Is It Possible to Avoid Loud Places for a Lifetime?

Sorry everyone... This is a very silly question. I have noise induced tinnitus and my tinnitus spikes when I go to movies, loud bars. If I go to clubs or live music events my tinnitus goes nuts and it becomes unbearable.

I am 43 and I am somewhat introverted. I don't care to go to clubs but I did love going to movies, live music concert etc. but I have given up on these things.

We are planning for a baby soon.

My tinnitus normally doesn't spike if I avoid loud places.

My question is... Is it possible to avoid loud places for a lifetime??

I am really scared how life will go in the future.

 

HI @Sean

You are exposing your ears and auditory system to loud sounds that are causing your tinnitus to spike. If you continue to do this the tinnitus could get worse and permanent. You could try using noising reducing earplugs that have filters in but you still need to be careful of loud noise. The fact that your tinnitus is getting worse in these environments is a clear indication what you're doing isn't a good idea. Please click on the links below and read my posts on tinnitus that you might find helpful. Try to read them in full and not skim through them.

Michael


https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-earplugs-and-nightclubs.18059/

 

@Michael Leigh , I have been totally avoiding these events .
My questions was is it possible to avoid this for life time ? I know it's a silly question and every one has different life style but i was wondering how life will go without avoiding these type of loud places ..I mean how long can one really avoid these places .
I have been successful in not going from last 4 years but what a sacrifice ! I am saying this being an introvert , I can imagine how extroverts would feel .

 

Sorry my mistake @Sean . You don't have to avoid going out and having a good time as long as you take precautions. Please read my posts in the links below. I advise you not to use headphones even at low volume.
Michael
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-earplugs-and-nightclubs.18059/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

 

The only loud activity that I feel bad about missing in the future is riding a motor boat. Ok, another would be visiting department stores in Japan, where every salesperson is screaming at the top of his or her lungs about the deals he or she has, and where loud music is playing. I remember my visit to such a store as getting a glimpse of hell, but nevertheless it was an exotic experience.

I can't really think of any other loud activity that I would want to be part of even if I were to be free of tinnitus.

 

No problem .
Some one just posted today that he/she was wearing ear plugs at a wedding and it was not for too long and that person has a spike .
I get spike as soon as I expose my self to loud events .

 

What about kids graudation ..family's birth day party ..friends get together at a bar .
So many things we have to miss out on .

 

Hm, that's a difficult one. I think the sacrifice would be massive if you were to avoid all loud noise places for the rest of your life. Sometimes loud places are super difficult to avoid due to social demands - a wedding, a friend/family member's birthday, etc. And not going at all might weaken relationships with people.

If you do choose to completely avoid loud places, make sure it doesn't affect your mental health too much - sometimes the psychological impact on not going out and enjoying yourself can be quite damaging. Then again, if your T really is unbearable, it's probably worth minimising your exposure as best you can.

Also, there are inevitably times where nothing in your power could have protected you from a loud sound. I've had this countless times - balloons popping out of nowhere, ambulance sirens suddenly turning on, children screaming/crying, the sound of a loud car/motorbike going past etc. All these things can be seriously loud. So even whilst avoiding loud places, these things will still happen.

 

Michael, those precautions don't always work:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/wearing-foam-ear-plugs-on-a-roller-coaster.22559/#post-259198

We get examples of people taking precautions and then regretting taking the risk (possibly for the rest of their lives) at least once a week on this forum. Today's example of this is
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/spike-reassurance.23828

Why wouldn't you say something along the lines of
"One school of thought is that you don't have to avoid going out and having a good time as long as you take precautions. Other people point out that even if you take precautions, there is a relatively high chance that you will regret it for the rest of your life. So if the experience is such that it would be worth risking a lifetime of torment for it, you should definitely not miss it. If you love to take risks with your health and how you will feel for the rest of your life, you don't have to avoid going out and having a good time. Otherwise, think twice before playing with fire like that. If it backfires, you will regret it for the rest of your life."

