Struggling with New Tinnitus Tone and Seeking Support

[JAA1989]

Hello, everyone.

I've posted here before, and you can see my previous messages in my history.

To summarize, I developed tinnitus in October after an ear infection and flying. Since then, I've been dealing with moderate tinnitus, which has been challenging due to my pre-existing anxiety disorder.

Initially, I was improving and trying to move forward. However, over the past month, I've noticed a new tone in my ear—the one that wasn't infected. This new sound is hard to describe: it's not static or a beep but more like a wave that dips in and out.

Before this, I experienced some symptoms of tensor tympani syndrome (TTTS), including a thumping sensation in my eardrum in response to certain noises, but that has since stopped. I'm also fairly certain that this new noise is reactive to specific sounds, such as my car engine or air conditioning.

I'm feeling lost and unsure why this is happening. I'm not overprotecting my ears, but I'm also not exposing myself to loud environments. I'm trying to live my life and not dwell on the tinnitus, as I've been advised, but it seems to be getting worse.

Could this worsening be related to my high anxiety? Any advice or support would mean a lot.

Thank you!

 

[glynis]

Hi,

Tinnitus can change in sound and intensity in one or both ears, sometimes for a specific reason and sometimes without any apparent cause. Anxiety can make tinnitus worse, and tinnitus can, in turn, increase anxiety. That is why relaxation and staying calm are so important.

It is especially difficult when changes happen with tinnitus, or when multiple sounds occur together. We have to work on training our thoughts not to react to the sounds. Keeping soft music on around you can help; not to drown out the tinnitus, but to give your brain something else to focus on. This can encourage you to pay less attention to your tinnitus.

If you have any hearing loss, hearing aids with built-in masking sounds might help. Hearing aids are set using a computer to match your specific hearing frequencies. They do not just amplify all sounds; they are tailored to restore the decibels you have lost in your frequency range.

Tinnitus can feel like mental torture. Even mild sounds can cause significant distress. Having people who understand what you are going through and having a supportive community can make a big difference.

Take care,
Glynis

 

[keepthefaith]

Hey, I understand how you are feeling.

I developed tinnitus in October from sudden hearing loss. It started as mild high pitched static in November, then worsened to a moderate level in December, a chaotic month where my brain cycled through many different tones before finally settling on a new one.

Just as I was adjusting to that tone in January, this week I developed another new one, a deep humming in my left ear. I am struggling to cope and hoping this one fades.