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

[wheatley]

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.

 

[MindOverMatter]

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.

 

[wheatley]

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.

 

[MindOverMatter]

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.

 

[LukeYoung]

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.

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.

 

[Jupiterman]

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

 

[wheatley]

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

There's a loud, low-frequency tone that constantly blares in my ear. It's absolutely maddening.

 

[2049v]

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 5 months in. Mine is the most severe kind in the world, and I'm still struggling a lot. My life has become a mess. For the first time in my life, I've had to fight off suicidal thoughts, and sometimes I still do. I've gone through challenges and hardships that would be overwhelming even in dramatic films, and I'm still dealing with them.

Right now, what I think might be helpful is to take things step by step, day by day. That's at least what I'm trying to do. It makes the process more bearable. I've focused solely on myself in life, pushing away unnecessary things because this experience has completely changed my character and turned me into a different person. I don't want to explain things about my ear issues to anyone anymore, not even to my family, but sometimes I have to.

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.

Hey there! I've seen many of your old posts before. I've got a few questions. When your tinnitus first started, was the intensity very high? Could you hear it 24/7? Did you notice any hearing loss? Did you receive any early steroid treatments? Since 2016, have you experienced any improvement or reduction in the symptoms? I'd appreciate a brief response.

 

[weehiru]

Hi @wheatley.

I empathize deeply with what you're experiencing right now, and I believe everyone on this forum can relate. The initial stage of tinnitus feels surreal, like you're in limbo, constantly panicking, desperately searching for anything that might help, only to be told there's nothing you can do. It's truly nauseating, and I'm really sorry you're going through this. I just want to encourage you to keep going, because it does get better.

I'm seven months in myself, and I'm doing much better. I also have noise-induced tinnitus, caused by standing front row in front of the speakers at a metal concert. My tinnitus is quite audible and overwhelming. Hearing it over the 55 dB noise of my city apartment drove me to the brink, and I spent three months feeling more mentally deteriorated than I ever had before.

However, I began to see improvements when I shifted my focus. I spent time reading about other people's experiences with tinnitus, paying attention to the strategies they use to cope rather than potential cures. This was especially true for those who have lived with it for a long time and have reached a point where it no longer affects their day-to-day life. That shift in mindset, choosing to focus on not letting tinnitus get in the way of living, was a game changer for me. There are so many amazing people on this forum and across the internet who can help you along the way.

It takes time, though. Be kind to yourself and give yourself some grace. I truly believe you can reach a point where tinnitus won't dictate your life so severely.

 

[Furetto]

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.

A month is absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of recovery. Many people start seeing significant improvements after 6 to 9 months. For everyone, the first 3 months are typically the most difficult, so it's completely normal not to notice much improvement after just 30 days. There's nothing unusual about that. It's perfectly normal. I hope this helps reassure you, my friend.