How to Get Past the Fear of Tinnitus Getting Worse?

[Imshael]

How do you get past the fear of tinnitus getting worse? Right now, my tinnitus is manageable, and I can still fall asleep in an quiet bedroom. But this crippling fear of a permanent increase... well, it's hard to deal with. It's this beautiful, sunny winter day, lots of snow, and I want to go for a walk, but the possible loud noises is keeping me inside. I can use earplugs, but it doesn't feel like the ones I have is good enough. Foam plugs I find painful, and I don't wanna overprotect either.

I'm already super worried about Easter. I usually take an hour flight home, then another hour by car, but right now I'm in no mood for flying (I might have ETD? Can't really pop my right ear, I've been on flights with this problem before but that was before my tinnitus got worse. Haven't got an appointment with an ENT yet, so I'm not sure however). So my option is four hours by boat, one hour train or buss, and then another four hours by train. After that, another hour and a half by train, or possibly an hours drive. All options feels to loud and I just don't know how to get over it.

I'm worried about the work I've got during the summer. There will be machines, teenagers (and we all know how loud they can be) and possibly music (guessing not that loud). For eight hours a day. And I already worry. A lot.

So, how do you get past the fear of a permanent increase?

 

[Bill Bauer]

How do you get past the fear of tinnitus getting worse? Right now, my tinnitus is manageable, and I can still fall asleep in an quiet bedroom. But this crippling fear of a permanent increase

I do what I can to avoid that increase. I avoid loud places/events. I carry Peltor muffs with me everywhere I go, in case there is a fire alarm or an emergency vehicle drives by me. I plan to ensure to choose drugs that are not ototoxic. I had convinced myself that if I follow those steps tinnitus will not get louder.

All options feels to loud and I just don't know how to get over it.

Consider not going this year.

the possible loud noises is keeping me inside

What kind of noises?

There will be machines, teenagers (and we all know how loud they can be) and possibly music (guessing not that loud). For eight hours a day.

Is finding another job not an option?

 

[fishbone]

You do your best to protect yourself and your ears. That's all you can do.... If it means wearing ear plugs or avoiding certain things/places...then that's what one can do. Do your best today and let tomorrow be tomorrow.

The anxiety of forward think simply drains you out. Do your best to protect your ears and DON'T focus on the future.

My tinnitus is brutal and it's loud, not for one second i give it the time of the day and think "what if it gets louder". It is a waste of my energy and getting stressed out over it, simply helps no one.

I know quite a few vets on this site will agree with me on this......

Also you can do everything in your power, to keep your tinnitus at the same baseline but that doesn't guarantee that it will never increase. It's not always noise that increases the tinnitus. Stress/anxiety/depression/physical issues/illnesses are culprits too and strong ones as well.....

 

[Gman]

I'm not part of the vet club yet, but totally agree with @fishbone.

 

[Imshael]

Consider not going this year.

I am, but not only do I love easter, it's my birthday around the time so it would be nice to go home. I also won't be able to see my family again until the end of august, and a close family member is quite ill so I'm afraid I'll regret it if I dont go.

What kind of noises?

Snow clearance (is that the right term?), and just generally cars. The streets here can be narrow, so when then pass you you're right next to them.

Is finding another job not an option?

I don't have a lot of work experience, so it's not that easy for me. There will be a lot of tourists here during the summer, so other jobs is probably no better.

 

[Bill Bauer]

The streets here can be narrow, so when then pass you you're right next to them.

You need to buy a pair of Peltor muffs.

Have you ever Had a spike following one of those "micro-acoustic-traumas"?

Is the plane one of those turbo-prop planes (planes that have propellers)? Those turbo-prop planes are louder than regular planes. I don't think you need to worry about regular planes, provided you protect your ears.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I don't have a lot of work experience, so it's not that easy for me. There will be a lot of tourists here during the summer, so other jobs is probably no better.

Have you considered taking courses at a university? It might let you use this time of vulnerability in a productive way, and allow you to have a career that would keep you away from noise.