Wouldn't you agree that the above is a little more balanced view that provides the newbies with full information? Why do you insist on not providing full information to the newbies, Michael?

 

My mental health is affected (in a detrimental way) when I go to loud places.

 

You don't understand my point. Avoiding social events completely can leave you feeling alienated and lonely, regardless of the affect of loud places on the volume of your tinnitus.

 

This is true for extroverts. Extroverts need to do things before they can feel happy. I am an introvert. According to one test, I am 99% introverted. I feel happy, unless I socialize. In other words, I don't have to do anything to feel happy. Social events always make me feel like I had been raped (having to engage in an activity against my will). A rape of my soul.

 

Wow - that's pretty dark(!) You're definitely in the extreme minority when it comes to socialising. I'm an introvert through and through, yet I still enjoy my social interaction and social events, albeit not for extended periods of time as I get tired out.

Though you definitely seem to be introverted, your idea of what constitutes introversion and extroversion is simply wrong. As I said, just because I'm an introvert, doesn't mean I hate social events, and vice versa for extroverts. Just because they tend to gravitate towards being more social, doesn't mean they don't need some alone time like us introverts.

This video explains it very well:

Introverts vs Extroverts

 

@Bill Bauer
The information that I have outlined to @Sean in my links is just advice. I have mentioned that it is up to the individual to listen to their body and to judge what is right for them as we are all different. Please read my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it. In it I explain that I went to a venue where the music level was 100 decibels. My tinnitus didn't spike nor did I experience any hyperacusis and didn't use any earplugs. The next day my tinnitus was completely silent and I never experienced any hyperacusis. I am fully aware what my auditory system can tolerate and it is up to each person to learn to do the same and take nothing for granted. At the same time, this doesn't mean to shut onself off from all sounds and to live like a hermit, as that isn't living nor do I think it's good for one's mental wellbeing.

Michael

 

I'm with bill on that one.

I usually force myself to go out a few times a year in order to have a minimum amount of social interaction with colleagues/friends/family but i always hate it.

That stupid concert in June was the first social event i went to in 2017 and it got me tinnitus.

After this, even if i recover, i'm never going out again and will be very happy about it.

 

In time and with treatment if you are able to get it you will improve. It took 2 years for me to habituate and for my hypercusis to be completely cured. With respect to Bill, some of his advice is good and there are times when I thinks it's not. You have had tinnitus and hyperacusis for just 3 months and are in the very early stages, you have a long way to go. Reinforcing negativie thinking in the way that you are doing will only slow your progress. Take it from somone that knows and has lived many years with tinnitus. Live your life and start to enjoy it.

Michael

 

Thanks Michael but i don't see it as negative thinking.

I forced myself to do things i didn't like a minimum in order to "fit in" a bit, and eventually got tinnitus out of it.

Now i know that those "loud" activities i never liked anyway are dangerous for my ears.

That's two reasons to stay at home in the future, i've always enjoyed life much more there than outside.

 

The problem is that there is a risk that in the process of learning they end up with a permanent spike.

I wish you were to warn people that while you ended up being ok, they risk getting a permanent spike and the prospect of having to struggle with debilitating tinnitus for the rest of their lives, if they were to do what you did and ignore the risk.

This reinforcement is not based on fantasy, it is based on learning from people's experiences. They say that traffic laws have been written in blood. Same goes for the rule of protecting your ears when you have tinnitus.

Most people fall somewhere between being a pure introvert or a pure extrovert. Looks like you have a lot of extroversion mixed in with your introversion.

 

@Krish230 , i have been avoiding all loud places. I went to wedding 4 years ago but when DJ turned on music i stepped out.
I dont have kids yet , but when i have kids i am sure birth day parties are not too loud since there is no loud music. with ear plugs i should be ok.

i for sure have to miss on wedding when DJ starts playing music, if birthday party has DJ..i would stay untill music in turned on( btw, music is my passion .

I have experienced loud noise exposure like door slams, loud car..kids screaming but it seems there is no way to avoid all these.

