Desperate Cry for Help: Severe Tinnitus After Going to Bar with Loud Music

Hello,

I’m at the end of my rope. I’ve tried everything, and I’m here as a last-ditch effort before I truly give up.

Last month, I developed severe tinnitus after being at a bar with loud music, and it has torn me apart mentally. Every single day, without fail, I have multiple mental breakdowns, and it severely impedes my ability to function.

I’ve seen three ENTs and two audiologists, but none of them can alleviate this immense suffering. Every day feels like nonstop torture that I can’t escape from, and I’ve never felt this low in my entire life. I pray to God every day to take away my pain, but, of course, nothing changes. I’ve even attempted to hang myself but couldn’t get past the pain of asphyxiation.

In case anyone asks:

• Yes, I see a psychiatrist and am taking medication.
• Yes, I see a psychologist weekly.
• Yes, I rely on my support group every day and let them know how I feel.
• Yes, I’ve seen doctors and done all the necessary tests to rule out anything serious.
• Yes, I’ve been admitted to inpatient hospitalization and was released.
• And yes, I still ask for God’s mercy, even though there have been zero signs of improvement.

Nothing helps, and I feel utterly hopeless. If God has any mercy at all, He’ll let me die and not send me to Hell because I’m already there.

If you’re struggling with these thoughts, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help immediately. There are people who care and want to support you through this difficult time.

 

I'm sorry to hear about your situation, @wheatley. Unfortunately, these stories are all too common. Since you're only a month in, you're still in the acute phase, which means there are great possibilities for improvement.

I highly recommend adding counseling or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a specialist in tinnitus and hyperacusis. This can make a significant difference for you.

There is definitely hope for you.

 

If I haven’t seen any improvement in a month, is that a bad sign? I would feel reassured if someone could tell me that the odds of my tinnitus significantly improving are in my favor.

 

One month of tinnitus is nothing, @wheatley. So, no, that’s not a sign of anything. You can’t draw any conclusions from that.

You need to sort your thoughts out first; otherwise, it will be hard to cope. Once you have control over the mental aspect, you can eventually start looking forward.

With time, things usually ease up for most people, and both you and your brain will adapt. It will get better, but don’t expect the progress to be linear. Give it 6-12 months.

Whether your reaction to it improves or not largely depends on you. The chances of it going away entirely are small, but what matters most is how you respond to it and whether you eventually find it bothersome or not.

 

Definitely not; it can take a significant amount of time. For me, it took around three months before I noticed any improvement, as I kept active and busy. After about a year, it became manageable, and most of the time, I barely noticed it.

I know it’s really hard, but you have to stay strong and keep fighting. Keep your mind busy. It sounds cliché, but the more you focus on it, the worse it feels. I remember that stage of my life so clearly: the pain, the mental frustration. But it can get better.

 

@wheatley, please describe exactly what your tinnitus sounds like.