30 years of tinnitus…why is it annoying me so much now?

[JonW999]

I was diagnosed with tinnitus 30 years ago. I’d say I’ve been habituated to it for most of that time. I’ve always known that I’ve had tinnitus but have just lived my life and barring brief periods of noticing it it’s has little impact on my life.

Over the past month though I’ve found myself noticing it a lot and then being aware of not noticing it which makes me notice it (if that makes sense). There have, at times, been feelings of panic as well as immense frustration as to why I’ve let this back into my life in a way it hasn’t since I was 18.

I don’t think objectively it’s any louder than it was but I’m just tuned into and can’t just tune it out in the way I pretty much always have.

I’ve started doing some online therapy sessions as I want to be proactive about addressing this because I feel my mental health has been affected significantly over the past month and I know it’s ultimately controlling my reactions to it that impact on living with it successfully.

Any tips or observations would be gratefully received. I have a happy life and I’d just like to get back to where I’m living my life rather than obsessively thinking about tinnitus.

[Fridays_Child_62]

My story was similar to yours. I've had tinnitus for nearly 30 years and a few years ago it became much more noticeable. In my case, I think it really did get louder and possibly took on extra frequencies. However, I think that relapses (possibly habituation relapses) are par for the course with tinnitus. Even when my tinnitus was at a more tolerable level, I had occasional phases (perhaps weeks) when it would become more intrusive, but it eventually returned back to its normal level. Just as you are trying to do, I think you have got to stop focusing on your tinnitus and find ways of distracting yourself from it in order to re-habituate.

[JonW999 in reply to Fridays_Child_62]

Really helpful. Thank you.

[Ray200]

I don't have to be 'at home when tinnitus comes calling' and I am not. I do this with wireless headphones with radio when I'm safely inside. It gets the hint, if you will. And when you are out and about, you have something to look forward to when you are not.

[JonW999 in reply to Ray200]

Thanks for the reply.

For many years I’ve listened to podcasts so that I would go to sleep night. This was initially because of the tinnitus but it has become such a habit that it had lost its association with that. I think I need to do more of that specifically listening via headphones so as to help tune out the tinnitus and focus the mind on what I’m listening to.

[FriSoph]

HiI am having the same problem had tinnitus for 7 years but the last month got worse as was in my head but now also got in my ear really loud and I'm really struggling to deal with it and getting stressed which I know does not help. I keep using my white noise app on my phone to try and help.

[WildIris]

As I've posted several times, I've had tinnitus for over 50 years and had a breakthrough within the last year. I've always found the shrill, high sounds unpleasant and even upsetting and hid from them as they've gotten louder between age 17 and 72. My breakthrough was to change my attitude about them. They are not imposed on me from outside, they are part of me, part of my life, and I can and do accept them (the ear noises) with peace and as a kind of reminder of my humanity.

[rabbits65]

Your post is really good the way you have explained it. Have you asked yourself what changes have occurred in your last month , something must have happened perhaps stress wise for this sudden change , your trying to make sense of this sudden change. I think this is why most of us get tinnitus in the first place because of something stressful occurring . Try not to dwell on this and hopefully it will return back to its usual place. I cope with mine most of the time but notice it a lot more if I’m tired or maybe if I’m in a place that is not familiar to me.

[JonW999 in reply to rabbits65]

I think it emerged again for me during the recent half-term (I’m a teacher) and suspect the few times it’s happened before less lastingly when I’m less mentally occupied. It’s organic for me (damage from listening to music too loud on headphones when I was 18) so it’s always there, it’s just whether my brain tunes into it or not.

I think key is my mood, if I’m busy and if I’m tired. Last week at work I felt fab, mood was high and whilst I noticed it at times I could move on and completely rationalise it. I had a day off for a day in lieu on Friday and was extremely tired having stayed up to watch the election. I immediately started tuning in to more. Today I went out for a run and didn’t think of it at all for 90 minutes. Again, extremely tired I’ve tuned in a lot this afternoon. Ups and downs.

Positively I’m not panicking about it but I think it’s good to be aware at the moment of what triggers my awareness and try and be proactive about distraction as I am finding now I can engage my mind and can be in a much happier place. I’ve also got another therapy session next Saturday and the first one helped.