Sorry to write again but panic mode has kicked in and the new tinnitus is not reducing at all - I’m very worried this is the new norm. I’ve had Tinnitus for 10 years this year and just got to accept it and start to go out a bit more - life was finally getting back to normal! This new sound from having my ear syringed is much higher and a constant noise and I’m frightened. I’ve been trying deep breathing, using my night sound machine etc but keep focusing on it as it’s so much higher than before - I can hear this noise over everything. I thought what I had before was bad enough…. I know I’ve got to try and ignore it and get on with things with the hope it may settle but that’s just not working. Sorry to start a lovely Sunday morning on such a note! Wishing you all the best.
Going into panic mode: Sorry to write again but... - Tinnitus UK
Going into panic mode
WhenT starts, or changes, it’s quite normal to get anxious about it. From what you say you know more or less what to do. My T is certainly louder than my car when I’m doing sixty on the motorway but unless I think about it, it just doesn’t register - because I’ve habituated If you haven’t already, have a good look at the British Tinnitus Association website and especially their “take on tinnitus” to help you through.
Thank you for replying. Your right in as much as having T I should know how to try and deal with this but when the panic sets in it’s hard to try and do those things and I am worrying I won’t be able to habituate again- I feel like I’ve gone back those 10 years to how I was and I really don’t want to be back there again. I can adjust to the spikes we can all get but this is on a different level. I know I should be being more positive but it’s hard . I need to get in back in that right mindset. Sorry if I’m still being negative. I have been on the BTA site and been looking at previous posts to try and help - I haven’t really left the site since this all started years ago. All the best.
Hi Jane2012 So sorry you're in panic mode. It's not a nice place to be. Like you I had T that got worse all of a sudden. It's been a steep learning curve but - after almost two years - I can cope with it. Just keep doing what you're doing. Try not to say I should do this or I must do that. Be kind to yourself. Only time will bring relief from T distress. You've done it once, you can do it again .
Hello doglover1973 - thank you for your reply - glad to hear you are now managing again. I’m keeping my fingers tightly crossed that habituation will come again sooner rather than later and will try my best not to focus on it!!
Hello. It is awful when it causes feelings of panic.
Have you tried breathing techniques to calm an initial panic. I know there are plenty of ideas online.
I breathe in slowly for 3 through my nose and breathe out for two through my mouth to help.
Other strategies I'm sure you've tried are: white noise and other sounds on YouTube, distracting yourself, low sounds on radio or TV if it helps. Wakking, nature sounds etc. Some have posted on here about special headphones too.
Sorry nothing groundbreaking in my post - but just wanted to say take care and hope things get a bit calmer soon. xx
Thank you Fuzzy - much appreciated. Yes Ive tried most of those - breathing normally helps but not at the moment - my ears and head are on high alert with this new loud sound. I will continue to try and use the strategies and hopefully things will calm down soon 🤞. My neighbour kindly spent the afternoon with me today to keep me talking to try and distract me from focusing on the noise although I could still hear it over our conversation with the tv on too! x
That was good of her. Some people are really kind. Take care xx
Thank you and you x
Hi jane2012. I'd say it's not relaxation it's distraction. Let's say this guy has a near miss in his car. It makes him re-evaluate his actions. He also is aware of every next action. His mind is focused on that. Now what we have to do is make his driving back to normal.
So it is with t. You have become focused on t. Let's get you to think away from that to the shopping, an afternoon with mum getting a new outfit. Watching Hungary England on Saturday....etc etc.
It's only because you are focused on it that it sounds louder. It isn't and you've got to put it in its place.
That's why relaxation techniques are so important. Now all you have to do is practice. Lots of advice on the BTA website. Good luck breathe slowly.
Thank you Spurdog1. Trying my best - been awake since 4 so spent the last couple of hrs deep breathing and listening to the ocean waves on my sound machine. It helped a bit but now I’m up the sound is full blast again and stomach churning. I know the anxiety is no good for T so will keep practicing the techniques we have to hand and hope things settle soon. Best wishes Jane
Thinking of you Jane. How's it going?