 

[Imshael]

Thank you for your advice, @fishbone I've always been one that worries about the future. Sometimes about really silly things, that's just what I've always done. Stress, anxiety and depression have been, or still is, part of it. I guess now I have all the more reason to try to del with those things.

 

[fishbone]

Thank you for your advice, @fishbone I've always been one that worries about the future. Sometimes about really silly things, that's just what I've always done. Stress, anxiety and depression have been, or still is, part of it. I guess now I have all the more reason to try to del with those things.

Look, I totally understand you and your worries. I use to worry about everything as a child and even into my 20s. Then reality and TONS of hardships slapped me in the face and made me change my attitude about life. Worrying and fear are natural mechanisms that we are born with.

They can strike negative emotions and it's how we handle or not handle, those emotions that make the difference. In life, we do our best and give it our best to achieve certain things. We give it 100% (protect your ears), if it doesn't work, then we will change our strategies. I suggest that you do what you need to do to protect your ears, IF the day comes and your tinnitus is louder.....THEN you will need to make another adjustment. This can be done, it CAN be done. I had no clue that my tinnitus was going to be the HELL it is today. That's ok, I can handle it, we can handle it.

Life throws us a lemon, we open up a damn lemonade stand. Simple as that. As I always say in many of my posts, us humans really don't know just how STRONG we are. It's MIND over matters, simple as that. That's how I see life , That's how some of our greatest thinkers and achievers see or seen that.....

 

[Imshael]

You need to buy a pair of Peltor muffs.

Have you ever Had a spike following one of those "micro-acoustic-traumas"?

Is the plane one of those turbo-prop planes (planes that have propellers)? Those turbo-prop planes are louder than regular planes. I don't think you need to worry about regular planes, provided you protect your ears.

I've ordered a pair of peltor x4a, to sometimes use instead of earplugs. I'm really sille, though, so wearing them in public is a bit hard for me. I also don't want to overprotect.

It was about five weeks ago my tinnitus increased, for whatever reason. Before that, the cars passing me was loud and annoying, but I didn't really think about it. After this increase, I've stayed away from the worst places, so I don't know how a passing car would affect me now.

The planes are those small turbo-prop planes. After christmas, I ended up right next to the propellers, by the window, and I feel like this might have been one of the many possible reasons for the increased T.

Have you considered taking courses at a university? It might let you use this time of vulnerability in a productive way, and allow you to have a career that would keep you away from noise.

I'm a student, and would much rather attend the summer excavation that they are offering. They are nice and quiet, and what I love most. The main problem, however, is that I'm no longer allowed any financial support. Since may, I've lived on savings, and therefore I really need this job.

 

[Imshael]

I try to hold on to the small hope that there will be a cure within my lifetime, and that I shouldn't worry about it to much. If not, I just really hope that I'll be able to deal with my T the same way you do, @fishbone.

 

[fishbone]

I try to hold on to the small hope that there will be a cure within my lifetime, and that I shouldn't worry about it to much. If not, I just really hope that I'll be able to deal with my T the same way you do, @fishbone.

We can be, we can do ANYTHING, that we put our minds to. It is a simple phrase/slogan but very damn powerful and I live by it daily...

 

[Bill Bauer]

I'm really sille, though, so wearing them in public is a bit hard for me.

I think that above you meant to write that you are shy. I am naturally shy too. I am surprised how few people pay attention to me when I wear Peltor X5A in public. I try to avoid eye contact, and it makes it easier. In cases of accidental eye contact, I give the other person a "Yes, I am wearing these incredibly goofy muffs. DEAL WITH IT!" glare.

After christmas, I ended up right next to the propellers

The front of the plane is supposed to be the quietest place, but on those turboprop planes you are right next to the propellers. Next time I will experiment with a seat at the very back...

I wouldn't risk being next to loud trucks/snow plows in an enclosed space (narrow streets) too.

 

[Imshael]

I think that above you meant to write that you are shy. I am naturally shy too. I am surprised how few people pay attention to me when I wear Peltor X5A in public. I try to avoid eye contact, and it makes it easier. In cases of accidental eye contact, I give the other person a "Yes, I am wearing these incredibly goofy muffs. DEAL WITH IT!" glare.

