Tinnitus and Anxiety Do Not Always Co-Exist — Study

[erik]

Tinnitus is a common condition that causes a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. Tinnitus can develop suddenly with no apparent cause, or can be the result of being exposed to a loud noise. Tinnitus can also occur after repeated injuries or chronic noise exposure. Regardless of the cause, tinnitus appears to affect more than just hearing.

More at link below

http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tinnitus-and-anxiety-do-not-always-coexist-1008131

 

[Relic Hunter]

An interesting article. I suffered with depression for years before the onslaught of T. I have spent time in a mental hospital. Depression is a hell in its on accord.

When my tinnitus worsened several years ago I was at that time depressed and under a great deal of stress due to other problems. I will always be convinced that my "brain chemistry" at the time was the underlying factor that jump started my tinnitus to the level it is today.

I believe I have stated this before here but will again. My local VA hospital has about 800 tinnitus patients . In almost all cases the Doctor says they are experiencing some form of severe stress. There has to be a connection.

Today my T is at its high mark. I experience some anxiety when these highs occur but mostly the depression. I feel like a rat in a cage with no where to run. I can usually handle the depression and anxiety. Its the panic that I fear. When it comes I must force it back or I know it will kill me.

 

[Owch]

Thanks for the link, but the write-up is awful and totally mis-states some of the conclusions

Many people who develop tinnitus will also eventually suffer hearing loss

Er, shouldn't that be the other way around? I think we can stop reading there.

Here is the link to the actual study, and if you skip the stats it is perfectly readable:
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0075011

The actual conclusions are as follows:

The current study used a statistically-driven method to demonstrate that tinnitus can be reliably identified in individual rats. This was supported by our results showing that noise-exposed rats can be separated into tinnitus(+) and tinnitus(−) groups and that all non-exposed controls tested tinnitus negative. In addition, the tinnitus(+) group demonstrated evidence of hyperacusis-like behavior, which is frequently seen in the clinical population. We found, however, that neither tinnitus, hearing loss, nor hyperacusis yielded a group-wise effect on cognition and anxiety, although the majority of rats with high anxiety came from the tinnitus(+) group. These results, however, are all in line with complex clinical findings, and underscore the difficulties of characterizing non-auditory dysfunction in tinnitus patients and developing treatment methods. The effects of tinnitus on functioning, including difficulties in sleeping and concentrating, irritability, and increased risk for depression, anxiety, and even suicide, all underline the fact that they are among the most important consequences of tinnitus. In order for animal models of tinnitus to achieve the greatest relevance, these factors must be considered, and optimal methods for detecting tinnitus and related auditory and non-auditory functioning, including alternative tests for cognition and anxiety/depression, must be sought.

On a totally unrelated point... I noticed that the introduction to the study includes the following quote:

from this, it is evident that the emotional and cognitive effects of tinnitus have a significant impact on patients and merit thorough investigation.

It's not the first time that I've seen studies that feel they need to justify why (almost apologise for!) they are doing research into something as 'unimportant' as tinnitus... rather poor that this situation still exists. I totally blame ENT's for this situation and for not communicating our misery and suffering properly (or actually giving a damn about it in the first place!).

 

[gary]

Tinnitus is a common condition that causes a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. Tinnitus can develop suddenly with no apparent cause, or can be the result of being exposed to a loud noise. Tinnitus can also occur after repeated injuries or chronic noise exposure. Regardless of the cause, tinnitus appears to affect more than just hearing

More at link below

http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/tinnitus-and-anxiety-do-not-always-coexist-1008131

Very interesting Erik, I can share from experience, having had panic attacks long before I got T

With the panic attacks, the very first physical symptom I felt was a buzzing fullness in both of my ears, then the heart pounding, feeling of impending doom, a feeling of isolation etc.

I have not had a panic attack in years, but I will never forget that first sign in my ears. Today my T is very similar to the noise I heard with the onset of a panic attack. I strongly believe anxious people are more likely to get T rather than T cause chronic (panic attack) anxiety. I am not saying people with T don't get anxious afterwars, but I believe most people with chronic anxiety are more prone to get T in the first place. The reasons for panic attacks? I won't even go there.

A highly agitated state is not the same as chronic anxiety.

The irony of my T (as stated above) is that I have not had one signal panic attack at all since I got T. Go figure.
Was I under stress, I did have a 4X open heart bypass 3 months earlier, but felt fine mentally and psychically.
Before the bypass a few years earlier I had a foot of my colon taken out due to cancer, again, afterwards I felt fine mentally and psychically.

I am not trying to prove a point here, just my own personal observations and feelings.

One more thing, As bad as T is, given the choice between panic attacks and tinnitus, I would take tinnitus any day of the week.....

 

[Bruce Australia]

Relic Hunter - I agree. A long job hunt, a sick wife, a crap job, long-term depression, a binge or two, some loud music, I think started my T in early 2012 and it's gotten steadily worse. I'd love to press re-set. Along the same lines, by any chance has anyone ever heard of electroshock therapy helping? From some things I've read, it may be electrical impulses related and is sure sounds like electricity in my head. Please respond, anyone. Thanks.

