(Moderator's note - this post discusses difficult emotions and references psychological difficulties with tinnitus. If you need support with anything discussed in this post, please contact one of the organisations listed here - helpguide.org/find-help)
I developed tinnitus after dental treatment. It's 24hrs and like torture. It's got louder and i'm having bad thoughts of ending it all. I have had ENT who gave me a hearing aid. Also had MRI and they can not see anything. I think I have developed TMJ jaw aching which is a vicious circle of stress and jaw clenching. The tinnitus is getting worse. It wakes me up and is so loud in my head. I am awake at 3 or 4 am where i have to put earphones on and listen to something. It's making me depressed and have thought of ending it all. It's effecting my whole life. I can't do the things I used to do, socialising, walking group as I am just spaced out do to the lack of sleep. Even gardening and generally looking after myself. What's worse is the more I look into it the more I find out there is no cure.
I talked to someone from mind crisis and they directed me to this website. Just wondering if anyone can hear it 24/7 and it's loud.
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mgsteveb
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I recognise your distress. I had the same. Coming to this site has helped me through it. Mine is variable. Roaring away right now, but I have habituated to tinnitus. It took quite a time but it happens, and you don't have to do anything to bring it about. I would say habituation is forgetting what it is not to have tinnitus. When that is the case, you just get on with everything else. Your brain is on your side there. I compare it to the fact that your nose is in your line of sight - but you don't see it unless you 'look' for it. The brain has filtered it out.
Basic grade tinnitus. I don't get pulsatile. I'm 3 days into a heightened period of the thing. I've had 4 weeks of anxiety from an unrelated health condition (as I wait for a burdened NHS to fit me in), and it looks like for me there is a clear connection between stress and tinnitus. It was 3 months of extreme stress in 2023 that let tinnitus into my life.
I know you probably can’t see it right now but things will improve. Are you taking any meds (SSRI’s)? As these usually help to take the edge off and will calm you down a little? Perhaps try some CBT / Mindfulness too? Although I believe you have to persist with it? Try to be positive and this will help too. And do stuff that helps you to relax, if you need white noise around you or other noise to help? Then do that too. But not to. loud. Do you have hyperacusis too?
I see that you have already had an MRI, which suggests to me that your T may not be of very recent onset (waiting lists), or perhaps in desperation you went privately. I mention this only because T does tend to change, settle down sometimes even vanish, if onset was recent - a few weeks - sometimes even longer.
More generally many people have T 24/7 - some very loud and with a variety of tones. Mine began more than 20 years ago and has gradually worsened to that 24/7 condition, with very few breaks. That said, its loudness and effect on my state of mind changes up and down regularly - sometimes several times a day. I am still here 🙂
As to waking in the night to use headphones, I am currently experimenting with the Soundcore Sleep a20 earbuds that are designed for wearing overnight including by side-sleepers. They have a range internal soothing sound options, as well as a bluetooth connection to your phone. You can start the night with them rather than waking to put them in. They were £125 when I bought mine at Christmas - sometimes there are discounted offers. They are a competitor to the Ozlo buds (I haven't used them), with similar options (£300 or so). There are some daft reviews from people who don't know what need they meet, but the YouTube channel No Sleepless Nights has what I consider to be good ones.
Morning if your T is TMJ related there are chartered physiotherapists who specialise in temporomandibular disorders (ACPTMD) and its website refers to ringing in ears can be a symptom. It might be worth looking on their website to see if there is anything that may help.
Hi it is the association of chartered physiotherapists in temporomandibular disorders which is TMD. I have a TM joint and muscle problem and tinnitus in my left ear which is sometimes very loud - . I have regular physio which includes my neck and posture. I also have just started with acupuncture which seems to be helping. I have started to gain more understanding of my problem which also helps as I am beginning to feel more in control. I hope this helps for you as well
Dont give up. Hold on it for sometime , you will get habituated after some required timeOur brain is excellent creation, it fights initially and gradually get adopted to it thinking T won't harm and my job is to just ignore it .
You will surely touch that phase just have little patience.
Everybody's T is different and please don't get panic while reading any horrible stories of T of few unfortunate people here.
Certain Ts disappear or almost noticable a s time passes . Who knows you could be one among them . Keep positive faith
And if it's not ,No matter how loud it is , we will habituate. I am also one example among them .
I totally understand ,mine is 24/7loud hissing in both ears.Got a lot worse after the loss of my husband.It doesn't stop me from going out.Dont let it beat you.Walking outside especially once we get better weather,preferably with a friend to chat to will take your mind of it for a while.Your stronger than you think.It will get easier .
I pressume if ir’s recently acquired it might disappear.