Oops, no, I meant silly. Don't know where the "e" came from. But I guess I'm a bit shy as well, so wearing big earmuffs is a bit hard. Stupid really, I know. Guess I'll have to get over that too.

 

[Starthrower]

But this crippling fear of a permanent increase...well, it's hard to deal with. It's this beautiful, sunny winter day, lots of snow, and I wan't to go for a walk, but the possible loud noises is keeping me inside.

Yes I remember feeling the same way Imshael. This will lessen with time.

I am, but not only do I love easter, it's my birthday around the time so it would be nice to go home. I also won't be able to see my family again until the end of august, and a close family member is quite ill so I'm afraid I'll regret it if I dont go.

You should consider going home. You really do not want to feel regret about the person you care about and not having that time. You won't regret not going. It will be a huge step for you. Kinda scary. I remember that part. But take whatever you use to protect your hearing against unexpected loud places and people.

 

[threefirefour]

How to get past the fear of tinnitus getting worse?

You don't. It can always get worse, and usually does according to a poll done here. To avoid this, wear earplugs at any and all loud events.

 

[aot]

This is something that's been bugging me.

It seems when it comes to tinnitus, you have two fates awaiting you:

A: A success story due to habituation or just plain learning to live with it (or in some rare cases, elimination of your tinnitus altogether.)

Or

B: Struggling with your tinnitus for the rest of your days, a fate most of us, including myself, deathly fear.

I feel like I'm in between these two fates. My tinnitus rarely bothers me anymore. I'm almost back to baseline after my hellish worsening in November. My visual snow causes issues sometimes, but it's manageable.
Really, if I were born this way, I wouldn't realize anything was wrong.

I should habituated right now. This should be a success story.

But I just can't let go of the inevitable spikes, some of which are possibly permanent, in my future.

I'm 21. I have my whole life for it to get worse. Sooner or later, maybe next week or next year or in the next hour, I'll have to take ototoxic meds or I'll suffer an acoustic trauma or pull something in my neck or I'll have to get an MRI. I face my visual snow worsening, or my tinnitus spiking, or even my slight sound sensitivity and TTTS turning into full blown hyperacusis.

I can't just live on my toes, living in my room and never leaving because I'm scared of my tinnitus, but damn it's so tempting sometimes.

How am I supposed to find a career, an apartment, or love when my tinnitus and my phonophobia and misophonia are holding me back?

I don't want to be a hermit shut in forever. COVID-19 is making that a necessity, I get it. But when that's taken care off, I'll still be left behind?

I've made changes. I left my job at the movie theatre, I wear musician's plugs while on the bus and I keep said plugs with me at all times. I don't use earbuds or headphones. Hell, I've even neglected taking the 20 MG of Prozac prescribed to me because of how it might affect my tinnitus and VS. But these precautions do little to reassure me


Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for permission to go to concerts or nightclubs or ride motorcycles or anything like that. I just want to live a passable life where I can take girls out and have friends and maybe go to a show now and again.

But I feel like I can't even have that. Earplugs don't always provide enough protection, OSHA Regulations on sound are fucking jokes.

Until I was about seventeen I lived a life of isolation. It was school, home, school, home. That was it. No one outside my family gave a shit about me. It gave me pretty bad depression and self esteem issues. I wasn't until I started putting myself out there that I was the tiniest bit happy. I still want to at least be happy.

Isolation is good for some people. That's fine, but it's not for me.

Any words of support or advice?

Sorry for all the rambiling.

 

[Static Sophie 73]

I understand aot. It's a tough mental condition this one - it causes no physical pain but much mental anguish.

I started with tinnitus 18 years ago and it has changed my life. It's a constant up and down. Right now my left ear is playing up - temporary spike I'm always hoping.

I'm getting older too - tinnitus ages with you - mine is a bit more noticeable than it was a few years ago. But I can't escape the aging process. Like you and everyone else on here, I'm hoping for a successful treatment for this condition in my lifetime.