
I fucked up guys. I think I fucked up bad.
I've always been a bit of a hermit person. Spent my entire adult life mostly alone. To be clear I didn't suffer for this, in fact I kind of enjoyed it, but... I'm getting a little older, and lately I've been thinking I should start getting out there and trying things while I'm still young enough to enjoy them.
A while back I became aware of a furry event taking place at a club in a nearby city and thought... fuck it, these don't come up every day, now's my chance. I brushed up on the map of the city so I could navigate around it since I virtually never drive there, got all prepared and planned, made myself a little badge so people would know who I was (nobody knew who I was, I'm basically a nobody to the locals, hah), and spent a month being nervous nearly to the point of nausea about it and thinking of backing out, but I pushed it all down and made myself go. Time to start trying stuff, enjoying life a bit more. And you know what, it wasn't too bad a time. I met some folks, did some chatting, made a new friend. Way to go me, getting over that social anxiety.
There was only one problem- the music. It was loud. It was very loud.
It was too loud.
Nobody else seemed particularly bothered by it, so I chalked it up to being not used to dealing with loud music. I thought about earplugs, but nobody else had them on, and how am I going to talk to people with earplugs in, I can barely hear them as it is! The whole point is to talk to people. So I dealt with it. But it kept getting louder and louder throughout the night until I finally couldn't take it and just left. Right in the middle of talking with someone I just threw in the towel and excused myself, it was ludicrous. But it was too late.
It didn't happen right away. I didn't notice the sound on the drive home, or for the rest of that night, but once I went to bed I started hearing it. A high-pitched ringing in my ears.
It hasn't stopped since.
Now I'm no stranger to a little bit of tinnitus, I've had a very mild version as long as I can remember. Most people do. Sit in a completely silent room for long enough and most people eventually hear the signature high pitched whines of tinnitus. That wasn't a big deal though, I could put on a fan and it would drown it out entirely. I basically never noticed it unless my surroundings were completely silent.
This is different. Nothing stops it. Nothing hides it. It's relentless and inescapable. It's exhausting. There's no relief. If I try to drown it out with noise it just gets louder. It's always there, on top of anything else I'm hearing. I haven't slept for more than a few hours in days. I've never been great at sleeping, it doesn't take much to make it hard for me to fall asleep, but now... the second I drift even slightly into consciousness I'm aware of my ears screaming at me, and that's it. No more sleep today.
It's not completely hopeless yet. Ringing ears after exposure to loud noise can sometimes lessen after a few days, a few weeks, sometimes even a few months. But... it can also stay permanently. And I have to be honest, based on this way this is behaving I don't have much hope for it going away. It's been several days now since the event, and it hasn't diminished at all. If anything it's only gotten worse over time.
I really think I fucked up bad.
I don't get it. Nobody else seemed to care. I'm still in contact with one of the people I met that day, they didn't have earplugs either, they were there longer, they spent time on the dance floor closer to the music while I avoided it entirely trying to stick to quieter parts of the club, by all rights they should be even worse off than me but nope, they're perfectly fine. Don't get me wrong I'm glad, I don't want this for anyone, but... it doesn't feel fair.
I just wanted to start enjoying what life had to offer a little bit more. Instead I think I ruined it.
...
When I was a young child I used to cry a lot. Bit of a crybaby, didn't take much. But as a man, life has a way of beating that out of you. And to be honest I didn't have much reason to cry, I've lived a pretty good life. Haven't shed a tear in probably almost 30 years, even during the few tough times I have had.
I spent most of this morning crying. I don't know what to do. If this doesn't get better... I don't know if I can do it, guys. It's like a dentist drill boring into my brain and I can't get away from it.
If anyone seeing this has been in a situation like this... any advice or anything... I need help. I'm not doing so good.
Edit: A ton of people recommended a doctor, so today I went into the ER and had them take a look. It went about as expected; they took a look and made sure it wasn't anything obvious, but didn't want to prescribe anything, told me it wouldn't help and I'd just kind of have to deal with it.
Oh well. I tried at least.
Another edit from the future: I am doing a little better now, largely thanks to the support from all of you. As of right now, about a month after the incident, the ringing is as loud as ever and I'm still struggling emotionally, sometimes quite a bit, but I'm working on it and improving day by day.
I'll get there.
I've always been a bit of a hermit person. Spent my entire adult life mostly alone. To be clear I didn't suffer for this, in fact I kind of enjoyed it, but... I'm getting a little older, and lately I've been thinking I should start getting out there and trying things while I'm still young enough to enjoy them.
A while back I became aware of a furry event taking place at a club in a nearby city and thought... fuck it, these don't come up every day, now's my chance. I brushed up on the map of the city so I could navigate around it since I virtually never drive there, got all prepared and planned, made myself a little badge so people would know who I was (nobody knew who I was, I'm basically a nobody to the locals, hah), and spent a month being nervous nearly to the point of nausea about it and thinking of backing out, but I pushed it all down and made myself go. Time to start trying stuff, enjoying life a bit more. And you know what, it wasn't too bad a time. I met some folks, did some chatting, made a new friend. Way to go me, getting over that social anxiety.
There was only one problem- the music. It was loud. It was very loud.
It was too loud.
Nobody else seemed particularly bothered by it, so I chalked it up to being not used to dealing with loud music. I thought about earplugs, but nobody else had them on, and how am I going to talk to people with earplugs in, I can barely hear them as it is! The whole point is to talk to people. So I dealt with it. But it kept getting louder and louder throughout the night until I finally couldn't take it and just left. Right in the middle of talking with someone I just threw in the towel and excused myself, it was ludicrous. But it was too late.
It didn't happen right away. I didn't notice the sound on the drive home, or for the rest of that night, but once I went to bed I started hearing it. A high-pitched ringing in my ears.
It hasn't stopped since.
Now I'm no stranger to a little bit of tinnitus, I've had a very mild version as long as I can remember. Most people do. Sit in a completely silent room for long enough and most people eventually hear the signature high pitched whines of tinnitus. That wasn't a big deal though, I could put on a fan and it would drown it out entirely. I basically never noticed it unless my surroundings were completely silent.
This is different. Nothing stops it. Nothing hides it. It's relentless and inescapable. It's exhausting. There's no relief. If I try to drown it out with noise it just gets louder. It's always there, on top of anything else I'm hearing. I haven't slept for more than a few hours in days. I've never been great at sleeping, it doesn't take much to make it hard for me to fall asleep, but now... the second I drift even slightly into consciousness I'm aware of my ears screaming at me, and that's it. No more sleep today.
It's not completely hopeless yet. Ringing ears after exposure to loud noise can sometimes lessen after a few days, a few weeks, sometimes even a few months. But... it can also stay permanently. And I have to be honest, based on this way this is behaving I don't have much hope for it going away. It's been several days now since the event, and it hasn't diminished at all. If anything it's only gotten worse over time.
I really think I fucked up bad.
I don't get it. Nobody else seemed to care. I'm still in contact with one of the people I met that day, they didn't have earplugs either, they were there longer, they spent time on the dance floor closer to the music while I avoided it entirely trying to stick to quieter parts of the club, by all rights they should be even worse off than me but nope, they're perfectly fine. Don't get me wrong I'm glad, I don't want this for anyone, but... it doesn't feel fair.
I just wanted to start enjoying what life had to offer a little bit more. Instead I think I ruined it.
...
When I was a young child I used to cry a lot. Bit of a crybaby, didn't take much. But as a man, life has a way of beating that out of you. And to be honest I didn't have much reason to cry, I've lived a pretty good life. Haven't shed a tear in probably almost 30 years, even during the few tough times I have had.
I spent most of this morning crying. I don't know what to do. If this doesn't get better... I don't know if I can do it, guys. It's like a dentist drill boring into my brain and I can't get away from it.
If anyone seeing this has been in a situation like this... any advice or anything... I need help. I'm not doing so good.
Edit: A ton of people recommended a doctor, so today I went into the ER and had them take a look. It went about as expected; they took a look and made sure it wasn't anything obvious, but didn't want to prescribe anything, told me it wouldn't help and I'd just kind of have to deal with it.
Oh well. I tried at least.
Another edit from the future: I am doing a little better now, largely thanks to the support from all of you. As of right now, about a month after the incident, the ringing is as loud as ever and I'm still struggling emotionally, sometimes quite a bit, but I'm working on it and improving day by day.
I'll get there.
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Someone on Reddit had some helpful relief about 10 years ago.
Place the palms of your hands over your ears with fingers resting gently on the back of your head. Your middle fingers should point toward one another just above the base of your skull. Place your index fingers on top of you middle fingers and snap them (the index fingers) onto the skull making a loud, drumming noise. Repeat 40-50 times. Some people experience immediate relief with this method. Repeat several times a day for as long as necessary to reduce tinnitus. Dr. Jan Strydom, of A2Z of Health, Beauty and Fintess.org.
I first noticed a ringing in my ears after a loud night out in my 20s. And I wore earplugs (acoustic ones that are less "muffled noises" and more "lower volume") every time since.
Place the palms of your hands over your ears with fingers resting gently on the back of your head. Your middle fingers should point toward one another just above the base of your skull. Place your index fingers on top of you middle fingers and snap them (the index fingers) onto the skull making a loud, drumming noise. Repeat 40-50 times. Some people experience immediate relief with this method. Repeat several times a day for as long as necessary to reduce tinnitus. Dr. Jan Strydom, of A2Z of Health, Beauty and Fintess.org.
I first noticed a ringing in my ears after a loud night out in my 20s. And I wore earplugs (acoustic ones that are less "muffled noises" and more "lower volume") every time since.
Video for easy reference (because i didnt understand what he meant by 'snap the index fingers' until I saw the video)
https://youtu.be/4QPOK2uYNrM?si=bLV.....HxD9&t=157
https://youtu.be/4QPOK2uYNrM?si=bLV.....HxD9&t=157
No real guarantee this will solve anything. Just sharing some information about a possible avenue this could be from. Sometimes Tinnitus can be from nerve issues or even facia(muscle layers) binding against each other or over nerves. Some of these problems can come about from purely stress related body responses.
If this is stress related tinitus rooted in body tissue or nerves, I'd suggest looking around for someone local to you that is well trained in Craniosacral Therapy. There is also the possibility of finding some relief through acupressure. The last thing I'd suggest to look is a sensory deprivation spa. I advise caution. Sometimes sensory dep can cause increased symptoms. I'm not a medical professional. I'm not well educated in this sort of thing beyond just noticing patterns in my own body. Please make sure that whatever you do, you verify expectations with whatever professional you are working with as they will be much more knowledgeable than I am.
If this is stress related tinitus rooted in body tissue or nerves, I'd suggest looking around for someone local to you that is well trained in Craniosacral Therapy. There is also the possibility of finding some relief through acupressure. The last thing I'd suggest to look is a sensory deprivation spa. I advise caution. Sometimes sensory dep can cause increased symptoms. I'm not a medical professional. I'm not well educated in this sort of thing beyond just noticing patterns in my own body. Please make sure that whatever you do, you verify expectations with whatever professional you are working with as they will be much more knowledgeable than I am.
Unfortunately the throughline is pretty clear- no tinnitus > loud music > tinnitus. Pretty sure this is good ole' fashioned hearing damage. Doesn't feel or behave like it's caused by anything else, and the doctors I've seen don't seem to think it is either, just... was in a loud space too long. I'll keep my mind open though. :P
Thanks for reaching out though, I really do appreciate it!
Thanks for reaching out though, I really do appreciate it!
I wouldn't expect the procedure to work for you right now, as the injury is recent.
And that's how you need to look at this: an injury.
You should see an ENT as soon as possible. They will do a hearing test, and will most likely prescribe a strong regimen of steroids, such as prednisone. That will reduce the inflammation and swelling, and allow the structures of the ear to relax and recover.
Just because you have ringing in the ear now, does NOT mean you will always have it? But more importantly, if you get treatment now, it will be greatly reduced.
Otherwise, by not seeking treatment, the structures of the ear could be pushed and swollen, and heal in that position.
THEN it would be permanent.
And that's how you need to look at this: an injury.
You should see an ENT as soon as possible. They will do a hearing test, and will most likely prescribe a strong regimen of steroids, such as prednisone. That will reduce the inflammation and swelling, and allow the structures of the ear to relax and recover.
Just because you have ringing in the ear now, does NOT mean you will always have it? But more importantly, if you get treatment now, it will be greatly reduced.
Otherwise, by not seeking treatment, the structures of the ear could be pushed and swollen, and heal in that position.
THEN it would be permanent.
It's a little tough to see specialists quickly where I am, and when I talked to the ER doc about it he seemed entirely convinced that it wouldn't help for tinnitus, steroids are more for hearing loss, which I don't seem to have much of.
I'll keep prodding around and seeing what I can do though!
I'll keep prodding around and seeing what I can do though!
I went to a motorsports event for the first time in many years, as luck would have it I had an ear infection around the time I went, well the first night out (of 2), ended up getting worse, little did I know my eardrum actually ruptured. It has happened one more time since, but before going to the next event, I had a dating match who had mild autism recommend Loops, and they made a huge difference to how I experienced it. I could still tell everything was loud and it was clear enough, but nowhere near as loud as it would be otherwise. It's a small price to pay for saving your hearing, and I mean, what, $30? That's a bargain compared to hearing aids.
My parents took very good care of me growing up, always making sure I wore plugs and/or muffs in loud environments, still got tinnitus. I'm sure the repeated ear infections didn't help, found out that water was getting into my ears while showering and caused it, so now I wear earplugs in the shower. Sadly I can't use reusable ones as they irritate my ears after a few days, gotta be fresh disposable ones.
A message to Ruaidri, as you said in your post, many people do have it, you kinda learn to live with it and can ignore it at some point. Look up some methods soldiers/gun folk use, normally it's box fans or sound machines. You're having a hard time now because it's new to you, so you're freaking out and it's affecting you worse than it will as time goes on. There's people on youtube that have multi-hour videos of just white noise of various things, box fans, old electronic hums, etc. I'm in the south so 2 fans minimum are going at all times when I'm here.
My parents took very good care of me growing up, always making sure I wore plugs and/or muffs in loud environments, still got tinnitus. I'm sure the repeated ear infections didn't help, found out that water was getting into my ears while showering and caused it, so now I wear earplugs in the shower. Sadly I can't use reusable ones as they irritate my ears after a few days, gotta be fresh disposable ones.
A message to Ruaidri, as you said in your post, many people do have it, you kinda learn to live with it and can ignore it at some point. Look up some methods soldiers/gun folk use, normally it's box fans or sound machines. You're having a hard time now because it's new to you, so you're freaking out and it's affecting you worse than it will as time goes on. There's people on youtube that have multi-hour videos of just white noise of various things, box fans, old electronic hums, etc. I'm in the south so 2 fans minimum are going at all times when I'm here.
I also can vouche for the palms over the ears and tapping technique. Though I've never had ringing as bad as what you're describing.
But I hope this one set back doesn't hold you back from living life like you want. But for future reference a lot of people keep ear plugs or even keep full headphones with them when noise gets too loud. This could be a variety of reasons from preventing tinnitus, to PTSD, to just not liking the music.
I wish you well man. Your work is amazing!
But I hope this one set back doesn't hold you back from living life like you want. But for future reference a lot of people keep ear plugs or even keep full headphones with them when noise gets too loud. This could be a variety of reasons from preventing tinnitus, to PTSD, to just not liking the music.
I wish you well man. Your work is amazing!
Next best thing I found helps me when it gets unbearable are sounds like this
https://youtu.be/s3jYDf3MjoU?si=LcG7ziYWq6hdUMAt
Just enough to mask it and the white noise helps me sleep
https://youtu.be/s3jYDf3MjoU?si=LcG7ziYWq6hdUMAt
Just enough to mask it and the white noise helps me sleep
On the other hand/paw, it could be something that's fixable, like not-tinnitus. Could be some cerumen stuck somewhere, "activating" your ear drums or something (I'm a dogtor, not a doctor, so I'm spitballing here).
I'd still get it checked, to be safe, and to make sure there's really nothing they can do. Or that it's not just something that needs to heal itself, and having an idea how long it could take and everything...
From a fellow Canadian, please use the tax dollars we all pay to get it checked. Even if it's a "nothing we can do" diagnostic.
We have healthcare. Because people matter. You matter.
And not just because of the awesome art/porn you make.
I wish you a prompt recovery from this maddening thing... I don't have it that bad, but I do get it from time to time... So I can only imagine what it would be like. *hugs* :\
And also, please don't let it make you stop going to events and meet up folks. It sucks, but Life Happens™ and it's not worth not doing things you otherwise would enjoy. <3
Take care, Ru. We're cheering for you, even if it's not in a cute and skimpy cheerleader outfit. <3
I'd still get it checked, to be safe, and to make sure there's really nothing they can do. Or that it's not just something that needs to heal itself, and having an idea how long it could take and everything...
From a fellow Canadian, please use the tax dollars we all pay to get it checked. Even if it's a "nothing we can do" diagnostic.
We have healthcare. Because people matter. You matter.
And not just because of the awesome art/porn you make.
I wish you a prompt recovery from this maddening thing... I don't have it that bad, but I do get it from time to time... So I can only imagine what it would be like. *hugs* :\
And also, please don't let it make you stop going to events and meet up folks. It sucks, but Life Happens™ and it's not worth not doing things you otherwise would enjoy. <3
Take care, Ru. We're cheering for you, even if it's not in a cute and skimpy cheerleader outfit. <3
Thanks for the concern- genuinely. It means a lot. :3
Went and saw some doctors. It's about what I expected- they didn't find anything immediately wrong, hearing is basically okay, I just... have the T now.
There are some silver linings. There are instances where ringing ears have lasted for weeks before finally fading away, so it's not impossible that I recover, though currently my hopes for that are fairly low based on how it's behaving.
But, even if it doesn't go away... the predominant sound is a relatively pure and stable tone way up high in the upper register of my hearing. It doesn't change around much or react to sound in any particular way, so over time I should be able to learn to just tune it out since it's so stable. I've already caught myself noticing that I hadn't noticed it briefly. Usually not for more than a second or two, but hey, it's a start...
I'm still pretty down that I let this happen to myself, but... in the long run I'll be okay, I think.
Went and saw some doctors. It's about what I expected- they didn't find anything immediately wrong, hearing is basically okay, I just... have the T now.
There are some silver linings. There are instances where ringing ears have lasted for weeks before finally fading away, so it's not impossible that I recover, though currently my hopes for that are fairly low based on how it's behaving.
But, even if it doesn't go away... the predominant sound is a relatively pure and stable tone way up high in the upper register of my hearing. It doesn't change around much or react to sound in any particular way, so over time I should be able to learn to just tune it out since it's so stable. I've already caught myself noticing that I hadn't noticed it briefly. Usually not for more than a second or two, but hey, it's a start...
I'm still pretty down that I let this happen to myself, but... in the long run I'll be okay, I think.
For all you know, it could have happened anywhere, anywhen. Maybe it was going to the event that caused it. Maybe it was something else.
Maybe it was one headpat too many. I don't think there's any way to know.
So please don't beat yourself up about this happening; like you said, you've experienced it before and it went away (same here, honestly). But this time, it's either taking way longer, or just staying...
I agree that the timing is pretty suspicious, or "sus" as the kids say nowadays, but fact remain that whatever triggered it... here you are.
You've got enough to deal with when it comes to the sound - which you seem to already starting to phase out of your mind, so that's real good! - and you don't need to add self-flagellation on top of it.
You're a good poss. Don't beat yourself up, please. If my experience is any indication, the world will take care of doing that for you. Don't make its job easier. <3
Maybe it was one headpat too many. I don't think there's any way to know.
So please don't beat yourself up about this happening; like you said, you've experienced it before and it went away (same here, honestly). But this time, it's either taking way longer, or just staying...
I agree that the timing is pretty suspicious, or "sus" as the kids say nowadays, but fact remain that whatever triggered it... here you are.
You've got enough to deal with when it comes to the sound - which you seem to already starting to phase out of your mind, so that's real good! - and you don't need to add self-flagellation on top of it.
You're a good poss. Don't beat yourself up, please. If my experience is any indication, the world will take care of doing that for you. Don't make its job easier. <3
I super appreciate you trying to cheer me up- genuinely. Unfortunately the throughline is pretty clear... no tinnitus, loud music, tinnitus. I definitely did this to myself.
But, mistakes happen, even mistakes with permanent consequences. People have done much worse to themselves than a little ringing in the ears and pulled through to enjoying life. Surely I can do it too.
But, mistakes happen, even mistakes with permanent consequences. People have done much worse to themselves than a little ringing in the ears and pulled through to enjoying life. Surely I can do it too.
There are several kinds of tinitus, and some are caused by permanent damage, while others are caused by other underlying conditions. Don't self-diagnose, especially if your diagnosis is "Welp, it's over, there's nothing helping this." See a doctor.
... I am genuinely sorry to hear that this happened, though, and that it's freaking you out so much. Crossing my paws that, in some fashion or another, things get better...
... I am genuinely sorry to hear that this happened, though, and that it's freaking you out so much. Crossing my paws that, in some fashion or another, things get better...
Saw some doctors, no visible damage or anything, no signs of hearing loss, apparently hearing is still pretty sharp for my age, just... I have the ringing now.
Still seeing what I can do, but it really does look like we're coming down to "hope it gets better or learn to adjust".
I'll live. Things could be worse I suppose.
Thanks for taking the time to reach out. I really do appreciate it. :3
Still seeing what I can do, but it really does look like we're coming down to "hope it gets better or learn to adjust".
I'll live. Things could be worse I suppose.
Thanks for taking the time to reach out. I really do appreciate it. :3
Lots 'a people thinkin' about you, critter. I don't have it nearly as bad as you it sounds like, but a similar thing happened to me after my... like, 8th furry con? Just woke up a couple days later with a ringing. It comes and goes, sometimes it's a little annoying but now most of the time I either don't notice it or it's just not significant. Didn't stop going to cons though, just started wearing much better hearing protection and setting limits on myself.
Whatever your case, I hope you make or find sufficient peace with what is. There's a lot in life to be happy for and to explore for you, it sounds like, and I'd aggressively cling to that. Lots of love 'n support, animal. <3
Whatever your case, I hope you make or find sufficient peace with what is. There's a lot in life to be happy for and to explore for you, it sounds like, and I'd aggressively cling to that. Lots of love 'n support, animal. <3
Meatsuits are weird. Even if you think it's 99.9999% tinnitus I would still go to a doctor/specialist if the option is available. ANd as mentioned by fire, it could genuinely be something more than "just" tinnitus making your actual tinnitus worse. Because bodies.
Side note: as someone who has seizures/epilepsy, one of my more common alert symptoms that a seizure is coming is a weird ringing in my ears and what they call a "halo" effect. To be crystal clear, I'm not saying you have seizures XD. But giving the example that such a symptom is possible to be connected to a host of other issues. Even with pre-existing tinnitus.
Brains are just electrified meat soup after all. Sometimes a symptom seems 348739432% one thing only to be related to something else entirely or caused by something mundane. I can't rule out it IS the tinnitus, but on the off chance it's something treatable or possibly a side effect of stress or ANYTHING, it's worth trying.
Rooting for you all the way :__:.
Side note: as someone who has seizures/epilepsy, one of my more common alert symptoms that a seizure is coming is a weird ringing in my ears and what they call a "halo" effect. To be crystal clear, I'm not saying you have seizures XD. But giving the example that such a symptom is possible to be connected to a host of other issues. Even with pre-existing tinnitus.
Brains are just electrified meat soup after all. Sometimes a symptom seems 348739432% one thing only to be related to something else entirely or caused by something mundane. I can't rule out it IS the tinnitus, but on the off chance it's something treatable or possibly a side effect of stress or ANYTHING, it's worth trying.
Rooting for you all the way :__:.
Oof, sorry to hear about the seizures! Hope you're doin' alright.
I did end up going to some doctors, looks like everything is basically fine, it's pretty much what I expected- Just looks like I got the T from being around too loud noise for too long.
Could be worse. There's still a chance it'll clear up, slim though it may be. And even if it doesn't, I'm sure I'll learn to adjust.
Either way, thanks for the encouragement. Seeing everyone reach out really did help a lot. :3
I did end up going to some doctors, looks like everything is basically fine, it's pretty much what I expected- Just looks like I got the T from being around too loud noise for too long.
Could be worse. There's still a chance it'll clear up, slim though it may be. And even if it doesn't, I'm sure I'll learn to adjust.
Either way, thanks for the encouragement. Seeing everyone reach out really did help a lot. :3
Relieved to hear it's routine stuff , still sad it's something you have to deal with (and of course you are tooo) , but seeing all the folks in the journal being so helpful was nice to see even from my side <3.
Love your art and your presence (for what it's worth) and still rooting for you all the way homie. Please do your best and stay safe :__: <3. I hope it truly does clear up or you at least find ways to dull it out. That shit is miserable to be sure.
Love your art and your presence (for what it's worth) and still rooting for you all the way homie. Please do your best and stay safe :__: <3. I hope it truly does clear up or you at least find ways to dull it out. That shit is miserable to be sure.
Every time you have a problem on your body, even if it isn’t “fixeable” it’s a good idea to talk to a specialist, you never know if
A) it’s actually fixeable and the other sources were wrong
B) it wasn’t even the same problem and instead it’s something that can be treated or cured
C) there’s a good treatment to reduce it
D) it’s a symptom of something worse that if left untreated can threaten your life.
Always go to the doctor when you feel unwell.
A) it’s actually fixeable and the other sources were wrong
B) it wasn’t even the same problem and instead it’s something that can be treated or cured
C) there’s a good treatment to reduce it
D) it’s a symptom of something worse that if left untreated can threaten your life.
Always go to the doctor when you feel unwell.
Exactly :) I am going to change my doctor because I was there like four times within 3 months and nurse is getting really mad at me for coming so often here. To be fair I usually don't visit doctor for several years as I have no issues, but when something happens, it is usually serious. Recently my brother had serious issue and she straight up rejected him when heard same surname :/
My issue wasn't anything big, I had inflammation and enlarged lymph node, got pills for a week, inflammation got away but node was enlarged for another month. Doctor said it can happen and to not worry about it. In two weeks I was there again since it enlarged at lot, I got ill for like two days and of course at day when I arrived to doctor (was ordered for a week) it got back to normal :/ At least he finally sent me to ultrasound where they found out it's really no issue now. Now I even have RTG shot of mouth since doctors said it could be from some hidden inflammation somewhere else and I'm waiting for dentist to hear what he says. But now after almost four months it finally shrunk almost completely, so I hope I'm finally healthy.
Also nobody knows what happened last summer when I was out for a weekend and then spent whole week in bed, with two days just sitting and staring at blank wall with migraine. After begging for at least some blood test I was told I am perfectly healthy and it must have been just in my head. Suuuure, knee joint pain where I couldn't even stand up for a week was in my head :/
My issue wasn't anything big, I had inflammation and enlarged lymph node, got pills for a week, inflammation got away but node was enlarged for another month. Doctor said it can happen and to not worry about it. In two weeks I was there again since it enlarged at lot, I got ill for like two days and of course at day when I arrived to doctor (was ordered for a week) it got back to normal :/ At least he finally sent me to ultrasound where they found out it's really no issue now. Now I even have RTG shot of mouth since doctors said it could be from some hidden inflammation somewhere else and I'm waiting for dentist to hear what he says. But now after almost four months it finally shrunk almost completely, so I hope I'm finally healthy.
Also nobody knows what happened last summer when I was out for a weekend and then spent whole week in bed, with two days just sitting and staring at blank wall with migraine. After begging for at least some blood test I was told I am perfectly healthy and it must have been just in my head. Suuuure, knee joint pain where I couldn't even stand up for a week was in my head :/
"I'm not sure" Is all you need to know here, to know what you have to do next, Ru...
You need to get checked out, there's as much possibilities as there's people on this earth as why this is going on. Please get checked out. And even if it is as bad as you think, you'll most likely get stuff to help the sleeping and endure this situation better. Right now, you're going down into a spiral of deprieved sleep and anxiety and you need help for thoses at the very least.
Please see a doctor and get it checked out. You did the first good step to talk to people about it, now go see an actual physician, nobody wants you to suffer physically and mentally for trying to live your life. I'm proud of what you did ! I wish I could do the same. Don't punish yourself over it. We all love you here !
You DIDN'T fuck up.
You need to get checked out, there's as much possibilities as there's people on this earth as why this is going on. Please get checked out. And even if it is as bad as you think, you'll most likely get stuff to help the sleeping and endure this situation better. Right now, you're going down into a spiral of deprieved sleep and anxiety and you need help for thoses at the very least.
Please see a doctor and get it checked out. You did the first good step to talk to people about it, now go see an actual physician, nobody wants you to suffer physically and mentally for trying to live your life. I'm proud of what you did ! I wish I could do the same. Don't punish yourself over it. We all love you here !
You DIDN'T fuck up.
Went in today. They took a look and made sure it was no immediate damage causing the issue, but otherwise said there wasn't much they could do about it. I think they're going to try to get me in to see an audiologist but who knows how long that could take, and I have a suspicion they're going to basically say the same thing.
From what I've been reading there's an invasive procedure that can fix it (steroid shots through the eardrum IIRC), but it has to be done within two weeks after symptoms appear or the damage IS irreversible. This is standard of care if you have sudden onset hearing loss along with tinnitus, but even if it's not you'll want to ask about it.
Don't wait, get this checked out ASAP.
Don't wait, get this checked out ASAP.
I realize I should have linked some of the research I was looking at. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7419098/
A recent breakthrough in tinnitus research was the discovery that it's not a mental thing, it's actually a sound being produced somehow. They put anacoustic chambers over a subject's ears, got things to -10 decibels, and scientists were able to record their tinnitus. There's definitely hope, and if it was only short-term exposure then there's more hope than for someone like my dad who spent most of his younger and middle aged life around deafeningly loud machines with no earplugs because it somehow made him less of a man to protect his hearing.
As someone who found out that water is "negative taste" that is, you get "calibrated" to tasting your own saliva, then water displaces that saliva, causing you to taste the absence of that, giving water a different "taste" to different people. (for example, very pure water can almost taste sweet to me).
For some types of tinnitus i've thought it could be negative sound, since hearing moderately loud white noise for about 3-5 minutes (we're talking just a box fan or window A/C unit on medium/high) could fix my problem) So i wondered if it just re-calibrates my hearing. IDK though. (My sound problem is lifelong, so i'm not sure what caused it. I hated being outdoors because it was too quiet )
For some types of tinnitus i've thought it could be negative sound, since hearing moderately loud white noise for about 3-5 minutes (we're talking just a box fan or window A/C unit on medium/high) could fix my problem) So i wondered if it just re-calibrates my hearing. IDK though. (My sound problem is lifelong, so i'm not sure what caused it. I hated being outdoors because it was too quiet )
I went in today- they took a look to make sure there was no obvious damage or other issue causing the problem, but otherwise didn't want to do much, said there wasn't much to do. I think they might give me an appointment with an audiologist but who knows when that'll be. But hey, I tried at least.
I don't have advice for this except offering my compassion, this must be a life shattering situation. The only thing I can offer is to try to connect with other people in similar situations who can actually give you advice, if you have to create a burner reddit account to post in the tinnitus subreddit so be it, as long you can talk to someone who understands your situation.
And of course I don't have to mention it bust still, visit a doctor for this ASAP.
And of course I don't have to mention it bust still, visit a doctor for this ASAP.
Given that I live with Tinnitus and Industrial Deafness, I've gotten used to the sound. My advice? Don't let it get any worse.
With such a short period of time you experienced the extreme volume, it's my uneducated belief that it could fade, given it's not like you're going to concerts all the time or listening to excessively loud machinery without protection. The trouble is that the little hairs inside your ears that react to sound can't regenerate, so if the ringing goes away that's very good!
I hope the best for you and your ears, and as always, if you're concerned, consult a doctor.
With such a short period of time you experienced the extreme volume, it's my uneducated belief that it could fade, given it's not like you're going to concerts all the time or listening to excessively loud machinery without protection. The trouble is that the little hairs inside your ears that react to sound can't regenerate, so if the ringing goes away that's very good!
I hope the best for you and your ears, and as always, if you're concerned, consult a doctor.
There are treatments for tinnitus, even ones you can do at home. The one I am aware of involves listening to certain pure tones that are able to cancel out the ringing (I had to do this for many nights to get some sleep). There are also some exercises and massages you can perform to help, but I am unfamiliar with them.
For now, though, your ears may need to rest and heal. Do what you can to avoid loud noises. If you have control over volume, reduce it as much as you can.
I really hope you feel some relief soon; I know personally how overwhelming and frustrating it can be.
For now, though, your ears may need to rest and heal. Do what you can to avoid loud noises. If you have control over volume, reduce it as much as you can.
I really hope you feel some relief soon; I know personally how overwhelming and frustrating it can be.
Trying to keep things quiet for now, doing my best to just ignore it. The audiologist recommended white noise and stuff to help take my mind off it, but for now that kinda hurts my ears so mainly just quiet youtube videos, hah.
Thanks a bunch. :3 It sounds like you also had to deal with tinnitus? In which case, I'm sorry to hear that- it suuuucks. :<
Thanks a bunch. :3 It sounds like you also had to deal with tinnitus? In which case, I'm sorry to hear that- it suuuucks. :<
I'm still not entirely sure what it was. It was a low, bassy rumble sound that I could hear in a quiet room, especially at night. Not sure if it was tinnitus, a hypersensitivity to some frequency range, or the machines at the local paper mill a few miles away.
The thing that helped me get some sleep was installing a pure noise generator app on my phone and finding a particular frequency that cancelled out the noise. The relief made me cry. That was about 6 years ago I'd say and haven't had an issue since though.
I'm glad you've found something that at least helps!
The thing that helped me get some sleep was installing a pure noise generator app on my phone and finding a particular frequency that cancelled out the noise. The relief made me cry. That was about 6 years ago I'd say and haven't had an issue since though.
I'm glad you've found something that at least helps!
When my tinnitus randomly started I went to a doctor. And they did an MRT scan.
Sadly once it's there.. it doesn't go away. Over time it might fade from your conciousness. I also thought I will go craze. But you might get used to it. And there is therapy for it.
But FIRST: See a doctor/specialist and have them look at it. It might just damage from the loud music. And treatable after all.
Sadly once it's there.. it doesn't go away. Over time it might fade from your conciousness. I also thought I will go craze. But you might get used to it. And there is therapy for it.
But FIRST: See a doctor/specialist and have them look at it. It might just damage from the loud music. And treatable after all.
Sadly.
Best best might be therapy. It can help you just zoning out the noise. Over time it worked for me.
But the first like.. days of sleep where bad. Doctor tried medication first, then sent me to MRI to be sure it's nothing serious.
These days I sometimes hear it, but it's a lot more bearable. And at times it has also gone quiet.
In any case I do hope for the best. ♥
PS: Try some white noise for sleeping. That might help.
Best best might be therapy. It can help you just zoning out the noise. Over time it worked for me.
But the first like.. days of sleep where bad. Doctor tried medication first, then sent me to MRI to be sure it's nothing serious.
These days I sometimes hear it, but it's a lot more bearable. And at times it has also gone quiet.
In any case I do hope for the best. ♥
PS: Try some white noise for sleeping. That might help.
Late response, there's uh... a lot of comments, hah. But- thank you. <3
Currently random youtube videos seems to work best... it does nothing to mask the noise but the talking at least gives me something else to focus on, but eventually I'm hoping to transition to white noise as it's less likely to wake me up the way youtube autoplay can, hah.
Currently random youtube videos seems to work best... it does nothing to mask the noise but the talking at least gives me something else to focus on, but eventually I'm hoping to transition to white noise as it's less likely to wake me up the way youtube autoplay can, hah.
He already went to a doctor who seemed to think there was nothing to be done. At times like that, going to the Internet is reasonable, maybe somebody knows something your doctor doesn't. Lord knows, if I'd known my current friend groups online I probably would have gotten more help for my status migrainosis than the first 15 or so different doctors gave me combined.
I have gone to a doctor, just the ER for now. They basically took a look at me to make sure it was nothing obvious like ruptured eardrums, and everything physical checked out- beyond that they said there's not much they can do, but they did give me an appointment with an audiologist for tomorrow so we'll see what happens now I guess.
Hey, again dropping a little on talking on medical care system, I don't know Canadian system, so again take with all the salt you can.
First, good on you for going in and getting into the system and getting things started. It's good they got you an audiologist appointment, that gives me some positive thoughts on your ER.
ER (at least here) is what we in the emergency field like to call "treat em and street em", stabilize the patient so whatever injury doesn't get worse. They can do quite a lot but ER can't do much if there's not obvious injury, they move you to the next step.
You're going to an audiologist which is good, and hopefully they have a path for you, but I'd highly recommend getting with a primary care doctor. Again, like emergency department they can't do much on acute problems like this as they're a whole body doctor and not a specialist but the job of a good primary care is they become the director of your healthcare to get you to the right specialists to take care of what you need, but they're involved in the long term for when you hit dead ends.
This absolutely sucks and I really hope you find the help that gets it out. I'm sorry it came when you were trying to branch out. Wishing you all the best.
First, good on you for going in and getting into the system and getting things started. It's good they got you an audiologist appointment, that gives me some positive thoughts on your ER.
ER (at least here) is what we in the emergency field like to call "treat em and street em", stabilize the patient so whatever injury doesn't get worse. They can do quite a lot but ER can't do much if there's not obvious injury, they move you to the next step.
You're going to an audiologist which is good, and hopefully they have a path for you, but I'd highly recommend getting with a primary care doctor. Again, like emergency department they can't do much on acute problems like this as they're a whole body doctor and not a specialist but the job of a good primary care is they become the director of your healthcare to get you to the right specialists to take care of what you need, but they're involved in the long term for when you hit dead ends.
This absolutely sucks and I really hope you find the help that gets it out. I'm sorry it came when you were trying to branch out. Wishing you all the best.
Oh no, I'm really sorry for that. If you haven't already, I would see a doctor immediately for this. Some things can cause sudden hearing loss in one or both ears, even from a minor ear infection. Early treatment is essential to prevent hearing loss, and if its impacting your sleep and mental well being this much, then medical care is vital. And please, do not drown it out with loud noises, you might think it will help, but it really does make it worse as you've said.
Sad to hear. I have tinnitus in a similar way. I blame my father playing his music too loud in his truck when I was a kid.
My advice, you may want to schedule an appointment with a hearing doctor. They may be able to help. Also, if you even end up dealing with music that loud again, I find that you can tell when something is too loud if you can literally feel some of the beat "pierce" your eardrum. Best get out of there asap if that happens. I notice it with some of the music I listen to in my car, and when it gets like that, I immediately dial the volume down until that sensation stops. I sincerely hope your tinnitus gets better over time.
