Tinnitus Caused by Stress?

[CrystalB]

Can tinnitus be caused by stress?

I have no idea what caused mine, I woke up one morning with my tinnitus.
Few things had went on in my life before the tinnitus.

I had my First eye migraine back in August of last year. I was so scared had no idea what was happening, so I panicked. The next day I got tinnitus.

I went to the urgent care and she told me I had fluid in my ears prescribed nose spray.
I used it everyday and eventually I got to where I didn't notice it and it went away!

In November I got my second eye migraine this time it was worse I seen flashing lights, I panicked and screamed so loud because I didn't know what was happening! Within 30 min the eye migraine went away.

2 days later I got tinnitus again but worse. I went to a ENT and they told me my hearing was perfect. Had a MRI and cat scan, turned out normal.

It's been 6 months and it's not went away this time.

I went to my regular doctor and she says again I have fluid in both ears, gave me nasal spray.
I see a pattern, eye migraine=tinnitus.

But could it had been where I was stressed out each time that triggered the tinnitus?

Or could it just be allergies and fluid?

I just wish I knew what was causing it, I know everyone else probably does too!
I hear my tinnitus over everything.

It's very very high pitch loud ring, static, hum, clicking, sometimes all at the same time!

 

[dingaling]

Hi CrystalB

Stress and tinnitus are related just like lots of other things are stress related. Wow, your migraine sounds really bad - a real stress event so I'm not surprised you had bad T. What are the medics doing about your migraines?

 

[Gman]

Can tinnitus be caused by stress?

I have no idea what caused mine, I woke up one morning with my tinnitus.
Few things had went on in my life before the tinnitus.

I had my First eye migraine back in August of last year. I was so scared had no idea what was happening, so I panicked. The next day I got tinnitus.

I went to the urgent care and she told me I had fluid in my ears prescribed nose spray.
I used it everyday and eventually I got to where I didn't notice it and it went away!

In November I got my second eye migraine this time it was worse I seen flashing lights, I panicked and screamed so loud because I didn't know what was happening! Within 30 min the eye migraine went away.

2 days later I got tinnitus again but worse. I went to a ENT and they told me my hearing was perfect. Had a MRI and cat scan, turned out normal.

It's been 6 months and it's not went away this time.

I went to my regular doctor and she says again I have fluid in both ears, gave me nasal spray.
I see a pattern, eye migraine=tinnitus.

But could it had been where I was stressed out each time that triggered the tinnitus?

Or could it just be allergies and fluid?

I just wish I knew what was causing it, I know everyone else probably does too!
I hear my tinnitus over everything.

It's very very high pitch loud ring, static, hum, clicking, sometimes all at the same time!

Stress and anxiety can spike tinnitus massively, for sure. Maybe even can trigger it. I don't know for sure. When my T started it was a very stressful time and event that happened.

I have had a couple of ocular migraines too. With the colourful zigzagging strobing lines, right? Any pain or just visual? They're very strange and scary at first. I already had T so they didn't start mine. It depends on what is causing both. But as you have found even testing can be inconclusive.

 

[CrystalB]

I have been to a neurologist and since I've only had two ocular migraines, he didn't see any need for medicine yet, but he sees me back in July to see how many more I have had. I asked him about my tinnitus, he says your healthy and on no medication, that I will just have to deal with it basically.
Oh yes I saw flashing lights and zig zag lines! I could only see half of stuff.
Without any hearing loss, I just don't understand how my tinnitus could be so loud, if it is caused by stress!

 

[Gman]

I have been to a neurologist and since I've only had two ocular migraines, he didn't see any need for medicine yet, but he sees me back in July to see how many more I have had. I asked him about my tinnitus, he says your healthy and on no medication, that I will just have to deal with it basically.
Oh yes I saw flashing lights and zig zag lines! I could only see half of stuff.
Without any hearing loss, I just don't understand how my tinnitus could be so loud, if it is caused by stress!

