Advice for Handling Tinnitus Spikes — What Can I Do to Relax Myself?

[Pali]

So, I've had turbulent tinnitus. In fact, a couple of days ago the high pitch nosies I have have been bad. Louder, higher pitch, sometimes pulsing... It's annoying.

I shouldn't think its forever. I've had low pitch spikes that last weeks, and this is just the first time its been the high pitch. Its annoying, and upsets me. Watching videos doesn't drown it out, and I have tinnitus maskers on. They help, but don't fully work either.

I don't want to feel this spike will last forever. Unlike the single one that did, I didn't have any migraines or anything. It just started, and mostly had it for a few days.

What can I do to relax myself?

 

[Michael Leigh]

HI @Pali

On your Avatar it reads cause of tinnitus unknown? Something usually causes it and exposure to loud noise is the most common. If it's not that then it could be an underlying medical condition within your auditory system or it could be stress related. You have had tinnitus for a while so have you had any treatment? Had hearing tests and MRI scan at ENT or seen an Audiologist?

Spikes are usually but not always a result of noise induced tinnitus with hyperacusis present. Therefore, it's a good idea to get a referral to ENT and then see an Audiologist if it is noise induced as I suspect. Do you listen to music through headphones, headset for playing computer games? Go to clubs, concerts frequently where loud music is played? If yes to any of these questions your tinnitus is likely to be noise induced.

You really need to deal with the root cause of the problem and not the symptoms which are spikes. Please click on the links below and read my articles. There is also a link on coping and treating spikes.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/are-spikes-from-loud-noise-permanent.18156/
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/

 

[Juan]

What can I do to relax myself?

Have green tea, reading, stretching, yoga, exercise...

 

[Pali]

HI @Pali

On your Avatar it reads cause of tinnitus unknown? Something usually causes it and exposure to loud noise is the most common. If it's not that then it could be an underlying medical condition within your auditory system or it could be stress related. You have had tinnitus for a while so have you had any treatment? Had hearing tests and MRI scan at ENT or seen an Audiologist?

Spikes are usually but not always a result of noise induced tinnitus with hyperacusis present. Therefore, it's a good idea to get a referral to ENT and then see an Audiologist if it is noise induced as I suspect. Do you listen to music through headphones, headset for playing computer games? Go to clubs, concerts frequently where loud music is played? If yes to any of these questions your tinnitus is likely to be noise induced.

You really need to deal with the root cause of the problem and not the symptoms which are spikes. Please click on the links below and read my articles. There is also a link on coping and treating spikes.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/are-spikes-from-loud-noise-permanent.18156/
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/

Ah, thanks for this! Thing is, I've had a hearing test, and MRI: Both of which came back completely fine. I've gone to an ENT who gave me maskers, and said that they believe it to be stress related. I'm just... not used to the idea of stress causing tinnitus. On that end though, I have been dealing with extreme anxiety issues ever since I was... 13? Around 13, so I can see why that might have been a possible cause. Almost daily, for many hours, I would feel that familiar welling inside my chest that is anxiety.

When I got a hearing test post-tinnitus, I managed to notice sounds at 0HZ, so for all intended purposes my hearing itself has no damage. So surprisingly, it isn't noise induced. Which shocks me honestly, haha.

 

[Pali]

Have green tea, reading, stretching, yoga, exercise...

Green tea does sound good...

 

[Michael Leigh]

Ah, thanks for this! Thing is, I've had a hearing test, and MRI: Both of which came back completely fine. I've gone to an ENT who gave me maskers, and said that they believe it to be stress related. I'm just... not used to the idea of stress causing tinnitus. On that end though, I have been dealing with extreme anxiety issues ever since I was... 13? Around 13, so I can see why that might have been a possible cause. Almost daily, for many hours, I would feel that familiar welling inside my chest that is anxiety.

When I got a hearing test post-tinnitus, I managed to notice sounds at 0HZ, so for all intended purposes my hearing itself has no damage. So surprisingly, it isn't noise induced. Which shocks me honestly, haha.

@Pali

Thanks for the information Pali. Do you listen to music through headphones or use a headset for computer games? If the tinnitus is stress related or noise induced, then it would be a good idea to get a referral to an Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus management, this can include counselling which would help with stress and noise induced tinnitus. I await your answer on the use of headphones, headset?

 

[Pali]

@Pali

Thanks for the information Pali. Do you listen to music through headphones or use a headset for computer games? If the tinnitus is stress related or noise induced, then it would be a good idea to get a referral to an Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus management, this can include counselling which would help with stress and noise induced tinnitus. I await your answer on the use of headphones, headset?

Ahh, sorry! Unless I'm doing something with a friend, I won't use headphones. I do have a set, but I always have them on low volumes. I don't notice a change in my tinnitus after use, aside from during them where I hear it a bit more, out of the fact that... well... they're on my ears!

We have been trying to work towards solutions, which includes getting my medication changed from Propanolol into something better for stress and anxiety. I also had a blood test, and came back completely clean.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Ahh, sorry! Unless I'm doing something with a friend, I won't use headphones. I do have a set, but I always have them on low volumes. I don't notice a change in my tinnitus after use, aside from during them where I hear it a bit more, out of the fact that... well... they're on my ears!

We have been trying to work towards solutions, which includes getting my medication changed from Propanolol into something better for stress and anxiety. I also had a blood test, and came back completely clean.

If you can completely stop using headphones for 1 week don't even use them at low volume, see if the tinnitus/spikes improves.

 

[Jack V]

Have green tea, reading, stretching, yoga, exercise...

Wouldn't green tea violate the "no caffeine" rule, even though it is low caffeine?

 

[Jack V]

What can I do to relax myself?

Hot shower!

 

[Juan]

Green tea does sound good...

In general it is a good idea to follow a healthy diet full of antioxidants.

 

[Juan]

Wouldn't green tea violate the "no caffeine" rule, even though it is low caffeine?

For me green tea makes my tinnitus and hyperacusis better. I seldom have coffee because it does not have the same effect and actually makes me feel worse for some reason.

 

[Pali]

If you can completely stop using headphones for 1 week don't even use them at low volume, see if the tinnitus/spikes improves.

Funnily enough I did stop using them for several months, or at least I had periods of a week or more without them, it was worse with the frequency (Hah, puns) of how many I got.

 

[Pali]

Wouldn't green tea violate the "no caffeine" rule, even though it is low caffeine?

I tried no coffee for a couple of months too, but that was also during the time I was doing worse. Caffeine doesn't seem to do much in terms of affect my tinnitus. Oddly enough I've had an issue with the skin on my hand, and since I started having coffee again that improved so yay.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Funnily enough I did stop using them for several months, or at least I had periods of a week or more without them, it was worse with the frequency (Hah, puns) of how many I got.

Okay. Try and see an Audiologist
Read my posts in the links
Best of luck.

 

[Pali]

Okay. Try and see an Audiologist
Read my posts in the links
Best of luck.

Kay Kay, thanks!

 

[QQuentin]

Side note- I see that VRChat profile picture, add me! (same name as here)

With spikes I like to have background noise and sidetrack myself with a game or video. Not particularly to mask, but just to shift focus from the tinnitus and to a certain task.

 

[Bill Bauer]

What can I do to relax myself?

Nothing comes to mind. However, masking might help you to get through this. The sounds of crickets work well for high pitch tone tinnitus. The idea is not to play it so loud that you can't hear your tinnitus over it. The idea is to give yourself something else to listen to, besides your tinnitus. Initially you will continue focusing on your tinnitus. Hopefully after 0 minutes or so you will begin focusing on the sounds of crickets.