My advice, you may want to schedule an appointment with a hearing doctor. They may be able to help. Also, if you even end up dealing with music that loud again, I find that you can tell when something is too loud if you can literally feel some of the beat "pierce" your eardrum. Best get out of there asap if that happens. I notice it with some of the music I listen to in my car, and when it gets like that, I immediately dial the volume down until that sensation stops. I sincerely hope your tinnitus gets better over time.
*hugs tight* I know that quite too well, went to a friends concert, loud one. It was ringing in my ears for over 3 days and it passed. Since then I take ear plugs for concerts and put them in if necessary. I attended the Ghost concert last weekend and I didn't need them thankfully.
But maybe it's good to see a doctor? Maybe something got damaged.. I REALLY hope this goes away with time, body can heal quite remarkably and I hope this will be a case for you.
I am sending you hugs and hope your ears will be as they were <3
But maybe it's good to see a doctor? Maybe something got damaged.. I REALLY hope this goes away with time, body can heal quite remarkably and I hope this will be a case for you.
I am sending you hugs and hope your ears will be as they were <3
I'd suggest going to an ENT and having them check your ears. I literally just had my hearing tested and it will only help. They basically have you wear these foam ear plugs and test sounds to check your hearing.
Most importantly they'll start you in the correct direction to getting your hearing fixed and help the ringing.
Best of luck! I'm open if needing to discuss further.
Most importantly they'll start you in the correct direction to getting your hearing fixed and help the ringing.
Best of luck! I'm open if needing to discuss further.
My hearing is fine as far as I can tell, I did some frequency sweeps with headphones on, isolating each ear to see if I had any dead or quiet spots. All seemed good, could hear up to about 16khz which is normal for me...
It's just the ringing. I can't make it stop. :(
It's just the ringing. I can't make it stop. :(
There are other ways you can enjoy. It doesn't have to be at a club. Your health comes before anything. I have sensitive hearing, perhaps not as much as you but my first rave (at a furcon) involved me in earplugs. Don't stress too much about earplugs. You don't need extra stress. We are all different, after all.
If you can afford it, check with a doctor for possible damage. Earlier the better generally. I've had hearing scares before, seeing doctor earlier returned hearing to nearly completely normal.
If you can afford it, check with a doctor for possible damage. Earlier the better generally. I've had hearing scares before, seeing doctor earlier returned hearing to nearly completely normal.
I did it! Went to the ER. It went about how I expected, they took a look to make sure nothing was obviously ruptured or such, but otherwise didn't want to do much, said there wasn't much to be done. I do however have an appointment for tomorrow with an audiologist, I may press the issue again there. We'll see what happens...
You go to the doctor. You get yourself checked up. You tell 'em you cannot sleep at all and need some sleep medication so you can get your 8 hours at least for like 5 days or something. Not sleeping kills any healing your ears need, it fucks with your mind as well, making things worse.
See a doctor
See a doctor
Ru, please please PLEASE note me or ask for my Discord if you need to talk about anything.
I’ve been through a lot of the same stuff. I’m also a bit of a hermit, I also have some light tinnitus, I also have a hard time making friends and going out. I’ve also been beaten down trying to leave my comfort zone. I know EVERYTHING you’re feeling rn, if under different circumstances.
I realize it’s super hard to ask for help, but there’s no shame in it at all, it doesn’t have to be scary.
And what you said at the end there “I don't know if I can do it, guys” that’s scary to hear.
Please let me know if you need anything at all. I’m always down to chat on notes, TG, or Discord.
(People suggesting you go see a doctor are 100% right btw. But your mental health is just as important too! Please try and connect with a friend or anyone just to talk to, believe me it really does help)
I’ve been through a lot of the same stuff. I’m also a bit of a hermit, I also have some light tinnitus, I also have a hard time making friends and going out. I’ve also been beaten down trying to leave my comfort zone. I know EVERYTHING you’re feeling rn, if under different circumstances.
I realize it’s super hard to ask for help, but there’s no shame in it at all, it doesn’t have to be scary.
And what you said at the end there “I don't know if I can do it, guys” that’s scary to hear.
Please let me know if you need anything at all. I’m always down to chat on notes, TG, or Discord.
(People suggesting you go see a doctor are 100% right btw. But your mental health is just as important too! Please try and connect with a friend or anyone just to talk to, believe me it really does help)
Get an appointment with a doctor, as soon as possible. This goes beyond everyone's pay grade here.
When it comes to the emotional part, I can't imagine how soul-crushing this must have been. You finally decided to leave your comfort zone, experience something different and expand your horizons, only for it to conclude under those awful circumstances while it should have be a memorable event. I'm terribly sorry it went wrong, I feel for you deeply.
I wish you a good recovery, both physical and emotional.
You did great to launch yourself into something new, that's how you grow and enjoy life. I hope with all my heart this won't dissuade you from trying out new experiences in the future.
Courage Ruaidri, and thank you for letting us know about your situation. Take care
When it comes to the emotional part, I can't imagine how soul-crushing this must have been. You finally decided to leave your comfort zone, experience something different and expand your horizons, only for it to conclude under those awful circumstances while it should have be a memorable event. I'm terribly sorry it went wrong, I feel for you deeply.
I wish you a good recovery, both physical and emotional.
You did great to launch yourself into something new, that's how you grow and enjoy life. I hope with all my heart this won't dissuade you from trying out new experiences in the future.
Courage Ruaidri, and thank you for letting us know about your situation. Take care
Oh Ru, firstly I'm so sorry you're going through this. Secondly, I'm sorry that something that should have been fun and rewarding has turned traumatic.
You did good with overcoming such steep anxiety and going, many of us would have made ourselves an excuse and backed out. We're all proud of you for going!
I wondering if you have less overall prior hearing damage than the average person, which made you more sensitive and susceptible to an environment that the average person could tolerate? Or that your specific physiology makes you more sensitive to certain frequencies based on ear shape and internal ear structure.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor to talk about options. If it's getting in the way of your sleep and mental health, then it's important to talk about.
But the important thing to say is this: It will be okay <3 You haven't fucked up. It's a new and therefore scary thing to have happen, but it will be okay <3
You did good with overcoming such steep anxiety and going, many of us would have made ourselves an excuse and backed out. We're all proud of you for going!
I wondering if you have less overall prior hearing damage than the average person, which made you more sensitive and susceptible to an environment that the average person could tolerate? Or that your specific physiology makes you more sensitive to certain frequencies based on ear shape and internal ear structure.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to schedule an appointment with your primary care doctor to talk about options. If it's getting in the way of your sleep and mental health, then it's important to talk about.
But the important thing to say is this: It will be okay <3 You haven't fucked up. It's a new and therefore scary thing to have happen, but it will be okay <3
Thanks dude. It's definitely been a bit of a blow, the first time I take a major step to overcome my social anxiety I land myself with a potentially permanent injury. That's going to take some time to overcome, but... I will, I think. Just, need time.
I've went to the ER and have started the process of getting looked at, we'll see what happens from here.
I hope you're right, that it'll be okay. It's so loud right now, it's hard to focus on much anything else. Fingers crossed.
I've went to the ER and have started the process of getting looked at, we'll see what happens from here.
I hope you're right, that it'll be okay. It's so loud right now, it's hard to focus on much anything else. Fingers crossed.
I think another thing that's making it feel so overwhelming is that you were never previously used to it. Those of us who have done minor damage to our hearing don't recognize fluctuations unless they're significant, whereas someone without prior damage will immediately notice and be accosted by it.
We are all here for you <3 If you need to talk more privately, you can send me a message anywhere, anytime. You did a good thing, try to not let this ruin coming out of your shell <3
We are all here for you <3 If you need to talk more privately, you can send me a message anywhere, anytime. You did a good thing, try to not let this ruin coming out of your shell <3
Something my father does, since he’s been dealing with really bad tinnitus for a while now.
Is he’ll listen to a short playlist of certain ‘music’. Which is just higher frequency tones set to cancel out the sounds your brain is seeking.
If you want I can try getting you the playlist.
Tinnitus sucks ass and it’s no fun. You have a flurry of folks here who’ll do their best to help you out.
Is he’ll listen to a short playlist of certain ‘music’. Which is just higher frequency tones set to cancel out the sounds your brain is seeking.
If you want I can try getting you the playlist.
Tinnitus sucks ass and it’s no fun. You have a flurry of folks here who’ll do their best to help you out.
I went to a concert without ear plugs once. Definitely seemed like a mistake afterwards but it faded after a bit. I still get ringing if it’s super quiet and I tend to put some very soft music on when I sleep to help keep my mind off it. Hopefully yours fades to where you won’t notice it when there’s other sounds :/ never be ashamed to wear Ppe
yeah that's my experience with it. I've been to a couple of loud concerts before. And when I got home after I remember me and my friends literally doing the meme of like having to shout to hear each other cause our hearing was so fucked up, and there was definitely ringing in my ears for a couple days afterwards. But it did fade over time.
I think there's a really solid chance that if this is the first time this guy did something like this, and that it only happened like yesterday or something, then there's a good chance it'll fade after another couple days, especially if there were so many other people there who were seemingly having no issue with it
I think there's a really solid chance that if this is the first time this guy did something like this, and that it only happened like yesterday or something, then there's a good chance it'll fade after another couple days, especially if there were so many other people there who were seemingly having no issue with it
If you’re only on day 4, you should definitely go to the doctor and get a steroid treatment. Don’t wait to go to the doctor, you have to do it soon after.
But also, there’s a very good chance it will go away on its own, or at least fade a lot over the coming weeks. It’s not a bad idea to wear ear plugs for a week or two to help your ears recover better, you want to protect them from loud noises while they heal.
It’s really hard at first, but your brain does start to tune it out over time. Also, don’t lose hope there’s a lot of promising treatments on the horizon! I’ll write a longer comment but please hang in there!
But also, there’s a very good chance it will go away on its own, or at least fade a lot over the coming weeks. It’s not a bad idea to wear ear plugs for a week or two to help your ears recover better, you want to protect them from loud noises while they heal.
It’s really hard at first, but your brain does start to tune it out over time. Also, don’t lose hope there’s a lot of promising treatments on the horizon! I’ll write a longer comment but please hang in there!
Hmmm. It may be a lost cause -- *but*
Having had some adverse outcomes myself, from doctors and their opinions, all I can suggest is being that squeaky wheel in the hopes someone will take notice.
The clock may be ticking, but you can attack this with whatever you can muster for the next few days -- Maple, 811, Walk-in clinics, Emergency depts. Any treatment -- or any self-help remedy not backed by pseudoscience -- would be better than just waiting.
I'm not a doctor, just a sympathizer :) I can only make suggestions.
& not having medical training all I can do is lend my eyes to Wikipedia.
> It can suddenly emerge during a period of emotional stress. It is more common in those with depression.
(and a list of causes longer than my arm)
Ah. It even says - dubious efficacy of steroid injections.
What they claim have solid backing in scientific measures are:
Talk therapy
Sound therapy
Hearing aids
and some emerging treatments still under study.
I highly recommend the film *The Music Within* for anyone going through a medical experience with a lot of it feeling overwhelming.
We're here for you. :)
Whatever Wikipedia says about the long-term prospects, look into the short-term prospects as well. It describes a technique for head/neck/jaw movement assuming there's an anatomical cause. Couldn't hurt :)
Having had some adverse outcomes myself, from doctors and their opinions, all I can suggest is being that squeaky wheel in the hopes someone will take notice.
The clock may be ticking, but you can attack this with whatever you can muster for the next few days -- Maple, 811, Walk-in clinics, Emergency depts. Any treatment -- or any self-help remedy not backed by pseudoscience -- would be better than just waiting.
I'm not a doctor, just a sympathizer :) I can only make suggestions.
& not having medical training all I can do is lend my eyes to Wikipedia.
> It can suddenly emerge during a period of emotional stress. It is more common in those with depression.
(and a list of causes longer than my arm)
Ah. It even says - dubious efficacy of steroid injections.
What they claim have solid backing in scientific measures are:
Talk therapy
Sound therapy
Hearing aids
and some emerging treatments still under study.
I highly recommend the film *The Music Within* for anyone going through a medical experience with a lot of it feeling overwhelming.
We're here for you. :)
Whatever Wikipedia says about the long-term prospects, look into the short-term prospects as well. It describes a technique for head/neck/jaw movement assuming there's an anatomical cause. Couldn't hurt :)
You don't know me, but love your work, and I have posted somewhere around like.... Never.
Doctor. I live in the US and I would do unspeakable things in dark alleys for the health care system you have access to. Please take advantage and get checked out, get a specialist, look into the other therapy treatments related.
Lastly, do not give up on doing things and experiencing what life has to offer. YOU did NOT fuck up. You are experiencing something traumatic, but there was no way to really know that what you were experiencing there would have this sort of lasting effect. You're luved and appreciated, and I've been scrolling for a WHILE reading all of the support and encouragement... Please take care of yourself. Feel free to hit me up if you want to chat, could be this issue, others, hobbies, what have you.
Doctor. I live in the US and I would do unspeakable things in dark alleys for the health care system you have access to. Please take advantage and get checked out, get a specialist, look into the other therapy treatments related.
Lastly, do not give up on doing things and experiencing what life has to offer. YOU did NOT fuck up. You are experiencing something traumatic, but there was no way to really know that what you were experiencing there would have this sort of lasting effect. You're luved and appreciated, and I've been scrolling for a WHILE reading all of the support and encouragement... Please take care of yourself. Feel free to hit me up if you want to chat, could be this issue, others, hobbies, what have you.
I doctor'd. Went to the ER, staring the process. They didn't seem super interested in letting me try the steroids, unfortunately, but I at least have an appointment with an audiologist and tomorrow and I'll see about poking them about it too I guess. Wish me luck.
And thanks for reaching out. It means a lot. :3
And thanks for reaching out. It means a lot. :3
You are more than welcome, and I am absolutely astonished that you replied to me ^^ Thank you for going to seek medical attention, and I really hope that they are able to provide some semblance of relief or treatment. Please focus on taking care of yourself and getting back on top... Or bottom if that's your pref :P
You have my sympathies. Much as I would like to tell you of some way out of this, the best I can offer is to relate my experiences. Something that right now, in the pain while it's fresh may not be what you want to be reading. Of course you have my hopes that things will get better for you in quick order.
Motorcycle races. Gunfire. Air pressure wrenches. Explosions. Air fields. It's a ringing in between the ears that is going to be there. I still recall very clearly the first time I fired a .44 & I didn't think that the ringing I had could get any worse before.
Tinnitus & I have had a relationship about focus. Focusing on it or not. It inflames feelings of fear, of control, of regret, much as you expressed here. Feelings surrounding the pain. I want you to know that every last feeling you are having about this is worth expressing. Every discomfort, every shame, every indignation. The tighter your lock yourself up with something that hurts, the more it will hurt. Let it out, with your friends, with therapists or group counseling. I was very surprised how much tinnitus came up even when I didn't think that's what we were talking about.
I try to resonate with it, find things that make the pain bearable, white noises, ASMR, you name it. Some temporary relief helps sometimes. Sitting with it & just letting it be the only thing but my breathing helps some times.
It does get easier to live with. I wish that I could go back & change it so your first social outing was one that was more comfortable or gentler on you. It was not a mistake to let yourself try to be social & to try to make new connections. It's important to continue to mingle with others. You might even be surprised to learn a thing or two about how others cope with theirs. Some put it out of mind, some- like myself, cope consciously.
I wish you peace & rest & healing & answers, Ruaidri. Just know you're not alone.
Motorcycle races. Gunfire. Air pressure wrenches. Explosions. Air fields. It's a ringing in between the ears that is going to be there. I still recall very clearly the first time I fired a .44 & I didn't think that the ringing I had could get any worse before.
Tinnitus & I have had a relationship about focus. Focusing on it or not. It inflames feelings of fear, of control, of regret, much as you expressed here. Feelings surrounding the pain. I want you to know that every last feeling you are having about this is worth expressing. Every discomfort, every shame, every indignation. The tighter your lock yourself up with something that hurts, the more it will hurt. Let it out, with your friends, with therapists or group counseling. I was very surprised how much tinnitus came up even when I didn't think that's what we were talking about.
I try to resonate with it, find things that make the pain bearable, white noises, ASMR, you name it. Some temporary relief helps sometimes. Sitting with it & just letting it be the only thing but my breathing helps some times.
It does get easier to live with. I wish that I could go back & change it so your first social outing was one that was more comfortable or gentler on you. It was not a mistake to let yourself try to be social & to try to make new connections. It's important to continue to mingle with others. You might even be surprised to learn a thing or two about how others cope with theirs. Some put it out of mind, some- like myself, cope consciously.
I wish you peace & rest & healing & answers, Ruaidri. Just know you're not alone.
Hey. I know it's been a while, but I still come back and re-read the comments here from time to time when I'm feeling down about things. I just wanted to say thank for sharing your story with me. I'm sorry you're dealing with this too, but knowing it gets easier really does help, as someone for whom it is still new and scary.
Thanks for the encouragement. :3
Thanks for the encouragement. :3
Unfortunately i completely relate to you there. The only way that i can get some sort of solace from the constant ringing here is my time in the gym and listening to music with headphones. Im wishing the best for you, and i hope that you find some way to cope or overcome this hurdle entirely, youve got this.
Do go to the doctor to have this checked, simply do it. Postponing the visit wouldn't make the problem easier. Even if your prior research may say one thing, the doctors are who they are for a reason, they will offer you the best way to minimize the symptoms.
Fingers crossed you will feel better soon.
Fingers crossed you will feel better soon.
i've been dealing with tinnitus for over 10 years, i have a high pitch constant tone and some white noise, usualy the tv is enough to deafen it and i always need the tv to fall asleep
my only advice to you and i know it sounds dumb, but in my experience, the more you concentrate on it, the worse it gets, try to sorta blend it out, have some music playing or a movie or whatever, just have anything going that you can focus your hearing at instead of the tinnitus
it helps me, maybe it helps you too, if not, then it was at least worth the try
also if you choose to fall asleep with a movie going or music, get sure to setup a shutdown timer or use a playlist thats not to long, usualy 30 minutes is enough for me to fall asleep
my only advice to you and i know it sounds dumb, but in my experience, the more you concentrate on it, the worse it gets, try to sorta blend it out, have some music playing or a movie or whatever, just have anything going that you can focus your hearing at instead of the tinnitus
it helps me, maybe it helps you too, if not, then it was at least worth the try
also if you choose to fall asleep with a movie going or music, get sure to setup a shutdown timer or use a playlist thats not to long, usualy 30 minutes is enough for me to fall asleep
Definitely see a doctor, it might be worsening tinnitus or it might be something else. But if it’s something permanent there’s often ways to manage it. A YouTuber I watch got something that plays white noise in his ear and it makes a world of difference
There’s no shame in ear plugs, and you can still usually hear people with them in! I’ve been using them for the construction around my apartment and I can still hear voices, it just dulls things
You can still find other ways to enjoy your life and there’s lots of events that don’t have music! I hope this doesn’t discourage you too much
Side note, when I saw the Misfits in concert it was a small venue and there was no getting away from how loud it was. It was genuinely painful. My ears rang for two weeks, possibly longer
There’s no shame in ear plugs, and you can still usually hear people with them in! I’ve been using them for the construction around my apartment and I can still hear voices, it just dulls things
You can still find other ways to enjoy your life and there’s lots of events that don’t have music! I hope this doesn’t discourage you too much
Side note, when I saw the Misfits in concert it was a small venue and there was no getting away from how loud it was. It was genuinely painful. My ears rang for two weeks, possibly longer
Hey man everythings gonna be alright. I used to go to concerts a bunch without earplugs and noticed the same thing one time and got really freaked out about it. Straight up couldn't hear the guy at subway asking what I wanted on my sandwich. Being HYPER AWARE of something you'd never noticed before is a really weird and uncomfortable feeling. The "initial" tinnitus was A LOT worse than what actually stuck around though. I promise you that you'll forget about it until it's totally silent at 3AM 8 months from now lmao.
I'm very glad you noticed this before you did more damage. It's okay to cry.
I'm very glad you noticed this before you did more damage. It's okay to cry.
According sleep: You could go to the doctor and ask for medical cannabis. I don't know whether that will help with the tinnitus, but it will definitely help with sleeping.
Another idea: Try out some breathwork sessions, it might help get your nerve system back to regulation and maybe the tinnitus will disappear.
Another idea: Try out some breathwork sessions, it might help get your nerve system back to regulation and maybe the tinnitus will disappear.
With regards to others, if that kind of thing didn't bother them... it's likely they already have some level of damage. And honestly, with the earpod culture these days, it wouldn't surprise me if this was the reason they didn't feel affected by it. For me, it was jet engines and gunfire. Now, I have an air purifier running in my room on high and that's my sleep noise (it also helps a bit with not waking up jammed full of snot, but).
With regards to you though, it could take some more time. While an acute incident can cause some damage, it's more likely that it'll just take longer to recover from it. Based on the average person, it takes repeated exposures like you experienced to sustain that permanent level of damage. But fuck everyone else, wear earplugs any time, every time, next time.
If seeing a doctor is an option for you financially, it may be worth it just to get some peace of mind, but they may know more to help you out if it's persisted for a few days. (It *could* be something more, but if you're not experiencing pain or throbbing, I wouldn't break the bank over it.) I'm like you, I suck at sleeping, but there are also anti-anxiety options for bedtime, which at the least might help take the focus off. I've had to do this option after some family health scares. (It's not fun thinking every little chest or inner-arm pain is the warning bells for a heart attack, despite not being at risk.)
Right now you're hyperfixated on it so you will notice it more, and it will bother you more. Mine can be *LOUD* in quiet rooms... when I fixate on it. Over time, it may be a bit louder than it was during childhood, but only a few days out you're still probably 'healing' from it.
With regards to you though, it could take some more time. While an acute incident can cause some damage, it's more likely that it'll just take longer to recover from it. Based on the average person, it takes repeated exposures like you experienced to sustain that permanent level of damage. But fuck everyone else, wear earplugs any time, every time, next time.
If seeing a doctor is an option for you financially, it may be worth it just to get some peace of mind, but they may know more to help you out if it's persisted for a few days. (It *could* be something more, but if you're not experiencing pain or throbbing, I wouldn't break the bank over it.) I'm like you, I suck at sleeping, but there are also anti-anxiety options for bedtime, which at the least might help take the focus off. I've had to do this option after some family health scares. (It's not fun thinking every little chest or inner-arm pain is the warning bells for a heart attack, despite not being at risk.)
Right now you're hyperfixated on it so you will notice it more, and it will bother you more. Mine can be *LOUD* in quiet rooms... when I fixate on it. Over time, it may be a bit louder than it was during childhood, but only a few days out you're still probably 'healing' from it.
It could be that your ear suffered a injury that night with the loud music. And all I can recommend is that you go see a Otolaryngologist, nobody here or on the rest of the internet is going to be able to help you with something like this.
It could be something simple, or worse, but you will only know for sure from a specialist.
It could be something simple, or worse, but you will only know for sure from a specialist.
If anything, take the advice from the people who have already replied who deal with issues on a permanent basis, and go see a Doctor. I myself suffer PTSD and was in a bad spot for a number of years, and after seeking medical help I still have issues, but my mental health increased dramatically as I was actively working toward a solution. Even if there isn't a cure, they can help you deal with any long-term implications.
So put it simply I am allergic to loud noises. Used to get violently ill and get seizure-like symptoms every time I went to a concert as a kid that lasted for days after prolonged exposure to loud noise. Used to think it was the food they sold there but even going entirely without food only made it worse because then I didn't have energy prior to the sickness. Noise cancelling headphones and / or earbuds are your friend! I rarely go to the movie or whatever anymore without some sort of hearing protection nowadays and it helps the issue significantly
The seizurelike symptoms involved random waves of immense vertigo that would be significantly increased in number after exposure to loud noise for longer periods of time, often with severe tinnitus as well ( it should be said, the concerts i went to were usually country music, not a genre known for its loudness lol ). There are crystals in your ear that determine balance and at some point in my childhood these got knocked out of place and frequently as a kid I'd get such sudden severe dizziness it wasn't entirely uncommon for my vision to black, my hearing to disappear in favor of loud ringing, and me to just fall over randomly - or feel like I was falling over even if I was laying down / asleep! This led to insomnia too.
An ear specialist was able to help me out a LOT and it didn't involve surgery or anything. Literally just some pretty weird physical therapy involving turning my head at specific angles frequently and not being able to sleep laying down for a month.. but since then I've never had another episode come up except for like 1-2 in well over a decade ( they used to be a near daily occurance ). I'd HIGHLY recommend two things -- hearing protection if you suspect you will be going to a place with loud noise ( ear plugs are fine for most things, you'll usually still be able to hear people talk to you and / or you'll get better at lip read as you get used to it ) and visiting a hearing specialist doctor if you haven't already
Short term getting yourself a sedative so you can get at least a couple nights sleep might help you too. Stress heavily wears on the body in weird ways and there is a not zero chance your tinnitus significantly cuts down if you're able to catch some Zs. Something like nyquil should be fine if you don't have a prescription or whatever
I'm sorry that happened to you, really hope you can find some sort of solution. :(
The seizurelike symptoms involved random waves of immense vertigo that would be significantly increased in number after exposure to loud noise for longer periods of time, often with severe tinnitus as well ( it should be said, the concerts i went to were usually country music, not a genre known for its loudness lol ). There are crystals in your ear that determine balance and at some point in my childhood these got knocked out of place and frequently as a kid I'd get such sudden severe dizziness it wasn't entirely uncommon for my vision to black, my hearing to disappear in favor of loud ringing, and me to just fall over randomly - or feel like I was falling over even if I was laying down / asleep! This led to insomnia too.
An ear specialist was able to help me out a LOT and it didn't involve surgery or anything. Literally just some pretty weird physical therapy involving turning my head at specific angles frequently and not being able to sleep laying down for a month.. but since then I've never had another episode come up except for like 1-2 in well over a decade ( they used to be a near daily occurance ). I'd HIGHLY recommend two things -- hearing protection if you suspect you will be going to a place with loud noise ( ear plugs are fine for most things, you'll usually still be able to hear people talk to you and / or you'll get better at lip read as you get used to it ) and visiting a hearing specialist doctor if you haven't already
Short term getting yourself a sedative so you can get at least a couple nights sleep might help you too. Stress heavily wears on the body in weird ways and there is a not zero chance your tinnitus significantly cuts down if you're able to catch some Zs. Something like nyquil should be fine if you don't have a prescription or whatever
I'm sorry that happened to you, really hope you can find some sort of solution. :(
Hey, I have apprenticed in and studied hearing-aid technology and part of that training is also learning about tinnitus. It's unfortunately a very tricky thing to treat, but there are a couple of ways that can lessen it or at least make it more bearable to live with.
I am not entirely familiar with the american medical system, but here's what I'd do. See an ENT specialist if you can. They can narrow down the origin of the tinnitus. Some forms (unfortunately the exception) are treatable, so that's something that should be checked for. If that should fail, there is the option of asking a hearing-aid specialist about getting a noiser or masker. Those are basically hearing-aids that instead of amplifying sound play some customised white noise that specifically leaves out the specific frequency of your tinnitus. They're basically trying to trick your brain into perceiving it as white noise instead of a sharp sinus noise, which is generally a lot more bearable. And if those also aren't an option, there are some specialist therapies that can help in accepting the noise and at least making it less stressful.
I know, it's not a great offering of options, but there is some hope here. You are not alone with this problem and there are specialists out there who have spend lots of time studying it and researching ways to relief it. Please take care and best of luck to you!
I am not entirely familiar with the american medical system, but here's what I'd do. See an ENT specialist if you can. They can narrow down the origin of the tinnitus. Some forms (unfortunately the exception) are treatable, so that's something that should be checked for. If that should fail, there is the option of asking a hearing-aid specialist about getting a noiser or masker. Those are basically hearing-aids that instead of amplifying sound play some customised white noise that specifically leaves out the specific frequency of your tinnitus. They're basically trying to trick your brain into perceiving it as white noise instead of a sharp sinus noise, which is generally a lot more bearable. And if those also aren't an option, there are some specialist therapies that can help in accepting the noise and at least making it less stressful.
I know, it's not a great offering of options, but there is some hope here. You are not alone with this problem and there are specialists out there who have spend lots of time studying it and researching ways to relief it. Please take care and best of luck to you!
As someone with pretty bad tinnitus since his teens, it is very much a thing you will get used to (eventually) and really only notice when say, you read a story online of someone having to deal with it or when a fucking movie decides to put an ear ringing sound effect in it or as mentioned, in a quiet room.
When you have your attention called to it, it's at its worst, and it's hard to break your attention off it once it starts. For bedtime I usually put on some sort of rainstorm sounds since I find the sound soothing and it masks the tinnitus well enough I don't think about it. On top of that I'm rarely ever doing anything in silence, while I'm working, I have a show/stream/video/music on in the background.
But yeah, while to my understanding there's no cure, and it feels like garbage now, your brain will eventually categorize it properly as useless information and push it far enough back in your consciousness that you won't notice it unless something specifically calls it to mind... Then you'll go "aww damnit" and deal with it until your mind manages to forget it's there again. It's like the fact you can always see your nose in your peripheral vision, something that's there but ya don't even notice it.
When you have your attention called to it, it's at its worst, and it's hard to break your attention off it once it starts. For bedtime I usually put on some sort of rainstorm sounds since I find the sound soothing and it masks the tinnitus well enough I don't think about it. On top of that I'm rarely ever doing anything in silence, while I'm working, I have a show/stream/video/music on in the background.
But yeah, while to my understanding there's no cure, and it feels like garbage now, your brain will eventually categorize it properly as useless information and push it far enough back in your consciousness that you won't notice it unless something specifically calls it to mind... Then you'll go "aww damnit" and deal with it until your mind manages to forget it's there again. It's like the fact you can always see your nose in your peripheral vision, something that's there but ya don't even notice it.
I've always had fairly bad tinnitus. It takes fairly loud white noise to cover it up. I can't sleep at all really if a room is too quiet.
Tinnitus is a symptom of something rather than a disease itself. There are a lot of potential causes, and some of them are temporary. I'm sure you looked all that up though. But, some of them are even stress-induced, which means it's possible your anxiety over the tinnitus is causing it in a spicy-annoying feedback loop to keep it in place.
I'd second all the advice about seeing an ENT about the tinnitus, making sure to mention that it suddenly got worse from a specific event you went to. But I'd also suggest maybe getting some anxiolytic (xanax or something) from a doctor to try and relax to restore some mental health points.
Tinnitus is a symptom of something rather than a disease itself. There are a lot of potential causes, and some of them are temporary. I'm sure you looked all that up though. But, some of them are even stress-induced, which means it's possible your anxiety over the tinnitus is causing it in a spicy-annoying feedback loop to keep it in place.
I'd second all the advice about seeing an ENT about the tinnitus, making sure to mention that it suddenly got worse from a specific event you went to. But I'd also suggest maybe getting some anxiolytic (xanax or something) from a doctor to try and relax to restore some mental health points.
I am very sorry to hear that your first try to get out a bit ended with such a bad experience. :/
You already got a lot of advice here of a lot of people, which is nice.
I have Tinnitus since ~20 years now. I have my bad and my good times with it. How loud it is perceived depends on so many factors.
There is no real rush, doctors can not fix it as you know and that practice of "give an IV" is not recommended anymore anyway.
What I recommend for the time being is to try to listen to this Neuromodulator. Do not try to make it louder then your ringing. It should be slightly quieter. After listening for a while my Tinnitus usually calms down. Getting your attention away from the noise will help the chance of recovery.
https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/n.....sGenerator.php
You are still fresh with it so it can be very stressful. But you can also still have hope that it recovers completely on its own!
I always carry hearing protection with me. Its tiny and can be put anyway. So if I encounter such a situation I can protect myself. Its made for music so you can still enjoy it, it is not muffled down or anything.
https://www.alpine-gehoerschutz.de/...../musicsafe-pro
You already got a lot of advice here of a lot of people, which is nice.
I have Tinnitus since ~20 years now. I have my bad and my good times with it. How loud it is perceived depends on so many factors.
There is no real rush, doctors can not fix it as you know and that practice of "give an IV" is not recommended anymore anyway.
What I recommend for the time being is to try to listen to this Neuromodulator. Do not try to make it louder then your ringing. It should be slightly quieter. After listening for a while my Tinnitus usually calms down. Getting your attention away from the noise will help the chance of recovery.
https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/n.....sGenerator.php
You are still fresh with it so it can be very stressful. But you can also still have hope that it recovers completely on its own!
I always carry hearing protection with me. Its tiny and can be put anyway. So if I encounter such a situation I can protect myself. Its made for music so you can still enjoy it, it is not muffled down or anything.
https://www.alpine-gehoerschutz.de/...../musicsafe-pro
hey somne advice from someone who actually is dealing with a slightly trauma , there is a therapy , but as so many suggest even if its expensive consult a doctor . i had to take pills and wear plugs for several days and its getting better . oh and the cuase were to plates falling to the ground causing trauma in my ear .
For someone who had tinnitus my entire life, go see a doctor (if you have insurance).
Also: Most people who don't use earplugs won't get tinnitus immediately, but most likely later in life when they are ~40. Some humans are just built different and more susceptible, others less so
I myself just learnt to deal with it, doesn't bother me too much at night...the brain is great at adapting i guess
Talons are pressed that it will just take some time for your ears to recover
Also: Most people who don't use earplugs won't get tinnitus immediately, but most likely later in life when they are ~40. Some humans are just built different and more susceptible, others less so
I myself just learnt to deal with it, doesn't bother me too much at night...the brain is great at adapting i guess
Talons are pressed that it will just take some time for your ears to recover
I've never experienced this, so I don't know what it's actually like. But, as someone quite familiar with the extremes of tooth pain, I do know how debilitating something can be, nagging, gnawing, constantly, unavoidably.
I also know that when something or someone is acclimated to a certain environment, and shifts suddenly into an extreme opposite, it usually doesn't go well. You weren't accustomed to that volume of sound. And, frankly, it sound like that music shouldn't have been up that high, anyway. Too high and sound can cause physical damage. I think you should've left much sooner.
Sadly, I can offer no advice to help, but I can extend both my sympathies and support, and hope that you can get the relief you need, soon, before you drives you to extreme measures.
And also, yay for new friends. \o/
I also know that when something or someone is acclimated to a certain environment, and shifts suddenly into an extreme opposite, it usually doesn't go well. You weren't accustomed to that volume of sound. And, frankly, it sound like that music shouldn't have been up that high, anyway. Too high and sound can cause physical damage. I think you should've left much sooner.
Sadly, I can offer no advice to help, but I can extend both my sympathies and support, and hope that you can get the relief you need, soon, before you drives you to extreme measures.
And also, yay for new friends. \o/
This has actually happened to my sister as well, with the same situation too. She went to a concert with her husband and now she struggles with this. It’s not something we think about very often, we don’t realize how fragile our ears actually are. It’s definitely scary at first, she was practically breaking down every day for a month. But there IS a light at the end of the tunnel. Your body will eventually adjust to this, where you won’t notice it as much anymore. The important thing to focus on is getting it checked out by a doctor, because it could be an underlying issue that caused it rather than the music itself (which may have aggravated it.)
Also: stress. I know that this is a terrifying time right now, but stress will make things worse for you. Take some breathing exercises, try some yoga or meditation. If you can calm yourself down this will help a lot. White noise could also really help you with this, to get your body used to an undertone sound. Try to avoid headphones for a bit if you can, and if you can’t try to keep them on a very low setting.
Regardless, I’m hoping the best for you! This is a very common predicament, so don’t beat yourself up over this! Our bodies are weird, wonderous things that can be a bit of a pain at times. You didn’t fuck up, it’s just a very unfortunate circumstance.
Also: stress. I know that this is a terrifying time right now, but stress will make things worse for you. Take some breathing exercises, try some yoga or meditation. If you can calm yourself down this will help a lot. White noise could also really help you with this, to get your body used to an undertone sound. Try to avoid headphones for a bit if you can, and if you can’t try to keep them on a very low setting.
Regardless, I’m hoping the best for you! This is a very common predicament, so don’t beat yourself up over this! Our bodies are weird, wonderous things that can be a bit of a pain at times. You didn’t fuck up, it’s just a very unfortunate circumstance.
Don't avoid seeking medical help just because tinnitus is not treatable. You are not a medical specialist, you might be wrong.
Even if your case is not treatable, doctors can still do a lot of good for you. From what you wrote, I think just getting some sleeping pills so you can actually rest at night would help a lot. There are also psychotherapy options that could help you live with the hell ringing curse you got. Fuck, maybe even getting antidepressants to be able to handle the shittiness better.
I have no personal experience with tinnitus, but I do have some with mental issues. What you write reminds me of me when I was struggling with depression: it just looked like there is no way forward, like I was slowly losing my strength and willpower and couldn't do anything against that. It wasn't true, but I needed medication and professional help to see that.
Don't stay alone. If you can, visit your friends and family and explain what you are going through. Find a therapist: they know how to listen and can give valuable advice, or just an undestanding. Meeting people in person is useful, if you have the means and the strength, don't stay at home alone just with the tinnitus. (I am speaking from experience: when in depression, even though I am an introvert and a hermit, it usually did help me.) If you can't, contact them online.
Don't believe there's nothing that can be done, it just seems like it right now. Do visit a doctor as soon as possible. Don't be alone. You are not alone.
Even if your case is not treatable, doctors can still do a lot of good for you. From what you wrote, I think just getting some sleeping pills so you can actually rest at night would help a lot. There are also psychotherapy options that could help you live with the hell ringing curse you got. Fuck, maybe even getting antidepressants to be able to handle the shittiness better.
I have no personal experience with tinnitus, but I do have some with mental issues. What you write reminds me of me when I was struggling with depression: it just looked like there is no way forward, like I was slowly losing my strength and willpower and couldn't do anything against that. It wasn't true, but I needed medication and professional help to see that.
Don't stay alone. If you can, visit your friends and family and explain what you are going through. Find a therapist: they know how to listen and can give valuable advice, or just an undestanding. Meeting people in person is useful, if you have the means and the strength, don't stay at home alone just with the tinnitus. (I am speaking from experience: when in depression, even though I am an introvert and a hermit, it usually did help me.) If you can't, contact them online.
Don't believe there's nothing that can be done, it just seems like it right now. Do visit a doctor as soon as possible. Don't be alone. You are not alone.
Wise words, I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said. Please
ruaidri seek help and the community is always here for you!

It's extremely scary but its not life ending, everyone saying to see an ENT doc is correct. Even if its not fixable its manageable. Go easy on your body sure but don't be afraid to enjoy life still as you get older. That's not the takeaway here I hope. I wish you luck and health dude.
Seconding advice here that the best thing to do is probably see a doctor and get a prognosis. Fingers crossed for you that it's just temporary, and fades soon.
