus, and how long you've had it. Right now, there is a lot of research being done on tinnitus remedies, but no one has come up with the perfect cure as yet! Those of us on this forum have found lots of ways to cope with it, however.

I use a sound machine as background noise (I like water sounds, such as the sound of a babbling brook, or ocean sounds). Those really help. Other natural things you can do (with your parents' approval and your doctor's OK) would be to take a supplement at bedtime, such as melatonin, to help you sleep. There are many other natural supplements, too, that work for some people more than others. It would probably be best to discuss those with your doctor, such as an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. Supplements that may help are: Gingko biloba, magnesium, B vitamins, and zinc/copper.

Also, it is a really good idea to invest in a pair of high-quality ear plugs, for when you are in noisy environments. You'll want to protect your hearing, and not make your tinnitus worse, and that is the best way to do it. You should probably carry the earplugs with you wherever you go, so that you can use them when needed.

Most of us with tinnitus have found that, with time, it gets more bearable. When your brain gets used to it (adjusts or habituates to it), you will get to a point where you're not very conscious of it. That may take awhile, so protect your hearing in the meantime, and read some of the great information on this forum!

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. :')

 

[MT09]

I'm really just being curious about this. I've seen many people mentioning that they're under depression. What exactly is depression? I always assumed it's like a very bad state of mind which a person reaches when he/she is extremely sad due to some reason. How do meds help depression? Isn't depression more like a 'mind' thing? I'm asking this because I saw a few posts on this forum where people mentioned they were suffering from depression. I was about to reply to them with something similar to 'Depression is a mind thing. Relax your mind, do something which you are happy about and it will go away' but then decided not to because I wasn't sure what it exactly was. So, just out of real curiosity... what exactly is depression?

 

[Tamalak]

It is a mental state of low energy and low motivation. Very often it is accompanied by sad or even suicidal feelings, however these are not necessary to be depressed.

 

[Evan J]

Since my T got louder, I feel more depressed/weird. Does anyone share the same experience? I'm wondering if the louder T is causing the increased depression, or, is my depression making my T worse.

 

[Erlend]

Both, you should try to get out of the depression.
I'm there as well though

 

[Sherri786]

Since my T got louder, I feel more depressed/weird. Does anyone share the same experience? I'm wondering if the louder T is causing the increased depression, or, is my depression making my T worse.

Same here, v depressed during spikes.

 

[Beth]

Krystie, one sentence stands out a mile; you said 'I thought it was normal'. The fact is that if you still assumed that everyone heard the sounds that you do, you would not be bothered by it but because it now has a label you think of it as a condition or illness. Nearly everyone can hear the same sounds as we tinnitus sufferers if they stick their finges in their ears or are in silence long enough. It is perfectly normal safe 'music of the brain' but we are more aware of it due to anxiety, stress, depression or one of many things such as an accident or bereavement. I'm sure in time you'll get back to the place you were before, where it doesn't bother you at all. It would be good if you could swim again and start to do things you enjoy that will take your mind off it.

You're going to be OK, give it time. Take care.