Does Personality Type (Introvert vs. Extrovert) Influence the Experience of Tinnitus?

[SeekIngAlpha]

Does your personality type influence how bad tinnitus is perceived or likelihood of experiencing it at all?

 

[Fangen]

I think a lot of members here (don't take it the wrong way anyone), have had some kind of history with anxiety or depression. Now, that does not mean that we can generalize it for everybody with T. I think anxiety lead to a lot of thoughts and worrying, which might cause the perception of having T be much worse. My therapist said something once, that I seem like a very logical person and my fear of loud noises in itself is logical with the arguments that I give her. But it is still not logical to freak out for every single sound. Due to being logical or be good at reasoning, she thought that it might be the reason for my anxiety because I tried to find logic in a place where no logic exist (T).

 

[Telis]

I have no history what so ever of anxiety. You don't have to have a mental disorder for sirens in your brain and non stop pain in the ears to be distracted and bothered. I wish people would stop generalizing. You have a accident and now you are considered by many to of had a mental illness all your life.

 

[Lorac]

I perceive tinnitus because it's there to perceive. It is the result of profound hearing loss.
I am more of an introvert and that does help me in the grand scheme of things. I don't cope well in loud social situations now and I think that would be a bigger problem if were an extrovert. Mostly, I miss making music.

 

[pathworker2017]

Another angle to explore, could this be one of those classic chicken and egg situations? I am of the view that, long term changes in ones environment can have a modifying effect one ones personality characteristics. thaughts anyone?

 

[Michael Leigh]

Another angle to explore, could this be one of those classic chicken and egg situations? I am of the view that, long term changes in ones environment can have a modifying effect one ones personality characteristics. thaughts anyone?

The most important thing in habituating and accepting tinnitus is to have a positive attitude. Some people are naturally positive and this will help coping with tinnitus. If a person is negative thinking or has additional stresses and problems, in their life it can be more challenging dealing with and habituating to tinnitus.

Is positivity important?

Tinnitus is a complex condition that comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. If hyperacausis is present it can cause additional problems depending on how severe it is? I believe if one is able to adopt a positive mindset towards tinnitus and life, they will have the most essential requirement to help them through the habituation process and beyond. This will help to keep negativity at bay even in the downtimes should they arrive.

Negativity and the belief that nothing can be done for tinnitus can start to take its effect as early as going to Dr. Google or to be told by a GP: "It's tinnitus, nothing can be done you have to learn to live with it". It is unfortunate that someone who's probably very stressed and anxious to have his or her worst fears confirmed by a healthcare professional that should know better. This is negative counselling and it shouldn't be done.

Some people will visit a tinnitus forum in an attempt to allay any fears and prove to themselves what they have been told or read about it is wrong, by listening to people that have the condition and hopefully they will be told it does get better and it is curable. The views expressed at forums are often mixed and vary quite a lot. By now a person's stress level might have increased or decreased Depending on the information they receive either by direct answer to a question or reading members posts. This can induce calm and a feeling of relief, or do the complete opposite and make them feel worse.

I believe visiting a forum regularly can be helpful for some. The feeling of camaraderie that exists between like-minded people can be reassuring especially when family and friends don't understand which is often the case. However, it isn't without its drawbacks. Such a community is open to all and sundry, and thus positive and negative thinking people. Therefore, I believe it is important to try and focus on positivity. Seek advice from members that have had tinnitus for a while and habituated. This is not to say that advice from newbies shouldn't be sought too. I have read posts from people just a few months in with tinnitus, and been taken aback by the maturity, depth and understanding that they bring and makes a veteran like me smile in approval.

The thing to try and avoid is negative reinforcement because tinnitus and hyperacusis can be stressful conditions all by themselves without adding to them. Some people are sensitive to sound and take it upon themselves to be wearing: foam earplugs, noise reducing plugs or earmuffs at every opportunity. I have seen what this overuse can do to some people. It can instill fear and if one isn't careful phonophobia. A fear of sound.

Treating tinnitus and hyperacusis takes time usually many months and should be backed up with positive thinking. Positivity reinforces the belief not to be fearful of tinnitus and hyperacusis. Overuse of hearing protection sadly reinforces negativity and fear. It is for this reason I regularly advise people to read the positive articles that I have written on tinnitus and they are in my "started threads". They are to be treated as therapy and are a form of counselling and should be read often to reinforce "positive thinking". Without a positive attitude negativity is allowed to get hold and can become overwhelming. I also advise people to read the success stories written by members on the "positivity thread" and there are many. Again, this reinforces positive thinking. One has to work at this if they want to improve and get better.