For earplugs, I would recommend looking into getting a pair of Eargasm earplugs. Goofy name aside, they're good concert plugs that mute the harshness of loud noise but let you hear a conversation.
For earplugs, I would recommend looking into getting a pair of Eargasm earplugs. Goofy name aside, they're good concert plugs that mute the harshness of loud noise but let you hear a conversation.
I hear there are some hearing aids that can help reduce the noise associated with tinnitus, might want to check out a doctor and see if they can prescribe anything that would help or refer you to a specific brand or specialist. It's entirely possible it could be something else causing what you're hearing in which case it could be treatable.
In the meantime let me know if there's anything you need or that I can do to help. I'll see what other information I can dig up.
In the meantime let me know if there's anything you need or that I can do to help. I'll see what other information I can dig up.
Oh God, this happened to me about 4 years ago!!
I could barely sleep cuz as soon as I woke up, those few hours asleep were my only relief from the horrible ringing. I think I got it from riding a motorcycle for too long without earplugs, I wear them now I'm any noisy environment
It hasn't gone away, but the anxiety made it seem much much worse than it really is. As I slowly got used to it and stopped constantly compulsively worrying about it, it felt like it got better, and now I live with it happily.
It's gonna take time for your mind to adapt to this awful new feeling, and eventually it won't seem so awful. For now, try your best to focus on the sounds you can still hear, try to appreciate still having a sense of hearing at all.
I could barely sleep cuz as soon as I woke up, those few hours asleep were my only relief from the horrible ringing. I think I got it from riding a motorcycle for too long without earplugs, I wear them now I'm any noisy environment
It hasn't gone away, but the anxiety made it seem much much worse than it really is. As I slowly got used to it and stopped constantly compulsively worrying about it, it felt like it got better, and now I live with it happily.
It's gonna take time for your mind to adapt to this awful new feeling, and eventually it won't seem so awful. For now, try your best to focus on the sounds you can still hear, try to appreciate still having a sense of hearing at all.
Also have dealt with tinnitus that began with frequent serious ear infections, and became worse after I started working for the railroad. Even with the recommended personal protective equipment, the engines bells and horns are still pretty darn loud. Once those small bones inside your ear get damaged they never heal to be the same as before, although things can improve from their worst.
I've found I get some temporary relief if I can get my ears to pop, like the thing people experience with elevation changes. You can sometimes get a similar effect by submerging your head, or oddly enough a good yawn while moving your lower jaw around. Sometimes if I use the neti pot "right" the water will get into my ear canals (or sinuses I'm not sure which to be honest) and that feels good provided I don't blow my nose for a bit - just be sure you use clean water so you don't introduce pathogens up there.
I suffered some pretty severe nerve damage after covid. There was no relief from feeling like I was gasping for air, I felt dizzy and severely nauseous all the time, could barely manage a whisper, had difficulties swallowing and even seemingly choked on nothing. Went to dozens of doctors appointments and spent thousands of dollars hoping someone could help or something could soothe it. It always felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. And yeah I lost out on a lot of sleep. I remember telling the friend who is like a brother to me: if it stays this bad then I'm not willing to live this way.
Nerve damage is another one of those things that is super slow to heal, and many never fully recover. You can choose to end things at any time, but you can never choose to un-end things. It sounds like you suffered some psychological damage as well from this incident and well...bad things can always find us, whether it's our own fault or blind dumb luck, so don't dwell on how it happened. I still suffer almost 2.5 years later, but there's still SLOW improvement. I'd recommend you talk with the kind of specialist that helps traumatized individuals...for example whoever would counsel an amputee.
I've found I get some temporary relief if I can get my ears to pop, like the thing people experience with elevation changes. You can sometimes get a similar effect by submerging your head, or oddly enough a good yawn while moving your lower jaw around. Sometimes if I use the neti pot "right" the water will get into my ear canals (or sinuses I'm not sure which to be honest) and that feels good provided I don't blow my nose for a bit - just be sure you use clean water so you don't introduce pathogens up there.
I suffered some pretty severe nerve damage after covid. There was no relief from feeling like I was gasping for air, I felt dizzy and severely nauseous all the time, could barely manage a whisper, had difficulties swallowing and even seemingly choked on nothing. Went to dozens of doctors appointments and spent thousands of dollars hoping someone could help or something could soothe it. It always felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. And yeah I lost out on a lot of sleep. I remember telling the friend who is like a brother to me: if it stays this bad then I'm not willing to live this way.
Nerve damage is another one of those things that is super slow to heal, and many never fully recover. You can choose to end things at any time, but you can never choose to un-end things. It sounds like you suffered some psychological damage as well from this incident and well...bad things can always find us, whether it's our own fault or blind dumb luck, so don't dwell on how it happened. I still suffer almost 2.5 years later, but there's still SLOW improvement. I'd recommend you talk with the kind of specialist that helps traumatized individuals...for example whoever would counsel an amputee.
I'm not there yet, don't worry. It's only been a few days, and there's still the possibility of it reducing over time. It's a little too early to be thinking about the permanent solution. There's no immediate threat.
But, I'm looking down the road.... if this doesn't get better, I'm not sure how I'll deal with it for the rest of my life.
But, I'm looking down the road.... if this doesn't get better, I'm not sure how I'll deal with it for the rest of my life.
Please forgive me if I’m prying at all, but you saying “But, I'm looking down the road.... if this doesn't get better, I'm not sure how I'll deal with it for the rest of my life.” is still very concerning to hear.
It may not feel like it’s bad now, but you shouldn’t be ignoring mental health until it gets ‘really bad’ otherwise it’ll just get more and more difficult.
You sound like you’re in a really rough place right now, please take care of yourself.
It may not feel like it’s bad now, but you shouldn’t be ignoring mental health until it gets ‘really bad’ otherwise it’ll just get more and more difficult.
You sound like you’re in a really rough place right now, please take care of yourself.
A year ago. My mom died last May first, we laid her to rest the day before mother's day. The Monday after, Monday, May the 13th. One of my most beloved friends killed themselves. If it's even on your road map, please. Please call.
I know you don't know me, I'm just some weirdo who fallows your art, but your art is beautiful... I can't call someone to whom I am a stranger "friend" with honesty, but just the same, I don't want to lose any more friends.
This part is graphic. I am sorry. But. Maybe if it stops even one person...
Soggy, my friend, kinky, weird, manic little guy that he was, had many, many people who loved him. Not knowing how much harm it would cause us all, he took out a gun that his uncle had given him the previous Christmas, a gun even then, that instincts told me to make him get rid of. He cleared everything, deleted his contacts, his messages, his friends lists, wiped his computer, everything, and then he fired.
It wasn't enough. He woke up afterwards, in catastrophic pain, on the floor, he had dropped the gun, he had to drag him self over to it, probably partially paralyzed from the trauma, then he had to pick up the gun, and do it again.
There is no clean, easy, painless way to do this. It's always, always far worse than people imagine.
Please. Don't. What ever else you have to do, please, don't let your self be driven to do something you can't take back.
I know you don't know me, I'm just some weirdo who fallows your art, but your art is beautiful... I can't call someone to whom I am a stranger "friend" with honesty, but just the same, I don't want to lose any more friends.
This part is graphic. I am sorry. But. Maybe if it stops even one person...
Soggy, my friend, kinky, weird, manic little guy that he was, had many, many people who loved him. Not knowing how much harm it would cause us all, he took out a gun that his uncle had given him the previous Christmas, a gun even then, that instincts told me to make him get rid of. He cleared everything, deleted his contacts, his messages, his friends lists, wiped his computer, everything, and then he fired.
It wasn't enough. He woke up afterwards, in catastrophic pain, on the floor, he had dropped the gun, he had to drag him self over to it, probably partially paralyzed from the trauma, then he had to pick up the gun, and do it again.
There is no clean, easy, painless way to do this. It's always, always far worse than people imagine.
Please. Don't. What ever else you have to do, please, don't let your self be driven to do something you can't take back.
I am so, so sorry all of that happened. :(
For what it's worth, it's not even on the roadmap at the moment. I'm just concerned about the future. It's so loud right now, and I can't get away from it. I'm dealing right now, but it's hard not to imagine this wearing me down if I have to deal with it for years and years.
I'm not suicidal, not at all right now. But I am kinda scared.
For what it's worth, it's not even on the roadmap at the moment. I'm just concerned about the future. It's so loud right now, and I can't get away from it. I'm dealing right now, but it's hard not to imagine this wearing me down if I have to deal with it for years and years.
I'm not suicidal, not at all right now. But I am kinda scared.
I can understand it being scary. My mother dealt with severe hearing loss for really all of my life. My understanding is that over time, sort of how you become "nose blind" to smells, you kinda stop noticing it as much.
I sincerely hope you don't have to face this long term. And I do urge you, if you have insurance (assuming you're American) you should get it looked at, sometimes it can take like a week to go away, but getting it seen to may increase your chance of a positive outcome.
Sorry for info dumping on you. That... Did happen. Apparently those specific events are not uncommon, so.. I've started mentioning it in hopes that the full horror of that might... give one pause, and stay ones hand... Anyway. Optimistically you will recover, and, hopefully, will have a shape of the idea that people may care about you more than you might have realized, and I hope that will become a source of strength, come what may.
I sincerely hope you don't have to face this long term. And I do urge you, if you have insurance (assuming you're American) you should get it looked at, sometimes it can take like a week to go away, but getting it seen to may increase your chance of a positive outcome.
Sorry for info dumping on you. That... Did happen. Apparently those specific events are not uncommon, so.. I've started mentioning it in hopes that the full horror of that might... give one pause, and stay ones hand... Anyway. Optimistically you will recover, and, hopefully, will have a shape of the idea that people may care about you more than you might have realized, and I hope that will become a source of strength, come what may.
I don't think I can say anything that hasn't already been said in other comments but I feel your pain. I've also suffered from tinnitus my entire life. And yeah, "it sucks" doesn't really capture how debilitating it can be. The experience you're describing is all too familiar and it can be a shock to really absorb the reality of it.
I'm going to pose a slightly different track. Yes, see a doctor but I would also suggest some honest to goodness therapy. This is a major life event for you and there's nothing wrong with seeking help. I think acceptance can go a long way towards managing this kind of thing.
I can't speak for treatments or cures. I know both are difficult. Regrettably I've not found success.
But after everything you're *still here*. That by itself speaks volumes.
You're not alone. The furry community is amazing and all the other comments prove that people here care.
Hang in there. Keep going. One foot in front of the other.
I'm going to pose a slightly different track. Yes, see a doctor but I would also suggest some honest to goodness therapy. This is a major life event for you and there's nothing wrong with seeking help. I think acceptance can go a long way towards managing this kind of thing.
I can't speak for treatments or cures. I know both are difficult. Regrettably I've not found success.
But after everything you're *still here*. That by itself speaks volumes.
You're not alone. The furry community is amazing and all the other comments prove that people here care.
Hang in there. Keep going. One foot in front of the other.
I'm sorry this is happening to you.. It can be pretty unbearable sometimes.
I've dealt with ringing randomly over the years and sometimes white noise can help, especially when going to sleep.
If nothing else, going to see a doctor to see if they could give you something to help mediate it could help.
I've dealt with ringing randomly over the years and sometimes white noise can help, especially when going to sleep.
If nothing else, going to see a doctor to see if they could give you something to help mediate it could help.
So this can be terrifying, I get that. I had the same thing when I went to a Metallica concert that was far, FAR too loud. So loud that at full blast the music was just...static. My ears couldn't cope. And that took nearly three weeks for the ringing and whining to stop. So you are perfectly justified in worrying, but there is still the chance that this will fade in time. I'd be tempted to get it looked at by a professional if it's having this sort of emotional and mental effect on your life.
I hope you get it sorted and any damage isn't permanent.
I hope you get it sorted and any damage isn't permanent.
Ruaidri, I was alerted of this journal by a friend.
I've suffered from tinnitus all my life, it's strong enough that I can always hear it, except when there's a loud fan blowing (loud enough that the fan is the annoying thing instead of the tinnitus)
A few years ago it got even louder, it chased me everywhere, and the more I focused on it, the louder it became. That's when I realized the name of the condition was "Tinnitus". Desperate to find a solution, eventually I found this app https://plasticity.szynalski.com/faq
Now, the person who made the app said he made it to alleviate his tinnitus and that of other people. For him the results were inconclusive, but the app is based on research. Personally, it helped me. It made the unbearable bearable.
(The last thing you need now is reading a bunch of stuff but here's a journal where I talked about it for the first time https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10088931/, I also talk of my experience using Plasticity here)
I hope that helps you like it helped me, there's hope.
I've suffered from tinnitus all my life, it's strong enough that I can always hear it, except when there's a loud fan blowing (loud enough that the fan is the annoying thing instead of the tinnitus)
A few years ago it got even louder, it chased me everywhere, and the more I focused on it, the louder it became. That's when I realized the name of the condition was "Tinnitus". Desperate to find a solution, eventually I found this app https://plasticity.szynalski.com/faq
Now, the person who made the app said he made it to alleviate his tinnitus and that of other people. For him the results were inconclusive, but the app is based on research. Personally, it helped me. It made the unbearable bearable.
(The last thing you need now is reading a bunch of stuff but here's a journal where I talked about it for the first time https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10088931/, I also talk of my experience using Plasticity here)
I hope that helps you like it helped me, there's hope.
I have audio sensitivity too, I have no idea why these places have the audio so loud that the speakers are on the verge of blowing out.
My advice is to take regimens of potassium and magnesium supplements, avoid alcohol, and wear earplugs to bed.
Earplugs will make the ringing sound 10x louder, but you may need to train your brain to filter off the sound. Ears and eyes constantly lie to you, and your brain is a good post-processor for audio and visual. Even talking about mentally filtering off tinnitus is making me think of It and I can hear it in my left dam ear >__<
But in the future, don't be afraid to cover your ears with your hands next time. You may look like a discomforted toddler, but it can signal to people you're not comfortable as well as protect your dam hearing. I got my first tinnitus when lightning almost struck me, so I've not really had much choice with that first assault on my left ear x ^x;
My advice is to take regimens of potassium and magnesium supplements, avoid alcohol, and wear earplugs to bed.
Earplugs will make the ringing sound 10x louder, but you may need to train your brain to filter off the sound. Ears and eyes constantly lie to you, and your brain is a good post-processor for audio and visual. Even talking about mentally filtering off tinnitus is making me think of It and I can hear it in my left dam ear >__<
But in the future, don't be afraid to cover your ears with your hands next time. You may look like a discomforted toddler, but it can signal to people you're not comfortable as well as protect your dam hearing. I got my first tinnitus when lightning almost struck me, so I've not really had much choice with that first assault on my left ear x ^x;
I don't even get the point. They could have had the music half that volume and it still would have been plenty loud and thumpy, everyone would have had a great time. But it was so loud nobody could even talk, even the bartenders were struggling to take orders, they couldn't hear the customers. Like, why? I don't know how everyone in there doesn't have severe hearing damage.
My current plan is just to not go to clubs. They were never my scene anyway, it just happened to be a one time thing and I was in the mood to try something new. But I'll likely get the earplugs either way... especially if this goes away and I get a second chance. I'm never trusting my hearing to the outside world again.
My current plan is just to not go to clubs. They were never my scene anyway, it just happened to be a one time thing and I was in the mood to try something new. But I'll likely get the earplugs either way... especially if this goes away and I get a second chance. I'm never trusting my hearing to the outside world again.
might want to report this place. was it in the US? if so, there's regulation that limits how loud the music/speakers can be at a venue to prevent this kind of situation. you might not be the only victim here :( I believe it's 90 decibels or something, not including applause/temporary sounds.
yeeeeeaaaaaaa, clubs and concerts have never been my thing, camping trips and sailing with friends is much more fun.
Also, I'm sure everybody in the comments has given their pity, but I'm really sorry this happened x^x;
I think what annoys me the most about your situation is that working with a 70db jackhammer means yours legally required to wear ear protection, BUT OH IT'S FINE TO BE NEXT TO A 110db SPEAKER, YUP, EVERYBODY IS HAVING FUN! I'M THE ONE THAT'S NOT NORMAL, YUP!
Also, trying something new doesn't have to be furry-related :/
I would really like to visit a convention once in my life, But word always gets out about the con I'll be going to, and I'll get a lovely stream of death threats becus this community is so lovely and caring <D
Also, I'm sure everybody in the comments has given their pity, but I'm really sorry this happened x^x;
I think what annoys me the most about your situation is that working with a 70db jackhammer means yours legally required to wear ear protection, BUT OH IT'S FINE TO BE NEXT TO A 110db SPEAKER, YUP, EVERYBODY IS HAVING FUN! I'M THE ONE THAT'S NOT NORMAL, YUP!
Also, trying something new doesn't have to be furry-related :/
I would really like to visit a convention once in my life, But word always gets out about the con I'll be going to, and I'll get a lovely stream of death threats becus this community is so lovely and caring <D
because I'm a Cub content creator (animator) :I
I'm at triple risk as well because my wife and I single-handedly busted open loads of organized pedophile grooming gangs on this platform and Inkbunny, as well as reporting certain individuals to the authorities. What's even scarier is that some of these individuals have nestled themselves with some very big artists, and when they feel threatened, they whip their audience up into a frenzy because of the content I make, in turn allowing certain artists and grooming gangs to shift suspicion.
I see below that you have deleted a comment. I wasn't able to read it, but I have this sneaky feeling my presence is threatening some individuals xD;
All I can really say is, be super careful of anyone on this and other platforms.
I'm at triple risk as well because my wife and I single-handedly busted open loads of organized pedophile grooming gangs on this platform and Inkbunny, as well as reporting certain individuals to the authorities. What's even scarier is that some of these individuals have nestled themselves with some very big artists, and when they feel threatened, they whip their audience up into a frenzy because of the content I make, in turn allowing certain artists and grooming gangs to shift suspicion.
I see below that you have deleted a comment. I wasn't able to read it, but I have this sneaky feeling my presence is threatening some individuals xD;
All I can really say is, be super careful of anyone on this and other platforms.
Ahhh... so the normies hate you because of the cub art, and the cub people hate you because you don't let the real creeps get away with being real creeps. You've definitely wedged yourself between a rock and a hard place. :P That seems like a good cause, at least, anyone actually engaging in that kind of stuff needs to go down.
I'd be lying if I said I had much taste for that particular genre of art, but as ever as long as it stays on paper then I'm pretty much in the 'eh, whatever' camp. This is the furry fandom, we're all weirdos here, to various degrees. :P
I'm not actually the one that deleted that comment, it appears they've deleted it themselves. Maybe they said something they regret and decided better of it shortly after. :P
I'd be lying if I said I had much taste for that particular genre of art, but as ever as long as it stays on paper then I'm pretty much in the 'eh, whatever' camp. This is the furry fandom, we're all weirdos here, to various degrees. :P
I'm not actually the one that deleted that comment, it appears they've deleted it themselves. Maybe they said something they regret and decided better of it shortly after. :P
I generally wish I could have a neutral stance like you do on a lot of things, but I do shoot myself in both feet with my strong opinions. I completely understand why people dislike what I do for a living, and people having a natural negative reaction to my content helps remind me that the world still has some basic morals.
I remember when I first ever saw Cub art on FA when it used to be allowed, I generally got cold chills and felt sick, so I would be the world's biggest hypocrite if I thought anyone had to accept what I do for a living is "OK" x^x;
The problem I face now is that I'm punching at my own shadows all the time, always assuming there are bad people around every corner, but it kinda serves me right for being the internet's white knight, starting battles I'm never really going to be able to win. I know I shouldn't have been surprised when I invited the devil to my doorstep, but I've got to have some level of faith in humanity @^@;
My reply is very ME ME ME ME so far lol
It's been 6 days since you posted this reply. How is your hearing so far? Are you at least getting used to the ringing? Or has it settled down a bit now?
I remember when I first ever saw Cub art on FA when it used to be allowed, I generally got cold chills and felt sick, so I would be the world's biggest hypocrite if I thought anyone had to accept what I do for a living is "OK" x^x;
The problem I face now is that I'm punching at my own shadows all the time, always assuming there are bad people around every corner, but it kinda serves me right for being the internet's white knight, starting battles I'm never really going to be able to win. I know I shouldn't have been surprised when I invited the devil to my doorstep, but I've got to have some level of faith in humanity @^@;
My reply is very ME ME ME ME so far lol
It's been 6 days since you posted this reply. How is your hearing so far? Are you at least getting used to the ringing? Or has it settled down a bit now?
Hey Ru,
please do as the others suggested and visit an otologist first.
Even if they say they can't do or find anything, it's still good to make sure that nothing is seriously damaged.
I had a similar experience, but due to an accident, and it took weeks to get better. I don't know if it was because I got used to it or if it actually faded away... not completely though.
Usually, if you develop permanent tinnitus, there's no real chance of getting rid of it with medical treatment, that's true. But I hope and believe it's still too early to say, and your stress might be making it worse.
If it really doesn’t go away, you can visit a hearing aid acoustician.
My ex worked in that field and had a few tough cases. People who heard whistling like a teakettle or a locomotive and she was able to find a sound that masked the tinnitus, so they could enjoy life again.
I really hope it just goes away and I wish you all the best <3
P.S.: You can get earplugs that are made to filter music specifically, so you can still talk to people. It's not perfect, of course, but it’s better than this. Maybe you try them in the future.
please do as the others suggested and visit an otologist first.
Even if they say they can't do or find anything, it's still good to make sure that nothing is seriously damaged.
I had a similar experience, but due to an accident, and it took weeks to get better. I don't know if it was because I got used to it or if it actually faded away... not completely though.
Usually, if you develop permanent tinnitus, there's no real chance of getting rid of it with medical treatment, that's true. But I hope and believe it's still too early to say, and your stress might be making it worse.
If it really doesn’t go away, you can visit a hearing aid acoustician.
My ex worked in that field and had a few tough cases. People who heard whistling like a teakettle or a locomotive and she was able to find a sound that masked the tinnitus, so they could enjoy life again.
I really hope it just goes away and I wish you all the best <3
P.S.: You can get earplugs that are made to filter music specifically, so you can still talk to people. It's not perfect, of course, but it’s better than this. Maybe you try them in the future.
I was born with tinnitus. Whole my life I hear high-frequency sound, like mosquito flying near my ears, sometimes louder, sometimes quieter, and also see visual snow before my eyes. Ophthalmologist just laughed at a kid "seeing glitches" (I didn't know how to describe it), and otolaryngologist just threw up her hands like "nothing I can do, live with it".
And here comments are telling it HAS TREATMENT? (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
I'm sorry for you, wish you best.
For what I've noticed, physical activities get my tinnitus quieter for some time (blood flow down from the brain to limbs probably, I'm not a medic), especially jogging
And here comments are telling it HAS TREATMENT? (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
I'm sorry for you, wish you best.
For what I've noticed, physical activities get my tinnitus quieter for some time (blood flow down from the brain to limbs probably, I'm not a medic), especially jogging
First of all, I wish you the best and that you find a way to relieve your symptoms. A while ago I met someone with similar symptoms. Doctors don't always have the answer to everything, but on this occasion they did a thorough examination of the person's ear and it turned out that he had a small spider that was causing the discomfort. I've also heard that some insects can cause micro-lesions that cause these symptoms. I don't know if this can help you, but I hope you get better.
Some people go in taking the risk/expecting it to heal after a couple days but yes please look into getting earplugs and maybe even specialized ones made for live events.
I guess time will only tell but if its your first time where this happened it should heal, vs people who keep doing it expecting it to go away every time🙏
I guess time will only tell but if its your first time where this happened it should heal, vs people who keep doing it expecting it to go away every time🙏
First of all , go see a doctor about it and get a medical opinion, there is a chance its not chronic yet so see a doctor and let them check it out and see what they can do.
In case it is chronic, well that would be shitty but it gets better over time but it takes quite a while, i don't really care much about mine anymore but i had it for "a while".
It could also be a psychological thing , the new environment , new experiences, social anxiety that is all stress in a way and could have contributed to it. If there was some kind of subconscious hyper focus on the music that would explain why you felt t getting unbearable, i had this with server fan noises once, it just became louder and louder until i had to get out there for a while.
In any case , please go see a doctor about it, you can still scour the internet for solutions after you got a medical opinion on it.
In case it is chronic, well that would be shitty but it gets better over time but it takes quite a while, i don't really care much about mine anymore but i had it for "a while".
It could also be a psychological thing , the new environment , new experiences, social anxiety that is all stress in a way and could have contributed to it. If there was some kind of subconscious hyper focus on the music that would explain why you felt t getting unbearable, i had this with server fan noises once, it just became louder and louder until i had to get out there for a while.
In any case , please go see a doctor about it, you can still scour the internet for solutions after you got a medical opinion on it.
I'm so sorry to hear about all that ;-; I hope things improve ASAP and maybe they'll find better ways helping or curing tinnitus in the near future. I don't know much about it though to be honest. Looks like there's a lot of good advice being given in the comments though. Wish you the best
Thats torturous I've had similar experiences working as a percussionist back around 2018 or so. Its a deeplyl unpleasant experience. I went to a doctor who said I had an "Aural trauma" sorta thing that required some short lived meds to take care of, mostly painkillers. It may be good to see a doctor if you are able to!
I hope you recover, that sort of grueling condition isn't deserved to anyone. I saw that another user, Kleet, recommended some head massages and I have to say it works really well. I don't have chronic tinnitus (thankfully) but its what my doctor recommended to me.
Get well! You're a cool guy!
I hope you recover, that sort of grueling condition isn't deserved to anyone. I saw that another user, Kleet, recommended some head massages and I have to say it works really well. I don't have chronic tinnitus (thankfully) but its what my doctor recommended to me.
Get well! You're a cool guy!
IDK if anyone else has said this but there's a pretty clear relationship between tinnitus and stress, so it makes sense that you worrying could possibly exacerbate the issues. It might help, amidst other suggestions, to try some mindfulness/meditation exercises to calm yourself down and see if any of the symptoms get milder.
I don't necessarily think one night of loud music has given you permanent hearing damage but I do think it's possibly you're noticing it and the awareness of it mixed with sleep loss has caused it to get worse. I know it probably feels permanent but it really doesn't seem like it would be. My best guess is you're sensitive to it because you were in an environment that you weren't used to, vs people who probably were in loud spaces more often.
I'd try to really spend the next week focusing on relaxing. Like, really REALLY focus on it. It can't do anything but help, and if nothing else it should help you sleep better until it passes.
I don't necessarily think one night of loud music has given you permanent hearing damage but I do think it's possibly you're noticing it and the awareness of it mixed with sleep loss has caused it to get worse. I know it probably feels permanent but it really doesn't seem like it would be. My best guess is you're sensitive to it because you were in an environment that you weren't used to, vs people who probably were in loud spaces more often.
I'd try to really spend the next week focusing on relaxing. Like, really REALLY focus on it. It can't do anything but help, and if nothing else it should help you sleep better until it passes.
I want to second this comment. Stress is a HUGE factor! I have intermittent tinnitus caused by one of my meds (sometimes I forget I have it, other times it's deafening, especially when I'm trying to sleep). If I'm stressed or sleep deprived it gets much worse. Your symptoms are obviously caused by a specific incident, but you were experiencing extreme stress even before the event and now afterwards because of this. Work on trying to mitigate as much of your stress as possible, however that looks for you. It could be anything: tea, meditation, exercise, forest bathing, talking with loved ones, petting animals, whatever works for you, do it.
Had a friend who got tinnitus out of the blue, when to the doctor, went to another doctor, found out he was grinding his teeth in his sleep due to stress, so they treated that, and it helped him immensely. Not your cause, but maybe related. They might not find the solution after one visit but if it's bothering you this much, it's worth pursuing.
I hope this incident doesn't scare you away from other social outlets. Feel free to seek them at your own pace and set healthy boundaries that protect yourself. You're not the only one who gets these feelings. Hopefully connecting with others can become a source of stress relief, not the cause of stress. You are strong and brave for facing that anxiety and then pushing through it. You didn't fuck up. You lived and you learned; you tried something new, and now you have experience in that situation and knowledge about yourself. I hope you can tell from this impressive outpouring of support and help from your community that you're an awesome person. Sorry this comment is a little fluffy, but you deserve soft things too. <3
Had a friend who got tinnitus out of the blue, when to the doctor, went to another doctor, found out he was grinding his teeth in his sleep due to stress, so they treated that, and it helped him immensely. Not your cause, but maybe related. They might not find the solution after one visit but if it's bothering you this much, it's worth pursuing.
I hope this incident doesn't scare you away from other social outlets. Feel free to seek them at your own pace and set healthy boundaries that protect yourself. You're not the only one who gets these feelings. Hopefully connecting with others can become a source of stress relief, not the cause of stress. You are strong and brave for facing that anxiety and then pushing through it. You didn't fuck up. You lived and you learned; you tried something new, and now you have experience in that situation and knowledge about yourself. I hope you can tell from this impressive outpouring of support and help from your community that you're an awesome person. Sorry this comment is a little fluffy, but you deserve soft things too. <3
Arf best of luck with this! It's not nice when you feel your body breaking down...
Not really comparable, but I freaked out once after an organ concert because my ears were completely detuned and thumping afterward. Turned out to just be an extraordinary amount of serumen that got compacted by me touching my ears more than usual or something and it was all good after.
Not really comparable, but I freaked out once after an organ concert because my ears were completely detuned and thumping afterward. Turned out to just be an extraordinary amount of serumen that got compacted by me touching my ears more than usual or something and it was all good after.
Better visit a doctor. But from personal experience I have the relatively same issue. I was exposed to a really loud repetitive noise in my teen age, like no joke loud. Several days of minor deafness, then high pitched whine in my left ear. It's pretty much constant, but brains are cool thing, they filter that thing out and surprisingly, I have a pretty good hearing despite that whine. So I'd say it's more of a psychological strike on your nerves for the first time, but later it's just not a thing anymore, like yeah, I hear it if I focus, whatevs. Funny thing is the more I focus on it the louder it seems. Those folks who didn't have problems most likely already have minor injuries, they just way past it in life.
So, visit a doctor if you can, don't listen to me or internet experts. But I think it will either go away or decline to a degree then you just not bothered by it anymore.
So, visit a doctor if you can, don't listen to me or internet experts. But I think it will either go away or decline to a degree then you just not bothered by it anymore.
Little story, about a year ago...year and a half ago... I was walking home. I had forgotten my normal Headphones(Can style) which I normally use but had a backup pair of earbuds. Unfortunately, the normal volume I listen to with the cans, did not transfer to the earbuds. I had them in for like...30 mins before I noticed how bad it really was. High frequency noise from the buds not being able to handle the volume. Turned the volume down but it was too late, I could hear the ringing in one of my ears and it was BAD. I knew I had fucked up by not noticing sooner and sure enough... The ringing kept going for days.
Took almost a month for the ringing to subside in that ear and now its fine again. Give it more time, try the exercise that Kleet had commented about(Just tried it myself and the low tinnitus just went away) and dont beat yourself up over it. And yeah, the sound sucks while trying to sleep. If it doesnt get better over time, you should see an audiologist so you would know for sure if there was any lasting damage or if there was something they could do to help.
Shit like this is scary. Crying about it is not a sign of weakness. Its ok. Deep breath and you will come out the other side.
Took almost a month for the ringing to subside in that ear and now its fine again. Give it more time, try the exercise that Kleet had commented about(Just tried it myself and the low tinnitus just went away) and dont beat yourself up over it. And yeah, the sound sucks while trying to sleep. If it doesnt get better over time, you should see an audiologist so you would know for sure if there was any lasting damage or if there was something they could do to help.
Shit like this is scary. Crying about it is not a sign of weakness. Its ok. Deep breath and you will come out the other side.
Thanks for sharing your story. It's definitely nice to hear of people recovering over longer periods of time because I've already missed the bus on recovering quickly. It's helpful to have some hope that it might not stay this bad, even if it takes a while to improve.
Actually have an appointment with an audiologist tomorrow. Wish me luck! :P
Actually have an appointment with an audiologist tomorrow. Wish me luck! :P
Yeah, thats tinnitus alright. I get it really bad sometimes, like deafeningly loud, though it comes and goes. These days I just sleep with a fan on all the time.
It'll likely go away as it was just one exposure, but even if it doesnt, you stop noticing it so much after a while. Things will be alright.
It'll likely go away as it was just one exposure, but even if it doesnt, you stop noticing it so much after a while. Things will be alright.
So first off, you're not alone, I have gone through the exact same experience. Exposed to loud noise, next day woke up with a ringing that never went away, I panicked and had massive anxiety for weeks. Doctors told me there was nothing I could do but my brain would adjust and tune it out over time etc.
Here's what actually worked REALLY well for me and gave me so much more hope.
Start with the volume OFF then click the video.
https://youtu.be/4LZv3ta13Ws
Slowly raise the volume until the sounds of the high pitched noises in the video match what you hear.
listen to this loop for just a few minutes. 1-5 minutes works for me whenever I get a flare up (alchohol, smoking, caffeine can all make it worse)
I swear to god I never knew any kind of relief until finding videos like this.
It's not a cure, it just masks the noise for a bit, but those moments where you don't hear the ring will be golden. Over time this will help train your brain to start blocking out your tinnitus.
Here's what actually worked REALLY well for me and gave me so much more hope.
Start with the volume OFF then click the video.
https://youtu.be/4LZv3ta13Ws
Slowly raise the volume until the sounds of the high pitched noises in the video match what you hear.
listen to this loop for just a few minutes. 1-5 minutes works for me whenever I get a flare up (alchohol, smoking, caffeine can all make it worse)
I swear to god I never knew any kind of relief until finding videos like this.
It's not a cure, it just masks the noise for a bit, but those moments where you don't hear the ring will be golden. Over time this will help train your brain to start blocking out your tinnitus.
Been reading through the comments and I see you've already been given so much good, actionable, healthy advice -- I can't add much except my own anecdotal experience and well-wishes, Ru.
A firearm got let off right next to my unprotected ear and I experienced immediate deafness n' tinnitus. Thought it might be permanent. Couple of days later, it got better. Don't give up on treatment!
A firearm got let off right next to my unprotected ear and I experienced immediate deafness n' tinnitus. Thought it might be permanent. Couple of days later, it got better. Don't give up on treatment!
two things:
1, like everyone else is saying, please visit a doctor. even if "ear damage" isn't curable, it would still help to get a professional opinion on whether or not that IS what it is, or whether it's as permanent as you fear.
I've been around loud music and never really suffered for it. I'm not around it very often, but it sounds like you're not either. it took my father spending a lot of his life around concerts, airplanes and firearms without ear protection to actually lose a notable amount of his hearing fidelity from it, and has only really started to get tinnitus within the last couple years; he's in his 60s. so I don't think you did anything particularly wrong, and I personally wouldn't expect just one event like that to immediately cause the kind of eardrum damage that generates tinnitus (I mean everybody's different and I'm not speaking definitively, but I am saying that seeing a doctor could answer questions like that).
2, multiple things can cause tinnitus other than "permanent ear damage". I'm on an antidepressant that lists tinnitus as one of its symptoms, so now I have it in a way that sort of comes and goes, especially towards the end of the night. and in that case, it's 100% in the brain, rather than in the eardrum.
so don't lose hope yet, definitely do see a professional.
1, like everyone else is saying, please visit a doctor. even if "ear damage" isn't curable, it would still help to get a professional opinion on whether or not that IS what it is, or whether it's as permanent as you fear.
I've been around loud music and never really suffered for it. I'm not around it very often, but it sounds like you're not either. it took my father spending a lot of his life around concerts, airplanes and firearms without ear protection to actually lose a notable amount of his hearing fidelity from it, and has only really started to get tinnitus within the last couple years; he's in his 60s. so I don't think you did anything particularly wrong, and I personally wouldn't expect just one event like that to immediately cause the kind of eardrum damage that generates tinnitus (I mean everybody's different and I'm not speaking definitively, but I am saying that seeing a doctor could answer questions like that).
2, multiple things can cause tinnitus other than "permanent ear damage". I'm on an antidepressant that lists tinnitus as one of its symptoms, so now I have it in a way that sort of comes and goes, especially towards the end of the night. and in that case, it's 100% in the brain, rather than in the eardrum.
so don't lose hope yet, definitely do see a professional.
I echo what everyone else has said about going to see a doctor as soon as possible. Background: I have mild, idiopathic tinnitus.
Tinnitus is hearing damage, but it isn't the only thing that can cause ringing in the ears (blocked eustachian tubes for example). The fact that you could do a frequency sweep without noticing any dead spots is a hopeful sign. Even if it is your tinnitus, there are factors that can cause temporary flare ups in addition to loud noises: stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, certain medications, allergies, ear infections, changes in diet or hydration, or barometric pressure changes. Several of those can lead to a positive feedback loop, like the stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep which you've already described. Addressing those may well cause it to subside, but you need a professional exam.
Tinnitus is hearing damage, but it isn't the only thing that can cause ringing in the ears (blocked eustachian tubes for example). The fact that you could do a frequency sweep without noticing any dead spots is a hopeful sign. Even if it is your tinnitus, there are factors that can cause temporary flare ups in addition to loud noises: stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, certain medications, allergies, ear infections, changes in diet or hydration, or barometric pressure changes. Several of those can lead to a positive feedback loop, like the stress, anxiety, and lack of sleep which you've already described. Addressing those may well cause it to subside, but you need a professional exam.
Wow! Getting a lot of comments!
My tinnitus is pretty bad, probably close to as bad as yours. I've had it for almost twenty years now, and it has gotten worse, which is mostly my own fault not wearing hearing protection when I really should.
Honestly? You do get used to it. See an ear doctor and really advocate for yourself, make sure they know how much this is negatively affecting your life. Change up who you are working with when they're not helping you. You WILL eventually find someone who can help.
But you also have to be realistic and ready to cope with it. Try all the different coping methods you can find. Repeat them over and over until you find the ones that work, and retry the ones that didn't. It's not a simple fix, but it's not going to be this bad forever.
My tinnitus is pretty bad, probably close to as bad as yours. I've had it for almost twenty years now, and it has gotten worse, which is mostly my own fault not wearing hearing protection when I really should.
Honestly? You do get used to it. See an ear doctor and really advocate for yourself, make sure they know how much this is negatively affecting your life. Change up who you are working with when they're not helping you. You WILL eventually find someone who can help.
But you also have to be realistic and ready to cope with it. Try all the different coping methods you can find. Repeat them over and over until you find the ones that work, and retry the ones that didn't. It's not a simple fix, but it's not going to be this bad forever.
Welcome to the club... Mine sounds like a dentist drill. Consult a doctor if there's something to be done. Otherwise... You have to start practicing a bit of mental gymnastics. You have to live like it doesn't exist. Don't think about it, don't focus on it, it will just sound louder. You can't allow it mental space or you will start banging your head to a wall.
As for sleep. White noise machine, white noise videos on youtube, just youtube videos so that your ear and mind can focus on something else than the eternal sound in your ear.