 

[Miss lavender]

Hey Bruce Australia, I am from Victoria as well. Do you recommend any tinnitus specialists in the area. I am on a waiting list to go to the Ear and Eye hospital in East Melbourne. I understand that there are very good specialists at this hospital. Will let you know how I go.

 

[yonkapin]

@Miss lavender: I can highly recommend: http://www.dineenwestcottmoore.com.au/ - I saw Dr. Ross Dineen and he was tremendous, very understanding and spent a good couple hours with me going through my symptoms, ideas and theories I had, ways to cope, etc. He's probably the best medical professional I've ever had to deal with. Myriam Westcott also works there who has done a bunch of published research on hyperacusis and tonic tensor tympani syndrome. Another member here marcp went there recently and also had a similar experience. Only problem is that they are a bit pricey, but well worth it.

 

[Carlo]

Very interesting Erik, I can share from experience, having had panic attacks long before I got T

With the panic attacks, the very first physical symptom I felt was a buzzing fullness in both of my ears, then the heart pounding, feeling of impending doom, a feeling of isolation etc.

I have not had a panic attack in years, but I will never forget that first sign in my ears. Today my T is very similar to the noise I heard with the onset of a panic attack. I strongly believe anxious people are more likely to get T rather than T cause chronic (panic attack) anxiety. I am not saying people with T don't get anxious afterwars, but I believe most people with chronic anxiety are more prone to get T in the first place. The reasons for panic attacks? I won't even go there.

A highly agitated state is not the same as chronic anxiety.

The irony of my T (as stated above) is that I have not had one signal panic attack at all since I got T. Go figure.
Was I under stress, I did have a 4X open heart bypass 3 months earlier, but felt fine mentally and psychically.
Before the bypass a few years earlier I had a foot of my colon taken out due to cancer, again, afterwards I felt fine mentally and psychically.

I am not trying to prove a point here, just my own personal observations and feelings.

One more thing, As bad as T is, given the choice between panic attacks and tinnitus, I would take tinnitus any day of the week.....

For months before the onset I was through a very stressfull period, I believe that stress and anxiety played their role, "clearing the ground" for T (a virus? damages to the auditory complex by stress-related hormons?).

 

[mick]

There is evidence and a theory that a phenomena called excitotoxicity can kill cells, including neurons and the fine hair cells in your inner ear. As the word suggests, excitotoxicity is the toxic effect of the mix of neural transmitters and hormones that your body can release in a highly agitated, excited state. From what I've read, it is something that is far from fully understood, and may prove someday to be a red herring (bunk).

There have been cases of people losing there hearing entirely as a result of emotional stress. The ENT I saw said he had a elderly patient that happened to when her husband died. I have a friend who lost hearing in one ear while enduring a major loss. I think it is entirely feasible that anxiety can bring on tinnitus. I almost hate to say that for fear that some people who are already suffering from the anxiety of T becoming more anxious by worrying that their anxiety will make their T worse, or will lose their hearing. So I want to emphasize that this is primarily a theory, not fully proven. I nonetheless think it is wise to not let oneself simmer in an anxious state so severe that you are having trouble coping and thinking. That is not healthy no matter the situation. Seek the help of a doctor or therapist if you find yourself in that state for an extended time. Don't suffer with it. If medications are offered, be mindful medications that have a reputation for causing T since some anti-anxiety meds have list T as a potential side effect. Discuss those things with a good doctor before prescriptions are offered. It would be nice if things were cut and dried and we knew enough to keep from provoking T with medications, but evidently we are not smart enough to guarantee that.

 

[2014winner]

I don't want that to happen to any of us.
What are the hormones, and can their presence in our bodies be measured? Taking alprazolam for the T may be helpful, but it can make one feel somewhat tired.

 

[EddieMar]

I was on Zoloft for anxiety for 5 years 10 years before my T developed. Not saying Zoloft caused it but I have a history with anxiety and dysthymia.

 

[Kekistan]

For months before the onset I was through a very stressfull period, I believe that stress and anxiety played their role, "clearing the ground" for T (a virus? damages to the auditory complex by stress-related hormons?).

Same for me had a stressful weeks before it hit me.

 

[suze]

..."other behavioral assessments may be needed"... Behavioral? That's insulting. Physical brain patterns should be looked at. See the article posted by Jer "Brain regions responsible for Tinnitus".

 

[Telis]

I lost my mind due to some minor ringing and pain in the ears caused by barotrauma. I have no doubt that this stress led to further damage. I often wonder if I'd been more clam about the initial ear injury, not taken a bunch of drugs, slept more, and been overall more relaxed at onset if things would have turned out differently. Something in the mix of being totally stressed from the ear injury, not sleeping, and taking medications made my minor tinnitus explode into what it is today (hyperacusis and insane tinnitus). It's strange that I can't go back to where things started, even with a more calm presence today my symptoms will not subside. I think I will pay for that initial stress/anxiety reaction for the rest of my life.

 

[Marlino]

I think I will pay for that initial stress/anxiety reaction for the rest of my life.

Dont judge yourself pal. You dont know. Nothing is known yet. I only know one thing: everybody freaks out with new t. For some it diminuishes though, for some it doesnt. Why we belong to the later, nobody knows.