Hello Spurdog1. Thank you for asking. Shoulders up by my ears atm and still have difficulty relaxing. Ears were a bit calmer this morning but are hissing like mad again at end of working day. The hissing takes over my ears head and neck! Sitting in front of a computer does not help as regardless of work I still focus on my ears! Have started sleeping a bit better though so that’s a positive! Still deep breathing and trying to relax. Fingers still crossed things will settle back soon. How are you doing?
It’s really scary when you learn how to cope your tinnitus then start new sounds. ohh no when I think this I feel anxious 😥.
Yes really scary- trying to work with back ground noise on but my thoughts keep going back to the ears - really tough! Was hoping I would not ever be in this position again!! 😢😥
This will sound strange, but maybe give people hope. (We're all different).
I have managed tinnitus for 20 years. I have learned to live with it. Yes I have the odd bad day, but I look to it as my friend. He proves I am alive. I like the fun of finding ways to mask him.
Wouldn’t mind the odd bad day but had this new phase for 2 weeks now - was hoping things would have settled more by now…….
Bear with it Jane. Sometimes you wina race by patience and a steady pace. Breathing slow and plenty relaxation.not easy to do, but I did get there. Go for a walk, enjoy the sounds of nature (good ear ofcourse). I'm hereon your bad days.
I had my ear cleaned a couple of weeks ago. It did make my tinnitus change, but it's gone back to its normal whooshy sound now. I try various things when I can't cope. Sometimes the breathing technique makes me more anxious because I know why I'm doing it so I then end up focusing even more on my tinnitus. Distraction for me is better - these are the various things I do to cope- I find having a shower helpful as the water is louder than my tinnitus; I have the radio on all day;I will watch a really happy film (something like mamma mia) I will vaccuum the house; I will go for a walk somewhere I can listen to birds/the sea/wind blowing through the trees; listen to a talking book (not on earphones); phone someone up for a chat. Admittedly not much help at 4am in the morning, but habituating during the day may at least lessen the anxiety. Good luck
Hi Jane. Have you tried a sedative? I've found that Ativan 0.5mg taken under the tongue has a calming effect on me and my ears. It was prescribed for me by an neurotologiest (ENT doctor that specializes in inner ear diseases). I have bilateral meniere's disease with constant tinnitus in both ears. When the noise gets louder than usual I take the Ativan and noise seems to calm down after an hour or so. I rarely need to use more than one pill/day to notice improvement. I only use the Ativan on those days when noise is particularly loud.
Hello Tanney. Thank you for your reply. I do take amitriptyline and have spoken to the doctors today to double that so not sure if it will interact but looking on line I may be able to. I will have a chat with the doctor though if my tablets do not help. Thanks for mentioning it. Kind regards Jane
I’m sorry Jane2012!! Perhaps these things might help you: 1. You must keep your blood pressure low as you can and is important to control whether you snore. 2. Take Magnesium L. Threonate (Only this Magnesium!!!) 3 hours before bed. Look for information, this magnesium is really good for brains. 3. Try taking Idebenone 4. Do you know Mimicking fasting diet of Walter Longo? In Argentina there aren't doctors to guide us with this diet, perhaps you can find one. 5. Look for white noise that fits for you. 6.And finally homeopathy might help you too. I’m doing all of these and my T is going down little by little. I wish you much luck!!
Hello Aldo . Good to hear you are improving. I have found the rain sound helps at night and been deep breathing again this morning but I just cannot relax and I am sure that is feeding it - going to doctors later for them to check my ear again and see if they can offer me something to help with the relaxing. Because I had tinnitus and this is a new high pitch unchanging sound I keep hoping I will wake up and it will return to how it was and that’s just not happening ☹️
Hi Jane. My T is now louder in my head than my electric toothbrush . Somehow I’ve learned to accept it. My doctor has now prescribed anti depressants ! aparantly one of the common side effects of taking this is ringing in the ears so have not started the course. I’m off for a hearing test at spec savers but don’t hold out much luck. Good luck and do try not to worry
Hello Bellyboo. Sorry to hear you are suffering too. I managed to get a reasonable night sleep last night, thanks to doubling my amitriptyline tablets. I think the sound has changed a bit and I have constant hissing like electric static going all through my ear, head and neck - trying to calm myself but it’s so difficult. I’ve got the tv on and a sound ball but can still hear it loudly. Wishing you all the best with yours. Hopefully things will improve for us all. 🤞
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