Keep it up and you will start noticing periods of ''huh... I didn't notice the sound for a bit there''. You will go through relapse periods where it feels like it gets louder again when you pay attention to it. There are official channels to do this.... cognitive unhearing or whatever it was called.
It's scary now but you'll be fine. You'll enjoy life just fine. This will need some adjusting to.
As for sleep. White noise machine, white noise videos on youtube, just youtube videos so that your ear and mind can focus on something else than the eternal sound in your ear.
Keep it up and you will start noticing periods of ''huh... I didn't notice the sound for a bit there''. You will go through relapse periods where it feels like it gets louder again when you pay attention to it. There are official channels to do this.... cognitive unhearing or whatever it was called.
It's scary now but you'll be fine. You'll enjoy life just fine. This will need some adjusting to.
Disclaimer: not a therapist, not medical advice.
I've experienced a very similar thing, I got through it and I believe you can too. The biggest thing I learned is that tinnitus LOVES anxiety, and it LOVES when you think and worry about it. both of those things will temporarily make the tinnitus worse, and conversely, the less you think about it and the less anxiety you have, the less you will notice it and the more it will diminish over time.
It seems to me like you're catastrophizing about it (focusing on the worst possible outcome), which is probably why you're noticing it getting worse over time rather than getting better. I did the same thing and had the same reaction.
As for how I got over it, I ended up having to go to therapy to learn the techniques I needed to stop catastrophizing and reduce my anxiety.
You haven't ruined your life, this is just one of many curveballs that life throws at you. I believe in you!
I've experienced a very similar thing, I got through it and I believe you can too. The biggest thing I learned is that tinnitus LOVES anxiety, and it LOVES when you think and worry about it. both of those things will temporarily make the tinnitus worse, and conversely, the less you think about it and the less anxiety you have, the less you will notice it and the more it will diminish over time.
It seems to me like you're catastrophizing about it (focusing on the worst possible outcome), which is probably why you're noticing it getting worse over time rather than getting better. I did the same thing and had the same reaction.
As for how I got over it, I ended up having to go to therapy to learn the techniques I needed to stop catastrophizing and reduce my anxiety.
You haven't ruined your life, this is just one of many curveballs that life throws at you. I believe in you!
It might be you weren't used to the loud noises as you don't go out often. Thats why it didn't bother anyone else. I'm sure it will fade eventually but that really sucks. If you can maybe see a doctor about it.
Also never be ashamed of crying, thats nothing to be worried about. I cry pretty often and thats ok. It helps to let it out sometimes.
Also never be ashamed of crying, thats nothing to be worried about. I cry pretty often and thats ok. It helps to let it out sometimes.
Hey, I don't personally deal with tinnitus, especially not to this degree. All I have to offer is ambient noise. It's helpful for my ADHD, but I've heard it's good for tinnitus too. Here are some of my personal recommendations, as mid as they are, I think. I am not a doctor, take every bit of advice with a grain of salt and trust your gut. Listen to your body, once damage is permanent, it cannot undone.
Straight up white noise: There's a ton of these channels, and they're largely split into pink, white, and brown noise. White noise is noise even across all frequencies- It can be intimidating, especially if you grew up with an old TV that played it when a channel didn't work, but it does help for tuning out background noise. Pink noise is noise in the higher frequencies, I don't recommend it for tinnitus but it might help. Brown noise is in low frequencies, I recommend it the most because it filters out what I need filtered out. Some personal recommendations of mine: Sapphire Noise, Brown Noise, White Noise. They can be best put to use when you are trying to sleep!
Rain Sounds/Ambient Sounds: Most ambient noise already mimics things like wind in sound, so I use these the most. I have my own playlist of rain sounds that I play to help me focus, but I'm sure these would be somewhat helpful to tinnitus, too. There's a ton of different kinds here, some of them even also have music in the background, but it's mainly classical or soft or gentle.
Video Game Ambience: I'm. Least sure of the helpfulness of This Specifically. I just think if you get tired of white noise or rain you could use it, to help you forget why you're there to start with. Daydream Gaming has a ton of videos of this genre, basically just walking around the map of an open world and listening to the ambience. There's RDR2, Horizon, and a ton more. It's all sorted by game in their playlists tab, as well as videos that include horses, and some with rain, etc. etc.
I genuinely wish you the best. I can't imagine how scary this must be to experience, I've had health scares before but not for Days and not so frustratingly Noticeable. Please reach out in notes if you need moral support, I can't be Much, I just. Trust your instincts. Take care of yourself. You're going to be okay, buddy
Edit: Not sponsored, but I did find these a while ago- Loop earplugs. They're sort of expensive, but I've heard good reviews about them. I'm going to look into advanced earplugs and see if you can find this kind of quality on, say, Amazon, for like half the price, because you can do the same with wireless earbuds compared to like, Raycons and whatnot. They apparently advertise, which historically makes things more expensive. Also, this should be a given, but please contact a doctor who can help you figure this out. Don't be scared to tell them what's going on, don't be embarrassed, don't beat yourself up too badly, if you can help it.
Straight up white noise: There's a ton of these channels, and they're largely split into pink, white, and brown noise. White noise is noise even across all frequencies- It can be intimidating, especially if you grew up with an old TV that played it when a channel didn't work, but it does help for tuning out background noise. Pink noise is noise in the higher frequencies, I don't recommend it for tinnitus but it might help. Brown noise is in low frequencies, I recommend it the most because it filters out what I need filtered out. Some personal recommendations of mine: Sapphire Noise, Brown Noise, White Noise. They can be best put to use when you are trying to sleep!
Rain Sounds/Ambient Sounds: Most ambient noise already mimics things like wind in sound, so I use these the most. I have my own playlist of rain sounds that I play to help me focus, but I'm sure these would be somewhat helpful to tinnitus, too. There's a ton of different kinds here, some of them even also have music in the background, but it's mainly classical or soft or gentle.
Video Game Ambience: I'm. Least sure of the helpfulness of This Specifically. I just think if you get tired of white noise or rain you could use it, to help you forget why you're there to start with. Daydream Gaming has a ton of videos of this genre, basically just walking around the map of an open world and listening to the ambience. There's RDR2, Horizon, and a ton more. It's all sorted by game in their playlists tab, as well as videos that include horses, and some with rain, etc. etc.
I genuinely wish you the best. I can't imagine how scary this must be to experience, I've had health scares before but not for Days and not so frustratingly Noticeable. Please reach out in notes if you need moral support, I can't be Much, I just. Trust your instincts. Take care of yourself. You're going to be okay, buddy
Edit: Not sponsored, but I did find these a while ago- Loop earplugs. They're sort of expensive, but I've heard good reviews about them. I'm going to look into advanced earplugs and see if you can find this kind of quality on, say, Amazon, for like half the price, because you can do the same with wireless earbuds compared to like, Raycons and whatnot. They apparently advertise, which historically makes things more expensive. Also, this should be a given, but please contact a doctor who can help you figure this out. Don't be scared to tell them what's going on, don't be embarrassed, don't beat yourself up too badly, if you can help it.
If you have hearing loss/damage, I'd really recommend contacting an ear, nose, and throat doctor as soon as possible (like in the next day). If it's soon after the incident and they see that you have hearing loss, they may be able to reduce damage. Make sure to say that to the person scheduling at their office - it may change how the appointment gets prioritized and how soon they want to see you.
That said, I feel you - I remember going to a concert with ear plugs, and I really wanted to experience one of my favorite songs without the plugs, so I could hear everything... I remember my hearing was messed up for a bit.
Your actions sound incredibly human, so regardless of the outcome, try not to be too hard on yourself, and I hope you feel better soon.
That said, I feel you - I remember going to a concert with ear plugs, and I really wanted to experience one of my favorite songs without the plugs, so I could hear everything... I remember my hearing was messed up for a bit.
Your actions sound incredibly human, so regardless of the outcome, try not to be too hard on yourself, and I hope you feel better soon.
As others said, first go to see a doctor! I think everybody here can say that we all fucked up somewhere in our life. And I'm not an exception from this. Sometimes we don't do anything but we got an illnes that are looks tragic but after a few doctors visit, after years we just don't understand how we survived it. So first try not to blame yourself, sometimes we just don't know our limits. And second go to a doctor and you will see what is the diagnose. Always just a small step. And we are here if you want to say something and we trying to help as we can.
I heard a therapy awhile ago, I look it and share with you if I found it.
I heard a therapy awhile ago, I look it and share with you if I found it.
I found what I referred, it's called Coordinated Reset therapy, it's about wear a small equipment and it's playing a given sound pattern to the ear for a longer period to desynchronize the neurons. I don't have experience or found reviews that how effective this therapy. But as I found out there are a few Tinnitus Centrum in my country, where patients are treated in complex ways, not just physically but mentally to not focus on that sound. I don't know how this work in your country or this kind of Centrums are exist, but you should visit one of them if this problem don't fade on it's own with time.
I had/have problem with my eyes and the first diagnose was really serious, maybe getting blind or will be a very distorted vision with time. I cried a lot and didn't know how to live with all of this problem. I visited 3-4 doctors and they said the same, they can't do anything and it's caused by stress. Finally It was fade on it's own with time, ( a little distortion remained, but only apparent if I seeing a grid like pattern) but the first time I cried a lot, depressed, and can't believe this never getting better, just can't imagine. What help me a lot was surrounded by my loved ones and just trying to enjoy simply things, just seeing the world around me.
By the way as others said, don't let this problem hold you back from positive changes, go meetings, clubs, make friends but if you feel uncomfortable about something don't push it down. Discuss it with friends, that you feel bad about something. They are always for you. If you feel you want to curling up on the couch then do. Let yourself to heal both physically both mentally. Small steps.
You can make it Ru! Don't give up! :3
I had/have problem with my eyes and the first diagnose was really serious, maybe getting blind or will be a very distorted vision with time. I cried a lot and didn't know how to live with all of this problem. I visited 3-4 doctors and they said the same, they can't do anything and it's caused by stress. Finally It was fade on it's own with time, ( a little distortion remained, but only apparent if I seeing a grid like pattern) but the first time I cried a lot, depressed, and can't believe this never getting better, just can't imagine. What help me a lot was surrounded by my loved ones and just trying to enjoy simply things, just seeing the world around me.
By the way as others said, don't let this problem hold you back from positive changes, go meetings, clubs, make friends but if you feel uncomfortable about something don't push it down. Discuss it with friends, that you feel bad about something. They are always for you. If you feel you want to curling up on the couch then do. Let yourself to heal both physically both mentally. Small steps.
You can make it Ru! Don't give up! :3
The sad reality is those people who were "fine" even though they don't have tinnitus, likely have permanent hearing damage already.
There are standards for how loud things can be before they produce hearing damage, and these places ignore them. I don't get it either. Loud music venues are idiotic and I hate them.
There are standards for how loud things can be before they produce hearing damage, and these places ignore them. I don't get it either. Loud music venues are idiotic and I hate them.
i probably got my tinnitus from listening to Lapfox on earbuds really loud all the time in highschool.
since then, i tend to put Twitch streams or VODs on in the background just playing all the time and i don't really notice the ringing. it gets really bad at night when it's quiet, so i have a large fan on the floor that i turn on when i want to sleep.
since then, i tend to put Twitch streams or VODs on in the background just playing all the time and i don't really notice the ringing. it gets really bad at night when it's quiet, so i have a large fan on the floor that i turn on when i want to sleep.
Dam sorry to hear it. Tinnitus is absolutely no joke.
Not a way to fix it, but to keep you going out and about in the future without being worried about making things worse, npr radio has some good transparent earbuds that do a great job (I've worn at concerts front row and had no ringing after), and they're practically invisible.
Not a way to fix it, but to keep you going out and about in the future without being worried about making things worse, npr radio has some good transparent earbuds that do a great job (I've worn at concerts front row and had no ringing after), and they're practically invisible.
Research shows that stress can be a trigger for tinnitus, or make it worse. And some people, though not all, find that tinnitus makes them feel stressed and anxious. So you may find yourself in a cycle: stress makes your tinnitus worse, which in turn makes you feel more stressed or anxious.
You should contact your local clinic/hospital and have this checked, both for the sake of the tinitus and perhaps for underlying stress
You should contact your local clinic/hospital and have this checked, both for the sake of the tinitus and perhaps for underlying stress
I'm sorry to hear that. Well, personally, even though I'm socially comfortable and rather extroverted, liking to party, drink alcohol, with friends, etc., I hate loud music too X)
So I usually enjoy myself in my car, even if it's not deafening. I listen to it quite a bit with headphones, but I hate it when the music is so loud that you can't hear yourself speak.
But you should know that I've already had tinnitus after prolonged exposure. Inside your ear, it's not used to it; it's probably too much noise, too strong a contrast in too short a time. You need to find out if it hasn't caused damage, but there's no reason why it should. I'm not a doctor, but it should pass in a few days! Going from a "quiet" and solitary life to an excess of noise (and from what you've described, even for me, that would be too much) causes these kinds of consequences; it's "normal."
But consult a doctor, someone who can reassure you. I hope you'll be fine quickly <3
So I usually enjoy myself in my car, even if it's not deafening. I listen to it quite a bit with headphones, but I hate it when the music is so loud that you can't hear yourself speak.
But you should know that I've already had tinnitus after prolonged exposure. Inside your ear, it's not used to it; it's probably too much noise, too strong a contrast in too short a time. You need to find out if it hasn't caused damage, but there's no reason why it should. I'm not a doctor, but it should pass in a few days! Going from a "quiet" and solitary life to an excess of noise (and from what you've described, even for me, that would be too much) causes these kinds of consequences; it's "normal."
But consult a doctor, someone who can reassure you. I hope you'll be fine quickly <3
I'm no doctor or expert so all I can hope for is that it somehow just clears up soon. I'm so so sorry you're struggling with that tho. :/ As a hermit/shutin myself I can understand the "want" to go out as I too get older but then something happens and I'm like "NOPE I'm gonna hide inside"
*Offers a big hug* I'm hopeful for the best outcome somehow!
*Offers a big hug* I'm hopeful for the best outcome somehow!
Someone else may have mentioned this, so I apologize for being redundant, but if you haven't already, go see a doctor.
Lately, I've been dealing with health issues of my own and really the best advice I can think of is to seek a professional.
Regardless, I hope you get better and regain some peace soon. :(
Lately, I've been dealing with health issues of my own and really the best advice I can think of is to seek a professional.
Regardless, I hope you get better and regain some peace soon. :(
I've had that type of tinnitus for other 2 decades now (thanks mom!), and you just get used to it eventually. Give it a couple weeks, and try a fan on low while sleeping to help mask it. Yes it won't drown it out, but the moment your brain has something else to hear it'll shift focus away from the ringing and instead towards the other noises, and that will still end up making the tinnitus more silent.
Assuming it doesn't go away (which it t still can, it can take months for that to fully fix itself, so don't stress too much and give it time) you will currently hear it the loudest until your brain slowly decides to fade it out like a smell that's been around for too long or a pair of glasses you're wearing daily. You brain will adapt to it, but it's gonna take a while. And the more you focus on if the worse it'll get, that's just how our brains are wired.
Also, do get some nice ear plugs for concerts, I always carry a pair with me in my messenger bag and they come in handy a lot, public transit, concerts, loud kids in a waiting room, etc.
Assuming it doesn't go away (which it t still can, it can take months for that to fully fix itself, so don't stress too much and give it time) you will currently hear it the loudest until your brain slowly decides to fade it out like a smell that's been around for too long or a pair of glasses you're wearing daily. You brain will adapt to it, but it's gonna take a while. And the more you focus on if the worse it'll get, that's just how our brains are wired.
Also, do get some nice ear plugs for concerts, I always carry a pair with me in my messenger bag and they come in handy a lot, public transit, concerts, loud kids in a waiting room, etc.
The unfortunate thing is music like that, especially in social situations, seems to be a common. It's part of the reason why I've never gone to any of the dances or anything like that when I went to cons. It's also a chunk of the reason why I've never gone to concerts. Hell, people at my work will have their music too loud to the point where it hurts my ears and I have to stand away from the speakers. I've even gotten comments about how mine is quiet compared to most others.
Please go see a doctor, as soon as possible. The faster you act, the better the chances something can still be done about it.
Also good to know: Tinnitus doesn't just happen in your ear, it happens in your brain. One of the sound-carrying fibers in your ear might have gotten damaged and your brain is now misinterpreting the missing signal. What helps me a lot with acute sounds is always having some kind of background noise on, just enough to be able to ignore/don't focus on the ringing. In time, it lessens and my brain filters it out. Give it a go, experiment a little to see what kind of noise helps.
It really sucks right now, I know, but try not to stress yourself out (tinnitus and stress are besties). Take it easy, get some rest.
All of the best wishes for you, fingers crossed!! 🍀
Also good to know: Tinnitus doesn't just happen in your ear, it happens in your brain. One of the sound-carrying fibers in your ear might have gotten damaged and your brain is now misinterpreting the missing signal. What helps me a lot with acute sounds is always having some kind of background noise on, just enough to be able to ignore/don't focus on the ringing. In time, it lessens and my brain filters it out. Give it a go, experiment a little to see what kind of noise helps.
It really sucks right now, I know, but try not to stress yourself out (tinnitus and stress are besties). Take it easy, get some rest.
All of the best wishes for you, fingers crossed!! 🍀
I am proud of you for putting yourself out there, and I'm so sorry you have been dealing with this, tinnitus can be so debilitating! You didn't do anything wrong, it is not your fault this happened, and it affects millions of people globally. I work at a hearing aid company, and I strongly reccomend you get your hearing tested by an ENT. I am hoping your ears recover on their own, but while it may seem hopeless when reading online, there ARE solutions. We work with tinnitus patients all the time. (Please note, I'm a customer service rep not a trained audiologist, but I've been in this field for 8 years).
Tinnitus can come from a whole host of sources, and the treatment for it is unique. Anything from diet, to medications, even caffeine intake can play a factor in how it manifests and behaves, but while there is no cure, there are a lot of ways it can be treated. One of the best methods, weirdly enough, is hearing aids. When a specialist tests your hearing, they can dig into what type of tinnitus you have and the best ways to mitigate it. Some people get by with basic white noise, but there is also testing they can do called Pitch and Loudness testing where they can narrow in on what your tinnitus sounds like to you so they can help create a sound stimulus that works. They also can help with counseling to work through and help with the emotional aspects of tinnitus.
Not knowing what you're dealing with is so much more intimidating than the beast you know. Again, I'm so sorry you are dealing with this, but I hope a trained professional can help find a solution that works best for you!!
Tinnitus can come from a whole host of sources, and the treatment for it is unique. Anything from diet, to medications, even caffeine intake can play a factor in how it manifests and behaves, but while there is no cure, there are a lot of ways it can be treated. One of the best methods, weirdly enough, is hearing aids. When a specialist tests your hearing, they can dig into what type of tinnitus you have and the best ways to mitigate it. Some people get by with basic white noise, but there is also testing they can do called Pitch and Loudness testing where they can narrow in on what your tinnitus sounds like to you so they can help create a sound stimulus that works. They also can help with counseling to work through and help with the emotional aspects of tinnitus.
Not knowing what you're dealing with is so much more intimidating than the beast you know. Again, I'm so sorry you are dealing with this, but I hope a trained professional can help find a solution that works best for you!!
Sorry to hear that bud. I recently had to go see an ENT specialist for my ear. Clogged full of mucus. Couldn't hear shit.
I would recommend you go see one too. It might be that you have a damaged eardrum, and from my understanding it's gotten to the point where they can repair those now. But I'm no expert.
If you need someone to vent to bud, feel free to DM me. I understand what it's like to feel like life wants nothing but to beat you down.
Wishing you the best.
I would recommend you go see one too. It might be that you have a damaged eardrum, and from my understanding it's gotten to the point where they can repair those now. But I'm no expert.
If you need someone to vent to bud, feel free to DM me. I understand what it's like to feel like life wants nothing but to beat you down.
Wishing you the best.
Oh my gosh ruaidri I’m so, so sorry that happened. Music is often so loud at events I wear AirPods to squelch the sound using adaptive, noise cancelling, or even just having it off. I’ve started to mentally tune out my tinnitus, but that’s mostly from having it for years so I’m afraid I don’t have specific tips I can give.
Please do seek medical help though! I hope your situation improves…
Please do seek medical help though! I hope your situation improves…
I get it bad where I will lose complete hearing for a few seconds, and it comes back with loud ringing and eventually subsides to my normal level of hearing. Sometimes after loud exposures to loud sides, its higher than typical for a few days. It's been bad for me for about 7 years, I've found fans help as it kinda mimics the sounds for me.
I try my best to focus on what I want to hear
I try my best to focus on what I want to hear
First off, well done on going out and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. I am sorry it did not work out in the end. I agree that music in venues can be too loud to socialise. I've had that issue in furmeets often.
As someone who attends raves pretty often and have a bad habit of dancing near speakers without protection, I've experienced the kind of tinnitus you mention, but I found that it has often faded away, in a few days during the worst instances. I never had something as severe as you had, and I am very sorry you are suffering so severely from that one time.
As others said, check with an ear doctor if possible. I would also recommend using earplugs to bed. They won't end the noise, but seems that when the ear is blocked, the brain stops doing the "room is noisy, I can't sleep" thing and seems to gradually filter it away. I don't know if it will work for you, but I would recommend it. I'll suggest silicone earplugs as the best option.
Good luck, I can only imagine how demoralising this all feels. Sending you lots of hugs.
As someone who attends raves pretty often and have a bad habit of dancing near speakers without protection, I've experienced the kind of tinnitus you mention, but I found that it has often faded away, in a few days during the worst instances. I never had something as severe as you had, and I am very sorry you are suffering so severely from that one time.
As others said, check with an ear doctor if possible. I would also recommend using earplugs to bed. They won't end the noise, but seems that when the ear is blocked, the brain stops doing the "room is noisy, I can't sleep" thing and seems to gradually filter it away. I don't know if it will work for you, but I would recommend it. I'll suggest silicone earplugs as the best option.
Good luck, I can only imagine how demoralising this all feels. Sending you lots of hugs.
I have been in your situation exactly. Therefore I want to give you one very important thing: Hope.
I exposed myself to loud noise, resulting in tinnitus (and loss of hearing). I visited a lot of otologists. The diagnose was devastating every time: Permanent damage, no cure. I was at my wit's end. I could not sleep. I could not think. I even tried some clearly esoteric medicine although I do not believe in that stuff at all.
It took me way too long to find a doctor who suggested something that is my life-saver: White Noise. You can try that with regular ear-phones. Gently turn it up (on both ears!) until it just barely masks the tinnitus. You can also ask a medical acoustician for a pair of "noisers". They basically are hearing aids configured to emit white noise. I got a pair so I can wear them for sleeping. Ridiculously expensive. I used them for three months until they re-wired my brain to accept that level of noise as "the new silence".
Now do not get me wrong: I still experience tinnitus. But it does not bother no more. Today, I can sleep and concentrate reasonably well. You can also seek a psychotherapist who can teach you techniques of staying calm even while experiencing tinnitus. You magically heal your ears, but you can adjust your reactions to that fact.
Now what worked for me does not necessarily work for you. Take your time to visit medical professionals. The tinnitus may never go away, but that is not the end. You always haves options. I wish you good luck in finding them! 🤗🍀
I exposed myself to loud noise, resulting in tinnitus (and loss of hearing). I visited a lot of otologists. The diagnose was devastating every time: Permanent damage, no cure. I was at my wit's end. I could not sleep. I could not think. I even tried some clearly esoteric medicine although I do not believe in that stuff at all.
It took me way too long to find a doctor who suggested something that is my life-saver: White Noise. You can try that with regular ear-phones. Gently turn it up (on both ears!) until it just barely masks the tinnitus. You can also ask a medical acoustician for a pair of "noisers". They basically are hearing aids configured to emit white noise. I got a pair so I can wear them for sleeping. Ridiculously expensive. I used them for three months until they re-wired my brain to accept that level of noise as "the new silence".
Now do not get me wrong: I still experience tinnitus. But it does not bother no more. Today, I can sleep and concentrate reasonably well. You can also seek a psychotherapist who can teach you techniques of staying calm even while experiencing tinnitus. You magically heal your ears, but you can adjust your reactions to that fact.
Now what worked for me does not necessarily work for you. Take your time to visit medical professionals. The tinnitus may never go away, but that is not the end. You always haves options. I wish you good luck in finding them! 🤗🍀
Also important: Do not beat yourself up about this. Your emotional disposition towards yourself (and the tinnitus) is important. The angrier you are with yourself and the more scared you are of the tinnitus, the more intense the feeling of despair grows. I know it is not easy, but… this has happened now. This situation is a part of your life. Try roll with it. 🙂
Quite the support base you have here, so many replies, but if you're reading this far down..
I think my biggest take away from reading this is, as someone who doesn't socialize particularly well, is don't let this extremely unfortunate result ruin the idea of going out and trying new things.
I don't think i can say anything that hasn't already been said but i'll reinforce the 'go see a doctor' statements. I think i read a comment saying you're in Canada, so take advantage of that healthcare. Tinnitus can come from a lot of sources, i had a family member who had it because a tumor was pressing on their ear canal. (I doubt you have a tumor, it's just an example.)
Won't be the guy assuring you everything will be fine when maybe it won't be, but everyone here is rooting for you, and i hope you can find some comfort soon.
I think my biggest take away from reading this is, as someone who doesn't socialize particularly well, is don't let this extremely unfortunate result ruin the idea of going out and trying new things.
I don't think i can say anything that hasn't already been said but i'll reinforce the 'go see a doctor' statements. I think i read a comment saying you're in Canada, so take advantage of that healthcare. Tinnitus can come from a lot of sources, i had a family member who had it because a tumor was pressing on their ear canal. (I doubt you have a tumor, it's just an example.)
Won't be the guy assuring you everything will be fine when maybe it won't be, but everyone here is rooting for you, and i hope you can find some comfort soon.
Hey! I 1000% hear you on this, I just went through it.
My partner coughed into the phone (accidental, he just is fighting something with unexpected coughs) while I was on vacation and literally hurt (like legit pain) my ear; he accidentally did it again the next day and I was so upset because they literally were hurting on and off later. And I had the same thing; ringing that night, wouldn't go away. I was devastated that I fucked up my ears and did literal damage and now I had fucking tinnitus and it was BAD.
I already have fucked up hearing genetically that's slowly getting worse so I was like.. dude fuck this for real. Was VERY upset...
So this happened like a week ago, and it was there for like 2 nights and I was in the same state of being really fucked up about it/stressed/worried and devastated.
It also happens during concerts, etc. (The ringing afterwards, sometimes for days) Protect your ears, for sure! Not worth it. You can get some dampening earplug things that still allow you to hear the definition of sounds OK but it just drops the volume down, but for SURE regular earplugs for any kind of big noise, even long road-trip noise.. not worth the damage. I have the 'eargasm' ones although they were a gift and I didn't shop around but they're quite lovely and I just wear them all the time for stuff now (like driving, lol).
I HATE to be like 'you'll probably be fine, it'll go away!' because people told me that and I was like, YOU DON'T FUCKING UNDERSTAND, SHUT UP, but legit mine did go away after a few days. A prolonged loud noise session might take a bit longer but then again it might not, mine was shapr acute damage but I've also experienced the concert-level noise over several hours, or hockey-game levels of like, wow that's a lot of fucking ringing, what have I done.... I would super recommend anything that reduces inflammation/promotes healing in general, like good sleep, vitamin C, turmeric is a big one, and staying hydrated as fuck.
But, it DID go away. Totally gone now. Big hugs, seriously, it is probably going to go away on it's own very soon! It can't have been 'painful ear-bleedingly loud' type of damage, since nobody went to the ER, and it should go away on it's own soon. Best thing you can do is wear earplugs now if you think you'll have anything loud at all, and give your ears a break/lots of antioxidants and sleep/water.
Seriously. You can take some steps to help. And it should go away soon, but hopefully it goes away sooner rather than long enough to keep stressing you out!
My partner coughed into the phone (accidental, he just is fighting something with unexpected coughs) while I was on vacation and literally hurt (like legit pain) my ear; he accidentally did it again the next day and I was so upset because they literally were hurting on and off later. And I had the same thing; ringing that night, wouldn't go away. I was devastated that I fucked up my ears and did literal damage and now I had fucking tinnitus and it was BAD.
I already have fucked up hearing genetically that's slowly getting worse so I was like.. dude fuck this for real. Was VERY upset...
So this happened like a week ago, and it was there for like 2 nights and I was in the same state of being really fucked up about it/stressed/worried and devastated.
It also happens during concerts, etc. (The ringing afterwards, sometimes for days) Protect your ears, for sure! Not worth it. You can get some dampening earplug things that still allow you to hear the definition of sounds OK but it just drops the volume down, but for SURE regular earplugs for any kind of big noise, even long road-trip noise.. not worth the damage. I have the 'eargasm' ones although they were a gift and I didn't shop around but they're quite lovely and I just wear them all the time for stuff now (like driving, lol).
I HATE to be like 'you'll probably be fine, it'll go away!' because people told me that and I was like, YOU DON'T FUCKING UNDERSTAND, SHUT UP, but legit mine did go away after a few days. A prolonged loud noise session might take a bit longer but then again it might not, mine was shapr acute damage but I've also experienced the concert-level noise over several hours, or hockey-game levels of like, wow that's a lot of fucking ringing, what have I done.... I would super recommend anything that reduces inflammation/promotes healing in general, like good sleep, vitamin C, turmeric is a big one, and staying hydrated as fuck.
But, it DID go away. Totally gone now. Big hugs, seriously, it is probably going to go away on it's own very soon! It can't have been 'painful ear-bleedingly loud' type of damage, since nobody went to the ER, and it should go away on it's own soon. Best thing you can do is wear earplugs now if you think you'll have anything loud at all, and give your ears a break/lots of antioxidants and sleep/water.
Seriously. You can take some steps to help. And it should go away soon, but hopefully it goes away sooner rather than long enough to keep stressing you out!
.. I was just reading the comments here and it seems like there are a lot of really overly concerned people. While it's important to try and protect your ears in the future because those things aren't good for you.. as somebody who has had this a lot of times, the tinnitus should go away from this kind of exposure. I'm more sensitive to noise than other people, too, but it doesn't sound like levels that would cause permanent tinnitus or bad permanent hearing loss, especially if you rest your ear's exposure to sound for a bit, take it easy, take care of your body. And give it a few days, I think you'll find it will go away and shouldn't be there forever. Just take care of you and get those anti-inflammatory processes going, your body is good at healing if you let it and give those slightly injured ear parts a rest. You can make it better, or you can make it worse if you keep exposing yourself to that stuff too soon.
Like for real, I've done the 'oh fuck I have tinnitus from loud noises, what have I done' thing now, way worse than this, and it has gone away over time. I hope yours does, too.
Like for real, I've done the 'oh fuck I have tinnitus from loud noises, what have I done' thing now, way worse than this, and it has gone away over time. I hope yours does, too.
I wish I could be there to give you a hug right now because I know how it is since I suffer from tinnitus as well but honestly the best advice I have is obvious, see an audiologist. The more short term relief is going to sound really weird. Cup your palms over your ears with your middle fingers over the ridge at the back of your skull, then tap your index fingers just below your middle fingers 20 times or so. It's not a cure but it can make it a little better for a while.
I don't know if it'll let me post this link but I find this helps for a while. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyT9ZwWy5Jc
I don't know if it'll let me post this link but I find this helps for a while. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyT9ZwWy5Jc
It's like if you hurt your leg running too hard -- if you take lots of antioxidants, stay hydrated, vitamin C, get rest.. (turmeric, for real, take this, it fucking helps so much) it will heal faster. But if you keep walking on it, even lightly, it's gonna make it worse. Best thing to do is try and get that sleep, boost that system, stay hydrated. I know sleeping is hard but stressing is even worse for it than finding ways to get that sleep and rest and avoid loudness for a while, and it improves your chances for it to heal and go away on it's own. If you're stressed and not getting sleep, it's gonna make it harder for your ears to recover.
Reiterating what everyone else has said, please go see a doctor and don't give up hope. There's still time for this to go away, or to at least lessen in severity, and while there's no cure for full blown tinnitus, there are treatments and possible new treatments being discovered all the time. And for the love of god, earplugs going forward! Like Laura Jane Grace says, it's punk to protect your hearing!
This sounds like a Panic/Anxiety attack. I have pretty severe anxiety and Agoraphobia, and when I go to crowded places I hear it too; stress can cause tinnitus to flare up. Take a few days to relax, listen to some music on a low volume, do something enjoyable and relaxing, eat a comfort meal.
It will go away.
It will go away.
Unfortunately I don't think that's the case. I've had anxiety as long as I can remember, and it's never caused any kind of tinnitus for me, personally. Even now, my emotional state doesn't seem to change it, it's just as loud when I'm calm as when I'm struggling. It's just a constant tone.
I think the only thing causing my tinnitus is the 120 (or whatever) db music for four hours. :P
There's some hope it may still recover to some degree though, over the upcoming weeks. No guarantee, but... a chance. So I hope you're right.
I think the only thing causing my tinnitus is the 120 (or whatever) db music for four hours. :P
There's some hope it may still recover to some degree though, over the upcoming weeks. No guarantee, but... a chance. So I hope you're right.
i'm so sorry! i have sensitive hearing too, when i was 18 i could hear 27 Khz and i can hear about 21.65 Khz now in my late twenties. i have milt tinnitus but any small sound drives me into a rage. i didn't know that tinnitus could actually be physically painful, it's annoying but it doesn't really register as a real sound to me. i'm afraid there's no cure because it's physical damage to the hairs in your cochlear lining but there are drugs that can treat the sound it if you start taking them immediately. take care. also, ditto on feeling alone. i'm a hermit too.
Geez, Ru. I'm so sorry.
Looks like everything that can be said already has, but you're not alone.
People seem to just be deaf in general now from how loud concerts and events are. Hell, even the cinema is too damn loud.
I hope the ringing fades away. It's a hell of a thing.
And please don't give up on trying to be social! Just skip out of the noisy events. Hard to socialize when you can't hear anyone anyway.
Looks like everything that can be said already has, but you're not alone.
People seem to just be deaf in general now from how loud concerts and events are. Hell, even the cinema is too damn loud.
I hope the ringing fades away. It's a hell of a thing.
And please don't give up on trying to be social! Just skip out of the noisy events. Hard to socialize when you can't hear anyone anyway.
You should see a sleep specialist ASAP, you're not in any state to making serious decisions right now.
Gentle reminder that suicidality is a medical emergency. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, you need to see a psychiatrist, and don't feel bad about going to the ER for it. This is a matter of life, limb, or eyesight in the truest sense.
Gentle reminder that suicidality is a medical emergency. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, you need to see a psychiatrist, and don't feel bad about going to the ER for it. This is a matter of life, limb, or eyesight in the truest sense.
No worries, I'm not there yet. It's not even really on the radar. That talk was more me being scared for the future. If it doesn't get much better, or I can't learn to tune it out, I'm worried it could eventually wear me down to the point where it does show up on the radar, and that's scary. :<
But for now, I'm okay. Hanging in there.
But for now, I'm okay. Hanging in there.
Oof. I'm sorry to hear that. Honestly, I didn't even know what tinnitus was until a few years ago and thought that ringing was normal! Lol. Don't be ashamed of crying though. It usually feels good, I think. I don't know anything about that stuff though, so i'd say the easy thought is to go see a doctor about it for sure.
What I can say though, is good on you for getting out of your comfort zone! I have been on my own anxiety journey for about 8 years now, had it as long as I can remember, and taking those steps can be really hard! It does get easier for sure though. I promise. But that's a long story, and i'll spare you the details. What I will say is please don't let this stop you from doing more! After having an emotional breakdown at my first con, I was questioning a lot of things, and I still went to the second con anyway. Now i'm about to go to my fourth! What i've learned is you'll start getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Most of anxiety is learning that you don't have anything to fear after all, and the exposure therapy from going to more events and interacting with people will absolutely compound, and you'll eventually be able to enjoy yourself. Maybe not to the fullest, but things will become very manageable.
Best of luck to you, Ruaidri! I believe in you. ^^
What I can say though, is good on you for getting out of your comfort zone! I have been on my own anxiety journey for about 8 years now, had it as long as I can remember, and taking those steps can be really hard! It does get easier for sure though. I promise. But that's a long story, and i'll spare you the details. What I will say is please don't let this stop you from doing more! After having an emotional breakdown at my first con, I was questioning a lot of things, and I still went to the second con anyway. Now i'm about to go to my fourth! What i've learned is you'll start getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Most of anxiety is learning that you don't have anything to fear after all, and the exposure therapy from going to more events and interacting with people will absolutely compound, and you'll eventually be able to enjoy yourself. Maybe not to the fullest, but things will become very manageable.
Best of luck to you, Ruaidri! I believe in you. ^^
I've dealt with tinnitus for most of my life. Exposure to power tools as a teenager, combined with trying to drown it out with music without knowing better. I have never understood how people destroy their ears with extremely loud concerts on the regular and just be 'fine.'
it sucks. It doesn't ever fade into the background. I'm sorry to say. But... sometimes I do get better at dealing with it.
Despite conventional wisdom, I advise against trying to drown it out with white noise. If it persists, I'd use an online tool to "tune" your tinnitus, to find the frequency of it. Once you know that, you can install a virtual EQ on your computer and use it to precisely cut out that frequency from sounds. Weirdly enough this helps. If it really does persist long term, you may want to find an ENT. It's possible it's something just like ear blockage. If it's not something simple, perhaps bring up the Lenire device. I've been treated using it, and while I wouldn't say it's made the tinnitus quieter, it has made it easier to cope with it. However it's not a cheap option.
Above all, try not to make it worse. Don't do what I did as a teen and blast loud sounds to drown it out.
it sucks. It doesn't ever fade into the background. I'm sorry to say. But... sometimes I do get better at dealing with it.
Despite conventional wisdom, I advise against trying to drown it out with white noise. If it persists, I'd use an online tool to "tune" your tinnitus, to find the frequency of it. Once you know that, you can install a virtual EQ on your computer and use it to precisely cut out that frequency from sounds. Weirdly enough this helps. If it really does persist long term, you may want to find an ENT. It's possible it's something just like ear blockage. If it's not something simple, perhaps bring up the Lenire device. I've been treated using it, and while I wouldn't say it's made the tinnitus quieter, it has made it easier to cope with it. However it's not a cheap option.
Above all, try not to make it worse. Don't do what I did as a teen and blast loud sounds to drown it out.
I really, really know that feeling you have of being insular, being perfectly fine with a mostly solitary life. The impact of this all emotionally is probably strongly compounded by the fact that it happened from the time you poked out of your comfort zone. It's going to make all of your feelings about this so vastly worse, and link the two together in your mind.