Just know there are others of us with inexplicable things going on too. So you aren't alone.
But seriously, stress and anxiety can cause bizarre things to happen. Not saying these are the cause of yours, but they can manifest in many unexpected physiological ways.

At the moment I have a sensation of cold water dripping down my tricep to my elbow. I have no idea why and not likely to be stress but it's another to add to the list.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Stress can cause ocular migraines. I seem to have an ocular migraine every other month, not from stress. Light sets them off for me. Like if I accidentally look at a bright light then I'm stuck with a migraine for a few hours. Watching TV can cause them, too. I've had migraines since I was a child, so I'm fairly used to them. I tend to lose half my vision while having flashing lights.

Hormone fluctuations can also cause migraines. I've found that can also make tinnitus fluctuate, just something to be aware of.

 

[dingaling]

Without any hearing loss, I just don't understand how my tinnitus could be so loud, if it is caused by stress!

Stress "wakes up" the arousal centres in the brain and prepares the body for fight or flight. It's a primative, physiological response and acts as a safety mechanism. In turn, our senses become hyper-sensitive and thus the physiological noise in our head gets amplified and we hear it as tinnitus.

Bet the T lessens a lot when you're not having a migraine or not under stress

 

[CrystalB]

If it is caused by stress, can it get better? I've had it for 6 months!
Mine I know is either caused by stress or allergies, and I'm on nose spray to help with the fluid in my ears, if that gets better and tinnitus is from stress I'm hoping one day it will go away

 

[dingaling]

If it is caused by stress, can it get better?
Mine I know is either caused by stress or allergies, and I'm on nose spray to help with the fluid in my ears, if that gets better and tinnitus is from stress I'm hoping one day it will go away

It can get better, yes. It's finding ways of reducing unwanted stress in your life (where practically possible)

 

[CrystalB]

I'm really hoping it will. I know it started two days after my ocular migraine and when I had the migraine I was panicking and screaming, and so scared, I freaked out, I calmed myself down and waited for it to end, but I know my body was in stress. I just want my life back. It could always be worse though so I try to stay positive but today it has been so loud almost unbearably.

 

[dingaling]

I'm really hoping it will. I know it started two days after my ocular migraine and when I had the migraine I was panicking and screaming, and so scared, I freaked out, I calmed myself down and waited for it to end, but I know my body was in stress. I just want my life back. It could always be worse though so I try to stay positive but today it has been so loud almost unbearably.

I'm really sorry to hear that and hope you get some relief from both the migraine and tinnitus. I've never had true migraine but guess I would freak out too. I experience pain daily but manage it somehow

Once you get back to baseline/equilibrium, try and find positive ways to chill out. I'm no expert on migraine but I wonder if its intensity is proportional to one's level of stress...?

 

[Rajin]

worse though so I try to stay positive but today it has been so loud almost unbearably.

@CrystalB sorry to hear that, hopefully it will get better soon. What you mean by so loud almost unbearable. Today your worse day ,since you had it 6 months ago.

 

[bsimo2213]

If it is caused by stress, can it get better? I've had it for 6 months!
Mine I know is either caused by stress or allergies, and I'm on nose spray to help with the fluid in my ears, if that gets better and tinnitus is from stress I'm hoping one day it will go away

Hi Crystal B - hope you are well. I won't be able to advise much on the migraine and tinnitus correlation, but the excess fluid in ears is up my alley as that is what is the primary cause of my T. Are you only taking nasal sprays? Taking a max power nasal decongestant that contains "Pseudoephedrine hcl (Hydrochloride, I think)" is a great complement to making the fluid easier to get out as it thins it up. Then, once the decongestant kicks in, tilting your ears over hot steamy water helps fluid exit much easier (just don't keep your ear close for too long and get too hot on your ear). Have you tried these at all? I went from having a "lake" of fluid in my ear to basically nothing left after a month of effort, and my T has definitely improved.

Take care and best of luck on your road to recovery

 

[bsimo2213]

Forgot to say that "nasacort" nasal spray has been the best of the sprays I've tried. Afrin didn't help at all