Hi everyone. I am not completely new to tinnitus, but right now I'm experiencing a bout of tinnitus in my left ear that has so far lasted about 4 weeks, and I am beginning to get scared it'll never go away. I've had experiences with having tinnitus for hours or maybe a couple of days, but never weeks at a time.
I am not sure what exactly brought on my tinnitus. Some quick ear-related facts: I have been wearing ear plugs frequently to sleep for about 6 years. I have also been using noise-canceling in-ear headphones/earbuds for about 6 years, and for about a year and a half would wear them and listen to music for about 3 hours (or more) per day. I had repeated ear infections all throughout my childhood and frequently took antibiotics for those infections. I started taking a dose of baby aspirin every day starting in ~January as I heard it helped with depression and anxiety (I suffer from very mild depression and moderate/severe anxiety). I also started taking holy basil and ashwaghanda in february for my anxiety. (I stopped taking the aspirin, holy basil, and ashwaghanda 4 days ago).
For the first couple of weeks, I was able to ignore it, hoping it would go away like it has every other time. But after some especially stressful situations, it was very bad and very intense for a couple of days, forcing me to pay attention to it and address it. It's not as bad as I've read other people experience: it's a (usually) faint high-pitched tone/buzz in my left ear. In the moments it's been bad, it's been much louder/more prominent.
So far I am doing somewhat ok, as I've been in therapy for about a year and a half, working on my ability to accept things I can't control, deal with my anxiety, and develop coping mechanisms and self-soothing skills. They are really coming in handy now!!
I am planning to go to an urgent care/walk-in clinic on Friday just to see if I have an infection in my left ear, since it's been feeling a little achey and congested. (Anybody have any advice about antibiotics to avoid?) I scheduled an appointment with an audiologist/ENT for July 21 (their soonest appointment) but that seems so far away. I am hoping that by then, the tinnitus will be gone, and I'll be able to cancel the appointment!
I am convinced that had I not done so much work during the past year to learn how to calm myself through therapy, yoga, breathing techniques, CBT techniques, journaling, meditation, mindfulness, positive thinking, and gratitude, that right now I would be basically non-functional. I cannot recommend enough that anyone, especially those with anxiety issues, that is experiencing tinnitus, get themselves to a therapist, or if you can't afford, it, find some yoga videos on YouTube (Yoga with Adriene is phenomenal), try meditation, be mindful of your feelings, take the time to write down every day things that are positive and good in your life... it makes a world of difference.
Sending so many good thoughts, positive vibes, and virtual hugs to you all. What a gift to walk into this pre-existing enormous community of supporters. Thank you for being here!
I am not sure what exactly brought on my tinnitus. Some quick ear-related facts: I have been wearing ear plugs frequently to sleep for about 6 years. I have also been using noise-canceling in-ear headphones/earbuds for about 6 years, and for about a year and a half would wear them and listen to music for about 3 hours (or more) per day. I had repeated ear infections all throughout my childhood and frequently took antibiotics for those infections. I started taking a dose of baby aspirin every day starting in ~January as I heard it helped with depression and anxiety (I suffer from very mild depression and moderate/severe anxiety). I also started taking holy basil and ashwaghanda in february for my anxiety. (I stopped taking the aspirin, holy basil, and ashwaghanda 4 days ago).
For the first couple of weeks, I was able to ignore it, hoping it would go away like it has every other time. But after some especially stressful situations, it was very bad and very intense for a couple of days, forcing me to pay attention to it and address it. It's not as bad as I've read other people experience: it's a (usually) faint high-pitched tone/buzz in my left ear. In the moments it's been bad, it's been much louder/more prominent.
So far I am doing somewhat ok, as I've been in therapy for about a year and a half, working on my ability to accept things I can't control, deal with my anxiety, and develop coping mechanisms and self-soothing skills. They are really coming in handy now!!
I am planning to go to an urgent care/walk-in clinic on Friday just to see if I have an infection in my left ear, since it's been feeling a little achey and congested. (Anybody have any advice about antibiotics to avoid?) I scheduled an appointment with an audiologist/ENT for July 21 (their soonest appointment) but that seems so far away. I am hoping that by then, the tinnitus will be gone, and I'll be able to cancel the appointment!
I am convinced that had I not done so much work during the past year to learn how to calm myself through therapy, yoga, breathing techniques, CBT techniques, journaling, meditation, mindfulness, positive thinking, and gratitude, that right now I would be basically non-functional. I cannot recommend enough that anyone, especially those with anxiety issues, that is experiencing tinnitus, get themselves to a therapist, or if you can't afford, it, find some yoga videos on YouTube (Yoga with Adriene is phenomenal), try meditation, be mindful of your feelings, take the time to write down every day things that are positive and good in your life... it makes a world of difference.
Sending so many good thoughts, positive vibes, and virtual hugs to you all. What a gift to walk into this pre-existing enormous community of supporters. Thank you for being here!
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