I wish there were more I could say or do or offer. But please see a doctor. It isn't fast, it isn't efficient, but there are things that can and will help.
I wish there were more I could say or do or offer. But please see a doctor. It isn't fast, it isn't efficient, but there are things that can and will help.
I think (like a lot of us) you should go consult a specialist medic of this branch in the first place. an otorhinolaryngologist in your case. since autodiag isn't a good way to have answers, and that lots of things can cause the feeling of a tinnitus ( including anxiety (since you've been tense for a long time before you go to the convention), stress, tiredness, hypertension, muscular tension, auditive hallucinations, and indeed, barotrauma etc...). Besides, now that you have this feeling, you will have a tendency to focus yourself on it, which gives it more presence.
An exam with the medic will help you to investigate that feeling and try to find if the cause is purely cell damage, or something else (depending which structure got damaged, taking it in time with surgery can also help if necessary, that's the interest of getting an exam asap). depending the intensity of damage, traumatized cells can recover, give it a bit more time, I think 4 days is a bit premature to say it's over!
also, consulting a specialist will give you information about what you're going though and how you can handle it. you can also be redirected towards other kinds of specialists that can teach you how to handle it differently (trt, psychotherapy etc...)
I understand this situation is stressing and very annoying for you, and that you want it to be over quickly, but you must keep thinking about the amelioration of your ear condition, because adding tension and stress won't help, as the sound conduction can be limited by muscle tensions around middle ear muscles.
I'm sorry I can't help you more as it's not my speciality, but your current distress must be heard and took under medical care. finding something else to focus your audition on can help in the meantime. And If it can help a bit more, we (commenters) all are right here to talk if you need!
What you tried to do (trying new stuff to enjoy other aspects of life), was still a very good idea, and not a fuck up. I hope you'll eventually give it an other try (well not necessarily in a noisy place, but with conditions more adapted to your likings, because you have the right to choose to be at ease in the things you try, and nobody can say anything about it. if you need to put earplugs on, then it'll be your way. and personally, i manage to hear others with those on, so this shouldn't be a problem).
Get better soon, and keep hope alive
An exam with the medic will help you to investigate that feeling and try to find if the cause is purely cell damage, or something else (depending which structure got damaged, taking it in time with surgery can also help if necessary, that's the interest of getting an exam asap). depending the intensity of damage, traumatized cells can recover, give it a bit more time, I think 4 days is a bit premature to say it's over!
also, consulting a specialist will give you information about what you're going though and how you can handle it. you can also be redirected towards other kinds of specialists that can teach you how to handle it differently (trt, psychotherapy etc...)
I understand this situation is stressing and very annoying for you, and that you want it to be over quickly, but you must keep thinking about the amelioration of your ear condition, because adding tension and stress won't help, as the sound conduction can be limited by muscle tensions around middle ear muscles.
I'm sorry I can't help you more as it's not my speciality, but your current distress must be heard and took under medical care. finding something else to focus your audition on can help in the meantime. And If it can help a bit more, we (commenters) all are right here to talk if you need!
What you tried to do (trying new stuff to enjoy other aspects of life), was still a very good idea, and not a fuck up. I hope you'll eventually give it an other try (well not necessarily in a noisy place, but with conditions more adapted to your likings, because you have the right to choose to be at ease in the things you try, and nobody can say anything about it. if you need to put earplugs on, then it'll be your way. and personally, i manage to hear others with those on, so this shouldn't be a problem).
Get better soon, and keep hope alive
First, *hugs*. Second, definitely see an audiologist or ENT doctor about this. Even if what you've been reading makes it seem hopeless, you have to at least try and get as much information as you can so you know your options. Third, you will get used to it and be able to sleep. My tinnitus has gotten quite a bit worse over the years despite always wearing earmuffs at work, never playing music too loud, and avoiding excessively loud noise, and while it's always there it tends to fade into the background of my perception because I have other things to do. When trying to get to sleep, if you're tired enough you'll sleep.
I do have to wonder, at that fur meet WTF did they have the volume up so high? I'm very sorry you're dealing with that, but don't blame yourself. You just wanted to get out and meet some other furs.
I do have to wonder, at that fur meet WTF did they have the volume up so high? I'm very sorry you're dealing with that, but don't blame yourself. You just wanted to get out and meet some other furs.
I tried to go to a 'rave' during a few conventions I worked. Everyone there was enjoying it, but to me it was just overwhelmingly loud and I had to leave after only about 10 minutes. Still left my head throbbing and triggered my tinnitus for days.
So you are not alone in the thought "Why isn't anyone else complaining about how loud it is?" in those situations. I avoid those sorts of events now. ...well, I've gone almost full recluse the last few years, but when I did do the social thing, I avoided them.
Unfortunately, I don't have any kind of solution to the tinnitus problem. Try to avoid loud noises for a while, and hopefully it'll fade on its own. There's a nerve I like to rub at the base of the ear, just under the flap and behind the hinge of your jaw. Hard to describe, but rubbing it helps to alleviate the symptoms when mine makes that ear go deaf from time to time (reoccurring tinnitus in my case)
So you are not alone in the thought "Why isn't anyone else complaining about how loud it is?" in those situations. I avoid those sorts of events now. ...well, I've gone almost full recluse the last few years, but when I did do the social thing, I avoided them.
Unfortunately, I don't have any kind of solution to the tinnitus problem. Try to avoid loud noises for a while, and hopefully it'll fade on its own. There's a nerve I like to rub at the base of the ear, just under the flap and behind the hinge of your jaw. Hard to describe, but rubbing it helps to alleviate the symptoms when mine makes that ear go deaf from time to time (reoccurring tinnitus in my case)
It's been my experience, from the rock concerts I've attended being too close to the tower of speakers at the stage, that the tinnitus caused by loud music ultimately fades—the damage isn't permanent. It's the aural equivalent of a hangover, or having a flashbulb go off in front of your eyes. See a doctor if the symptoms persist, but take heart that the "sound effect" ultimately fades. (And I'm sorry that this is happening, anyone who's had tinnitus knows what you're going through.) ^•^
Hey Big Ru,
so. First off: visit a doctor. Some forms of tinnitus are treatable, and early treatment is important. Just go. It's not the coolest thing to do, but if there was a 1% chance they could help you, that's still a good chance!
Then: i was a machine gunner in the German army. When i served, we still had the MG3. It's... LOUD. Very. very. loud. And i forgot hearing pro once. Have tinnitus on my right ear since then. The first year was bad, the second became better, today i hardly notice it anymore. Surprisingly, after a while, your mind adjusts. There are techniques to help you with that. If the doctors cannot help you, and it doesnt fade after a few weeks, see a therapist, they can in fact help you with the coping.
Finally: go out again! Maybe to a quieter venue, but don't let this spoil your positive experience.
If you need someone to talk to, i'm a therapist (cognitive behavioral therapy), drop me a note, we can talk.
so. First off: visit a doctor. Some forms of tinnitus are treatable, and early treatment is important. Just go. It's not the coolest thing to do, but if there was a 1% chance they could help you, that's still a good chance!
Then: i was a machine gunner in the German army. When i served, we still had the MG3. It's... LOUD. Very. very. loud. And i forgot hearing pro once. Have tinnitus on my right ear since then. The first year was bad, the second became better, today i hardly notice it anymore. Surprisingly, after a while, your mind adjusts. There are techniques to help you with that. If the doctors cannot help you, and it doesnt fade after a few weeks, see a therapist, they can in fact help you with the coping.
Finally: go out again! Maybe to a quieter venue, but don't let this spoil your positive experience.
If you need someone to talk to, i'm a therapist (cognitive behavioral therapy), drop me a note, we can talk.
Good on you for going to an irl hangout. I hope you have a better and quieter experience next time. Keep going, it really can be a fantastic avenue for self growth. Going to irl furry events and making friends there legit changed my life.
I really hope this tinnitus goes away for you, but don't let that taint the sense of achievement should also be feeling. They are just unfortunate coinciding events.
I really hope this tinnitus goes away for you, but don't let that taint the sense of achievement should also be feeling. They are just unfortunate coinciding events.
Don't know if you will get to my message - seems like everyone here is throwing support and offering advice.
I personally wouldn't panic, it can take days to recover from exceptionally loud events. The ear drum is a fragile area.
Also intense focus / anxiety can cause ear ringing --> which can be feeding into it
My advice: rest, quiet, little bit of peace ^^ take a good break.
I personally wouldn't panic, it can take days to recover from exceptionally loud events. The ear drum is a fragile area.
Also intense focus / anxiety can cause ear ringing --> which can be feeding into it
My advice: rest, quiet, little bit of peace ^^ take a good break.
With all respect to other commenters, I would really recommend taking any kind of "It's definitely going away, it'll be fine" OR "It's definitely permanent hearing damage, it's forever" claims with a truck-sized grain of salt. Being diagnosed by the internet is like taking legal advice from the internet.
Sorry, I probably sound more hard-assed than I mean to. Got concerned, and sometimes concern makes tone go awry. You don't know me, but your work quickly made me a fan, your comments and descriptions have made me laugh and appreciate your good vibes and sense of humor, and I care. Keeping 'em crossed for ya, man.
Been a follower for many years, hurts to see you like this. I relate very much to keeping to myself and have feared this same thing myself as I'm sensitive to loud noises. I don't know what I would do either, and that is part of what scares me too. But I sincerely hope it gets better for you, I'll certainly be thinking about you.
Many have said it already, but I think it can't be said enough:
Please see a doctor. Tinnitus can also be caused by stress, and since it was stressful for you to go there in the first place, this might also be a reaction to that stress. The noise didn't help for sure, but if it's caused by stress, then it might be fixable.
Now since you're (understandably!) Scared, this causes even more stress and worsens the symptoms!
Please let it check by a doctor. Worst that can happen is that they can't help you, but if there is the slightest chance, use it!
Please see a doctor. Tinnitus can also be caused by stress, and since it was stressful for you to go there in the first place, this might also be a reaction to that stress. The noise didn't help for sure, but if it's caused by stress, then it might be fixable.
Now since you're (understandably!) Scared, this causes even more stress and worsens the symptoms!
Please let it check by a doctor. Worst that can happen is that they can't help you, but if there is the slightest chance, use it!
I have tinnitus like you're describing.. It may dissipate over time or you might become accustomed to it with time (it took me months to get used to it). You should try going to an ENT and see what they say, and to check whether there was any damage to your eardrum that might be causing it (this usually heals on its own). You could try having continuous sound playing, which can sometimes reduce it, especially if your environment is very quiet (I found that the sound of a running faucet cancelled mine to an extent, even if it was just brief reprieves.). There's also an experimental-ish treatment that my ENT mentioned called Bimodal Neuromodulation that involves pairing sound through headphones with a non-painful electrical signal applied to the tongue that seemed to show promise in studies, though it's expensive and not likely to be covered by insurance..
Truly sorry to hear about this hun. As someone who's suffered from it myself in the past; I wanna share the method I was given that helped massively for me.
With eblows spread out to the side; plug your middle fingers into your ears snugly.
Sit up straight, and stick out upper chest slightly (helps straighten/open things).
Touch your tongue gently to the top of your mouth and smile. (should feel this close your ears in your ears a bit more snugly around your fingers).
Focus on deep breathing for about a minute or so. (For me, helps if I keep my eyes closed while I do this to avoid distractions).
After about a minute or so of breathing in this posture; release and relax. For me the tinitus relief was virtually instant!
Truly hope this helps; if not i've found sleeping with a fan on lightly can be the perfect non-intrusive 'white noise', but to each their own. Really hope things improve for you hun!
With eblows spread out to the side; plug your middle fingers into your ears snugly.
Sit up straight, and stick out upper chest slightly (helps straighten/open things).
Touch your tongue gently to the top of your mouth and smile. (should feel this close your ears in your ears a bit more snugly around your fingers).
Focus on deep breathing for about a minute or so. (For me, helps if I keep my eyes closed while I do this to avoid distractions).
After about a minute or so of breathing in this posture; release and relax. For me the tinitus relief was virtually instant!
Truly hope this helps; if not i've found sleeping with a fan on lightly can be the perfect non-intrusive 'white noise', but to each their own. Really hope things improve for you hun!
My wife had a weird, weird hum in her ears for years. Her seemed to be centered on her apartment in Seattle-- whose building was set halfway into a hill, so we always assumed it was some kind of geoacoustic thing.
Anyhow, this is a real disorder you have and there is real treatment for it. There is a very real chance you WILL be okay. *hug* If nothing else, I've heard that mynoise.net's tinnitus blockers can really help if you hit just the right one.
Anyhow, this is a real disorder you have and there is real treatment for it. There is a very real chance you WILL be okay. *hug* If nothing else, I've heard that mynoise.net's tinnitus blockers can really help if you hit just the right one.
among a few other comments from folks (kleet posted the thing i was going to say originally.) white noise or having some sort of sound helps me out a ton otherwise i can hear the whine/ringing. fans, air purifies, stuff like that are things that I use to help fall asleep if that's becoming an issue. I use an app called white noise generator that has some pretty nice sounds to it as well.
if you decide to head out again there's a brand of ear plugs that are customizable to your ears called Decibullz, and they're pretty good.
I've had like 20+ years to get used to tinnitus, and I think it helps that I had it since i was a kid. I truly hope it gets better for you and that you can find some things that work for you from some of the kind folks in the comments. take care ru <3
if you decide to head out again there's a brand of ear plugs that are customizable to your ears called Decibullz, and they're pretty good.
I've had like 20+ years to get used to tinnitus, and I think it helps that I had it since i was a kid. I truly hope it gets better for you and that you can find some things that work for you from some of the kind folks in the comments. take care ru <3
As others have said, go to a doctor. You may think you know it's untreatable, "pretty sure" as you said.. but better make damn sure than just succumbing, and that you can't do on your own.
Besides that.. For sleep, try a Pink or Purple noise generator. pink/purple noise more mimics the noise natural stuff makes, like rain, and your brain adapts to it quickly. I heard it helps people that have tinnitus.
You can even have it rather loudly (for sleep anyway), after 5 or so minutes, it feels kinda hypnotic, as is you are sinking into the sound waves. For me at least.
Besides that.. For sleep, try a Pink or Purple noise generator. pink/purple noise more mimics the noise natural stuff makes, like rain, and your brain adapts to it quickly. I heard it helps people that have tinnitus.
You can even have it rather loudly (for sleep anyway), after 5 or so minutes, it feels kinda hypnotic, as is you are sinking into the sound waves. For me at least.
i encourage you to seek actual doctor or failing that specialist. (you can ignore the rest)
youre not weak, you body just handles things differently with different tolerance levels. youll have to respect them (capt. obvious here). (hoping for no permanent damage)
I have had a similar experience where prolonged volumes of sound cause really bad ringing but it goes away for me...most of the time.
people dont realize that you can actually suffer sustained hearing damage from normal volumes of sound and there is a sort of allotment of noise volume that you can take for a given period.
Ill never forget the time i was at a party in the family and everyone cheered so loud i felt my eardrumbs vibrating to the point of pain. i have the tinitis and i cant sleep without a fan or a whitenoise machine because of the damage...i thought i was just being a snowflake. lack of sleep makes the sound much worse and more noticeable though, its a vicious cycle.
looking at the frontrunner though:
i am also at a similar point in my adult life except i have had a total of zero irl friends. really just kept alone due to the constant anxiety of dealing with people and having to recover when i think something goes wrong.
the lonelyness is hitting me now in current year hard, because i reached all of the goal posts i set for myself. allot of the social places people want to hang out have music or TV or events and stuff....but the constant loud sounds is super hard to deal with as it gets louder and more annoying as time goes on...even in the car listening to my own music i just have to turn it off due to overload. i hate that the socializing aspect seems to be in gatherings where its a sensory overload condition. its not fair, i should just get used to being alone at this point.
theres also a fun chance that something ive written here is going to sound wrong or scoldy or some other mean way...its not the intention...
youre not weak, you body just handles things differently with different tolerance levels. youll have to respect them (capt. obvious here). (hoping for no permanent damage)
I have had a similar experience where prolonged volumes of sound cause really bad ringing but it goes away for me...most of the time.
people dont realize that you can actually suffer sustained hearing damage from normal volumes of sound and there is a sort of allotment of noise volume that you can take for a given period.
Ill never forget the time i was at a party in the family and everyone cheered so loud i felt my eardrumbs vibrating to the point of pain. i have the tinitis and i cant sleep without a fan or a whitenoise machine because of the damage...i thought i was just being a snowflake. lack of sleep makes the sound much worse and more noticeable though, its a vicious cycle.
looking at the frontrunner though:
i am also at a similar point in my adult life except i have had a total of zero irl friends. really just kept alone due to the constant anxiety of dealing with people and having to recover when i think something goes wrong.
the lonelyness is hitting me now in current year hard, because i reached all of the goal posts i set for myself. allot of the social places people want to hang out have music or TV or events and stuff....but the constant loud sounds is super hard to deal with as it gets louder and more annoying as time goes on...even in the car listening to my own music i just have to turn it off due to overload. i hate that the socializing aspect seems to be in gatherings where its a sensory overload condition. its not fair, i should just get used to being alone at this point.
theres also a fun chance that something ive written here is going to sound wrong or scoldy or some other mean way...its not the intention...
I'm sorry... that's awful.
I relate to many aspects of your experience, though I must admit my tinnitus is not nearly that severe. I've had similar experiences. I have a fear of loud noises, I try to face my fear by going somewhere loud, I end up with ringing in my ears and wonder what's wrong with me that when I hide from my fears it hurts me but when I try to face them it hurts even more.
I have a couple pieces of advice/consolation. Sorry if some of this doesn't apply to you exactly, but I'm somewhat projecting my experiences to yours in the hopes that, if you feel similar to me, I can give you the advice I wish I'd gotten.
First, I believe our society normalizes going to places that damage hearing way too much. I read that audiologists think a significant proportion of the population has hearing damage because of this. So you're not alone. I went to a movie screening a couple months ago where it was so loud that even though I wore ear plugs and left halfway through, that night I had ringing in my ears. It went away the next day though. What I'm saying is, there are factors that led to what happened that are not your fault at all, namely the way damaging your ears is normalized in our society. It's entirely possible that the other people there also had their ears damaged just as much as you, but maybe due to being younger (were they in their twenties?) that damage hasn't caught up with them yet. But they will have tinnitus later. An unpleasant thought, but the point is, again, you're not alone and the universe hasn't just targeted you arbitrarily and left everyone else unscathed.
Second, if you're like me, there are multiple aspects to the suffering of the tinnitus. The first is the annoyance of the sound itself, but the second is the way the sound serves as a constant reminder of the thought that you messed up. And the third is the feeling that you can't live your life without fear of making the tinnitus worse. And each of these pains can make the others feel worse, so it's a feedback loop. What I've learned is, even if the tinnitus doesn't reduce over time, the feeling of regret can reduce over time. Even if your ear cells can't heal, your soul can, and you can start to forgive yourself. That doesn't mean that moving on is easy, or that the feeling of regret will completely go away, but things can get better. You won't necessarily feel this way forever. If a majority of the suffering you're feeling is regret, then that means the majority of the suffering can fade. And if the regret doesn't fade, if you can't stop thinking about it for years (like happened to me) then that's a mental problem you can get help for.
When it comes to the final aspect of the suffering "why am I being punished for putting myself out there," you don't need to think of it in those terms. The problem with the experience wasn't the putting yourself out there, it was the speakers. Avoid loud speakers and you'll avoid the problem and still be able to socialize. There must be some furries who would like to hang out with you in a quiet place.
Last is a life lesson that I'm still working on figuring out myself, so apologies if it's incomplete or confusing, but I think it's important. This one is for dealing with similar situations in the future. I realized this in my life after I left the overly loud theatre.
If staying at home due to fear of going out causes you loneliness, you might think "I just need to force myself to do the opposite." But then you get into situations where the sound is dangerously loud, and you think "I want to leave, but I told myself I'd force myself to do this, so I'm going to stay." And you end up regretting it. It seems like a catch-22: give into your fear and stay home and regret it, face your fear and go to the club and regret it. No matter which you do it ends badly. It feels, then, like there's nothing you can do, that you'll feel bad no matter what. But the important thing to realize is staying home too long and staying in the club too long aren't opposite situations, they're actually the same situation: being overly rigid. The best thing that could have happened would be to go to the club, realize it's too loud immediately, and then leave. Allow yourself to change course and be flexible. Don't give in to the sunk cost fallacy. Just because you're at home doesn't mean you can't go out, just because you're out doesn't mean you can't go back home. Go out when you want without undue fear of other people, leave when you want without undue fear that you're not trying hard enough. Don't force yourself to do something, allow yourself to do anything. You don't need to force yourself to go out, you need to give up the part that's forcing you not to go out. Then you're free to do what's best even when the situation changes.
Obviously, that's easier said than done. I hope what I said didn't come across patronizing, this is all stuff I need to learn how to do as much as anyone. But it's a thought that felt valuable to me.
I relate to many aspects of your experience, though I must admit my tinnitus is not nearly that severe. I've had similar experiences. I have a fear of loud noises, I try to face my fear by going somewhere loud, I end up with ringing in my ears and wonder what's wrong with me that when I hide from my fears it hurts me but when I try to face them it hurts even more.
I have a couple pieces of advice/consolation. Sorry if some of this doesn't apply to you exactly, but I'm somewhat projecting my experiences to yours in the hopes that, if you feel similar to me, I can give you the advice I wish I'd gotten.
First, I believe our society normalizes going to places that damage hearing way too much. I read that audiologists think a significant proportion of the population has hearing damage because of this. So you're not alone. I went to a movie screening a couple months ago where it was so loud that even though I wore ear plugs and left halfway through, that night I had ringing in my ears. It went away the next day though. What I'm saying is, there are factors that led to what happened that are not your fault at all, namely the way damaging your ears is normalized in our society. It's entirely possible that the other people there also had their ears damaged just as much as you, but maybe due to being younger (were they in their twenties?) that damage hasn't caught up with them yet. But they will have tinnitus later. An unpleasant thought, but the point is, again, you're not alone and the universe hasn't just targeted you arbitrarily and left everyone else unscathed.
Second, if you're like me, there are multiple aspects to the suffering of the tinnitus. The first is the annoyance of the sound itself, but the second is the way the sound serves as a constant reminder of the thought that you messed up. And the third is the feeling that you can't live your life without fear of making the tinnitus worse. And each of these pains can make the others feel worse, so it's a feedback loop. What I've learned is, even if the tinnitus doesn't reduce over time, the feeling of regret can reduce over time. Even if your ear cells can't heal, your soul can, and you can start to forgive yourself. That doesn't mean that moving on is easy, or that the feeling of regret will completely go away, but things can get better. You won't necessarily feel this way forever. If a majority of the suffering you're feeling is regret, then that means the majority of the suffering can fade. And if the regret doesn't fade, if you can't stop thinking about it for years (like happened to me) then that's a mental problem you can get help for.
When it comes to the final aspect of the suffering "why am I being punished for putting myself out there," you don't need to think of it in those terms. The problem with the experience wasn't the putting yourself out there, it was the speakers. Avoid loud speakers and you'll avoid the problem and still be able to socialize. There must be some furries who would like to hang out with you in a quiet place.
Last is a life lesson that I'm still working on figuring out myself, so apologies if it's incomplete or confusing, but I think it's important. This one is for dealing with similar situations in the future. I realized this in my life after I left the overly loud theatre.
If staying at home due to fear of going out causes you loneliness, you might think "I just need to force myself to do the opposite." But then you get into situations where the sound is dangerously loud, and you think "I want to leave, but I told myself I'd force myself to do this, so I'm going to stay." And you end up regretting it. It seems like a catch-22: give into your fear and stay home and regret it, face your fear and go to the club and regret it. No matter which you do it ends badly. It feels, then, like there's nothing you can do, that you'll feel bad no matter what. But the important thing to realize is staying home too long and staying in the club too long aren't opposite situations, they're actually the same situation: being overly rigid. The best thing that could have happened would be to go to the club, realize it's too loud immediately, and then leave. Allow yourself to change course and be flexible. Don't give in to the sunk cost fallacy. Just because you're at home doesn't mean you can't go out, just because you're out doesn't mean you can't go back home. Go out when you want without undue fear of other people, leave when you want without undue fear that you're not trying hard enough. Don't force yourself to do something, allow yourself to do anything. You don't need to force yourself to go out, you need to give up the part that's forcing you not to go out. Then you're free to do what's best even when the situation changes.
Obviously, that's easier said than done. I hope what I said didn't come across patronizing, this is all stuff I need to learn how to do as much as anyone. But it's a thought that felt valuable to me.
Thanks for taking the time to write all that out- I really appreciate it. :3
I don't think this will be a permanent blow to my willingness to put myself out there... it's definitely a blow and it's going to take a while to recover, but I still want to get out there and make new friends. Hopefully, with time, I'll adjust and can try again.
Just... gonna need some time, I think. Gotta let myself feel feelings for a bit.
I'm also going to get a pair of nice earplugs and keep them with me everywhere I go so I can just slip them in if things get loud. I don't want this getting any worse, at least.
I don't think this will be a permanent blow to my willingness to put myself out there... it's definitely a blow and it's going to take a while to recover, but I still want to get out there and make new friends. Hopefully, with time, I'll adjust and can try again.
Just... gonna need some time, I think. Gotta let myself feel feelings for a bit.
I'm also going to get a pair of nice earplugs and keep them with me everywhere I go so I can just slip them in if things get loud. I don't want this getting any worse, at least.
Sadly, I can't offer much advice to fix the ringing besides please get a professional opinion (just because standard tinnitus is not curable doesn't mean that's what this is. It was a sudden onset and not normal for you. The worst thing you could do is ignore it.)
What I can offer is praise for your actions, it takes A LOT of willpower to overcome that nauseating feeling of dread when you are so used to being antisocial. Don't think for a second that you made a mistake for trying to better yourself as a person and seek human connection. It's crucial that you don't create a negative stigma between taking that step and this outcome. They are only correlated, and it WAS NOT the cause. Your choice to attend this event did not cause this pain. You have something wrong with your ears and the event simply put a spotlight on it. None of our bodies are perfect, please talk to a ENT (Ear Nose and Throat doctor) so you can better understand how to deal with your unique dilemma.
What I can offer is praise for your actions, it takes A LOT of willpower to overcome that nauseating feeling of dread when you are so used to being antisocial. Don't think for a second that you made a mistake for trying to better yourself as a person and seek human connection. It's crucial that you don't create a negative stigma between taking that step and this outcome. They are only correlated, and it WAS NOT the cause. Your choice to attend this event did not cause this pain. You have something wrong with your ears and the event simply put a spotlight on it. None of our bodies are perfect, please talk to a ENT (Ear Nose and Throat doctor) so you can better understand how to deal with your unique dilemma.
I have no idea if this will help for you, but here's a bit of advice from me. My qualifications are, as follows, fuck all. I don't have a medical degree, the only time I've done medicine was when I was taking my hormones, but I like to go rifle shooting alot, especially high powered, WWII bolt action rifles.
The thing that helps the most, for me, especially if my ears are ringing, is to isolate everything, but another noise. For me, it's the sounds of birds chirping and singing, since I shoot outdoors. The ringing will be there, and it will be *fucking* annoying and horrendous, but trying to focus on a quieter, more distant sound tends to help me. I try to avoid anything louder than birds at the range, and using this method. No music, no yelling, no gunshots. Only the birds.
I wish you luck, though, Ruaidri. I know how hard and annoying it is, but the important part is to not give up. We're all rooting for you.
The thing that helps the most, for me, especially if my ears are ringing, is to isolate everything, but another noise. For me, it's the sounds of birds chirping and singing, since I shoot outdoors. The ringing will be there, and it will be *fucking* annoying and horrendous, but trying to focus on a quieter, more distant sound tends to help me. I try to avoid anything louder than birds at the range, and using this method. No music, no yelling, no gunshots. Only the birds.
I wish you luck, though, Ruaidri. I know how hard and annoying it is, but the important part is to not give up. We're all rooting for you.
First, don't panic. Seriously, take a breath, take a metaphorical step back. It's not the end of anything. Next, if possible see an ear specialist.
With that out of the way... I've noticed I am more sensitive to volume than most people around me. Whether that's because I'm just more self-aware, or my body is hypersensitive, or because it simply has a lower threshold tolerance for volume I don't know. But, no pun intended here, always listen to your body when it's telling you something, it's in the best position to know.
I did develop mild tinnitus, it used to drive me crazy, and at first it did impair my ability to go to sleep as well. But low level music masked it, and white noise (at a low volume) drowned it out entirely. I was able to utilize both to resume sleeping normally. Today I no longer need either to sleep normally, the tinnitus is still there but my brain eventually learned how to shove it into the background where I can fully ignore it as long as I don't think about it. This trick will take time, the brain doesn't rewire itself overnight and mentally speaking you have to learn how to avoid fixating on the tinnitus as well. If I think about it then my brain tunes it back into the foreground.
With white noise I strongly urge low, quiet levels, something in the background that won't aggravate your ear sensitivity. For myself I settled on a low speed air purifier, where most of the noise is just gentle airflow from the fan. Whatever you find is most helpful for relaxing, don't be like my Aunt who sets her white noise generator to maximum volume, I don't know how she doesn't have hearing damage but I know it's loud enough to harm my ears.
When trying to mask tinnitus try to keep the volume as low as possible, just above the threshold you require. That way when you wake up and turn off the sound you won't find the ringing even louder than when you had gone to sleep before. The ears are a finely balanced assortment of biological machinery, they do need time to rest and recalibrate individual components too.
With that out of the way... I've noticed I am more sensitive to volume than most people around me. Whether that's because I'm just more self-aware, or my body is hypersensitive, or because it simply has a lower threshold tolerance for volume I don't know. But, no pun intended here, always listen to your body when it's telling you something, it's in the best position to know.
I did develop mild tinnitus, it used to drive me crazy, and at first it did impair my ability to go to sleep as well. But low level music masked it, and white noise (at a low volume) drowned it out entirely. I was able to utilize both to resume sleeping normally. Today I no longer need either to sleep normally, the tinnitus is still there but my brain eventually learned how to shove it into the background where I can fully ignore it as long as I don't think about it. This trick will take time, the brain doesn't rewire itself overnight and mentally speaking you have to learn how to avoid fixating on the tinnitus as well. If I think about it then my brain tunes it back into the foreground.
With white noise I strongly urge low, quiet levels, something in the background that won't aggravate your ear sensitivity. For myself I settled on a low speed air purifier, where most of the noise is just gentle airflow from the fan. Whatever you find is most helpful for relaxing, don't be like my Aunt who sets her white noise generator to maximum volume, I don't know how she doesn't have hearing damage but I know it's loud enough to harm my ears.
When trying to mask tinnitus try to keep the volume as low as possible, just above the threshold you require. That way when you wake up and turn off the sound you won't find the ringing even louder than when you had gone to sleep before. The ears are a finely balanced assortment of biological machinery, they do need time to rest and recalibrate individual components too.
Give it a bit longer, it's possible it's permanent damage as well, however the trick is to eventually just learn to ignore it, take a break from loud noises for a bit if you have to. I think just because you've went from a semi-quiet to suddenly very very loud, it shocked your senses. It could heal, it will just take a very long time, just be patient and try to ignore it until then.
I would still seek a doctor's appointment to at least confirm what this might be. It could be temporary, it could be fixable, but there's no way to know for sure until a professional looks at it.
Wishing you all the best, such a drastic life-altering affliction like that has to be super scary. I HOPE in all goodness that its not permanent. But if it ends up being so... please look at all options to alleviate or live with it, I've heard stories from friends that eventually they get so used to it that they dont even notice.
People in the comment thread have already given out solid advice. I hope a solution finds you. :C
Wishing you all the best, such a drastic life-altering affliction like that has to be super scary. I HOPE in all goodness that its not permanent. But if it ends up being so... please look at all options to alleviate or live with it, I've heard stories from friends that eventually they get so used to it that they dont even notice.
People in the comment thread have already given out solid advice. I hope a solution finds you. :C
imo it will fade with time BUT you should like. totally keep real earplugs on hand for the future bc tinnitus is a really preventative thing, and like. run to the bathroom and get tp to shove in your ears if you forget or w/e. but also imo finding a way to produce gentle white noise does in fact help in the moment
You're probably just more sensitive to noise. So am I. I always bring earplugs when I go out, esp to concerts and shows and sporting events. I don't go to bars/clubs much anymore but I wore earplugs back then also. You won't hear people in that environment anyways without earplugs: learn to read lips and yell directly into each other's ears 😃 .
I don’t have much to say on tinnitus, even though I often get it too, but I guess I have little advice that I suspect you’re already aware of or have already been told by another commenter.
Some people can be sensitive to noise, and it can come from various origins. For me, autism is what makes my audio sensations difficult, and even painful. I try to carry earplugs on me at all times, as well as wearing noise cancelling headphones nearly all the time. Something I’ve since learned is that, at least from personal experience, avoiding exposure to loud noises tend to make people more sensitive to said noise; my parents typically can’t hear very well, and thus will amp up volumes and their own voices quite loudly, and I’ve had multiple friends who listen through their headphones on quite loud volumes.
It’s ironic to me, because, once I started avoiding loud sounds, they’ve seem to have gotten louder. It’s become the new normal to me. I’ve since taken steps to manage my noise sensitivity by wearing products as well as being honest with people when noises become too much. At first, I felt rather embarrassed, but overtime, I’ve begun to understand that people don’t judge me for it, and would rather do what they can to help my noise sensitivity.
Idk if anything of what I said is meaningful or not, but I can tell you this isn’t the first time I’ve had this conversation.
Something as well, tinnitus will most likely go away. If not, or if you’re really worried, there’s no shame in asking a doctor. After all, that’s what they’re there for.
But yeah, I guess just try to take some rest and do what helps. Maybe playing white noise in the background could help too.
Some people can be sensitive to noise, and it can come from various origins. For me, autism is what makes my audio sensations difficult, and even painful. I try to carry earplugs on me at all times, as well as wearing noise cancelling headphones nearly all the time. Something I’ve since learned is that, at least from personal experience, avoiding exposure to loud noises tend to make people more sensitive to said noise; my parents typically can’t hear very well, and thus will amp up volumes and their own voices quite loudly, and I’ve had multiple friends who listen through their headphones on quite loud volumes.
It’s ironic to me, because, once I started avoiding loud sounds, they’ve seem to have gotten louder. It’s become the new normal to me. I’ve since taken steps to manage my noise sensitivity by wearing products as well as being honest with people when noises become too much. At first, I felt rather embarrassed, but overtime, I’ve begun to understand that people don’t judge me for it, and would rather do what they can to help my noise sensitivity.
Idk if anything of what I said is meaningful or not, but I can tell you this isn’t the first time I’ve had this conversation.
Something as well, tinnitus will most likely go away. If not, or if you’re really worried, there’s no shame in asking a doctor. After all, that’s what they’re there for.
But yeah, I guess just try to take some rest and do what helps. Maybe playing white noise in the background could help too.
I've had on and off tinnitus (and exploding head syndrome) my entire life. Happens without warning, anywhere, at any time, in quite places, in loud places; lasts for seconds, sometimes minutes, sometimes low intensity, sometimes high enough to drown out other sounds. Everyone posting in this forum will have "a solution" which is just typical reddit tier nonsense. I just want to be real with you.
There is no real solution, and sadly there is no cure. There's ways to deal with it, and the only way to deal with it is for you to discover the means. Each person will have their own approach and that will usually work only for them. All I can say is good luck and welcome to the club with the rest of us, I guess.
There is no real solution, and sadly there is no cure. There's ways to deal with it, and the only way to deal with it is for you to discover the means. Each person will have their own approach and that will usually work only for them. All I can say is good luck and welcome to the club with the rest of us, I guess.
Have had a very mild form of tinnitus for as long as I can remember, but the sound of a fan, pc, or some soft music can usually tune it out decently. So sorry that you have to deal with such a sudden and clearly debilitating form of it. Best I can recommend is a specialist like others have said, they ought to be able to find what type of tinnitus you have (there are several forms and causes, it would be important to know which and whether it's caused by another underlying health issue) so they can provide a treatment that works best for you.
I now it's not very helpful to say, but try not to worry to much about it being permanent too much. It can still very well be temporary even if it's already been a few days. It can sometimes last for weeks depending on the individual. And if it does turn out to be permanent, then the brain is pretty good at adapting to things like this over time, lessening the severity, though it'll likely take months to adjust.
I now it's not very helpful to say, but try not to worry to much about it being permanent too much. It can still very well be temporary even if it's already been a few days. It can sometimes last for weeks depending on the individual. And if it does turn out to be permanent, then the brain is pretty good at adapting to things like this over time, lessening the severity, though it'll likely take months to adjust.
I'd roll with what others said about getting medical opinion on this. But really hoping it will be gone for you over time, maybe these two-three weeks at worst. It pains my heart to hear how it happened to you as I'm going through similar thoughts lately, to socialise, do new stuff and all.
Stay strong and don't blame yourself for it
Stay strong and don't blame yourself for it
This hits close to home since I'm in a very similar situation myself (mostly a loner but recently started trying to expand my comfort zone and 'get out there' a bit) and anxiety keeps beating me over the head with all the things that could go wrong, so thanks for adding a new fear to that list xd
But on a more serious note, I will echo seeking medical help. There are too many reasons for ringing in the ears to list and the cause could be almost anything that might just happen to coincide or might've been onset by the loud and stressful environment. You never know, maybe it's fixable, and even if it's not, maybe it's treatable. And in all honesty, if a doctor tells you its just something you have to deal with, you need a second, third and fourth opinion until you find someone who gives a damn, coz yeah, no shit, you got to deal with it - but they're the ones that are supposed to tell you how.
And if nothing else, please look at all these comments as an outpouring of support of people who care about you.
I've been in the "not sure how much longer I can do this" mentality probably most of my life. Just know that it's ok to not be ok. It's fine to fall apart and just cry. Feeling helpless and hopeless sucks, bit feeling anything means there's still enough of a fuck left in you to give to still feel it. So take your time. Take steps as small as you can or need to and just try to believe me when I tell you there's always something worth keeping going for.
But on a more serious note, I will echo seeking medical help. There are too many reasons for ringing in the ears to list and the cause could be almost anything that might just happen to coincide or might've been onset by the loud and stressful environment. You never know, maybe it's fixable, and even if it's not, maybe it's treatable. And in all honesty, if a doctor tells you its just something you have to deal with, you need a second, third and fourth opinion until you find someone who gives a damn, coz yeah, no shit, you got to deal with it - but they're the ones that are supposed to tell you how.
And if nothing else, please look at all these comments as an outpouring of support of people who care about you.
I've been in the "not sure how much longer I can do this" mentality probably most of my life. Just know that it's ok to not be ok. It's fine to fall apart and just cry. Feeling helpless and hopeless sucks, bit feeling anything means there's still enough of a fuck left in you to give to still feel it. So take your time. Take steps as small as you can or need to and just try to believe me when I tell you there's always something worth keeping going for.
