I'm New to Tinnitus and Very Scared. I Have Some Questions. Please Help.

[Tinnitusboi]

So here's some info on me. I'm a 17 year old guy with severe anxiety. The past month has been the absolutely most stressful month of my life even before my tinnitus started.

To start from the beginning I'm currently staying in my grandparents house for the summer. The first symptom I got was a sore throat, probably from allergies to things in my grandparents house. I of course assumed the worst and was convinced I had X Y and Z. Anyways soon after I was getting headaches, numbness and feeling dizzy all the time. I even ended up getting an MRI (came back clear). My doctors told me it was probably my anxiety.

After going on a short vacation all my anxiety induced/inducing symptoms vanished. I was so relieved I could finally live again.

That was until I got back. My dizziness started again but there was something new this time, occasional pressure in my ears and Tinnitus (also sore throat came back). After being told by one of my doctors early on in this thrilling experience (before the tinnitus) that I had labyrinthitis, my hypochondriac self already knew exactly what tinnitus was.

Fast forward a couple days of no sleep and pure anxiety, and here I lay in my bed at 3:35 am in all my glory. Although extremely soothing (not) the very high pitched constant tone doesn't help me get to sleep very well.

All jokes and sarcasm aside im also diagnosed with depression, if this continues in all seriousness I will probably end my life. I cannot deal with this anymore and it's only been about 4 days.

Are there any temporary causes my tinnitus could be from? is there any hope this could go away?

 

[Bill Bauer]

There is a good chance that it will go away. See posts #37 and 38 on page 2 of the page below, as your T is probably more similar to the patients in those studies (but you might want to check out post #1 too)
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/spontaneous-recovery-stats-over-70-recover-3-studies.21441/

If you are one of the people for whom it does not go away, what you will end up in the long term will most likely be quieter and easier to ignore than what you have now. It fades for most people.

The first month is the hardest. However, before you commit suicide, consider the fact that there is a good chance it will be quieter/more bearable or even gone 3-6 months from now. Some people take 18-24 months to fully recover (hear silence). Once you have it for two years, then there is a significant chance that you are stuck with it. I told myself that I would wait for 2 years, and see whether I want to commit suicide then. I am six months in, and I am no longer suicidal.

If it is not high pitched, then in three months it will most likely not bother you nearly as much as it bothers you now. You are likely to habituate.

 

[billie48]

Suicide is not the answer especially your T is so new. Life is precious and your loved ones will be mortally wounded by the overwhelming sadness of losing you. Bill set a goal of waiting 2 years. I was more of a panic/anxiety prone guy before tinnitus and hyperacusis, so I wanted to wait out 5 years. I actually turned around in the 3rd year. So never give up so easily. If you are thinking harming yourself, do drop in to ER for help. Again, sucide will not solve any thing. I was having suicide ideation initially like many members but after checking out youtube for 'near death experience from suicide', I figured I rather fight this T bully while alive. And now life is good, productive and absolutely enjoyable. I am sure glad I didn't proceed with the unthinkable. You don't need to kill yourself over T. You don't even have hyperacusis like me, and Meniere's disease like @glynis or pulsatile tinnitus like @Karen. Why not wait it out? Try read up as many success stories as you can to give yourself hope. Take care. God bless.

 

[Tinnitusboi]

I dont know how to reply directly to either of you but is there a chance my severe anxiety could be the cause of this? I have been in a prolonged stressed state for weeks now.

 

[jer]

Yes that can absolutely be the cause of your tinnitus. Stress is high on the list of causes of tinnitus.

And I would agree with the above posters. There is still a very good chance that it will go away, but you got to stop going so crazy about it. It is like a vicious circle where your anxiety will feed your tinnitus, which will feed your anxiety ect. What always worked well for me for anxiety was working out and/or running. Have you tried that yet? Meditation might also be something that could help.

 

[Carlyi]

It could be anxiety, but maybe it's allergies. Have you tried nosespray?
Your doctor can prescribe you steroid nosespray, it might help for you.
I understand how you feel, please don't kill yourself. Things will get better.

 

[Marko Nakovski]

Lot of people have tinnitus beacuse of alergies.Its too early to judge, stay calm and what will happen.Maybe its from anxiety too time will tell

 

[Freeatlast]

I just dont get this. A very respected tinnitus doctor in norway has said that stress alone does not cause tinnitus, it just makes it louder. Tinnitus is most likely caused of noise damage, u can actually be exposed to noise months ago, and get tinnitus later.

 

[Candy]

Try to rest as much as possible, avoid loud places but keep distracted and engaged. Only once you've calmed down you can ascertain how bad the t is. T that is audible in a quiet room will be easily overcome in time.
Who's the cute kid in the picture? Reminds me of my adorable nephew...

 

[Tinnitusboi]

I just don't get this. A very respected tinnitus doctor in Norway has said that stress alone does not cause tinnitus, it just makes it louder. Tinnitus is most likely caused of noise damage, u can actually be exposed to noise months ago, and get tinnitus later.

Well thats very concerning. However a respected member of the anxiety community Jim Folk has talked about his own experience with anxiety induced tinnitus. He says he was misdiagnosed with Meniere's Disease, Vertigo, and non stress caused Tinnitus.

However after adressing his anxiety the tinnitus went away completely. I hope that is what's happening to me. Or maybe my allergies are causing slight tinnitus which is being dramatically increased by my anxiety.

I'm seeing an ENT in a couple of days and if he can confirm that I haven't lost my hearing maybe that can reinforce my hopes. Anxiety is a very strange and powerful disorder that can cause many very real symptoms for those who suffer from it.

