my tinnitus is worsening. especially upsetting is it happened after sitting along at a relatively low-volume karaoke for two hours — now my right ear has worsened. i had grown accustomed to how it was the last decade or so since i had sat in an orchestra, then played some electrical instruments with various people, then had sat around on bad fucking conference talks with obnoxious speakers.

now in this one fucking moment of weakness i join a karaoke and it seems okay then i wake up next day hearing such an awful loud pitched screeching constantly in my ear.

i am literally dissociating and losing track in conversations because of this: i have been everywhere in my answers.

i am so fucking hard of thinking now. it’s like a constant distraction from living and thinking and relaxing. please send help

    • butternuts@piefed.zipEnglish
      4·
      8 days ago

      Things that helped:

      Find noises that help mask your tinnitus. For me it was rushing water or specifically a running shower. I then downloaded an app called “relief resound” that is designed for people with tinnitus. I setup a rushing river sound and would play that at night to help me sleep. The sounds from my phone acted more as a distraction for my brain to focus on something else other than the tinnitus. After a few weeks of doing that sleeping became less stressful and even easy. I also found some sleepy bed time stories on Youtube that helped distract me as I feel asleep.

      Changed my thinking. I would remind myself that my real issues wasn’t tinnitus but my fear of hearing it, not escaping it, and general anxiety around it. I would constantly remind myself it’s okay to hear it and to slowly practice focusing on new sounds like a show/movie I was currently watching or music. After a month or two my anxiety over it subsided and I was more accepting of my new reality and it didn’t feel as scary anymore.

      Developed patience. I figured getting accustomed to tinnitus would take some time so I took it slow and let myself not feel pressured (and more anxious). This helped me keep positive when hope was slipping for me. I still had episodes but patience let me deal with it and eventually come out on top.

      Find a tinnitus buddy. I had an IRL friend who had tinnitus worse than me. It was incredibly therapeutic to talk to this person and discuss my fears. They informed me how they dealt with it and this gave me hope along with new ideas of overcoming it. It was really an aha moment for me to see someone not only “dealing” with tinnitus but actually living their life normally and not caring about it that turned everything around for me.

      All these things in combination helped me cope and accept my new screaming ears. I can now sleep, don’t really notice it, and have gone back to living my life like pre tinnitus. I was really really hopeless at one point but kept fighting at it and I’m very happy I did. Chronic issues can be really scary but attitude can change everything for the better.