This is my first post here mainly because I first started experiencing tinnitus 5 days ago and haven't really had much time to scour the internet for differents forums. I just woke up with it one morning and it hasn't stopped since. I went to an ENT to get it checked out and he is still trying to treat me for it but the treatment hasn't yielded results. He told me that it is uncharacteristic of an 18 year old to have it and I fear that I nay gaveit for the rest of my miserable existence. He has given me a nose spray to try and clear up my sinuses, ear drops to try to soften my earwax and some anti allergy pills but they aren't helping. I am filled with so much depression and anxiety that the only thing that i think about is the tinnitus and don't really do anything else. I looked up some stuff online and they all say it's incurable. The only ounce of hope I have left are the few possitive stories I have read with people using different techniques like comprehensive behavioral therapy and tinntitus retrainment treatment and that some 20 million people in the US allegedly live with it so I am not alone.What do I do? I want to give up...
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ShrewdMushroom
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Hi ShrewdMushroom, I'm sorry to hear that your struggling with your tinnitus. I want to reassure you that your not alone as tinnitus is very common, with around 1 in 8 experiencing it. I'm not quite sure what your ENT meant by it being uncharacteristic in 18 year old's, as tinnitus is reported in all age groups, even young children. The experience of tinnitus can vary for different people, and whilst tinnitus can be distressing during its initial onset period, it usually does lessen after a set amount of time. Although, the period it takes for your brain to habituate to the noise (filter it out) differs from person to person, its overall important to remember that it will happen. Further information on tinnitus can be found on the British Tinnitus Association's website: tinnitus.org.uk/all-about-t...
As you've only had it 5 days I can appreciate that your tinnitus must be quite loud, which is normal during its onset. However, this does not mean that it will always be this loud. Usually, tinnitus does improve over time and your brain will adjust to this new noise. At the moment, your brain has picked up on the noise and is in a state of hyper alert, meaning that its monitoring this noise as a threat and watching to see if any changes occur. With time it will realize that the noise is not a threat or warning, and that in actual fact its boring and can be ignored. Many people do get to this stage, and go on to have happy, normal lives and so you can too.
Finally, as you've mentioned, tinnitus is not curable, but that is not to say that it can't be managed and improved. To help your brain habituate (filter the tinnitus out) there are lots of techniques which can be used to help reduce your tinnitus and potentially speed this process along. Such techniques include relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety, mindfulness, exercise, the use of sound and potentially therapy, all of which you can read bout on our website: tinnitus.org.uk/Pages/FAQs/...
If you are finding your tinnitus tough, I would recommend giving us a call on our free helpline and we can try and provide you some information and support to help you with your tinnitus. We're available Monday to Friday, 9-5 and will be more than happy to have a chat with you and try and reduce your concerns and anxiety around it. You can contact us on 0800 018 0527 if calling from the UK, otherwise you can dial 141 in front of the 0800 number or add +44 to get through.
Thanks for the response. The saddest part to me seems that mine is 24/7 and for most people who live with it don't hear it 24/7 so I am really sad that mine seems to be one of the 2 millions cases which the internet classifies as severe.
Hi. I have been living with 24/7 Tinnitus for over 10 years and so far have been unable to filter it out. And techniques such as listening to white noise or nature sounds haven't worked for me. That doesn't mean they won't work for you. It'll take a little time to find what does and doesn't work. As you've only had it a few days you are naturally worried about it. That is what makes it worse. Having had it as long as I have, I have learned to accept it, and just carry on with my life as before. I don't even bother trying any of the techniques anymore. The only time I found I don't notice it as much is when I'm in a noisy/busy environment such as a pub. I hope in time you can learn to live with it until someone comes up with a cure. Or at least a way of filtering it out that works for everyone.
I don't want to pre-empt anybody on the forum, but a week with tinnitus is a pretty short period of time in the grand scheme of life. That you've been able to consult a doctor and have some treatments suggested for sinus issues is pretty good going and it's arguable that they haven't had chance yet to work.
Scouring the internet for forums is precisely what you shouldn't do - this one being an exception, of course. Negativity on the internet abounds and forum trolls love to spread malicious ideas about tinnitus being an ordeal which people struggle with: not everybody does struggle with tinnitus.
Think of this way - a forum is snapshot of society. There are plenty of people whose tinnitus is transitory or short-lived. They never post on forums, they never call our helpline or go to one of our support groups. They may be unaware that we exist, may prefer to manage their tinnitus on their own or are just not that bothered by it.