Michael

PS: Life is problematic and with a condition like tinnitus at times it can be overwhelming. This can happen in the early stages of onset but usually improves with time. There is nothing wrong with feeling down and occasionally negative, just try not to make it become all consuming. Always talk to your doctor if you feel your situation is becoming too much.

 

[Holly1987]

I think so, my fiancee has fairly loud tinnitus from years of drumming and he is totally fine with it, never bothers him. He's a super chilled out guy and in the 5 years I've known him I've never seen him get super stressed about anything.

I'm the opposite, I'm a very anxious person who doesn't handle stress well. I am also a massive introvert who loves silence. I'm struggling massively and my tinnitus has really affected my mental health.

 

[pathworker2017]

@Holly1987 I hear you loud and clear with regard to your feelings regarding silence, I've had mine stolen from me since my T decided it wanted to invade my quiet space.but I'm dammed if i will let it get the better of me. A little tip that might help. look within yourself for those precious memories that make you feel good.

 

[Michael Leigh]

fiancee has fairly loud tinnitus from years of drumming and he is totally fine with it, never bothers him

Hi @Holly1987

I am pleased to hear that your fiancée is managing well with his tinnitus. Please pass on this message as it may be of some help. Tinnitus can be a seriously debilitating condition when it is severe. The fact that he is able to cope with it at the moment is because it isn't loud and intrusive enough yet. Please tell him or show him this post. Don't underestimate this condition. It is ruthless and shows no mercy when it loud and intrusive. I have been there so know full well of what I'm talking about. I have counselled many people with tinnitus. I have listened to men and women crying to me on the telephone because of the distress they are in. Some people that can't take the distress anymore do the ultimate to get relief and I'm sure you know what I'm referring to. I advise him to be careful of loud sounds.

Sorry to sound so sobering.
All the best
Michael

 

[Red]

I would say so. I have tinnitus because I have chronic pain and chronic pain because of anxiety/hypochondria. Basically I got chronic pain from obsessively using self treatments not approved by a doctor. And a chain reaction set off.

 

[glynis]

@Holly1987 ,
Tinnitus is hard to cope with but the unwanted emotions that come with it is just as hard to deal with.
Tinnitus comes from the Limbic part of the brain where our emotions come from so you can see the emotions can be a rollercoaster.
Trying to be a mum or working and sleeping juggling daily chores with tinnitus can soon have you in tears.
Keep relaxing music on when you need it and try to plan nice things to help balance out the down times.
We are here around the clock to support you.
Love glynis

 

[Juliane]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share my two cents on this topic:

I have people in my circle of friends who attend loud parties and concerts all the time and never get impacted by tinnitus. And when I start to analyze the personalities of these fortunate people (who may just have really strong ears), they share common traits: they are "non-worriers", relaxed types, "the glass is half full"-people who seem to just be "lucky" in life and get away with things I never could get away with (I am also highly sensitive to everything, including meds).

Whereas people I know who are impacted by tinnitus are more on the worrying / neurotic end of the scale, have some emotional baggage to carry, some trauma in their past, etc.

This might just be me trying to create a meaning where there isn't any meaning, but have any of you had similar thoughts? What do you think? If tinnitus is indeed linked to being more worried, it would explain why increased GABA in the brain reduces tinnitus for many... I wonder if there is a natural way to increase GABA (without meds)?

Sorry, just rambling.

Juliane

 

[RunningMan]

I never had any depression or anxiety issues before 2022, and I even had tinnitus going back over 20 years. I didn't worry and didn't do much to protect my ears over all those years, went out and had fun and wasn't concerned.

But when tinnitus suddenly elevates in intensity multi-fold overnight, that changes everything. Sometimes, you're just one of the unlucky ones that gets stuck with this affliction.

 

[Strawberryblonde]

I'm a worrier by nature and have been as long as I can remember. Adding tinnitus into the mix certainly doesn't help as it adds even more worry to my mind. Now that it's increased in volume, it's created a worse kind of anxiety because this is self-inflicted and self-inflicted twice. The first time I habituated after a while and lived a completely normal life but now it's harder as I find it really tiresome trying to tune out the electrical head buzzing/eeee that I never had the first time.

I know plenty of others with tinnitus and to them it's pretty loud and unbothersome and they seem to be more chilled out in nature and don't get stressed half as easily as I do.