It just seems like such a coincidence that during the time I'm struggling with a level of stress that ive never experienced before this tinnitus becomes an issue. I'm sick and tired of being a guinea pig of anxiety. My very professional and respected doctors have been misdiagnosing me with all kinds of viral infections and disorders in the past couple weeks, proven wrong again and again by symptoms completely changing following my fluctuating anxiety.

Ive never been to a concert never been around excessively loud noise besides a couple short instances which had no symptoms lasting more than a few seconds. I am a very realistic and sometimes hypochondriatic, however after putting everything in perspective for once I'm actually hopeful that I will beat this. But I don't know how much longer I can last with the little to no sleep I'm getting.

 

[Tinnitusboi]

Try to rest as much as possible, avoid loud places but keep distracted and engaged. Only once you've calmed down you can ascertain how bad the t is. T that is audible in a quiet room will be easily overcome in time.
Who's the cute kid in the picture? Reminds me of my adorable nephew...

Its me when I was super young hahah. Just found the picture funny because i was so fat.

 

[Freeatlast]

Well thats very concerning. However a respected member of the anxiety community Jim Folk has talked about his own experience with anxiety induced tinnitus. He says he was misdiagnosed with Meniere's Disease, Vertigo, and non stress caused Tinnitus.

However after adressing his anxiety the tinnitus went away completely. I hope that is what's happening to me. Or maybe my allergies are causing slight tinnitus which is being dramatically increased by my anxiety.

I'm seeing an ENT in a couple of days and if he can confirm that I haven't lost my hearing maybe that can reinforce my hopes. Anxiety is a very strange and powerful disorder that can cause many very real symptoms for those who suffer from it.

It just seems like such a coincidence that during the time I'm struggling with a level of stress that ive never experienced before this tinnitus becomes an issue. I'm sick and tired of being a guinea pig of anxiety. My very professional and respected doctors have been misdiagnosing me with all kinds of viral infections and disorders in the past couple weeks, proven wrong again and again by symptoms completely changing following my fluctuating anxiety.

Ive never been to a concert never been around excessively loud noise besides a couple short instances which had no symptoms lasting more than a few seconds. I am a very realistic and sometimes hypochondriatic, however after putting everything in perspective for once I'm actually hopeful that I will beat this. But I don't know how much longer I can last with the little to no sleep I'm getting.

But stress alone isn't dangerous and does not cause tinnitus. People are misleaded according to scandinavian studies.

 

[Tinnitusboi]

But stress alone isnt dangerous and does not cause tinnitus. People are misleaded according to scandinavian studies.

Everyone with an anxiety disorder knows that it isn't dangerous but the symptoms it produces like muscle pain, headaches, dizziness etc. are all very real. just as real as genuine symptoms. Because of this unless you know of your anxiety disorder you couldn't differentiate anxiety induced symptoms from others. A big reason why many people are misdiagnosed with MS when in reality they just had anxiety. Check out this article about tinnitus and anxiety. http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety/symptoms/ringing-in-the-ears.shtml

 

[Karen]

Tinnitusboi,

Anxiety can indeed cause a lot of the symptoms you are describing. I know, because I had a great deal of anxiety when my pulsatile tinnitus first started. I also experienced the pressure in the ears, dizziness, lack of sleep, etc. After many months, my tinnitus got back down to a more reasonable level, and my pulsatile tinnitus, while not gone by any means, is easier to deal with most of the time.

Please don't give up; give it some time, and I believe you'll begin to see that you can cope with this condition. As your anxiety subsides, you will probably find a lot of the worst symptoms subside, too.

 

[Tinnitusboi]

Lucas,

Anxiety can indeed cause a lot of the symptoms you are describing. I know, because I had a great deal of anxiety when my pulsatile tinnitus first started. I also experienced the pressure in the ears, dizziness, lack of sleep, etc. After many months, my tinnitus got back down to a more reasonable level, and my pulsatile tinnitus, while not gone by any means, is easier to deal with most of the time.

Please don't give up; give it some time, and I believe you'll begin to see that you can cope with this condition. As your anxiety subsides, you will probably find a lot of the worst symptoms subside, too.

Thank you lots for the advice. I just have to ask is the hope that it is temporary rational? Can I consider a full or substantial recovery possible? Ive been experiencing symptoms of allergies during my time at my grandparents. I need you to be honest with me though. If you feel you dont know enough to say too that's totally fine.

 

[Karen]

@Tinnitusboi

Everyone's situation is a little different, so it would be impossible for me to say whether or not your tinnitus is temporary. However, I do think you can look forward to a recovery from where you are now. Your symptoms are at their peak right now because of your allergies and your anxiety over what is going on in your body. If you can get those factors under control, I believe it is possible for you to see improvement. Even if you still have tinnitus, it is very possible to live with the condition, as it will begin to calm down and you'll put it more at the back of your mind.

I hope you'll keep us up to date on your progress -- and I do believe that there will be progress for you!

 

[Tinnitusboi]

@Tinnitusboi

Everyone's situation is a little different, so it would be impossible for me to say whether or not your tinnitus is temporary. However, I do think you can look forward to a recovery from where you are now. Your symptoms are at their peak right now because of your allergies and your anxiety over what is going on in your body. If you can get those factors under control, I believe it is possible for you to see improvement. Even if you still have tinnitus, it is very possible to live with the condition, as it will begin to calm down and you'll put it more at the back of your mind.

I hope you'll keep us up to date on your progress -- and I do believe that there will be progress for you!

Wow, thats exactly what I needed to hear. I cant thank you enough for your interest too, means a lot to me. I will definitely stay posted with you guys moving forward.

 

[Dmitriy]

My story is similar. On 2nd week of T I got back of the head pressure, dizziness when I walk outside. On 3rd week I left on vacation and felt none of those. This is my 4th week and here we go again. Just need to get my A under control.