I would be reasonably certain that if you can get some support with the depression and anxiety that you describe - CBT is a great option and worth seeking out - you'll notice a change in how disruptive your tinnitus is.
No, your life isn't over. That's a classic example of what's called a 'catastrophic thought' - it sees the worst possible outcome to a situation, which kicks your autonomic nervous system into high gear, which reacts to the sound of tinnitus as proof that there is something to be worried about. Breaking that cycle is going to help you a lot.
Thanks for the response! I talked to the ENT today and he gave me some reassurance which has seemingly relieved some of my anxiety and reduced some of the tinnitusor so it seems. Also I forgot to mention that there used to be 2 sounds and now the louder one seems to have subsided. I also talked to some people around me and they said that they don't notice their's anymore. Also I have one question : is it normal for people who first get it to think that it's really bothersome when in reality it's their constant anxiety over it?
Is it normal for there to be some ambiguity over whether a person is distressed by tinnitus or if anxiety is making that issue feel a hundred times worse? I would say 'absolutely', but I'm not a clinician.
My advice is always to think about finding ways to reduce anxiety and stress and then seeing whether being calm and viewing tinnitus with a different mindset makes a difference to the sounds you experience.
I would honestly be surprised if the change that most people notice wasn't a positive one.
Hello ShrewdMushroom. I’m one of the many (probably thousands if not millions) of people who “acquired” tinnitus when I was about sixteen or seventeen. I was very lucky in that it wasn’t very loud most of the time, my father had it and it certainly didn’t bother him, so it’s never really bothered me.So as I say I regard myself as being very lucky.
Pat of the BTA who has replied to you has said what we on this forum would tell you. But just one word of warning - you will see advertisements for ‘cures’. They will just take your money and either send you something that will not work or just take your money and disappear. ONLY trust REPUTABLE sources - of which the BTA is the absolute best.
Do come back to us on this forum for reassurance and virtual support
Thanks for the reply. One question if you don't mind mr asking. If I have only had it for 5 days is there a chance it goes away or at least not be constant?
As Pat has already said - five days is very short time and you’ll find you just get used to it. Let me tell you a story. I bought a flat and the only one I could afford was on a main road going into London. The first night I couldn’t sleep - the noise was awful and as soon as I dropped off there would be a siren or a motorbike. After about a week of scarcely any sleep because of the noise I was beside myself with anxiety. But, within about six weeks I just did not notice it any more! It’s the same with T - I’ve got used to it. If I think about it (like now when I’m writing) I can hear it and if I was in a car going at sixty I can hear it above the engine noise - but only if I think about it. I go for weeks without hearing it at all even though, yes, it’s there.
The sounds might change - that’s the at trying to keep you on your toes - but you’ll find they just vanish into the background.
Hopefully you are right. Is tinnitus constant for most people who have it or does it come and go?
Hi Shrewdmushroom , I have had Tinnitus for 4yrs and 10 months nearly 5yrs and it started after a bad cold in January 2017.
I want to say that even though it's hard to believe you will get used to it and you will get your life back and go back to enjoying life
In the beginning mine like yours was 24/7 and I could hear it everywhere and never escape it and I thought my life was over that I could never get used to this noise in both my ears and I wanted to end the noise but my mom who has been a huge support to me told me please just wait until my birthday before you end it, this might seem like a weird thing to say to someone but I didn't realize then what I know now and that's , that she knew I was stronger than I thought I was and she was right I agreed to hold on till then and it took me until July that year before I saw improvement and I started to get my life back and I didn't hear it 24/7 anymore I only hear it in quiet rooms now and over 4yrs later I still only hear it in quiet rooms.
You will have setbacks at time called spikes which I get sometimes but I have learned to not let these bother me as all mine have been temporary and most Tinnitus sufferers spikes are temporary.
And I had a set back in 2019 when I had a cold my first since having Tinnitus and the cold set my Tinnitus off back to were I was in the beginning and I had a meltdown but again had my mom and family to support me and helped me get through it and after the cold went my Tinnitus went back down again
Support is a huge help with Tinnitus my mom supports me as does my sister but the person who has been my rock and has helped keep me going is my nephew he's such a positive little boy and he helps keep my fighting Spirit going , he gives me the strength I need.