Bout 10 years ago i got one my ear drums blown out and went deaf in that ear for around 6 months, had a loud ringing and dampened hearing in it for the next 5-ish years. It did go away and even before that the sound just turned into the new background. If its just one loud night it will go away after some time. Tho it was real scary at first, but like most things you do end up just moving on and in the end it did get better.
me as someone who basically fucked his hearing tinnitus wise, since iam 16, to rn 27, can say that yes if you notice it, like it sucks really bad, i completely get you.
but at the same time, it will get better ? like i had this moment you have rn with 25, and got myself a way more quieter working environment, then before, and i also try todo stuff to "help/improve it" and rn i barely notice it, like yes i still enjoy to have some kind of background noise at night, but even then they are moments where i just dont hear it anymore.
and according to doctors etc, of what i atleast gatherd over the time is that certain techniques will help like kleet already mentioned one, but also a normal to low blood pressure, because apparently that can also effect it hard,
so sounds stupid but find your way not to be botherd by it ? something which is either so engaging, or can draw you in, in an relax way?
idk how invested you are mentally in for example your animations or so, but when I do like stuff which needs sen and focus, and is also something i enjoy doing, it goes away and also stays away for the majority of the day
and also the high pitch ihhhhhhhh, will die down to an really quiet tv static noise, which gets legitly cancled out by every outside sound imagineable, even when itd just the slightes hush of wind, so if you can open your window at night, that can also help there
but at the same time, it will get better ? like i had this moment you have rn with 25, and got myself a way more quieter working environment, then before, and i also try todo stuff to "help/improve it" and rn i barely notice it, like yes i still enjoy to have some kind of background noise at night, but even then they are moments where i just dont hear it anymore.
and according to doctors etc, of what i atleast gatherd over the time is that certain techniques will help like kleet already mentioned one, but also a normal to low blood pressure, because apparently that can also effect it hard,
so sounds stupid but find your way not to be botherd by it ? something which is either so engaging, or can draw you in, in an relax way?
idk how invested you are mentally in for example your animations or so, but when I do like stuff which needs sen and focus, and is also something i enjoy doing, it goes away and also stays away for the majority of the day
and also the high pitch ihhhhhhhh, will die down to an really quiet tv static noise, which gets legitly cancled out by every outside sound imagineable, even when itd just the slightes hush of wind, so if you can open your window at night, that can also help there
I avoid large gatherings of pretty much anything, due to noise levels. Much as I did enjoy a few live concerts in my youth (Journey, AC/DC, RUSH, Moody Blues), I can't handle loud, constant noise any longer.
For me, when my ear drums have taken an unfair pounding, I've learned that trying to seek/make 'Silence' is a mistake. Our ears are there for good reason, and they WANT to work/do their jobs.
Just tossing this out there, hoping it may help you-
Get some shooting plugs (They're cheap, small sponges you squeeze down and then insert into your ear opening (NOT down into the canal, past their own length!), and do a great job muting outside noises. Leave them in for half-an-hour (You'll hear your own teeth grinding, or whatever you're chewing will be annoying), then take them out, BUT, have some soothing, low music/movies playing in the background, to give your ears something to home in on. If you try for utter quiet/silence, they'll struggle, thinking they're missing something, and that can make the irritation/ringing worse.
I've had to do this over the years, 1/2 hour plugged, 1 hour or so not, 1/2 hour plugged, repeat. Leave them OUT when sleeping.
Sorry you had to suffer from this. For me, I'll do an immediate 180 if I'm approaching something that I KNOW is going to exceed my limitations, and the peeps I hang out with already know why, so it's not being rude to them.
If you want to go out and socialize, then by all means, go for it! Embrace the journey/adventure!
Just,,, keep yerself safe an' sane in the doing of it, eh?
(((Hugs, if o.k.?)))
Aniwayas
For me, when my ear drums have taken an unfair pounding, I've learned that trying to seek/make 'Silence' is a mistake. Our ears are there for good reason, and they WANT to work/do their jobs.
Just tossing this out there, hoping it may help you-
Get some shooting plugs (They're cheap, small sponges you squeeze down and then insert into your ear opening (NOT down into the canal, past their own length!), and do a great job muting outside noises. Leave them in for half-an-hour (You'll hear your own teeth grinding, or whatever you're chewing will be annoying), then take them out, BUT, have some soothing, low music/movies playing in the background, to give your ears something to home in on. If you try for utter quiet/silence, they'll struggle, thinking they're missing something, and that can make the irritation/ringing worse.
I've had to do this over the years, 1/2 hour plugged, 1 hour or so not, 1/2 hour plugged, repeat. Leave them OUT when sleeping.
Sorry you had to suffer from this. For me, I'll do an immediate 180 if I'm approaching something that I KNOW is going to exceed my limitations, and the peeps I hang out with already know why, so it's not being rude to them.
If you want to go out and socialize, then by all means, go for it! Embrace the journey/adventure!
Just,,, keep yerself safe an' sane in the doing of it, eh?
(((Hugs, if o.k.?)))
Aniwayas
This might get buried, but if you go see an audiologist and/or ENT/otolaryngologist physician, there are emergeing ways of using hearing aids to cancel out the specific tinnitus frequencies you hear. I think they work with similar technology to active noise cancellation headphones?
Here's a university medical school link with info: https://www.med.unc.edu/healthscien.....nitus-masking/
Here's a university medical school link with info: https://www.med.unc.edu/healthscien.....nitus-masking/
Not buried, still reading everything. Just not in a great headspace for replying right now. But very very much appreciate all the support from everyone, it does mean a lot.
If this doesn't go away, or at least improve a little... I'm going to be in a rough spot for a while so, it really does help just to know people care.
If this doesn't go away, or at least improve a little... I'm going to be in a rough spot for a while so, it really does help just to know people care.
A few solutions already got posted here, but as someone who's father had intense tinnitis, I can say conditioning treatment can help, though it can take months to be effective. it's the technique william shatner used (he got tinnitus while filming star trek from explosions in a certain episode)
I can't really add anything others haven't, but yeah, sympathies and all. I've had tinnitus since my teens and it definitely sucks. The intensity seems to vary over time, not sure what the rhythm to it is
I've done some research on it, and as far as I can understand, tinnitus isn't just hearing damage, it's also how your brain copes with that hearing damage. Some people can get hearing damage and not have any tinnitus, we are not so lucky :/
Hopefully the intensity goes down for you, but yeah, it never fully goes -_-
I've done some research on it, and as far as I can understand, tinnitus isn't just hearing damage, it's also how your brain copes with that hearing damage. Some people can get hearing damage and not have any tinnitus, we are not so lucky :/
Hopefully the intensity goes down for you, but yeah, it never fully goes -_-
I'm going to add another to the see a doctor and try to get to a specialist. Understand, my medical professional territory was "Are you dying? No, then there's not much I can do." so take *anything* I say with a mountain of salt.
However, spent my life in medicine and there's something I picked up on... to you at the thing it felt like it was getting louder and louder through the night and yet no one else seemed to notice. That calls to me of something affecting you, a direct sensitivity that may not just be too loud hearing damage. I could be wrong and it's baseline tinnitus but it's better to get it checked than not. I'm the worlds worst about not getting things checked, but you're at the point where it's directly making you miserable and having issues functioning because of it, then it's time to see if someone maybe can actually help on it.
However, spent my life in medicine and there's something I picked up on... to you at the thing it felt like it was getting louder and louder through the night and yet no one else seemed to notice. That calls to me of something affecting you, a direct sensitivity that may not just be too loud hearing damage. I could be wrong and it's baseline tinnitus but it's better to get it checked than not. I'm the worlds worst about not getting things checked, but you're at the point where it's directly making you miserable and having issues functioning because of it, then it's time to see if someone maybe can actually help on it.
This will probably be completely buried, but as somebody who's sensitive to loud noise: concert earplugs are amazing.
They actually make it easier to converse with people in loud environments, and I have a pair in a case in my pocket at all times. I use them at the movies, in clubs, and even just large indoor gatherings when the normal talking gets loud and the acoustics are terrible.
They actually make it easier to converse with people in loud environments, and I have a pair in a case in my pocket at all times. I use them at the movies, in clubs, and even just large indoor gatherings when the normal talking gets loud and the acoustics are terrible.
That is so tragic, and to have happened immediately after determining to push your comfort zone is extra fucked up. I'm very sorry and I really hope you can find some relief! I haven't been in a similar situation with tinnitus, but I have a long history of pretty bad mental health problems and can maybe speak to how you're feeling in the situation. The most important thing I think I can say with confidence is that the difference between feeling hopeless and believing things are hopeless is drastic. The despair and the hopelessness can easily paralyze you if you aren't careful. Just do the best you can each step of the way, and even if the worst does come to pass, there might be more options than is apparent to you in this moment. I've had to learn to manage some pretty intense, long-term negative emotions and the first and biggest problem to moving forward is not spiraling into despair. I'll also add to others saying to get an appointment with an ears, nose, and throat doctor ASAP.
(Also if you ever decide to lobby against Big Noise, I'll immediately join in. I have never understood how some people handle loud-noise environments so easily)
(Also if you ever decide to lobby against Big Noise, I'll immediately join in. I have never understood how some people handle loud-noise environments so easily)
I'll not repeat what others have said about seeing a doctor, but, if you'll pardon the unsolicited advice, one thing did jump at me.
You didn't fuck up.
You tried something new and it didn't work out as you hoped. You had no idea that your body would react this way, nor for how long. Please don't fall into the trap of thinking that you made a mistake or are somehow "wrong".
And yes, I know that's easier said than done. I know this kind of thing sinks its claws into your brain. Sadly, I don't really have an answer to that beyond "just try to keep in mind that this isn't your fault".
It's not from tinnitus, but I myself do have a sensitivity to noise (probably an autism thing). As a kid I was raised to believe that any time I was unable to deal with things, it was my fault. Any time someone was playing loud music I was constantly thinking "I'm so dumb for being unable to cope with this". And honestly that kind of self-blame was probably hurting me worse than the music itself.
I don't know if this situation applies to you, but anxiety-riddled sleep-deprived brains have a way of hyperfocusing on things and making them seem worse than they are.
Anyway, sorry for rambling so much, I hope things work out for you.
You didn't fuck up.
You tried something new and it didn't work out as you hoped. You had no idea that your body would react this way, nor for how long. Please don't fall into the trap of thinking that you made a mistake or are somehow "wrong".
And yes, I know that's easier said than done. I know this kind of thing sinks its claws into your brain. Sadly, I don't really have an answer to that beyond "just try to keep in mind that this isn't your fault".
It's not from tinnitus, but I myself do have a sensitivity to noise (probably an autism thing). As a kid I was raised to believe that any time I was unable to deal with things, it was my fault. Any time someone was playing loud music I was constantly thinking "I'm so dumb for being unable to cope with this". And honestly that kind of self-blame was probably hurting me worse than the music itself.
I don't know if this situation applies to you, but anxiety-riddled sleep-deprived brains have a way of hyperfocusing on things and making them seem worse than they are.
Anyway, sorry for rambling so much, I hope things work out for you.
My left eardrum is permanently damaged & I've had very intense tinnitus + pain in my left ear since I was around 12-13. I'm sure someone else has a way to help with the noise but I never did anything about it, after a year or so it just became a part of my life & now I rarely notice it.
ofc there are still times it pushes it's way through and drives me nuts, and the "volume" of the ringing is at a point where I'm functionally deaf in one ear & rely partially on lip reading in order to communicate, but for the most part it's become manageable & hasn't ruined my life. Even if yours doesn't go away within a month or so, you can still live a fairly normal life, it will get better
ofc there are still times it pushes it's way through and drives me nuts, and the "volume" of the ringing is at a point where I'm functionally deaf in one ear & rely partially on lip reading in order to communicate, but for the most part it's become manageable & hasn't ruined my life. Even if yours doesn't go away within a month or so, you can still live a fairly normal life, it will get better
I don't comment much, and I already see an outpouring of support. But I felt like sharing a little something of my own... After a very difficult period in my life when I felt a strong desire to redefine myself by trying new things and meeting new people, I went to a social meet and (because of some risky behavior) ended up having an ambulance called because I suddenly passed out. It was semi-traumatizing to have that kind of attention put on me and abruptly halt all the change I was finally ready to implement in my life. But I'm incredibly thankful I pushed through and eventually found belonging among new friends who mean a huge amount to me. I absolutely won't tell you to shrug off the difficulties you're dealing with now, but I would hate to think they would put an end to the momentum you've already worked up. I'll be thinking about you.
Thanks for speaking up. I don't intend to let this stop me for ever. It's definitely going to slow me down a bit... right now I need to focus on figuring out how to get over the constant noise in my head. But... I still want to meet new people and make new friends. I'll get back into it eventually.
But for now I'm going to curl up in a ball on the couch and be sad for a while. x3
But for now I'm going to curl up in a ball on the couch and be sad for a while. x3
I was visited by the eeeee fairy about a year ago, probably due to antibiotics. Sleeping pills and a white noise machine have been all that's helped. The white noise machine is definitely better than just a fan because the sounds are more varied and don't get tuned out as much. I also tested negative for any actual hearing damage, which was almost shocking in its own right.
They did recommend I not take asprin or tylenol, which is good to keep in mind. I'm pretty sure I'd taken both the first time it was bad enough to wake me up, and then I couldn't hear myself think. I definitely had some thoughts about what it would mean if it never got better from there.
They did recommend I not take asprin or tylenol, which is good to keep in mind. I'm pretty sure I'd taken both the first time it was bad enough to wake me up, and then I couldn't hear myself think. I definitely had some thoughts about what it would mean if it never got better from there.
Oof, that takes me back to a Anamanaguchi concert where the opening act(named for some transformer, Star Scream I think) kept cranking up the audio system in a low ceilinged venue until it literally hurt.
It did go away eventually with enough time.
Now if I go to concerts I wear attenuating earplugs.
It did go away eventually with enough time.
Now if I go to concerts I wear attenuating earplugs.
Your gallery has been the landing page for my browser on every visit to furaffinity; you are my auto-complete. It's been this way for maybe 5 years! You continue to inspire me through your natural talent to just pick up a new medium for your arts and start slamming out top notch work that stays true to your style. Taking the 3D art as the latest example, you demonstrate a lot of hard work to learn how to do adapt to new challenges.
All just to say, hang in there, and apply some of that perseverance to seeking first, second, third, and fourth opinions on treatment.
All just to say, hang in there, and apply some of that perseverance to seeking first, second, third, and fourth opinions on treatment.
Hey Ruaidri, first of all, I'm sorry you're going through this, as someone who's been there and is really sensitive to noises, it was absolutely awful at first. Second, don't beat yourself up to much about what led to the ringing, some people are just more susceptible to it then other people unfortunately, and can get it from even mild noise exposure, and there's no way to know till it happens. Third, it's important to know you're not alone, it's estimated about 20% of all people have tinnitus; there are many tinnitus specific support groups and lots of people who can provide help.
I'll reiterate what I said in my other comment, please go to the doctor as soon as possible (Audiologist, Ear-Nose-Throat/ENT, and/or Neurologist would be the best, but whoever you can get in with immediately, even urgent care). If you can get a steroid treatment in the first week or two of onset there is a decent chance the symptoms will be less severe and lower chance of long term symptoms, but be sure to look it up yourself and listen to what the doctor has to say. And like I said, there is a very good chance the ringing will quiet or even disappear over the next few weeks on it's own since this is still so early. Protecting your ears as much as possible over the next few weeks is also very important while they try to heal, I'd recommend ear plugs as much as possible even if it makes the ringing more audible.
Finally, once you've looked at the above suggestions, the most important thing is going to be *not* thinking about the tinnitus at all. I know this sounds impossible right now since it just happened and it's all you hear, but after a few months your brain will begin to automatically filter out the ringing as nonsense noise and it's volume will fade. But, the more you focus on the ringing and think about it, the more your brain will assume that the ringing is important information and will keep you aware of it. Do your best to distract yourself from it and not focus on it. This will be impossible at first I know, but it gets easier over time.
To give you some hope even for the worst case scenario, there has been a huge amount of interest in tinnitus treatments in recent years, many with promising results. One that is looking particularly promising and will hopefully be approved very soon is called Auricle by Dr. Susan Shore. It uses a treatment called bimodel stimulation to calm the auditory nerves and drastically lower the tinnitus volume. The treatment is very simple to apply as well, you'll likely be able to do it at home. There's a bunch more treatments in the pipeline as well though, if you want to see more go check out r/tinnitusresearch, they only focus on research and seeing all the studies with real results is amazing to give you hope. (I do not recommend the regular tinnitus sub at all though, it won't give you any help).
Please don't give up though! When it first happened to me it was awful, I about lost it several times, I thought I'd ruined my life. Now, I barely notice it unless I think about it, and as long as I quickly distract myself it goes away again. I'm hopeful once more treatments become available soon I won't have to even worry about that. Please talk to people about how you're feeling, see a doctor, and realize you can overcome this. Just take it easy, you'll be alright it just takes some time, and remember there is hope.
I'll reiterate what I said in my other comment, please go to the doctor as soon as possible (Audiologist, Ear-Nose-Throat/ENT, and/or Neurologist would be the best, but whoever you can get in with immediately, even urgent care). If you can get a steroid treatment in the first week or two of onset there is a decent chance the symptoms will be less severe and lower chance of long term symptoms, but be sure to look it up yourself and listen to what the doctor has to say. And like I said, there is a very good chance the ringing will quiet or even disappear over the next few weeks on it's own since this is still so early. Protecting your ears as much as possible over the next few weeks is also very important while they try to heal, I'd recommend ear plugs as much as possible even if it makes the ringing more audible.
Finally, once you've looked at the above suggestions, the most important thing is going to be *not* thinking about the tinnitus at all. I know this sounds impossible right now since it just happened and it's all you hear, but after a few months your brain will begin to automatically filter out the ringing as nonsense noise and it's volume will fade. But, the more you focus on the ringing and think about it, the more your brain will assume that the ringing is important information and will keep you aware of it. Do your best to distract yourself from it and not focus on it. This will be impossible at first I know, but it gets easier over time.
To give you some hope even for the worst case scenario, there has been a huge amount of interest in tinnitus treatments in recent years, many with promising results. One that is looking particularly promising and will hopefully be approved very soon is called Auricle by Dr. Susan Shore. It uses a treatment called bimodel stimulation to calm the auditory nerves and drastically lower the tinnitus volume. The treatment is very simple to apply as well, you'll likely be able to do it at home. There's a bunch more treatments in the pipeline as well though, if you want to see more go check out r/tinnitusresearch, they only focus on research and seeing all the studies with real results is amazing to give you hope. (I do not recommend the regular tinnitus sub at all though, it won't give you any help).
Please don't give up though! When it first happened to me it was awful, I about lost it several times, I thought I'd ruined my life. Now, I barely notice it unless I think about it, and as long as I quickly distract myself it goes away again. I'm hopeful once more treatments become available soon I won't have to even worry about that. Please talk to people about how you're feeling, see a doctor, and realize you can overcome this. Just take it easy, you'll be alright it just takes some time, and remember there is hope.
I've had tinnitus for years. It isnt a particularly bad case of it, but it is irritating. I find that it is worse when I am tired.
I use ear plugs now, and I dont give a fuck what anyone thinks about it. I like furry gatherings, and the music is usually run by a 20-something who has no idea what Led Zeppelin on 10 on headphones will do when you are in your 30's or 40's.
I hope things improve. I also hope that you remain social, but with ear plugs. And remember the motto: Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke...
I use ear plugs now, and I dont give a fuck what anyone thinks about it. I like furry gatherings, and the music is usually run by a 20-something who has no idea what Led Zeppelin on 10 on headphones will do when you are in your 30's or 40's.
I hope things improve. I also hope that you remain social, but with ear plugs. And remember the motto: Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke...
I can 100% relate to this since I had a very similar experience back in high school. For me it was a concert instead of a club, but everything you've said reminds me of what I went through. Obviously we're different people and things won't be exactly the same, but maybe it'll help if I share what happened to me and how things are now?
Just before my 18th birthday my favorite band came to my city, so I went to see them in concert. I knew nothing about how loud concerts were meant to be because I had never been to one before. The building was pretty small, so I wound up being close to one of the speakers. I didn't have ear plugs because nobody told me that was a thing I needed and the people around me weren't wearing any. My ears started hurting after a while, but everyone else around me seemed to be fine so I thought it was just a me thing so I decided to just deal with it and enjoy the concert.
After the concert ended, my ears were ringing loud enough that I had trouble hearing anyone over it. I figured that was just a thing that was normal and that I'd be fine the next day but nope, the ringing was still there the next morning. I could hear better, but the loud ringing wouldn't stop. I told my mom and she got really worried and told me it might be tinnitus, which I didn't even know was a thing. I told my friends at school about it and nobody seemed to take it seriously which made me feel isolated in dealing with it.
For the next 3 days, I couldn't sleep at all. Like, full-on couldn't sleep. I tried looking stuff up about tinnitus and what to do about it and a lot of what I found were scam miracle cure advertisements (seriously screw people who do stuff like that). I told people in online communities I was in about it and they suggested something called a white noise machine, so my mom got one for me. Surprisingly it actually helped enough for me to finally sleep. It didn't get rid of the tinnitus by any means but it made it easier to deal with in the moment. I wound up using that machine to get to sleep for the next several months.
To be quite honest, I was in a really bad place mentally during that time. My tinnitus had gotten quieter after the first week, but then it stopped improving and it was still pretty loud. I felt like I fucked up by going to that concert and wished I had never gone. My biggest hobby was playing music and I could no longer do that because I was so afraid of making things worse. Being around any sounds that were sort of loud would make the ringing worse for the next day or so. I started wishing that I could find some way to go deaf so that I could finally get relief, even if that would be a stupid idea. I didn't know anyone else who had gone through something like that before so I didn't have any hope that it would ever get better. I felt like my life was over.
However, over the span of about a year, the ringing started to get quieter and became easier to deal with. It's now been 15 years since that concert and I wish I could say my tinnitus is no longer an issue, but it still is occasionally. Some people say theirs comes and goes, but mine is always there. Sometimes it's louder and sometimes it's quieter, but it's thankfully never gone back to being as bad as it was that first year.
Even if it feels hopeless and maddening for you right now, it will get better. I can't say how much better or how long it will take, because we're two different people and our experiences weren't the exact same, but I can say that it will get better.
There's quite a few things I've learned through trial and error over time about what helps and hurts my tinnitus, and it might be useful for you too.
-Use over-ear headphones instead of earbuds. With earbuds, you have to turn up the volume quite a bit to be able to hear what you're listening to. With over-ear headphones you can have the volume a lot quieter and still hear what you're listening to because a lot the background noise around you is blocked out. Quieter volume means less damage to your ears.
-Keep stuff that you're watching or listening to at a medium or quiet volume. Do not turn up the volume of your speakers too loud, even if it's tempting. It took me quite a while to learn the sweetspot between what volume is fine and what volume is too loud. If I listen to stuff too loudly for a while, then my ringing gets worse for the next day or so. The point of reference I use for myself is to not listen to anything above people's normal speaking volume. I can listen to stuff that's louder for short periods of time (I'm talking about 15 minutes max) but it's usually best to err on the side of caution until you learn what works for you.
-Buy some earplugs and keep them with you whenever you go out, just in case. You can get standard foam earplugs from stores, or you can actually get custom made earplugs, though they're expensive. I had a doctor take a mold of the inside of my ears and he took and made soft plastic earplugs that fit perfectly and use filters that are designed so you could still hear stuff mostly the same as normal, just quieter. I used to take them with me whenever I went anywhere loud (such as cons) and I could still have conversations with people with the earplugs in.
-If something's loud and you need to cover your ears, just do so. Don't worry about if the people around you aren't bothered by loud noises, and don't worry if people might think you're weird for covering your ears. Whenever a fire alarm goes off in a building I'm in, I just press my thumbs over my ears so it won't hurt my ears as much. If I don't, my tinnitus gets louder for quite a while afterwards.
-Stress and lack of sleep can make your tinnitus work. It's a sucky cycle because it can be harder to sleep if your tinnitus is loud and you're stressed over it. It is something I've seen people say, and it's been true for me. Whenever I mess up my sleep schedule, my tinnitus gets a lot worse. I mostly try to keep this in mind to remind myself that while it's worse at the moment, it's usually not as bad and it will get better once I fix my sleep schedule. Sure enough, it does get better every time.
-Find something to do to distract yourself from it. It could be playing a game. It could be art, writing, watching videos or tv, etc. It's easier to deal with the ringing if you have something else occupying your mind instead. If one thing doesn't work, try something else.
I can't think of anything else I can say to help. I am very sorry that this has happened to you and I really hope it doesn't take too long to start getting better. I've been there, and I know how horrible of a thing this is to go through. Hang in there, and remember that it will get better.
Just before my 18th birthday my favorite band came to my city, so I went to see them in concert. I knew nothing about how loud concerts were meant to be because I had never been to one before. The building was pretty small, so I wound up being close to one of the speakers. I didn't have ear plugs because nobody told me that was a thing I needed and the people around me weren't wearing any. My ears started hurting after a while, but everyone else around me seemed to be fine so I thought it was just a me thing so I decided to just deal with it and enjoy the concert.
After the concert ended, my ears were ringing loud enough that I had trouble hearing anyone over it. I figured that was just a thing that was normal and that I'd be fine the next day but nope, the ringing was still there the next morning. I could hear better, but the loud ringing wouldn't stop. I told my mom and she got really worried and told me it might be tinnitus, which I didn't even know was a thing. I told my friends at school about it and nobody seemed to take it seriously which made me feel isolated in dealing with it.
For the next 3 days, I couldn't sleep at all. Like, full-on couldn't sleep. I tried looking stuff up about tinnitus and what to do about it and a lot of what I found were scam miracle cure advertisements (seriously screw people who do stuff like that). I told people in online communities I was in about it and they suggested something called a white noise machine, so my mom got one for me. Surprisingly it actually helped enough for me to finally sleep. It didn't get rid of the tinnitus by any means but it made it easier to deal with in the moment. I wound up using that machine to get to sleep for the next several months.
To be quite honest, I was in a really bad place mentally during that time. My tinnitus had gotten quieter after the first week, but then it stopped improving and it was still pretty loud. I felt like I fucked up by going to that concert and wished I had never gone. My biggest hobby was playing music and I could no longer do that because I was so afraid of making things worse. Being around any sounds that were sort of loud would make the ringing worse for the next day or so. I started wishing that I could find some way to go deaf so that I could finally get relief, even if that would be a stupid idea. I didn't know anyone else who had gone through something like that before so I didn't have any hope that it would ever get better. I felt like my life was over.
However, over the span of about a year, the ringing started to get quieter and became easier to deal with. It's now been 15 years since that concert and I wish I could say my tinnitus is no longer an issue, but it still is occasionally. Some people say theirs comes and goes, but mine is always there. Sometimes it's louder and sometimes it's quieter, but it's thankfully never gone back to being as bad as it was that first year.
Even if it feels hopeless and maddening for you right now, it will get better. I can't say how much better or how long it will take, because we're two different people and our experiences weren't the exact same, but I can say that it will get better.
There's quite a few things I've learned through trial and error over time about what helps and hurts my tinnitus, and it might be useful for you too.
-Use over-ear headphones instead of earbuds. With earbuds, you have to turn up the volume quite a bit to be able to hear what you're listening to. With over-ear headphones you can have the volume a lot quieter and still hear what you're listening to because a lot the background noise around you is blocked out. Quieter volume means less damage to your ears.
-Keep stuff that you're watching or listening to at a medium or quiet volume. Do not turn up the volume of your speakers too loud, even if it's tempting. It took me quite a while to learn the sweetspot between what volume is fine and what volume is too loud. If I listen to stuff too loudly for a while, then my ringing gets worse for the next day or so. The point of reference I use for myself is to not listen to anything above people's normal speaking volume. I can listen to stuff that's louder for short periods of time (I'm talking about 15 minutes max) but it's usually best to err on the side of caution until you learn what works for you.
-Buy some earplugs and keep them with you whenever you go out, just in case. You can get standard foam earplugs from stores, or you can actually get custom made earplugs, though they're expensive. I had a doctor take a mold of the inside of my ears and he took and made soft plastic earplugs that fit perfectly and use filters that are designed so you could still hear stuff mostly the same as normal, just quieter. I used to take them with me whenever I went anywhere loud (such as cons) and I could still have conversations with people with the earplugs in.
-If something's loud and you need to cover your ears, just do so. Don't worry about if the people around you aren't bothered by loud noises, and don't worry if people might think you're weird for covering your ears. Whenever a fire alarm goes off in a building I'm in, I just press my thumbs over my ears so it won't hurt my ears as much. If I don't, my tinnitus gets louder for quite a while afterwards.
-Stress and lack of sleep can make your tinnitus work. It's a sucky cycle because it can be harder to sleep if your tinnitus is loud and you're stressed over it. It is something I've seen people say, and it's been true for me. Whenever I mess up my sleep schedule, my tinnitus gets a lot worse. I mostly try to keep this in mind to remind myself that while it's worse at the moment, it's usually not as bad and it will get better once I fix my sleep schedule. Sure enough, it does get better every time.
-Find something to do to distract yourself from it. It could be playing a game. It could be art, writing, watching videos or tv, etc. It's easier to deal with the ringing if you have something else occupying your mind instead. If one thing doesn't work, try something else.
I can't think of anything else I can say to help. I am very sorry that this has happened to you and I really hope it doesn't take too long to start getting better. I've been there, and I know how horrible of a thing this is to go through. Hang in there, and remember that it will get better.
Yeah, there's a lot of scams surrounding tinnitus treatment, people are desperate and there's really no known cure so sufferers are ripe for the picking. Such a shame.... Fortunately I'm pretty familiar with picking out bullshit science so I should at least be relatively safe from that.
Anyway, thank you for taking the time to write all that out for me! I really genuinely appreciate it. It's definitely nice to know that, even if it doesn't clear up (which definitely looks to be the boat I'm in), it should at least get easier to deal with over time. It's still pretty hard to ignore, not gonna lie, heh. Still, sorry to hear you went/are going through this too. It sucks. :<
All that sounds like some solid advice- especially the bit about earplugs. Once I'm brave enough to leave the house for anything other than groceries again, I plan on having them with me everywhere I go. Can't let this get any worse, if nothing else!
For now I'll just try and hang in there. Keep myself busy. We'll see how it goes...
Anyway, thank you for taking the time to write all that out for me! I really genuinely appreciate it. It's definitely nice to know that, even if it doesn't clear up (which definitely looks to be the boat I'm in), it should at least get easier to deal with over time. It's still pretty hard to ignore, not gonna lie, heh. Still, sorry to hear you went/are going through this too. It sucks. :<
All that sounds like some solid advice- especially the bit about earplugs. Once I'm brave enough to leave the house for anything other than groceries again, I plan on having them with me everywhere I go. Can't let this get any worse, if nothing else!
For now I'll just try and hang in there. Keep myself busy. We'll see how it goes...
When i was young i had a simular experience during my school years, got to close to a speaker, like.. a few feet and the party started and i was blasted.. i had issues with hearing people for awhile, but ive tried listening to much softer or further sounds im hoping my hearing is ok, but im also glad that you didnt loose your hearing completly, you can recover abit, ive tried hearing much softer sounds for a few years, im not sure if ive had any problems, but i hope that you can still experience a good time, first times can be pretty stressful especially when things dont work out, anyways ive rambled to much, but I hope that you can live and experience life, best of luck to you o7
Adding to the pile of "see a doctor". You should've seen one after the first day. See one now, drop into the ER if you must, just do it. The longer you wait for treatment, the worse it could get and the harder it will be to mitigate it.
If this is day 4 as you indicated, you're 3 days late for help already. Go see a doctor!
If this is day 4 as you indicated, you're 3 days late for help already. Go see a doctor!
It’s never a guarantee, but in most cases I know of the brain learns to filter out the ringing after a while. It doesn’t entirely disappear and it can resurface for indeterminate periods. It does take time though. I had another friend recently who went through the development of severe tinnitus, though I’m not certain that anecdote is comparable enough to your case.
I honestly wish you the best man. To my knowledge there is no cure, but the brain can compensate for the damage done. Talk to your doctor and keep your chin up, you’ll get through this.
I honestly wish you the best man. To my knowledge there is no cure, but the brain can compensate for the damage done. Talk to your doctor and keep your chin up, you’ll get through this.
Fuck man, that's absolutely bullshit. I sincerely hope you recover from this, or at the minimum get the ability to find some way of reducing the pain or intensity or something of it. I have intermittent Tinnitus that I've just had to deal with since I was about six years old. Just something that comes in massive waves that entirely blocks out the sound for anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. My only way of "dealing" with it was simply decades of exposure and practice. The only advice I can think of to give as pathetic as it may be is 'box breathing' techniques to keep your blood pressure as even as you can. Hot showers can vary for me personally, but have helped others a bit that I've heard from. I hope you get through this, I love your art, the writing I've seen you do in the description of your posts is delightful, and your attention to detail is refreshingly acute.
Working with loud cnc machinery my entire work life that's about 25 years now, i can feel you bro and i know how annoying it is.
It must be worse for you because of the high frequency, i'm hearing a deep whoop whoop about 1 ½ times a second. I explained it to my doctor with the song ubap from the band re-flex only that the whoop stays constantly low.
Hope it becomes better for you by time and do not worsening over the next months amd years. But anyway you should see a expert doc asap
It must be worse for you because of the high frequency, i'm hearing a deep whoop whoop about 1 ½ times a second. I explained it to my doctor with the song ubap from the band re-flex only that the whoop stays constantly low.
Hope it becomes better for you by time and do not worsening over the next months amd years. But anyway you should see a expert doc asap
Maaan... I've just got a little bit that comes and goes. White noise drowns it out pretty successfully. If that's not working, I don't have anything constructive--just virtual hugs and sincerest well-wishes.
Apparently there's some reports of doing cochlear implants to calm serious tinnitus. That'd be extremely drastic but, I mean, less drastic than some options. I imagine you'd want to see a doctor sooner rather than later to start the paper trail for that, though, if it's going to come to it.
Apparently there's some reports of doing cochlear implants to calm serious tinnitus. That'd be extremely drastic but, I mean, less drastic than some options. I imagine you'd want to see a doctor sooner rather than later to start the paper trail for that, though, if it's going to come to it.
Ohhh, what you describe is pretty similar to an experience I also had. I was exposed to loud noise and then got pretty loud tinnitus and it was the same process: I was extremely stressed for days and it didn't get better. I also did like a ton of research and as it seems science has still a lot of open questions. I also thought it wouldn't get better, but it eventually did. It took like a week or two to even notice any change. It didn't fully disapear, but it got better. I don't want to say you will have the same experience, but I'd say that you should give it some time and be open for possible outcomes that are not only the worst case.
The phenomenon you mentioned that noise actually just makes it louder is called hyperacusis iirc. That was definitely the most annoying thing for me. It also seems like there are different subtypes of tinnitus. I can confirm that, I have multiple different tinnitus sounds all with their own patterns ("sine wave sound" or noise, high/low frequency, one/both ears etc.) and triggers (stress, loud noise, exercise etc.). Knowing this and seeing other people's descriptions in the internet it seems like tinnitus can be pretty individual and specific. There are not too many options to cure tinnitus, there is some hope this might change in the future. I think one of the most used approaches currently is using cortisone or cortisol (I always forget which one of those) to decrease possible inflammations which can have negative impact on tinnitus. In my case this was suggested too, but it has the side effect of temporarily increasing anxiety which I really didn't want to risk, I was stressed enough at that moment. xD The evil thing is that stress can amplify tinnitus as well (also on the psychological side since stress makes you hyper aware of everything).
To give you some encouraging words: I am a pretty anxious person and I was pretty pessimistic that I'd be able to deal with my tinnitus, but I underestimated the mind's ability to get used to things and to suppress unneeded inputs. At some point I also didn't perceive it as a threat anymore. It's like... my PC fans that also make a continuous sound. I also got an app by my doctor that teaches some psychotherapeutic methods to learn to ignore the tinnitus, but I actually never ended up using it, because I got used to it before I found the motivation to start with the app. So yeah, you can definitely learn to deal with it. And if you can't then therapy is an option.
What I'd recommend:
- Reduce stress as much as possible (yeah, easier said than done, but try your best). What helped me was to get all informations I needed and then to try to get back to a normal life. That made it easier for me to find piece in knowing that I did all I could to improve my situation and to accept everything I couldn't change anymore.
- Avoid loud noise, but you might want to surround yourself with SOME noise, because total silence might be stressful
- Try to actively focus on other things you hear every now and then, that might help to shift your attention away from the tinnitus (I can't say if this helps, because I was very bad at executing it, but I'd say it makes sense)
- Idk if that helps but personally listening to podcasts helps me to distract myself from annoying sounds (also helps me to sleep sometimes)
The phenomenon you mentioned that noise actually just makes it louder is called hyperacusis iirc. That was definitely the most annoying thing for me. It also seems like there are different subtypes of tinnitus. I can confirm that, I have multiple different tinnitus sounds all with their own patterns ("sine wave sound" or noise, high/low frequency, one/both ears etc.) and triggers (stress, loud noise, exercise etc.). Knowing this and seeing other people's descriptions in the internet it seems like tinnitus can be pretty individual and specific. There are not too many options to cure tinnitus, there is some hope this might change in the future. I think one of the most used approaches currently is using cortisone or cortisol (I always forget which one of those) to decrease possible inflammations which can have negative impact on tinnitus. In my case this was suggested too, but it has the side effect of temporarily increasing anxiety which I really didn't want to risk, I was stressed enough at that moment. xD The evil thing is that stress can amplify tinnitus as well (also on the psychological side since stress makes you hyper aware of everything).
To give you some encouraging words: I am a pretty anxious person and I was pretty pessimistic that I'd be able to deal with my tinnitus, but I underestimated the mind's ability to get used to things and to suppress unneeded inputs. At some point I also didn't perceive it as a threat anymore. It's like... my PC fans that also make a continuous sound. I also got an app by my doctor that teaches some psychotherapeutic methods to learn to ignore the tinnitus, but I actually never ended up using it, because I got used to it before I found the motivation to start with the app. So yeah, you can definitely learn to deal with it. And if you can't then therapy is an option.
What I'd recommend:
- Reduce stress as much as possible (yeah, easier said than done, but try your best). What helped me was to get all informations I needed and then to try to get back to a normal life. That made it easier for me to find piece in knowing that I did all I could to improve my situation and to accept everything I couldn't change anymore.
