Tinnitus Has Come Back

[Jeffy L]

The past year has been awful....my wife left me, I went on dialysis 3 days a week, then I was in a bad auto accident.

My ringing had all but gone away, but 2 weeks ago it came back worse than ever.

I really don't know if I can handle it this time. I'm so depressed and wish I was gone.

 

[Richard zurowski]

@Jeffy L. Hi. I'm sorry to here all the bad news that you have been through. You have certainly been through a very stressful time and I'm sure this has a lot to do with your tinnitus returning. And the depression isn't helping at all . You need medical treatment now. If you haven't been to see a doctor I advise you to go as soon as possible Your doctor will help you through these difficult times. Please don't do anything drastic there is help out there.

 

[NimQ]

Hello @Jeffy L - so sorry to hear you are feeling so bad

Sounds like you are in an awful position right now and need some help. Having one problem is enough to deal with, but it seems you have had a big amount of misfortunes in a short amount of time. It means you have had really rough time, what it doesn't mean is that things cannot get better. Things can improve and you could be in a very different mindset one, two or three years from now - you could even be happy.

Do you have other health conditions than T, since you have been in dialysis? And if you do, are they treatable and in good care right now? What you do have - as you say yourself - is depression and it's a condition in itself that needs to be taken seriously. Crises like divorce and (possibly traumatizing) accident are sometimes incredibly tough to deal with, and it is absolutely no shame to need help in handling them. Since you are already going through thoughts like "wish I was gone", I think it's extremely urgent to discuss these thoughts with someone that can help. Finding a good therapist can be a life-safer, since it can give you coping methods, new perspectives and the most important ingredient of them all: hope for the future. Change doesn't happen over night and I know that trying to hold on and find the strength to carry on can seem impossible. And it can be just that - impossible - when you are trying to battle it alone, that's what my personal experience is at least. Is reaching out to a helpline/support groups/therapist something you could consider?

Was there any trigger to your renewed tinnitus (i.e. acoustic trauma)? If not, I think it might have to a lot to do with the stress and mental anguish, it really can make T sound much louder. Once you get your mental well-being in balance, it's easier for the nervous system to get in balance as well. You could - and should - visit an ENT to check your hearing and that there is no other reason for your tinnitus. It is not likely, but no harm in checking. Since you sound to be in great despair, I think it's even more important to really get some help and support, so that your depression doesn't get any deeper. There is strength in you and I think it was a superb idea to come write here, since this community offers support and understanding. It's a good place to start to sort it all out.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I am very sorry to hear that you have to deal with so many other serious issues, in addition to tinnitus... I hope that eventually you will be out of this horrible phase of your life.

My ringing had all but gone away

It is very seldom when one gets a chance to talk to someone who beat tinnitus. Your experience will likely provide hope for many on this site. How long before it you felt like your ringing was gone? When you say "gone", do you mean that you could hear it only in quiet rooms, or could you actually hear silence again? If it is the latter, did you go through a "can hear it only in quiet rooms" stage?

I hope that you will be able to beat tinnitus a second time.