I am in introvert but i still like meet close friends. I just dont care to socialize with strangers or i dont care to meet new people at his point in my life. I have worked very hard in my life and i am very educated and sucessful in my business but i feel some how all these hard work and success is wasted when my T spikes up.

i really really miss going to live music events. I used to go once every two years and i was planning to go every year after i got married.

I just hope i can live normal life after sacrificing all these stuff. I do go out twice a week to malls and restaurants. I do meet my friends at a coffee shop or may be restaurant once every 15 days. I dont live like a hermit but i feel kinda sad that i have limitations and cant go to all the places.

 

@Bill Bauer , you are really a strong introvert. i actually feel very happy when i meet my friends but i dont push my self to see them. If i meet them i feel happy but i dont meet them i am ok as long as i meet my parents/wife sister etc.

 

After every social event, I have been asking myself whether anything redeeming has happened there to make it worth while. Did anyone tell me anything that was interesting or funny or useful? Has any part of the experience provided me with good memories? For over 20 years now, the answer has always been "NO!"

 

@Michael Leigh , Have you read p

@Michael Leigh , have you read the thread
Spike Reassurance ?

 

The ear is far more resilient that you think. It is stress and the constant worrying that often causes tinnitus to spike. If a person is careful that won't have problems. I've been there and passed through and come through to see the light. I'm nothing special and know the majority of people can do the same, once they throw caution to the wind and stop being paranoid about sound. By all means take precautions but don't shut oneself off from sounds. Go out into the environment and get used to everyday normal sounds that is the way to cure hyperacusis, not hiding at home.

I disagree with your statement as this reinforces negative thinking and prevents the habituation process. There is a need to tell people to be careful but scaremongering isn't the right way to do it.

With respect I think some of your advice is good and a lot of it is reinforcing negative thinking which hinders the habituation process or can stop it completely.

Michael

 

I know that you do not see it as negative thinking @flobo but I disagree.
However it is your choice.
Michael

 

I have read it @Sean As I've previously said we are all different. It is up to the individual to find what works for them but the answer isn't to hide away from sounds and to be wearing hearing protection excessively.
Michael

 

@Bill Bauer , i also do that some times. But i am wrong in my thinking. We always absorb knowledge from people. good or bad..we always absorb information/knowledge.

in 2010 me and friends were drinking and i met one guy how became manager at my company. He changed my life! My business is on auto pilot because of him and he opend a second business together. ( it could have gone other way also lol)

i have made so many changes in my business just by meeting my friends . People always teach you things which you dont know. Books can not teach us every thing. I wish i was extrovert ..my business would have been at different level.

As introvert its an challange meeting people but its our loss .We miss out on lots by being introverts.

 

Do you see a problem with the two statements above, Michael? If the second statement is true (and given the testimonies in
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/wearing-foam-ear-plugs-on-a-roller-coaster.22559/#post-259198 )
you shouldn't be telling people the first statement, namely

as if it were fact that applies to your readers. In fact
the testimonies in
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/wearing-foam-ear-plugs-on-a-roller-coaster.22559/#post-259198
directly contradict your statement that I quoted above.

You don't KNOW that. Also, for majority of us, a risk of 1%-10% of having a Permanent spike is unacceptable. So the fact that the majority can take a risk and be fine (of course it will catch up with some of them so that eventually they won't be fine) is not very reassuring.

 

You are not taking into account the costs of being an extrovert.

My introversion got me my Ph.D. degree (as I could study all of my waking hours, unlike my competition), and my current career. Among other things.

 

@Bill Bauer , I respectfully disagree with you. Do you think you have fear of meeting people? may be you are too shy?
Socializing is one of the key to happiness ( this is coming from a guy who doesnt socialize that much)

 

@Michael Leigh

I agree with you...only way to beat hyperacusis is to expose yourself...i feel like alot of my commuting to work has helped me. I had setbacks along the way but i definitely have noticed an improvement. Wouldnt say I am totally cured but there isnt much that bothers me these days. Clapping used to drive me crazy...not anymore