- Avoid loud noise, but you might want to surround yourself with SOME noise, because total silence might be stressful
- Try to actively focus on other things you hear every now and then, that might help to shift your attention away from the tinnitus (I can't say if this helps, because I was very bad at executing it, but I'd say it makes sense)
- Idk if that helps but personally listening to podcasts helps me to distract myself from annoying sounds (also helps me to sleep sometimes)
Back when I was maybe 17, I used to frequent death metal concerts with friends. One in particular, we ended up near the front row, right by one of the speakers. I'm 30 now. The ringing has dropped in intensity, but it never went away. Depending on my blood pressure it can increase or decrease. (Hot shower, thunderstorm, or elevation change = ringing gets louder).
I too had many sleepless nights, and figured that it was just too much and that it wasn't worth going on if that's what it would be for the rest of my days. That being said, it's not life-altering, but is certainly eye-opening. These days, you will never see me operating power tools without hearing protection, or attending concerts or raves without ear plugs.
I too had many sleepless nights, and figured that it was just too much and that it wasn't worth going on if that's what it would be for the rest of my days. That being said, it's not life-altering, but is certainly eye-opening. These days, you will never see me operating power tools without hearing protection, or attending concerts or raves without ear plugs.
It's uncanny how similar that situation is to mine, but I caused my own with a bad decision in a fit of frustration. Mine is very similar, my hearing is still technically good, I could and can still hear up to about 18khz, but the ringing is there. It's been about a couple months or so for mine and I'm sure it's technically no quieter I have tuned it out more. I cherish my hearing, I love music and love to hear the little things in it that most don't seem to. I'm the 192khz FLAC file guy xP
Stress most certainly makes it worse, it makes you focus on it and think it's getting louder which only makes it more stressful. It's hard, but managing stress is important right now and to help that please don't blame yourself. I was depressed for a long while, thinking very similar things, but it does get better.
Stress most certainly makes it worse, it makes you focus on it and think it's getting louder which only makes it more stressful. It's hard, but managing stress is important right now and to help that please don't blame yourself. I was depressed for a long while, thinking very similar things, but it does get better.
I've got tinnitus from both loud music and sporting activities I did with my father as a kid without hearing protection. It's so loud I can hear it through music, through white noise, or anything I try to mask it with; no home remedies/exercises for tinnitus work for me. My hearing is still good like yours, but it's like my brain is just generating this loud, droning noise sitting underneath everything. It's loud and defined enough I can even tell you what note it's playing: it's an F. Poetic.
What I can tell you though, is that even if it doesn't get better, eventually your brain will learn to filter it out to some degree just like how you're not aware you're breathing all the time, or how you're not always aware that you can see your nose.
For most people, this is how it goes for them even if the tinnitus-causing damage is gnarly. As a fellow sufferer of pretty bad tinnitus, this is how it is for me, too. With some time it's likely you'll learn to filter it out somewhat as well.
Now, don't mistake this for your brain turning it off. When you realize your brain is in filter mode or think about it at all, that's the instant it stops filtering; the awareness is back. And given how recent this is, you're gonna be aware of it for some time.
"If this doesn't get better... I don't know if I can do it, guys."
You really, really need to talk to a therapist if this is how you're feeling. If you cannot deal with it, they may be able to give you something to help you not react so viscerally to it.
I don't know who you are, and I'll probably never meet you; but whoever you are, just know that, for what it's worth, some random person on the internet loves you, brother. If you want another friend to talk to, feel free to shoot a DM and I can give you my Discord.
What I can tell you though, is that even if it doesn't get better, eventually your brain will learn to filter it out to some degree just like how you're not aware you're breathing all the time, or how you're not always aware that you can see your nose.
For most people, this is how it goes for them even if the tinnitus-causing damage is gnarly. As a fellow sufferer of pretty bad tinnitus, this is how it is for me, too. With some time it's likely you'll learn to filter it out somewhat as well.
Now, don't mistake this for your brain turning it off. When you realize your brain is in filter mode or think about it at all, that's the instant it stops filtering; the awareness is back. And given how recent this is, you're gonna be aware of it for some time.
"If this doesn't get better... I don't know if I can do it, guys."
You really, really need to talk to a therapist if this is how you're feeling. If you cannot deal with it, they may be able to give you something to help you not react so viscerally to it.
I don't know who you are, and I'll probably never meet you; but whoever you are, just know that, for what it's worth, some random person on the internet loves you, brother. If you want another friend to talk to, feel free to shoot a DM and I can give you my Discord.
Hey Ru, you've got a whole bunch of people here that care about you.
I can't seem to offer any better advice than the one here but there's something I can add, and it's about the "I fucked up" part.
Let me tell you a story.
Back when COVID struck, it was easy for me. Same as you, I'm pretty much a hermit, except that I do have a small social life and it's good enough for me. I've got my partner who I love very much and my dogs who always keep me busy so I'm all settled. I've also worked from home since 2012 so when the lockdowns started it was just another Tuesday for me.
I knew it was going to be a big deal so I decided to take it seriously. I heard it was killing people and we didn't know how bad it would be so I was playing it safe. I had my mask, my disinfectants, everything. I removed my regular outings to none, except maybe walking the dogs, which wasn't a social activity so it was allowed.
One of my dogs is a husky. If you've ever seen a husky you know that they are 1) very dramatic and 2) very mischievous. Mine likes to grab stuff from the street, because he gets the thrill of doing something he's not supposed to do. I'm used to that so I always watch what he's doing.
In one of those walks, I see him munching on something. I open his mouth like a lion tamer does with lions (as I said, we're used to this) and I remove whatever he's eating.
It's a chewed up bubblegum. Of course, chewed up by someone else.
So here I am, having isolated myself (barely more), taken all precautions, preached about the dangers of being exposed and I'm holding someone's chewed bubblegum in my hand.
If I had caught the disease, would you have said I fucked up? I joked that if I got it fate wanted me to have it, like REALLY wanted me to. Made some bad references to the Final Destination movies too.
You didn't fuck up. It was an accident. Or it was going to happen anyways, and that was just the trigger. No one knows, but you can't blame yourself for it. Shit happens.
So... don't roam on that too much. Just focus on the things that can help you (like these comments say) and you'll get back to normal in no time. You've spent most of your life without it, I'm sure you'll be able to go back to it soon.
Big hug from this side of the world.
I can't seem to offer any better advice than the one here but there's something I can add, and it's about the "I fucked up" part.
Let me tell you a story.
Back when COVID struck, it was easy for me. Same as you, I'm pretty much a hermit, except that I do have a small social life and it's good enough for me. I've got my partner who I love very much and my dogs who always keep me busy so I'm all settled. I've also worked from home since 2012 so when the lockdowns started it was just another Tuesday for me.
I knew it was going to be a big deal so I decided to take it seriously. I heard it was killing people and we didn't know how bad it would be so I was playing it safe. I had my mask, my disinfectants, everything. I removed my regular outings to none, except maybe walking the dogs, which wasn't a social activity so it was allowed.
One of my dogs is a husky. If you've ever seen a husky you know that they are 1) very dramatic and 2) very mischievous. Mine likes to grab stuff from the street, because he gets the thrill of doing something he's not supposed to do. I'm used to that so I always watch what he's doing.
In one of those walks, I see him munching on something. I open his mouth like a lion tamer does with lions (as I said, we're used to this) and I remove whatever he's eating.
It's a chewed up bubblegum. Of course, chewed up by someone else.
So here I am, having isolated myself (barely more), taken all precautions, preached about the dangers of being exposed and I'm holding someone's chewed bubblegum in my hand.
If I had caught the disease, would you have said I fucked up? I joked that if I got it fate wanted me to have it, like REALLY wanted me to. Made some bad references to the Final Destination movies too.
You didn't fuck up. It was an accident. Or it was going to happen anyways, and that was just the trigger. No one knows, but you can't blame yourself for it. Shit happens.
So... don't roam on that too much. Just focus on the things that can help you (like these comments say) and you'll get back to normal in no time. You've spent most of your life without it, I'm sure you'll be able to go back to it soon.
Big hug from this side of the world.
Well, you've gotten tons of advice from what I can see, and I'm sure someone's mentioned it, but look into modern earbuds that pair with your phone, some of them have settings to help cancel out some noise while improving voices. Airpods come with that feature on iPhone, I doubt there's not many others that can have them for your phone. At least to help limit exposure.
I will say, that it does seem like you're really stressed out about it, which can likely exacerbate the condition, especially by overthinking it. Easier said than done, but try to find a way to relax, distract yourself, and get something else on your mind. I know a lotta people with tinnitus tend to just have some music always playing in the bg, not very loud, among other things, which can help mask it a bit.
I hope this doesn't turn you off of going to any further in-person events in the future. I know it's hard to get yourself out there, it took me much longer than I would've liked to as well, and this is a pretty negative experience that came along with it, but hopefully you can perhaps ask the management to lower the sound if it's at the same venue, and especially if you have those earbuds on, it'll help a lot at managing it. You can also ask your locals what they do for it too. Plenty of people are really sensitive to loudness, especially neurodivergent people (which furries have a lot of), and they might have some good options, or information about which events are easier for them to attend.
As a now experienced shy person, I've met my best friends through the local furry community, as well as online, and I hope you feel welcome at those places too ^^
If you go again to an event and you find yourself feeling like everything's a bit too loud, maybe ask if the people you meet would like to talk just outside too, or see if there's a quieter spot in the location too.
My dad deals with hearing loss, not for any direct damage like loud noises, just kinda the hand he's been dealt. It's hard, but it's not impossible to manage either, especially with modern technology and medicine. Hopefully yours clears up and gets more manageable. Good luck, do your best, and you'll be okay <3
I will say, that it does seem like you're really stressed out about it, which can likely exacerbate the condition, especially by overthinking it. Easier said than done, but try to find a way to relax, distract yourself, and get something else on your mind. I know a lotta people with tinnitus tend to just have some music always playing in the bg, not very loud, among other things, which can help mask it a bit.
I hope this doesn't turn you off of going to any further in-person events in the future. I know it's hard to get yourself out there, it took me much longer than I would've liked to as well, and this is a pretty negative experience that came along with it, but hopefully you can perhaps ask the management to lower the sound if it's at the same venue, and especially if you have those earbuds on, it'll help a lot at managing it. You can also ask your locals what they do for it too. Plenty of people are really sensitive to loudness, especially neurodivergent people (which furries have a lot of), and they might have some good options, or information about which events are easier for them to attend.
As a now experienced shy person, I've met my best friends through the local furry community, as well as online, and I hope you feel welcome at those places too ^^
If you go again to an event and you find yourself feeling like everything's a bit too loud, maybe ask if the people you meet would like to talk just outside too, or see if there's a quieter spot in the location too.
My dad deals with hearing loss, not for any direct damage like loud noises, just kinda the hand he's been dealt. It's hard, but it's not impossible to manage either, especially with modern technology and medicine. Hopefully yours clears up and gets more manageable. Good luck, do your best, and you'll be okay <3
I agree with a lot of people on here definitely seek a doctor. I know this is a terrifying experience, but with enough time I'm sure you can work through this. As long as you try your best to be positive and try your hardest the next time, and the next time, and even the next after that always improving if even by a little bit.
Oh shit no way- yeah we should absolutely at least chat sometime, I've been trying to meet and get to know some locals for a while now. I just wish it were under better circumstances. :P
I'm a little down right now due to recent events so wouldn't be the best conversation partner, and I'm kinda mostly avoiding it for the time being anyway, I need a little time to just... deal. But, in a couple of weeks when I'm hopefully feeling better, I may swing by and give you a poke, or absolutely you can reach out to me and let's shoot the breeze a bit or something. :3
I'm a little down right now due to recent events so wouldn't be the best conversation partner, and I'm kinda mostly avoiding it for the time being anyway, I need a little time to just... deal. But, in a couple of weeks when I'm hopefully feeling better, I may swing by and give you a poke, or absolutely you can reach out to me and let's shoot the breeze a bit or something. :3
I had a similar experience with a super loud noise damaging my ears a few years ago (I wasn't even doing something cool like clubbing, I was in a marching band and one of the trombonists played directly into my ear XD). It was similar to what you're describing where there's a ringing so loud that you can't hear over it, but for me it was only in one ear, and in addition to the ringing I had a lot of pressure, like you feel when you get an ear infection.
It wasn't getting any better and I was really really worried that I was going to have it forever so I ended up going to an audiologist about it.
Apparently the ringing and pressure was caused by inflammation in the inner ear, but the inflammation was there because the body causes inflammation as part of the healing process. So it was normal that I was still getting ringing even a week+ after. The analogy my audiologist used was "if you broke your arm, would you expect it to stop hurting in just a few weeks? It's the same thing here, the inside of your ear is deeply injured so it's going to take a while to heal back up". So you're probably just still healing!
She told me to basically treat it like I had broken my arm and to get lots of water, rest, avoid strenuous activity and alcohol, etc. etc. I mentioned that I was having trouble sleeping because of the discomfort and she told me to do some breathing exercises before bed (which... TBH when my audiologist assigned me breathing exercises in my head I was like "are you being serious right now" but it really did help me calm down, might be something worth trying!)
I followed her advice and the pressure went away in another week or so, but the ringing stayed on for probably close to a month before it started getting better. My recovery trajectory was apparently pretty common, so I have a lot of hope you'll get better too!
One last thing, try not to put too much weight on how many people you read about on the Internet who get tinnitus permanently and never recover! I also had some pretty bad anxiety about it being permanent and I ended up like, doomscrolling on TinnitusTalk but I'm realizing now that that's actually a super biased place to be looking, nobody who got better has any reason to be talking about it on a specialist forum XD
Take it easy and keep your chin up, I know you'll bounce back from this!
It wasn't getting any better and I was really really worried that I was going to have it forever so I ended up going to an audiologist about it.
Apparently the ringing and pressure was caused by inflammation in the inner ear, but the inflammation was there because the body causes inflammation as part of the healing process. So it was normal that I was still getting ringing even a week+ after. The analogy my audiologist used was "if you broke your arm, would you expect it to stop hurting in just a few weeks? It's the same thing here, the inside of your ear is deeply injured so it's going to take a while to heal back up". So you're probably just still healing!
She told me to basically treat it like I had broken my arm and to get lots of water, rest, avoid strenuous activity and alcohol, etc. etc. I mentioned that I was having trouble sleeping because of the discomfort and she told me to do some breathing exercises before bed (which... TBH when my audiologist assigned me breathing exercises in my head I was like "are you being serious right now" but it really did help me calm down, might be something worth trying!)
I followed her advice and the pressure went away in another week or so, but the ringing stayed on for probably close to a month before it started getting better. My recovery trajectory was apparently pretty common, so I have a lot of hope you'll get better too!
One last thing, try not to put too much weight on how many people you read about on the Internet who get tinnitus permanently and never recover! I also had some pretty bad anxiety about it being permanent and I ended up like, doomscrolling on TinnitusTalk but I'm realizing now that that's actually a super biased place to be looking, nobody who got better has any reason to be talking about it on a specialist forum XD
Take it easy and keep your chin up, I know you'll bounce back from this!
I never mentioned it, but yeah, this is exactly what I'm having. It's not just the ringing, it's also sore and there's a lot of pressure. I really messed 'em up good...
Thanks for sharing. I'll admit it's hard to have too much hope right now, it doesn't feel like it's changing at all so it's hard to imagine it getting better right now. I'm not super optimistic, but I'll hold on to a sliver of hope for now. If yours got better, maybe mine can too.
Thanks for sharing. I'll admit it's hard to have too much hope right now, it doesn't feel like it's changing at all so it's hard to imagine it getting better right now. I'm not super optimistic, but I'll hold on to a sliver of hope for now. If yours got better, maybe mine can too.
Oh no, I absolutely agree with you. I'm not saying men shouldn't cry... I'm just saying, whether it's right or wrong, most guys kind of have it bullied out of them at a young age. I'm no exception. And to be fair, I don't usually have a lot of reason to, but even when I am feeling down I usually push it to the side and try and ignore it. I just... couldn't with this one. The fact that I made a silly mistake and now might have to deal with permanent consequences is... a lot to handle.
But, I'm doing a little better today. One day at a time, and such. :3
But, I'm doing a little better today. One day at a time, and such. :3
I hope that it gets better for you. Hopefully it is as some people have suggested and you will get better. A visit to a doctor is also not a bad idea. At minimum maybe they can give you peace of mind.
I can't offer medical advice but what I would say is that good for you for getting out there, but my advise is mostly about how I know my own preferences and limits. I generally prefer small cons because I can't handle a lot of activity at once like the big ones seem to, in part because my partner is disabled and also it can bother my anxiety. But smaller cons seem just our collective speed. I go to Star Trek cons because they're a different animal and very fun despite the crowds, which are well organized and seemingly like clockwork. My advice to you is that when you get better, don't feel obligated to go places you're not comfortable, or stay if it's too loud or whatever may be the case. Find what suits you. *hugs*
Much luck with your recovery.
I can't offer medical advice but what I would say is that good for you for getting out there, but my advise is mostly about how I know my own preferences and limits. I generally prefer small cons because I can't handle a lot of activity at once like the big ones seem to, in part because my partner is disabled and also it can bother my anxiety. But smaller cons seem just our collective speed. I go to Star Trek cons because they're a different animal and very fun despite the crowds, which are well organized and seemingly like clockwork. My advice to you is that when you get better, don't feel obligated to go places you're not comfortable, or stay if it's too loud or whatever may be the case. Find what suits you. *hugs*
Much luck with your recovery.
I am so sorry to hear about that, that is awful and frustrating, and sadly I know how you feel. Tinnitus is really frustrating, and I've cried sometimes due to it.
I don't know how much this will help, but here are some of my advice.
First, absolutely see a doctor. Even if there is no "cure" for tinnitus, it would be good for a doctor to check you out and make sure there isn't any physical damage to anything. I know it may sound weird, but the peace of mind may help keep yourself calm with this.
They might also offer some suggestions, or maybe recommend specialists or other treatments. I know when I saw a doctor about it, they recommended physical therapy, which I believe is called "Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy". That might be something to bring up with them as well.
Doing some independent research may help as well. There are websites that may offer some advice or techniques that may help.
Second, masking tinnitus is frustrating, but doable. A lot of people recommend white noise or grey noise, and for me it can be helpful, as well as other things like rain and thunderstorm sounds. The idea is not to drown out the tinnitus, but kind of mask it. Finding a frequency that kinda matches what you're hearing may help alleviate some of the pain and frustration.
I recommend a website called 'MyNoise.net', it has a lot of looping ambient and noise sounds, from natural sounds to binaural waves that might help. They even have a "Tinnitus Neuromodulator", a sound generator that sounds odd, but for me has helped out a lot.
Other things like having a fan running or some music may also help out a lot. I know that there are also special devices that can help, I heard stories about William Shatnrr's own struggles with tinnitus and he had a device that helped with it.
If you're having trouble with sleep, then a sleep aid might help out, melatonin or something like Zzzquil may help sleep and kind of bypass the sound.
I know this is incredibly frustrating, but one of the best things to try and do is stay calm. This could be temporary and will ease off with time, so try not to loose faith, you may just need to give yourself time.
I don't know if any of this will be helpful, but I hope for the best for you. Don't lose hope.
Here are the links to MyNoise that I recommend, if you want to take the time to check them out, I do hope it helps.
MyNoise.net - https://mynoise.net/
Tinnitus Neuromodulator - https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/n.....sGenerator.php
I don't know how much this will help, but here are some of my advice.
First, absolutely see a doctor. Even if there is no "cure" for tinnitus, it would be good for a doctor to check you out and make sure there isn't any physical damage to anything. I know it may sound weird, but the peace of mind may help keep yourself calm with this.
They might also offer some suggestions, or maybe recommend specialists or other treatments. I know when I saw a doctor about it, they recommended physical therapy, which I believe is called "Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy". That might be something to bring up with them as well.
Doing some independent research may help as well. There are websites that may offer some advice or techniques that may help.
Second, masking tinnitus is frustrating, but doable. A lot of people recommend white noise or grey noise, and for me it can be helpful, as well as other things like rain and thunderstorm sounds. The idea is not to drown out the tinnitus, but kind of mask it. Finding a frequency that kinda matches what you're hearing may help alleviate some of the pain and frustration.
I recommend a website called 'MyNoise.net', it has a lot of looping ambient and noise sounds, from natural sounds to binaural waves that might help. They even have a "Tinnitus Neuromodulator", a sound generator that sounds odd, but for me has helped out a lot.
Other things like having a fan running or some music may also help out a lot. I know that there are also special devices that can help, I heard stories about William Shatnrr's own struggles with tinnitus and he had a device that helped with it.
If you're having trouble with sleep, then a sleep aid might help out, melatonin or something like Zzzquil may help sleep and kind of bypass the sound.
I know this is incredibly frustrating, but one of the best things to try and do is stay calm. This could be temporary and will ease off with time, so try not to loose faith, you may just need to give yourself time.
I don't know if any of this will be helpful, but I hope for the best for you. Don't lose hope.
Here are the links to MyNoise that I recommend, if you want to take the time to check them out, I do hope it helps.
MyNoise.net - https://mynoise.net/
Tinnitus Neuromodulator - https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/n.....sGenerator.php
Try exercise. You exhaust your body (naturally) to a point that your body tells your mind "I need to rest", and you sorta just pass out. Works for me. I cant sleep without a fan on a normal night. But at times I have gotten myself so worn out, I pass out without a second thought.
Oh god. I know exactly what it's like to have sensitive hearing. I went to a concert with a "friend" once a long time ago... and had to step out and grab toilet paper or paper towel or something to make makeshift earplugs in order to handle being there until it was over. I never went to an event like that again and I've stayed hypervigilant about things that hurt my ears. >_<
Extremely glad I was careful there, but I'm so sorry that happened to you... Please do see a doctor about it if you haven't already, even if you think it won't help. Even if it just confirms what you think, that's better than toughing it out alone and being "fairly sure".
Extremely glad I was careful there, but I'm so sorry that happened to you... Please do see a doctor about it if you haven't already, even if you think it won't help. Even if it just confirms what you think, that's better than toughing it out alone and being "fairly sure".
I've had tinnitus in my right ear for about a year now and, while it does suck, it goes get better. Like others have said go to the doctor and try some if the suggestions, there's ways that it can be reduced or helped, and who knows it might just be temporary.
But even in a worst case scenario, you will get used to it to the point that you'll not even really notice it anymore. I think it took me about a month but after that unless I'm really focusing on it I don't even notice the ringing.
But yeah ears are surprisingly sensitive. If you go anywhere where loud noises are expected please bring ear muffs or something
But even in a worst case scenario, you will get used to it to the point that you'll not even really notice it anymore. I think it took me about a month but after that unless I'm really focusing on it I don't even notice the ringing.
But yeah ears are surprisingly sensitive. If you go anywhere where loud noises are expected please bring ear muffs or something
I think somebody else also linked it, but I highly suggest spending some time with this tool https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/n.....sGenerator.php
Other than that, see a doctor if you can. There can be a lot of reasons and causes and dever symptoms. There's a reason there are proffesionals for this kind of thing.
Other than that, see a doctor if you can. There can be a lot of reasons and causes and dever symptoms. There's a reason there are proffesionals for this kind of thing.
I sincerely hope you'll get better! You are very brave to step out of your comfort zone and try something new - that’s huge in my opinion. Seriously, like pushing through anxiety to connect with people *IRL* nontheless - takes real courage. But yeah it must be overwhelming and terrifying with the tinnitus, especially the timing of it being when you were just trying to open up to new experiences.
But to make it clear - this isn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known how your body would react cuz bodies are wildly different - some people walk away unscathed from loud environments, others may not. It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. And it’s okay to grieve. Crying isn’t weakness - it’s your body releasing the weight of this shock.
Also yeah - get with an ENT specialist as soon as you can. Tinnitus, as far as i understand, can sometimes be managed or improved with early intervention, even if it feels unrelenting right now.
This isn’t the end of your story. You took a brave step toward living more fully, and that spirit should still be in you. Focus on getting you help and care first. One day at a time. We’re all here for you, sweetheart
But to make it clear - this isn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known how your body would react cuz bodies are wildly different - some people walk away unscathed from loud environments, others may not. It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. And it’s okay to grieve. Crying isn’t weakness - it’s your body releasing the weight of this shock.
Also yeah - get with an ENT specialist as soon as you can. Tinnitus, as far as i understand, can sometimes be managed or improved with early intervention, even if it feels unrelenting right now.
This isn’t the end of your story. You took a brave step toward living more fully, and that spirit should still be in you. Focus on getting you help and care first. One day at a time. We’re all here for you, sweetheart
From one hermit to another, it's probably just stress from the disrupted routine. I don't mean to downplay your condition, for you it must be hell in the moment. It will pass one day. Until then try to treat the inside of your head as if you would a best friend. Mental infighting or judging of self actions only help to prolong the stress.
But hey also see a doctor, I'm just some guy on the internet. Good luck.
But hey also see a doctor, I'm just some guy on the internet. Good luck.
I'm sorry you're having to endure this. I'm sure the lack of sleep doesn't help.
If it's of any comfort at all, this sounds very much like an acute injury. It's only been a few days and your ears are still healing. I'm not saying there definitely won't be a long term problem, but even if there is, I really don't think it will be as bad as it is right now.
And on the outside chance that it does remain this bad - while it's hard to imagine right now, you will adapt. It may continue to be unpleasant but you will be able to function and you will be able to sleep.
But it's still far too early to throw in the towel. As others have suggested, seeing a doctor is a good idea. I think you'll see improvement in the coming days and weeks. Easier said than done, perhaps, but try to relax and let your body do its thing.
By the way, I don't think you fucked up! As a fellow socially anxious hermit, I think it's great that you pushed through it and moved out of your comfort zone. I'm sorry it turned out this way and I hope you won't let it dissuade you from future attempts. You're doing a good thing.
If it's of any comfort at all, this sounds very much like an acute injury. It's only been a few days and your ears are still healing. I'm not saying there definitely won't be a long term problem, but even if there is, I really don't think it will be as bad as it is right now.
And on the outside chance that it does remain this bad - while it's hard to imagine right now, you will adapt. It may continue to be unpleasant but you will be able to function and you will be able to sleep.
But it's still far too early to throw in the towel. As others have suggested, seeing a doctor is a good idea. I think you'll see improvement in the coming days and weeks. Easier said than done, perhaps, but try to relax and let your body do its thing.
By the way, I don't think you fucked up! As a fellow socially anxious hermit, I think it's great that you pushed through it and moved out of your comfort zone. I'm sorry it turned out this way and I hope you won't let it dissuade you from future attempts. You're doing a good thing.
How long has it been since the sound exposure? Permanent damage is usually associated with longer term and frequent exposure outside of safe ranges.
I'm very sorry to hear you are suffering right now, and that must be even more stressful if you are someone who gets anxious easily.
It would be surprising/unusual for one night of loud music to be the cause of permanent tinnitus. Following up with a doctor is always a good idea, like everyone says, but I don't think you should let your fears run away with you- if it was very recent and just inside of a few days there's a good chance things are still okay.
Hopeful for you!
I'm very sorry to hear you are suffering right now, and that must be even more stressful if you are someone who gets anxious easily.
It would be surprising/unusual for one night of loud music to be the cause of permanent tinnitus. Following up with a doctor is always a good idea, like everyone says, but I don't think you should let your fears run away with you- if it was very recent and just inside of a few days there's a good chance things are still okay.
Hopeful for you!
You did all right, no fuck ups. You couldn't know it even possibly will cause that.
And that isn't normal at all, sorry for being cpt. Obvious.
But, what I mean is - there is no evidence it's just a tinnitus. It's too severe.
There might be other causes, noone would tell without medical checkup.
Please, don't hesitate to check your health, don't just trust internet.
And that isn't normal at all, sorry for being cpt. Obvious.
But, what I mean is - there is no evidence it's just a tinnitus. It's too severe.
There might be other causes, noone would tell without medical checkup.
Please, don't hesitate to check your health, don't just trust internet.
I am so sorry! I feel the same and everytime I try to change something it is very exhausting and I can't enjoy what others enjoy. It is just a pain.
But yea we have to push through that and one day I am sure it will work. Especially since you made a contact there you achieved a lot!
Stay in contact and try to do what you like to do.
But the Tinnitus is a really annyoing thing. I had one my whole life and it got better since I started my therapy and focussed on understanding myself better to become stronger. As I also assume you are sitting a lot in front of your PC I think you might have a muscle tension Tinnitus that will get better if you try some streching exercises, do some fitness and take a hot bath with some relaxing oils. It really works for me so maybe you could try it, too.
I once had one of these loud music Tinnituses but it went away the next day, but I don't think (or at least really hope) yours is permanently, either. From what you write it seems you are focussing very much on it and this makes them worse. Panic, fear, desperation, depression are all causes and reasons for Tinnitus to appear or stay.
But don't worry, the first I would try are these techniques I mentioned: careful and gentle neck and back streching and a hot bath.
I know it is easier said than done but focus on relaxing for now and maybe try out to take 150-300mg of magnesium before going to sleep.
If you are able to buy a sleeping pill (please don't take them more than 2-4 days in a row) then try out Diphenhydraminhydrochloride 25mg (50mg if it doesn't work after 30-50minutes) before going to sleep. Don't stay at any screen and maybe just listen to some music and let this medicine cutoff the thought spirals. It is not one of those highly addictive agents and just makes your head feel "empty" and makes you feel tired by making you unable to think too much. It was originally developed against allergies but worked better for sleeping problems.
But yea we have to push through that and one day I am sure it will work. Especially since you made a contact there you achieved a lot!
Stay in contact and try to do what you like to do.
But the Tinnitus is a really annyoing thing. I had one my whole life and it got better since I started my therapy and focussed on understanding myself better to become stronger. As I also assume you are sitting a lot in front of your PC I think you might have a muscle tension Tinnitus that will get better if you try some streching exercises, do some fitness and take a hot bath with some relaxing oils. It really works for me so maybe you could try it, too.
I once had one of these loud music Tinnituses but it went away the next day, but I don't think (or at least really hope) yours is permanently, either. From what you write it seems you are focussing very much on it and this makes them worse. Panic, fear, desperation, depression are all causes and reasons for Tinnitus to appear or stay.
But don't worry, the first I would try are these techniques I mentioned: careful and gentle neck and back streching and a hot bath.
I know it is easier said than done but focus on relaxing for now and maybe try out to take 150-300mg of magnesium before going to sleep.
If you are able to buy a sleeping pill (please don't take them more than 2-4 days in a row) then try out Diphenhydraminhydrochloride 25mg (50mg if it doesn't work after 30-50minutes) before going to sleep. Don't stay at any screen and maybe just listen to some music and let this medicine cutoff the thought spirals. It is not one of those highly addictive agents and just makes your head feel "empty" and makes you feel tired by making you unable to think too much. It was originally developed against allergies but worked better for sleeping problems.
You didn't fuck up.
You are just normal and did not blow your hearing away earlier.
I do not attend "parties" and concerts anymore since it has gotten just much to loud.
When I was young our speakers had 50 Watts. And of course we maxed the Amps out. Pretty loud of course, but nothing compared to "dances" nowadays with several thousands watts.
Consult a doctor and try find people enjoying nature instead. Older people got a lot of other occasions to meet than dances. I know, I am old.
You are just normal and did not blow your hearing away earlier.
I do not attend "parties" and concerts anymore since it has gotten just much to loud.
When I was young our speakers had 50 Watts. And of course we maxed the Amps out. Pretty loud of course, but nothing compared to "dances" nowadays with several thousands watts.
Consult a doctor and try find people enjoying nature instead. Older people got a lot of other occasions to meet than dances. I know, I am old.
Speaking of events that you can go to and expand your social circle or knowledge.
The only thing I don't know is how common this topic is and how the selection process works. But I recently learned about such a topic as volunteer searchers.
And it's funny, but the channel that I came across initially seemed like just another channel about funny cats.
In this case, a hellish cat.)
But then suddenly there appears a short about searching for a corpse and I'm like "what"?
After watching the video on the channel, I became very interested in this topic because I myself like to go out into the forest with friends and dogs and go crazy there. (In a good way.)
And perhaps the channel will seem interesting to you. But it's better to turn on subtitles there.
https://youtube.com/@terskovski?si=.....AtznNxtAgoHHHY
The only thing I don't know is how common this topic is and how the selection process works. But I recently learned about such a topic as volunteer searchers.
And it's funny, but the channel that I came across initially seemed like just another channel about funny cats.
In this case, a hellish cat.)
But then suddenly there appears a short about searching for a corpse and I'm like "what"?
After watching the video on the channel, I became very interested in this topic because I myself like to go out into the forest with friends and dogs and go crazy there. (In a good way.)
And perhaps the channel will seem interesting to you. But it's better to turn on subtitles there.
https://youtube.com/@terskovski?si=.....AtznNxtAgoHHHY
I had a similar experience when I went to a concert in Finland for the first time (I didn't even know I should have taken earplugs). It lasted for about 2-3 days, then it started to go away gradually. It went away completely on the 5th day or so.
I really hope you feel better very soon. However, if you don't see any improvement within 3 days, it's probably best to see a doctor... Take care!
I really hope you feel better very soon. However, if you don't see any improvement within 3 days, it's probably best to see a doctor... Take care!
Here in Finland, getting a doctor's appointment is not very easy either and takes a couple weeks. But in case of urgent cases you can go to the emergency room (Päivystys in Finland) without an appointment - they assess the condition on the spot and, as it was in my case, arrange a doctor's examination within half an hour. I can't say if this is the same in your country of residence, but I think it's worth a try.
It is not very pleasant to spend 5 days in such a condition, and if there is no improvement at all, the emergency room is worth it.
It is not very pleasant to spend 5 days in such a condition, and if there is no improvement at all, the emergency room is worth it.
Actually just went to the ER today. It went about how I expected... they checked to make sure there was no obvious serious damage, and it sounds like they'll be getting me an appointment with an audiologist, but other than that told me I'd probably just basically have to deal with it. Not much they can do.
But oh well. If this is permanent, I'll at least know I gave it a try and that'll help somewhat.
But oh well. If this is permanent, I'll at least know I gave it a try and that'll help somewhat.
The fact that they examined your ears is a very good thing. No physical damage is a very good thing. I'm not a medical expert, but it could sound like a nerve problem - after a lot of exposure, it could be kind of overexcited and still send a signal. If there is such a thing as carvalol available in pharmacies in your country, it might help in such a case as a temporary stuff.
I wish I had more knowledge to be able to help, but unfortunately I am far from being a doctor. But the fact that you have been examined at the ER is very good - now you are definitely on the road to recovery! It may seem like a permanent feeling at times of greatest discomfort, but I'm sure you'll feel better soon!
I wish I had more knowledge to be able to help, but unfortunately I am far from being a doctor. But the fact that you have been examined at the ER is very good - now you are definitely on the road to recovery! It may seem like a permanent feeling at times of greatest discomfort, but I'm sure you'll feel better soon!
Hey hey hey… deep breaths! As a satyr who has spent years in bands, I’ve had a few scares myself. Go see your doc, but know that this will almost certainly go away. If no one else was bothered, you’re probably alright.
About a year ago o had my first rehearsal with an in-ear monitoring system and I was Doing It Wrong - I felt the exact fear that you’re feeling. And music has been my professional life, source of pride, social life, and free travel ticket for 20+ years. It’s truly terrifying and I hope you have a friend who can give you a big hug. But know that you’re proooobably fine. ❤️😈🎶
About a year ago o had my first rehearsal with an in-ear monitoring system and I was Doing It Wrong - I felt the exact fear that you’re feeling. And music has been my professional life, source of pride, social life, and free travel ticket for 20+ years. It’s truly terrifying and I hope you have a friend who can give you a big hug. But know that you’re proooobably fine. ❤️😈🎶
This breaks my heart. I'm wishing you the best. I've had tinnitus since I was 13 and sat in front of the percussion section every day in middle school band.
Do try to remain hopeful. Many injuries do not heal in mere days or even weeks. It sounds like you listened to your body.
I do think a doc visit is in order if possible. Best of luck.
Do try to remain hopeful. Many injuries do not heal in mere days or even weeks. It sounds like you listened to your body.
I do think a doc visit is in order if possible. Best of luck.
As someone heavily into firearms I'm well versed in trying to protect hearing and as many others have said, GO TO A DOCTOR. Your condition may, hell probably will improve, but this is NOT a chance you want to gamble with. Beg, borrow, steal, go to the E.R. What ever you have to do to get your ears looked at within about the first two weeks. I am so terrified of medical BS I've put off getting checked out for what many consider way worse symptoms, but not hearing. Don't know if that's something you deal with but the point is that no matter your headspace or anxieties if there's one single thing you push through them for make it be this.
My advice would be try to see different doctors if you can afford it and see if they have any idea how to solve your health problem. Maybe try international doctors not only in your own country. Try online consultations. There is always hope and things you can do. Community giving you a lot of support so don't give up!
I feel you there, I do also have an issue with my 'ears' that is not nearly as bad as what you have, but doctors either told me that it is normal or that I 'invented' myself a rare illness.
Anyway, I bought myself a nasal spray ('metsandia') to reduce allergic swelling and it works on the annoying sound too - turns out my twitching sound is made by my eustachian tube which connects ear and nose.
It took me 3 years to find this treatment ... but now I don't even really need it. I hope you find something like that soon for yourself, I only managed to because I remembered that this issue started after I stopped using a spray like that.
So even if this may sound stupid - if silence does not work, maybe loud music / sound can help you overshadow the the ringing? This is not scientific in any way, but if sound caused the issue, it may be a solution. I really wish I had something better to tell you, I really do. I just know that when my ears were ringing in the past, I played sounds of heavy rain until I could no longer hear it... and eventually it went away -
Anyway, I bought myself a nasal spray ('metsandia') to reduce allergic swelling and it works on the annoying sound too - turns out my twitching sound is made by my eustachian tube which connects ear and nose.
It took me 3 years to find this treatment ... but now I don't even really need it. I hope you find something like that soon for yourself, I only managed to because I remembered that this issue started after I stopped using a spray like that.