I advise you to stay calm, listen to your body ( your body might “tell” you smth), surf the internet to read about it and go and ask about a natural pill that might be given over the counter to relax you a little. You won’t die from it!🥰
There is some good advice on our website, Steve, about TMJ and how it relates to tinnitus - you might find it helpful to take a look at: tinnitus.org.uk/understandi...
hello - Firstly you are not alone! Take some comfort in that there are many like you, and many on here who will try to help. I have had T since 2021 with the advent of PTSD ( from two years of traumatic family issues around the declining health of me elderly parents and trying to take care of them whilst running businesses) At first it was hell, and I have moments even now. yes 24/ 7 yes both ears, sometime very loud sometimes no so. You will eventually habituate I promise. You should get CBT from a local health practitioner, it WILL help. Understanding and dealing with the understanding the beginning of the journey. research a book by Dr David Bagueley Professor on Tinnitus, PLEASE READ IT. take what you have learnt to your Doctor GP. Get help for the depression based on that. sadly GPs give up on us as there is no cure, but there is a gradual healing of the mind. Keep on this site and comment back - best wishes to you
I have T 24/7 & yes it drives me to distraction.Hearing aid makes no difference to me.Am sooooo stressed by it but....I looked at my grandbubba & know I need to be here for her.I look at my sister who is battling cancer & know I am luckier than her so my battle must continue.Yes I feel hopeless sometimes so fully understand what you're saying.Hold tight & remember there is support here for you from people who truly get it.
Hi. I relate to your feelings. I have had desperate days after completely sleepless nights. I hear your distress, but hang in there. There's so much good advice here from people who have been where you are. I'd just like to add that if you do a search you'll find loads of research papers about the link between misalignment of the jaw and tinnitus. You mention having dental treatment. It may be that there is a problem with the way that tmj joint is sitting. Sometimes it can simply be that the bite wasn't correct properly after a filling, or wear and tear in the joint. Also, if you clench your teeth or teeth grind from stress and anxiety you can upset the tmj and not even be aware that you're doing it. I did that 38 years ago as a result of post natal depression. My dentist fitted me with a gum shield to wear at night to stop the teeth grinding. It worked within a couple of months. A revisit to the dentist to have the bite checked and a discussion about a gum shield, maybe? And with reference to not going out and socialising. This is another consequence of bad tinnitus. I've done it too, but I've discovered that swimming and walking by the sea drown out the tinnitus and give me a bit of relief, which lifts my mood, even if temporarily. Someone has suggested you do that with a friend for company. Everyone who has tinnitus understands how you're feeling. You can self refer to NHS Talking Therapies on line nhs.uk/mental-health/talkin... They will send you a form to fill in. Be honest about the dark thoughts. They will triage you for treatment promptly, and give you info to help whilst you wait for treatment. Hang in there buddy! You're not on your own.
I’ve totally been in your position, it can seem hopeless, but things will improve, your brain will adapt and you will not hear the noise so much, you will get used to it. Mine was like a jet engine, I couldn’t even hear others talk, then it changed to high pitched ring, so it does change. The most important thing (I feel) is to not focus on it, hard I know. Like now, because I’m talking about it, the ringing in my ear has got louder! As soon as this happens you need to try to do something else to distract you. I found a website called Hush tinnitus and you can do a little sound test and it then gives you a sound that drowns out the noise of your tinnitus, and sometimes it’s nice to hear a different sound. It cost £20 but it’s been worth it and have it on my phone to listen to if needed, which makes me feel safe and calm which is what you need. Panic and stress will make it worse. I also go to sleep listening to postcasts because at night is when I hear my T. Now during the day I don’t really hear it. I think it took about 3-5 months to get to this point. Don’t dispair, things will improve. I also went to a really nice hearing centre and they were so kind and understanding which is what I needed because I felt so alone. Don’t feel alone, stay relaxed and distracted and in time your brain will calm the noise.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. I have pulsatile tinnitus, both ears, but stronger in my left. It's a constant high pitched woosh in time with my heartbeat. Now and again it's a cricket chirping noise. And sometimes, suddenly my ears will feel "full", the world will go silent, and then the silence stops and I hear a very long mid range tone (like something you get on a hearing test) that fades, and then the whooshing is back! On the plus side, I always know what my heart rate is! Seriously though, it made me half crazy at first. I had every test imaginable, and they found no cause. Which is a good thing, in that it wasn't caused by something arterial that might kill me. After some time, I've learned to live with it. If I'm completely occupied with some task, I don't even notice it, until I stop that task, and then I just go back to ignoring it. You have to develop a mindset about this affliction that helps you stay calm, and let it go. It's been about ten years for me. It does take you some time to adjust, (took me several months) but the human mind is quite adaptable. I know it sucks. I know you hate it. It's just one of those "well crap" things that happens in life. You'll be ok if you figure out how to relax.
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