What Is Severe Debilitating Tinnitus?

What is severe debilitating tinnitus?

People that are new to tinnitus have often told me, they didn’t realize it was such a common condition. When discussing it with a friend or family member the reply is: “I just ignore it” “Mine only bothers me at night once asleep I’m fine”. Another might say: “It plays a tune, it was strange at first but I’m used to it now”. And so the story goes on. These comments can make a person think, what is wrong with me, why can’t I just ignore it and get along with my life?

The truth of the matter is this: Tinnitus is a very common condition and comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. Fortunately, most people are able to live with it or rather “habituate" and carry on doing all the things that they want to, without it impacting too much on their life. I have covered habituation and the habituation process, in many of my posts and articles that can be found on my started threads.

Although most people eventually habituate to tinnitus naturally or with the help of medication, counselling and sound therapy. There is darker and more sinister side to tinnitus, that is not often talked about but I believe is relevant and should be addressed, especially if one wants to carry on with their life. Under these circumstances, it is absolutely vital that a person seeks the best help that is available to them.

What is severe debilitating tinnitus and what are the best ways of treating it?

I have read posts where people say: “My tinnitus is severe and I’m still able to work”. “My friend has ragging tinnitus, plays in a band and isn’t affected by it”. Some famous musicians say “I hear tinnitus over everything I’m still able to play loud music”.

The answer by those mentioned above to people that have difficulty coping, managing and working with tinnitus because they find it debilitating, it’s all about mind over matter. If you don’t allow tinnitus to get the better of you then you can accomplish anything that you want to do.

In reply to those people I want to say that you are talking absolute rubbish. You are able to continue playing loud music in your band or able work and carrying on doing all the things that you want to do because, your tinnitus has not reached a critical level of intensity yet. I hope it doesn’t because if it ever does, then you will come to know and realize the full wrath of what tinnitus able to unleash someone. Your tinnitus may indeed be intrusive and noticeable over many things. However, I am here to tell you it is not severely debilitating.

When tinnitus reaches a severe level of intensity and this is sustained, it becomes seriously debilitating and affects a person’s mental and emotional wellbeing profoundly. The affected person, will often be under immense pressure trying to cope with not one but often a cacophony of noises in their head and ears. Under these circumstances. It can be very difficult to do some of the most simple every day tasks. Medication in form of antidepressant, benzodiazepine such as clonazepam have often proven to be helpful. So is counselling with a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist, trained in the treatment and management of tinnitus. Contrary to what some people believe, medications do not necessarily make tinnitus worse.

It is reading posts and listening to people that don’t know better who say, antidepressants and benzos make tinnitus worse. These people often have low to moderate tinnitus and are able to manage it quite well, even if its occasionally severe they are not overly troubled by it. Therefore, they have no need to find help taking medication, having counselling or using sound therapy for treatment.

Not seeking professional medical help can result in a person spiralling down into deep depression and having suicidal thoughts due to the immense distress they are put under by intrusive tinnitus. It can sometimes result in a person having to be admitted into hospital psychiatric unit.

Please seek medical help if you are having difficulty coping with tinnitus.

Michael

 

What is "medical help" in this instance? I've gotten very little meaningful help from doctors in the last year and a half, just the usual sugar pills, a pep talk, and a shove out the door. I haven't outright told them I'm depressed, though I very much am, and it should be obvious. How can they help me? I'm pretty sure all my old anti-depressants just spike my tinnitus anyway.
Sorry if that came off rude, I'm asking in good faith.

 

HI @RichardGuy

I first want to say that you are not being rude as I understand where you a coming from. I don't know the sort of medical treatment that is available for tinnitus in your part of the world and therefore, I can only pass on information what has been available to me living in the UK.

I have read your post dated December 4, 2017 and I'm sorry to know that you have been going through such a difficult time with tinnitus caused by a fire alarm. Noise induced tinnitus is something that I'm familiar with so will try to give you some advice.

With respect to the ENT doctors that you have seen for treatment for your tinnitus, they are not "experts in tinnitus". They are highly qualified physicians that treat the Ear, Nose & Throat. I will assume that you have had tests at ENT. If there was an underlying medical problem within your auditory system causing the tinnitus - I will name a few: Meniere's disease, Otosclerosis, ETD ( Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, Acoustic neuroma. They will usually be able to treat these conditions medically or surgically. Hopefully after treatment the tinnitus would reduce and able to be better managed.

Since your tinnitus was caused by "exposure to loud noise", the correct medical professional for you to see would be a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in the treatment and management of tinnitus and hyperacusis. A variety of treatment options are usually available. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) (TRT) Tinnitus retraining therapy) counselling, sound therapy, Hearing aids, medication which come in a variety of forms.

It is not unusual to find a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus treatment and management also have tinnitus. They were either born with it or acquired it at sometime in their life. They will have knowledge of how tinnitus affects a person's mental and emotional wellbeing and every day life. This is vitally important especially when having one to one counselling with a tinnitus patient. Good quality counselling can be hugely beneficial to someone that is having difficulty managing tinnitus and hyperacusis. A good tinnitus therapist, will be able to help a tinnitus patient, by removing and demystifying the negative thinking that is closely related to tinnitus. Over time the tinnitus will usually become less of a problem.

So the treatments for "noise induced" tinnitus are as mentioned above. Please click on the links below and read my other posts that you might find helpful.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-ent-doctor-and-hearing-therapist.24047/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/inspiration.22894/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/a-change-of-lifestyle.20643/

 

@Michael Leigh
Well said. Unfortunately, empathy is not as common as it should be. Too many people are seemingly only able to see things from their own point of view.

 

@CMIH

Thank you for your kind comments and I fully agree with you. Veterans, those seasoned to tinnitus, and anyone new to it that has been affected by severe debilitating tinnitus, knows the truth how devastating this condition can be.

All the best
Michael