But as you are getting treated for ear wax it could be that , that is causing it as 2yrs ago my sister got Tinnitus like you she just woke up with it and her GP said she has a build up of wax in both ears and was given oil to get soften it so it can go naturally she hated those 2 weeks of her life due to Tinnitus and could not believe how I was living with it everyday like I am then 2 weeks later she still had a build up so had it removed by a nurse at the GP practice and her Tinnitus went away that night so hers was due to wax as soon as the wax was gone her Tinnitus was gone , Tinnitus is a symptom of something else mine was the cold , Jens was the wax so it could be that which is causing yours.
Your welcome , it is hard in the beginning and I never believed the people who told me you'll get used to it but you will that's if it's permanent as yours may go once the wax has cleared
He syringed my ear canal once already but I don't notice a change. I hope once he does it again it will get better. I am scheduled to get some lab tests done and bring them to him tomorrow . Hopefully he finds something out.
I hope so but don't panic if this is a permanent thing you will with time learn to live with it a lot easier said than done but you will. Stress can make it worse so try and keep relaxed the best you can and I keep myself busy too to avoid hearing it or if I'm relaxing I listen to white noise on my phone
If your tinnitus is long term, you can learn to habituate and live with it. It can sometimes get worse when you're stressed or feeling under the weather... or the day after being at the nightclub. It does get easier.
Hi Shrewedmushroom. Will you permit me to wind this back to the beginning. First of all you are working on permanent tinnitus, what if it's just obstinate earwax. This is not doom. It takes time to get the answers (and I know, once upon a time I was 18 and things happen that are frightening). You may find it was a wax blockage after all.
First of all do not panic. As also written below, I lived in a house on a busy main road, and over time you acclimatise to it. It does not get worse, it does not get better, your mind shuts it out as a small event, as it has other things to concentrate over time. This is natural. Tinnitus does not get louder, it's your perception of it that changes.
Whilst you are examined and tests are done, do one thing, for me. Stay calm No anxiety, no stress. Give yourself quiet times during the day, breathe slowly. This alone will help you enormously.
I have had tinnitus 18 years, and there are ways to "mask tinnitus".
I also would encourage immediately talking to the British Tinnitus Association. They have lots of help for you. Do take time and ring them today. You'd be surprised.
Climbing a mountain can be done, one step at a time.
Sorry to hear about your T. I have only had 24/7 pulsatile tinnitus for 9 months and thought it was unbearable. However, time does eventually help in coping. I also use pillow speakers and phone gentle music to get me to sleep. If there is a spike during the day I have music through my Aftershokz headphones which play the music through your cheekbones and so do not cover your ears. This is good so you can listen and talk to others more easily and still hear the television. The brain will adjust to the Tinnitus. Keep active and best wishes. There is always someone on the forum to help so please keep in touch.
Hi Shrewdmushroom, I, and probably everybody else on this forum know exactely what your going through in those first few weeks of developing T.
I can still remember lying on my bed reading when i suddenly noticed a rushing whistling noise that was still there when i put my fingers in my ears, que fear, anxiety, worry, how was i going to live with this .... 5 years later and i can go days without really noticing it. Yes mine seems to get louder at night when im tired, also when stressed.
It took me a few weeks at least i seem to recall to start to lose it in lifes background noise and in the early days your probably listening for it... is it worse today / is it better/ has the noise changed ?
But eventually it will start to fade as your brain gets used to it, but it'll take some time ..
And theres hopefully the chance its only temporary. My wife had mild tinitus for 3 years and then it died away , no ryhme or reason to why it started or stopped...
Thanks for the response. I went to an ent 2 hours ago and he told me I have an infection. Could that be the cause. And is there a chance it goes away once the infection is treated?
Hi Shroom, sorry to hear you are struggling, I can only reiterate what Pat has said, I know when I first got T its was very scary but hopefully this may be temporary but as others have said there is hope and by using behavioral techniques and distraction techniques you can end up living well with your T. I know when I first got my T i was in total crisis but now I live very well with my T. As Pat said searching the internet for a cure and/or solution can create more anxiety. Its great that you have a clinician helping you, this really is the first step as they will be able to help and establish where you are. If you want to learn more about T I would suggest looking at the BTA resource here tinnitus.org.uk/takeontinnitus . I would also suggest you maybe attend one of the BTA Online support groups so you can have some empathetic support and see how others are managing their T. There is a young persons group but you would be welcome at any group tinnitus.org.uk/online-supp... . Please keep us posted on how you progress with the ENT. Take care and stay safe
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