So even if this may sound stupid - if silence does not work, maybe loud music / sound can help you overshadow the the ringing? This is not scientific in any way, but if sound caused the issue, it may be a solution. I really wish I had something better to tell you, I really do. I just know that when my ears were ringing in the past, I played sounds of heavy rain until I could no longer hear it... and eventually it went away -
i know lots of ppl have already probably parroted what im saying but just in case im blind ;
i highly recommend getting in touch with an ENT specialist , not just a regular PCP or ER doc will be able to really dig deep into the knowledge of your innerworkings of the Messed Up Ear.
speaking from experience, and as someone who was just told by my first ever ENT that I have a hyper sensitive issue which makes you way more susceptible to , well, everything - which includes getting injuries to your ears, migraines, or even feeling damned uncomfortable with the temperature fluctuating 1 degree in an hour, it's not that rare but it's still not that common. b/c you're the only one dealing with this, you might've just be a little extra sensitive to your surroundings, including sound itself.
even if it's not something that can be fixed asap, it's not something you should tear yourself down for. having no knowledge of how your body will respond to something isnt a fault. im hoping it'll begin to subside soon, having this level of intense ringing is damned fkn miserable and i feel for you.
ears are hell. sending you healing vibes passm
i highly recommend getting in touch with an ENT specialist , not just a regular PCP or ER doc will be able to really dig deep into the knowledge of your innerworkings of the Messed Up Ear.
speaking from experience, and as someone who was just told by my first ever ENT that I have a hyper sensitive issue which makes you way more susceptible to , well, everything - which includes getting injuries to your ears, migraines, or even feeling damned uncomfortable with the temperature fluctuating 1 degree in an hour, it's not that rare but it's still not that common. b/c you're the only one dealing with this, you might've just be a little extra sensitive to your surroundings, including sound itself.
even if it's not something that can be fixed asap, it's not something you should tear yourself down for. having no knowledge of how your body will respond to something isnt a fault. im hoping it'll begin to subside soon, having this level of intense ringing is damned fkn miserable and i feel for you.
ears are hell. sending you healing vibes passm
Know that feel.
I have it too. Only at some point, it wasn't just tinnitus, but a noise like a jackhammer was working in my left ear. Then it changed to just tinnitus. The doctor said it was an inflammation of the ear nerve.
When it begins, I think I will die from constant noise in my head.
But I got used to it, and it's still with me, but it doesn`t bother me much. So don`t give up! It WILL be better.
The doctor prescribed me Betahistine. So I recommend seeing a doctor if you haven't already, as timely treatment can significantly alleviate symptoms.
Another thing I realized is that mental state has a big impact on tinnitus - exercises aimed at calming me down helped me.
And also - it helped me to mask the ringing in my ears with soft music, which distracted my attention from the noise in my head. I hope you get better soon, please hang in there; the first few days are the hardest, then it will get better. My thoughts are with you.
I have it too. Only at some point, it wasn't just tinnitus, but a noise like a jackhammer was working in my left ear. Then it changed to just tinnitus. The doctor said it was an inflammation of the ear nerve.
When it begins, I think I will die from constant noise in my head.
But I got used to it, and it's still with me, but it doesn`t bother me much. So don`t give up! It WILL be better.
The doctor prescribed me Betahistine. So I recommend seeing a doctor if you haven't already, as timely treatment can significantly alleviate symptoms.
Another thing I realized is that mental state has a big impact on tinnitus - exercises aimed at calming me down helped me.
And also - it helped me to mask the ringing in my ears with soft music, which distracted my attention from the noise in my head. I hope you get better soon, please hang in there; the first few days are the hardest, then it will get better. My thoughts are with you.
please surround yourself with friends/family members that can help you in this dark time. Call them and tell them everything that is happening. Tell them how you feel, tell them what you need please please do. Dont isolate dont google too much dont waste time speculating (that is for professionals to figure out). Ask for help!!!
It's gonna be alright, don't worry! I know it sucks but I had this happen on multiple occasions (and burst ear drums) - you have something called the Absolute Threshold of Hearing, which is basically like wading into a pool of sound vs canon-balling into it (Which can lead to the ringing or eardrum ruptures.)
It will heal and fade and you probably won't even notice at first, honestly - it's a pain in the ass to have and feels gross but for me it went away in a month or two. Just don't mess with your ear pressure too much or listen to loud stuff if you've got a ruptured drum and it should be a-okay!
(I have horrid ear infections with narrow ear canals and lots of ear trauma, I completely get where you're coming from!)
It will heal and fade and you probably won't even notice at first, honestly - it's a pain in the ass to have and feels gross but for me it went away in a month or two. Just don't mess with your ear pressure too much or listen to loud stuff if you've got a ruptured drum and it should be a-okay!
(I have horrid ear infections with narrow ear canals and lots of ear trauma, I completely get where you're coming from!)
You need to see an Ear Nose and Throat doctor. If you have a primary care physician please ask for a hearing test to be run, there is a chance you have a rupture.
In 2012 I got slapped upside the left side of my face, the gal managed to clap one of my ears and that instantly ruptured my eardrum. I couldn't hear out of that ear for months, and had lots of ringing. I also have tinnitus in general, it comes and goes and I have multiple causes of it that I check off including some nervous system disorder.
Severity of the damage can be really important. You could be disabled, minimum you need to track receipts from that ER Visit. If that happens, I would open up a civil suit for damage by the club. The venue has a responsibility not to harm its clientele.
In 2012 I got slapped upside the left side of my face, the gal managed to clap one of my ears and that instantly ruptured my eardrum. I couldn't hear out of that ear for months, and had lots of ringing. I also have tinnitus in general, it comes and goes and I have multiple causes of it that I check off including some nervous system disorder.
Severity of the damage can be really important. You could be disabled, minimum you need to track receipts from that ER Visit. If that happens, I would open up a civil suit for damage by the club. The venue has a responsibility not to harm its clientele.
I don't know much about Canada's laws for disability protections. I can however recommend this government page if you need a quick-ish rundown. Canada's disability framework
This isn't going to help now, but to prevent it from getting worse in the future, always bring some ear protection.
Either some headphones that are somewhat isolating or earplugs. You can find small earplug cases that are really easy to carry in your pocket and if you notice thing are loud, just pop 'em in.
I hope the ringing dies down, though. I've got pretty severe tinnitus myself (goes in waves from "bearable" to "no sleep tonight, I guess"), so I know how much it f--king sucks! Only remedy I have is that I sometimes sleep with earplugs and when I wake up, it's died down a bit, but that's purely anecdotal.
Either some headphones that are somewhat isolating or earplugs. You can find small earplug cases that are really easy to carry in your pocket and if you notice thing are loud, just pop 'em in.
I hope the ringing dies down, though. I've got pretty severe tinnitus myself (goes in waves from "bearable" to "no sleep tonight, I guess"), so I know how much it f--king sucks! Only remedy I have is that I sometimes sleep with earplugs and when I wake up, it's died down a bit, but that's purely anecdotal.
I'm spending most of my time curled up in a sadness burrito on the couch lately, but my plan is to get a decent set of earplugs and keep them with me at all times when I start venturing out into the world regularly again. Not letting this shit ever happen again. Even if it's not going to get better, I'm sure as hell not going to let it get worse if I can help it.
Hey, I can say 100% that you can get some treatment for tinnitus beyond that. If you're on any medications talk to a pharmacist or your own doctor, not an ER. Some medications can cause tinnitus and could be making things worse in the short term (Wellbutrin/Bupropion in particular comes to mind).
Sometimes there are other treatments beyond that. I'd seek out an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, also known as an otorhinolaryngologist) to help if it doesn't get any better.
I wish you luck.
Sometimes there are other treatments beyond that. I'd seek out an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, also known as an otorhinolaryngologist) to help if it doesn't get any better.
I wish you luck.
Hey, I had tinnitus since I was an infant basically, and all I can say is best wishes for you and hoping it recovers. I have hope it recovers because the ringing not being able to be drowned out by other sounds doesn’t sound like tinnitus, but inner ear damage. The pressure in the ears also sound like inner ear damage, and as some comments pointed out this will heal on its own eventually, just takes a long time.
Be safe and hopefully the audiologist can have something more concrete for you.
Be safe and hopefully the audiologist can have something more concrete for you.
So I occasionally get tinnitus, possibly related to my migraines which are often sparked by loud noises and also made worse by the same. One thing that's helped a bit with the sound (and light!) sensitivity is chamomile tea. It wasn't an instant effect but after a couple weeks of a cup a day, as strong as I could brew it, I definitely noticed improvement.
don't know if this will help you or not but it's the sort of low risk thing I figure I might as well suggest trying!
don't know if this will help you or not but it's the sort of low risk thing I figure I might as well suggest trying!
Wishing you the best, Ru 🫂 I've had 'tism-related hypersensitivity for as long as I can remember, and I know how stressful reckoning with hearing damage, permanent or temporary, can be.
I know you said you're seeing an audiologist tomorrow, but I would also recommend reaching out to a therapist if you haven't already. This is a traumatic experience, and it is just as important to take care of yourself mentally and emotionally in these moments. Likewise, please reach out to the people close to you, and don't isolate yourself through this.
It may seem monumental now, but there is a way to pull through this, and we believe in you. 🧡
I know you said you're seeing an audiologist tomorrow, but I would also recommend reaching out to a therapist if you haven't already. This is a traumatic experience, and it is just as important to take care of yourself mentally and emotionally in these moments. Likewise, please reach out to the people close to you, and don't isolate yourself through this.
It may seem monumental now, but there is a way to pull through this, and we believe in you. 🧡
Alpines makes earplugs that don't block human voice as much as other sound so you can still talk. I bought a pair of MusicSafe and tbh as an ADHD kid who can't stand noises this is one of the best decisions of my life. I go anywhere with these now just in case. I can still talk with people perfectly fine with those on.
Geez, honeypie, I hope you'll feel much better asap. And you will.
Still, there are few things I'm not quite sure being said right.. if you pardon me..
"I fucked up" - no you did not. There's nothing bad in life upgrades and meeting new people, wanting to have more fun, etc. It's a miss, not your fault nor a fuck up. A miserable body condition that can be fixed by the time. Physically. At least at the percentage for you not to care about it like now. The main strategy leads to your brain vessels and ears, from what I can remember. Might be heart and nervous system as well. Can be also a thing of adhd/autism if you have it... |D
"If I try to drown it out with noise it just gets louder" - means a problem might be in your ear and vessels, again. :c smth is physically wrong. So don't try that again, okays? you don't wanna lose smth important, right? Keep it.. as much quiet as possible. Not totally silenced. Just quiet.
" Nobody else seemed to care" - it depends on many things, as well as adaptation. Even headphones can ruin your ears, vessels and other stuff if you're listening to loud music, especially if you usually don't and prefer quiet music or minimum volume. Everyone have their limits. Yours was a bit lower. But that's not your fault, ok? It just a shit that happened. But you must believe it can be solved, with a matter of time.
"I don't know if I can do it, guys." - if it is somehow possible, there are special headphones that minimalize the noise. It helps with many conditions. As well as stress relief. Also please do check your blood pressure from time to time. Tinnitus can be also quite related to that. ALSO. There is a neck massaging technique, starting from spine\shoulders and goes up to neck and head... maybe this could help you too, since all the body parts and vessels are quite connected. Oh. And do not even try to do any sports and push\pull big things, even if you'll feel better :3 not now. Also, try to eat soft food and soups for now, as long as crunchy and even meaty one can brake all the silence and make you mad. Give it some time. You'll get better. Softly. Tenderly. Eventually.
As for the doctor: you also have to deal with a fact that not all the doctors can be right... that's both bad and good news. If one doctor may not know how to deal with a thing - the other might. Maybe you'll also need to visit another specialist. And yes. You tried. And you'll try again. Don't let yourself fall down now. There should be a working solution, got it?
Still, there are few things I'm not quite sure being said right.. if you pardon me..
"I fucked up" - no you did not. There's nothing bad in life upgrades and meeting new people, wanting to have more fun, etc. It's a miss, not your fault nor a fuck up. A miserable body condition that can be fixed by the time. Physically. At least at the percentage for you not to care about it like now. The main strategy leads to your brain vessels and ears, from what I can remember. Might be heart and nervous system as well. Can be also a thing of adhd/autism if you have it... |D
"If I try to drown it out with noise it just gets louder" - means a problem might be in your ear and vessels, again. :c smth is physically wrong. So don't try that again, okays? you don't wanna lose smth important, right? Keep it.. as much quiet as possible. Not totally silenced. Just quiet.
" Nobody else seemed to care" - it depends on many things, as well as adaptation. Even headphones can ruin your ears, vessels and other stuff if you're listening to loud music, especially if you usually don't and prefer quiet music or minimum volume. Everyone have their limits. Yours was a bit lower. But that's not your fault, ok? It just a shit that happened. But you must believe it can be solved, with a matter of time.
"I don't know if I can do it, guys." - if it is somehow possible, there are special headphones that minimalize the noise. It helps with many conditions. As well as stress relief. Also please do check your blood pressure from time to time. Tinnitus can be also quite related to that. ALSO. There is a neck massaging technique, starting from spine\shoulders and goes up to neck and head... maybe this could help you too, since all the body parts and vessels are quite connected. Oh. And do not even try to do any sports and push\pull big things, even if you'll feel better :3 not now. Also, try to eat soft food and soups for now, as long as crunchy and even meaty one can brake all the silence and make you mad. Give it some time. You'll get better. Softly. Tenderly. Eventually.
As for the doctor: you also have to deal with a fact that not all the doctors can be right... that's both bad and good news. If one doctor may not know how to deal with a thing - the other might. Maybe you'll also need to visit another specialist. And yes. You tried. And you'll try again. Don't let yourself fall down now. There should be a working solution, got it?
So many comments, some people apparently care and thats great. Wish ya the best as well.
Some time ago when my ocular migraines started ( accompanied with ringing in left ear which is persistent, but varies in intensity of migraines ) I lost the ability to focus on anything near my face without triggering them. I'd get a fever and 6 or 8 hours of hellish pain. I had surgery on my eyes, which was terrifying to me, but not quite as much as never being able to draw again. Which was my only real favorite escape that helped me cope with... everything. I was blindfolded for several weeks as they healed and got to experience that, heh. Anyways.. it left me with permanent dry eye issues and scars. And it didnt matter, cause they came back even worse. I too miss the silence... But most of all... i wish i could scribble to my hearts desire without it triggering several days of torturous pain and vision and memory loss. Each one feels like more of me is gone, but no one will miss me or cared to really know me anyways. Only reason im still around is for my cat, who i know would miss me as she hates everyone else and as hard as it gets i wont abandon her.
It makes enjoying life impossible though, relationships tough as well.
Don't give up. Not yet. You still have plenty of time to enjoy life and theres plenty of things left to try. And reading some of the others replies, people are sharing ideas already. Just recently, someone suggested dramamine for mine and it seems to help somewhat for relief and the nausea.
- It could be a pinched nerve, or TMJ related. By that i mean try and open to your mouth big as you can, really stretch out every corner no matter how weird it feels and hold briefly- is the sound or pressure altered in any way? Can also place two fingers on the backridge of your jaw and then stretch it out again, see if theres anything cracking or pressure. Sorry if my directions arent so clear, but hopefully more or less you understand and test out.
If theres nothing significant that you notice, thats still helpful data to have. Im gonna assume that its directly related to the loud noises and your eardrums however since that seems far more likely in regards to what you wrote.. so all i typed may of be no use, but its worth knowing.
If i could id at least be able to put you to sleep with a scalp and acupressure point massage, as im skilled with that. But lot of good any of that can do here.
Anyways, good luck to you.
Some time ago when my ocular migraines started ( accompanied with ringing in left ear which is persistent, but varies in intensity of migraines ) I lost the ability to focus on anything near my face without triggering them. I'd get a fever and 6 or 8 hours of hellish pain. I had surgery on my eyes, which was terrifying to me, but not quite as much as never being able to draw again. Which was my only real favorite escape that helped me cope with... everything. I was blindfolded for several weeks as they healed and got to experience that, heh. Anyways.. it left me with permanent dry eye issues and scars. And it didnt matter, cause they came back even worse. I too miss the silence... But most of all... i wish i could scribble to my hearts desire without it triggering several days of torturous pain and vision and memory loss. Each one feels like more of me is gone, but no one will miss me or cared to really know me anyways. Only reason im still around is for my cat, who i know would miss me as she hates everyone else and as hard as it gets i wont abandon her.
It makes enjoying life impossible though, relationships tough as well.
Don't give up. Not yet. You still have plenty of time to enjoy life and theres plenty of things left to try. And reading some of the others replies, people are sharing ideas already. Just recently, someone suggested dramamine for mine and it seems to help somewhat for relief and the nausea.
- It could be a pinched nerve, or TMJ related. By that i mean try and open to your mouth big as you can, really stretch out every corner no matter how weird it feels and hold briefly- is the sound or pressure altered in any way? Can also place two fingers on the backridge of your jaw and then stretch it out again, see if theres anything cracking or pressure. Sorry if my directions arent so clear, but hopefully more or less you understand and test out.
If theres nothing significant that you notice, thats still helpful data to have. Im gonna assume that its directly related to the loud noises and your eardrums however since that seems far more likely in regards to what you wrote.. so all i typed may of be no use, but its worth knowing.
If i could id at least be able to put you to sleep with a scalp and acupressure point massage, as im skilled with that. But lot of good any of that can do here.
Anyways, good luck to you.
Gosh, you've been through so much. I'm so sorry to hear that. :( And here I am falling apart because of a little ringing in my ears, hah. I'll try to pull myself together.
I've been to the ER and to an audiologist so far, both of them basically gave me the same answer- nothing appears physically wrong in any fixable kind of way, no punctured eardrum or anything, I'll probably just have to learn to live with it. And I will, it's just going to take time to accept that, and get over the frustration of making such a silly mistake with such permanent consequences.
I've been to the ER and to an audiologist so far, both of them basically gave me the same answer- nothing appears physically wrong in any fixable kind of way, no punctured eardrum or anything, I'll probably just have to learn to live with it. And I will, it's just going to take time to accept that, and get over the frustration of making such a silly mistake with such permanent consequences.
Damn, so you had seen an audiologist... They were no help to me either, "Yup, going deaf in left ear."
No reason, just happens. I hoped you'd have better luck, but you gotta realize that it not a mistake or your fault. Your a victim of circumstance, it just happened to you like it could anyone with similar situational variables that were going to occur regardless at some point. And if anything, you did your best making sure to get it evaluated and while i know ALL too well how frustrating it is to not have a cause or source behind the issue... theres a chance it could be alleviated or even go away eventually. And its not in both ears, like someone i know. And they are very successful in spite of it.
Above all, i hope when you manage to acclimate to this condition youll be able to get out and socialize again. It kinda bummed me out honestly, you bravely getting out there and this happens to you. For some time now its been full hermit mode as friends i had are gone and ive given up. Im slowly collecting my materials tho and if i get enough functional time im gonna make a partial suit an head, cause it likely is best way to get myself out again around furries.
Anyways, im rambling...
Im rooting for ya, whatever thats worth.
No reason, just happens. I hoped you'd have better luck, but you gotta realize that it not a mistake or your fault. Your a victim of circumstance, it just happened to you like it could anyone with similar situational variables that were going to occur regardless at some point. And if anything, you did your best making sure to get it evaluated and while i know ALL too well how frustrating it is to not have a cause or source behind the issue... theres a chance it could be alleviated or even go away eventually. And its not in both ears, like someone i know. And they are very successful in spite of it.
Above all, i hope when you manage to acclimate to this condition youll be able to get out and socialize again. It kinda bummed me out honestly, you bravely getting out there and this happens to you. For some time now its been full hermit mode as friends i had are gone and ive given up. Im slowly collecting my materials tho and if i get enough functional time im gonna make a partial suit an head, cause it likely is best way to get myself out again around furries.
Anyways, im rambling...
Im rooting for ya, whatever thats worth.
I'm so sorry you have to live with such a condition. It must be very difficult.
I don't really know if it's appropriate for me to make a suggestion, as I have very little understanding of your ordeal or what you've tried in response to it, but - is it possible you could draw, at least, using a tablet and monitor? Or, if you want to use a physical medium, pointing a camera at the paper and having it hooked up to a display at a comfortable distance?
I don't really know if it's appropriate for me to make a suggestion, as I have very little understanding of your ordeal or what you've tried in response to it, but - is it possible you could draw, at least, using a tablet and monitor? Or, if you want to use a physical medium, pointing a camera at the paper and having it hooked up to a display at a comfortable distance?
Appreciate the response. ( sorry mines so late ) Thats something i've been attempting, it does seem to give me more time at least before i have to stop. I did get a nice tablet recently, am still learning how to use the drawing apps. If you have any recommendations, appreciate it. Been kinda tough to finish anything which is frustrating.
Im so deeply sorry you are dealing with this. It sadly doesn’t go away but there are various treatments. I have three different types of tinnitus (being a sound designer, this SUCKS). I play with a lot of asmr and white noise. Sometimes hearing the inverse of your frequency of tinnitus helps a lot. White and pink noise (like from a fan or noise machine) can help too. What you need to do is not go to an ER. You need an ENT (ear nose throat) doctor who can give you a hearing test and find some treatments that will work for you.
I hope you will find some relief soon.
I hope you will find some relief soon.
Hey Ru, I'm sorry to hear this happened to you! I've had something similar before, and I did get through it, but it took several months to heal to a bearable level of sound.
The most important thing is first: what you need is a hearing aid / masking device; you need to contact your primary care physician and have them set you up with an otolaryngologist (ENT) or audiologist. The right frequency could mask your tinnitus to a bearable level.
Another thing I can recommend is attending a yoga class, especially rest position and downward dog to get the blood flowing in different ways. Tight muscles, particularly in the neck and head, can contribute to tinnitus, and Yoga has all sorts of poses for stretching the body. I'm doubtful this will cause your tinnitus to go away entirely, but it may lessen the symptoms over time. The stretching will also help to correct bad posture while improving circulation, which may strengthen your ability to cope with the symptoms.
You can also consider using Kleet's method of firmly covering the ears and snapping your fingertips against the back of your skull as a regular therapy that you incorporate into your stretches. Don't do this if it hurts, however.
Another stretch I do for the neck is sticking out my tongue and tilting my head to the left, holding for 10 seconds, then the right. Your tongue uses muscles quite a ways down your neck, funny enough!
Lastly, don't give up. It's maddening, it's going to take a long time, but things will get better. Keep trying things!
The most important thing is first: what you need is a hearing aid / masking device; you need to contact your primary care physician and have them set you up with an otolaryngologist (ENT) or audiologist. The right frequency could mask your tinnitus to a bearable level.
Another thing I can recommend is attending a yoga class, especially rest position and downward dog to get the blood flowing in different ways. Tight muscles, particularly in the neck and head, can contribute to tinnitus, and Yoga has all sorts of poses for stretching the body. I'm doubtful this will cause your tinnitus to go away entirely, but it may lessen the symptoms over time. The stretching will also help to correct bad posture while improving circulation, which may strengthen your ability to cope with the symptoms.
You can also consider using Kleet's method of firmly covering the ears and snapping your fingertips against the back of your skull as a regular therapy that you incorporate into your stretches. Don't do this if it hurts, however.
Another stretch I do for the neck is sticking out my tongue and tilting my head to the left, holding for 10 seconds, then the right. Your tongue uses muscles quite a ways down your neck, funny enough!
Lastly, don't give up. It's maddening, it's going to take a long time, but things will get better. Keep trying things!
Kava kava tastes like mudwater and won't help your tinnitus, but it might help with anxiety related to it? It helps me Not Mind something intense and unpleasant so I can process it without feeling completely overwhelmed. Clutching at straws, but everyone else has already said the obvious stuff so have one of my coping mechanisms. I hope that the change that you require comes soon so you do not have to be in the space you're in anymore.
I'm very sorry you're going through this pain.
If the doctors didn’t find any injuries or inflammation, consider trying freediving. I've been diving for many years, and it’s the most deeply relaxing thing I’ve ever experienced.
Holding your breath has a calming effect on the nervous system at a physiological level, and the water pressure — even at shallow depths — can unlock strength and stillness in your body. It’s both meditation and training.
Start with shallow dives, around 2–4 meters — this is accessible after just a few practice sessions.
Make sure to train with an instructor or experienced partner; diving alone is dangerous. If you're interested in trying it, please read up on safety and breath-holding techniques first — there are many subtle but important things to know.
If the doctors didn’t find any injuries or inflammation, consider trying freediving. I've been diving for many years, and it’s the most deeply relaxing thing I’ve ever experienced.
Holding your breath has a calming effect on the nervous system at a physiological level, and the water pressure — even at shallow depths — can unlock strength and stillness in your body. It’s both meditation and training.
Start with shallow dives, around 2–4 meters — this is accessible after just a few practice sessions.
Make sure to train with an instructor or experienced partner; diving alone is dangerous. If you're interested in trying it, please read up on safety and breath-holding techniques first — there are many subtle but important things to know.
This is going to be a crazy longshot if you read this.
Try taking Non Drowsy Antihistamines while waiting for to see an ear specialist for a few days unless you have a medical reason to not do that.
I had some of the worst tinnitus of my life and it was exacerbated by allergies I developed later in life. I didn't know my ears were clogged up and went to a concert that left me on the floor crying as well.
Resting your ears is one of the best things you can also do and consider purchasing some ear plugs that reduce sound levels and wear them for as long as you can to help them rest.
I recommend if you go anywhere loud in the future to carry ear plugs of various strengths with you. It'll save your life
There is also a steroid injection you can get in your ears that can help as well. Do a little googling and be prepared for when you see the doctor.
Good luck and I hope you read this.
Try taking Non Drowsy Antihistamines while waiting for to see an ear specialist for a few days unless you have a medical reason to not do that.
I had some of the worst tinnitus of my life and it was exacerbated by allergies I developed later in life. I didn't know my ears were clogged up and went to a concert that left me on the floor crying as well.
Resting your ears is one of the best things you can also do and consider purchasing some ear plugs that reduce sound levels and wear them for as long as you can to help them rest.
I recommend if you go anywhere loud in the future to carry ear plugs of various strengths with you. It'll save your life
There is also a steroid injection you can get in your ears that can help as well. Do a little googling and be prepared for when you see the doctor.
Good luck and I hope you read this.
I'm sorry to hear this. I have bad hyperacusis, which is basically being super sensitive to loud sounds, including "normal volume" sounds that wouldn't bother anyone else at all. So I feel you here, I get very anxious after loud events when I feel my ears fatigued or even hurting. I really hope you can find something that will remedy your issue here with the awful ringing!
I think some of the days will definitely go easier than others. Have to hope so at least. :)
As a side note, you can still damage your ears even with great hearing protection around/in your ears. Apparently, the bones in your face will conduct sound and send that sound to your ears. If it's loud enough or the right frequency, your ears won't appreciate it.
As a side note, you can still damage your ears even with great hearing protection around/in your ears. Apparently, the bones in your face will conduct sound and send that sound to your ears. If it's loud enough or the right frequency, your ears won't appreciate it.
Maybe it wasn't the music, maybe it was the stress and the music just compounded it. I got tinnitus when I went to uni and failed all my grades but I forced myself to keep study anyways.
It stayed at full volume even months after I quit. Fortunately it became manageable with time and self-training.
These are two things that I figured out:
Try to distract yourself, something you put your full concentration into. Pay attention when you notice the noise is less or none (music, conversation, rant about shampoo prices, the split second in between sleeping and waking up or getting lost in thought and return to the present) I know that the moment you notice you don't hear it it's the moment tinnitus returns. That's normal. It's a process. Try to remember the state of mind that you just had and imitate it. It becomes easier with practice until it kind of becomes the default. Also it's easier to maintain that state that to generate it from nothing so also look for natural triggers to those states.
Also try to play with it, if it is completely psychological like what I think mine is (it could not be and just be placebo effect so I'm not gonna question it) you can, with practice, move it ear to ear, omnipresent, to the sides, the back, even compressing it and trying to ignore that part of your hearing for me it gave me a sense of control, that it's just in my head meaning I could change it.
Technically these two are mental exercises for you and your brain look for solution.
I hope something of what I wrote helps you or anyone else that's reading this. Just remember that we each have our own peculiarities and that stress isn't conductive for immediate recovery.
(sorry for the grammar and lateless I'm not a native speaker and just spend like 4h in this trying to write this and then make it coherent)
It stayed at full volume even months after I quit. Fortunately it became manageable with time and self-training.
These are two things that I figured out:
Try to distract yourself, something you put your full concentration into. Pay attention when you notice the noise is less or none (music, conversation, rant about shampoo prices, the split second in between sleeping and waking up or getting lost in thought and return to the present) I know that the moment you notice you don't hear it it's the moment tinnitus returns. That's normal. It's a process. Try to remember the state of mind that you just had and imitate it. It becomes easier with practice until it kind of becomes the default. Also it's easier to maintain that state that to generate it from nothing so also look for natural triggers to those states.
Also try to play with it, if it is completely psychological like what I think mine is (it could not be and just be placebo effect so I'm not gonna question it) you can, with practice, move it ear to ear, omnipresent, to the sides, the back, even compressing it and trying to ignore that part of your hearing for me it gave me a sense of control, that it's just in my head meaning I could change it.
Technically these two are mental exercises for you and your brain look for solution.
I hope something of what I wrote helps you or anyone else that's reading this. Just remember that we each have our own peculiarities and that stress isn't conductive for immediate recovery.
(sorry for the grammar and lateless I'm not a native speaker and just spend like 4h in this trying to write this and then make it coherent)
Wow, thank you for taking so much time to write all this out for me! That really means a lot, genuinely. :3
Unfortunately it's almost definitely not stress related- stress has never given me tinnitus before, and it doesn't seem to fluctuate based on my mood in any way. The cause and effect is pretty clear- no tinnitus > loud music > tinnitus. Just good old fashioned hearing damage. :(
For now I'm just trying to ignore it as best I can, and move forward with life. But I'll certainly keep these ideas in mind as I go, and hopefully they'll help out. Thanks for your thoughts! :3
Unfortunately it's almost definitely not stress related- stress has never given me tinnitus before, and it doesn't seem to fluctuate based on my mood in any way. The cause and effect is pretty clear- no tinnitus > loud music > tinnitus. Just good old fashioned hearing damage. :(
For now I'm just trying to ignore it as best I can, and move forward with life. But I'll certainly keep these ideas in mind as I go, and hopefully they'll help out. Thanks for your thoughts! :3
Today life tossed this link to me. They say it really helps. https://www.ncrar.research.va.gov/T.....tResources.asp
Had a similar thing happen to me after a pride event in my twenties, met up with a couple friends and they wanted to sit right behind a stage where a loud concert was going on. I've always been unusually sensitive to noise so I assumed it only seemed too loud because of that, because everyone else seemed unbothered, but the next day I realized I'd made a mistake. my particular brand of tinnitus manifested less as a clear ringing tone and more like a high pitched tv static sound but nothing seemed to drown it out and I spent a good while panicking because it was miserable and wasn't going away.
That was back before the pandemic and the good news is that despite taking longer than most sources suggested, it's faded a lot over the years and I hardly ever notice it anymore unless something reminds me of it or I'm going through some major physical or mental stress. I eventually found one specific soundscape that masks it really well and let me sleep, but these days I don't even need it 99% of the time (even now, which is impressive given that it's partly tied to stress and uh. *gestures at the world*).
So yeah I sincerely hope it does fade for you in a few days or weeks and there's a good chance it will, but it sounds like you're really having a rough time so I wanted to offer some assurance from personal experience that even if it doesn't you aren't doomed, it will very likely fade over time and become less noticeable/more manageable. I am deeply sorry you're going through it at all though, I viscerally remember the "I fucked up" panic. You'll be okay.
That was back before the pandemic and the good news is that despite taking longer than most sources suggested, it's faded a lot over the years and I hardly ever notice it anymore unless something reminds me of it or I'm going through some major physical or mental stress. I eventually found one specific soundscape that masks it really well and let me sleep, but these days I don't even need it 99% of the time (even now, which is impressive given that it's partly tied to stress and uh. *gestures at the world*).
So yeah I sincerely hope it does fade for you in a few days or weeks and there's a good chance it will, but it sounds like you're really having a rough time so I wanted to offer some assurance from personal experience that even if it doesn't you aren't doomed, it will very likely fade over time and become less noticeable/more manageable. I am deeply sorry you're going through it at all though, I viscerally remember the "I fucked up" panic. You'll be okay.
I'm sorry you went through/are going through that. It suuucks. :( It does give me some hope to hear the long-term improvement stories though, so thank you so much for bringing it up. I think I've basically missed the window for short term recovery, so that's all I've got now, hah.
I'm hangin' in there best I can! I'm gonna be down for a bit while I come to terms with what I've done... but I'll get back to it. This fandom needs it's filth after all. :P
I'm hangin' in there best I can! I'm gonna be down for a bit while I come to terms with what I've done... but I'll get back to it. This fandom needs it's filth after all. :P
Man I know exactly how you feel right now. I've had mild tinnitus for many years now, that mostly faded except for random outbursts that I've sorta gotten used to. (Highly recommend avoiding having your head directly under a snare drum while they're playing [stupid shallow high school bleachers and doing pep band stuff for football games] I can not recommend it) Some days it'll reappear and fade back away, sometimes when I turn my neck a funny way I get that high pitched whine, and if I don't turn my head in that orientation it goes away xD..
Well, at least that was the case until Further Confusion earlier this year where the dance competitions had the music absolutely cranked to 11 and boy howdy do I regret... My tinnitus has never been worse since then, just a pervasive high pitch ringing :/ I typically always carry earplugs with me, to movie theaters, to loud restaurants, but I slipped up the once and paid for it. I had absolutely excellent hearing, always keeping headphones at nearly zero, hell even fighting with some bluetooth earbuds because the minimum volume level is still too high for my comfort. Frankly I really, really don't understand how people listen to such loud music all the time, I guess some peoples' ears are just built differently.
It's not the end of the world, it sucks, but like getting an injury sometimes all you can do is take what you've learned and move forward. You'll get more used to it over time, and your body will heal it to the best of its ability. The drumming-on-the-back-of-the-head method does help me out, sometimes I just full on use all my fingers on each hand at once to tap the back of my head while covering my ears which works better for me. Regardless, I hope you the best and that your body can recover well from it x.x
Well, at least that was the case until Further Confusion earlier this year where the dance competitions had the music absolutely cranked to 11 and boy howdy do I regret... My tinnitus has never been worse since then, just a pervasive high pitch ringing :/ I typically always carry earplugs with me, to movie theaters, to loud restaurants, but I slipped up the once and paid for it. I had absolutely excellent hearing, always keeping headphones at nearly zero, hell even fighting with some bluetooth earbuds because the minimum volume level is still too high for my comfort. Frankly I really, really don't understand how people listen to such loud music all the time, I guess some peoples' ears are just built differently.
It's not the end of the world, it sucks, but like getting an injury sometimes all you can do is take what you've learned and move forward. You'll get more used to it over time, and your body will heal it to the best of its ability. The drumming-on-the-back-of-the-head method does help me out, sometimes I just full on use all my fingers on each hand at once to tap the back of my head while covering my ears which works better for me. Regardless, I hope you the best and that your body can recover well from it x.x
Oooh, I'm so sorry. :(
What is it with blasting music so loud it hurts? They could turn it down a bit and it would still be plenty fun, I don't get it. Grr.
...I might be just a little bitter.
Anyway, thanks for reaching out with your story, and the encouraging words. May we both learn to not be bothered by the fun new noises in our ears.
What is it with blasting music so loud it hurts? They could turn it down a bit and it would still be plenty fun, I don't get it. Grr.
...I might be just a little bitter.
Anyway, thanks for reaching out with your story, and the encouraging words. May we both learn to not be bothered by the fun new noises in our ears.
Yeah, I really don't get it. Like, bass kicking you in the chest is one thing, but straight up when I went back for the second dance comp my friends were sitting in the front and even with earplugs it was PAINFULLY loud, so I went to the back again by myself :/
One neat thing I've heard about and at some cons are silent raves though, where everybody's got headphones on and can set their music to personal volume levels.
Let the bitterness flow, rage against the flagrant ear abuse and systemic lack of care of hearing damage! Rah!
One neat thing I've heard about and at some cons are silent raves though, where everybody's got headphones on and can set their music to personal volume levels.
Let the bitterness flow, rage against the flagrant ear abuse and systemic lack of care of hearing damage! Rah!
Sorry to hear that. :( I have been having tinnitus for years now, but it hasn't been as bad as what you describe, I think. I mean... Most of the time it's just something in background that gets ignored because I'm busy thinking of something else, whether it's work-related or connected with leisure-time activities. From time to time there are days when it bothers me more and the noise is brought back more into my focus. But the bad days pass and for the rest of the time it's just part of everyday normal. It would be great to be able to hear pure silence when the world around is silent, but life can still be pleasant.
Once again, I'm sorry this has happened to you. It sucks. Maybe some day the medical science will find a fix to that, but in the meantime we just have to enjoy our lives as much as we can in spite of this thing. I wish you all the best.
Once again, I'm sorry this has happened to you. It sucks. Maybe some day the medical science will find a fix to that, but in the meantime we just have to enjoy our lives as much as we can in spite of this thing. I wish you all the best.
Yeah I hear you. I never liked loud music and only went to one event where I had that kind of issue (it was highschool, some school dance thing). Went "ok I spent some time in the music, I'm going outside again." And I think even that little exposure (we're talking 5 minutes) is what gave me the tinnitus I have now (though exactly when I started noticing it I'm not sure).
At least it's not migraine inducing and is just a thing in the back of my head all the time (though it can come and go).
Sucks that that happened, though. :\
At least it's not migraine inducing and is just a thing in the back of my head all the time (though it can come and go).
Sucks that that happened, though. :\
Hi hello, I don't specifically get tinnitus but it is a common side effect of migraines and allergies. Pay no mind that no-one else had an adverse reaction to the volume, inner ears are very fickle things and if you have anykind of underlying stuff then it can aggrivate it.
Get a family / general practice doctor, ER isn't going to care about stuff like this unless your eardrum exploded. It might take a while and some persistence, but there are things that might be uncovered. There are also little tinitus hearing aides, that make methodical noises are different pitches designed to interupt tinnitus.
If you don't take allergy meds, just grab some and see if they help (if you can get phernagan, it's also a sleeping aid). Your sinuses being effed can cause pressure in the rest of your head, and a lot of those little tubes can have issues which will bounce into your ears and hearing.
Migraine is probably less of an issue from how you're describing it, but just be aware there are painless low-grade migraines for which medication can help (if you get eyestrain and brainfog, or the feeling of your whole body tingingly, or being super sensitive to light and sound, this might be worth looking into even if you don't have traditional migraine pain).
The only other thing I can think of would be a sinus infection, but I assume the ER could actually rule that one out. Ear infections are pretty common for tinitus.
Good luck, chronic health stuff sucks sometimes, especially when you don't yet know the cause.
Get a family / general practice doctor, ER isn't going to care about stuff like this unless your eardrum exploded. It might take a while and some persistence, but there are things that might be uncovered. There are also little tinitus hearing aides, that make methodical noises are different pitches designed to interupt tinnitus.
If you don't take allergy meds, just grab some and see if they help (if you can get phernagan, it's also a sleeping aid). Your sinuses being effed can cause pressure in the rest of your head, and a lot of those little tubes can have issues which will bounce into your ears and hearing.
Migraine is probably less of an issue from how you're describing it, but just be aware there are painless low-grade migraines for which medication can help (if you get eyestrain and brainfog, or the feeling of your whole body tingingly, or being super sensitive to light and sound, this might be worth looking into even if you don't have traditional migraine pain).
The only other thing I can think of would be a sinus infection, but I assume the ER could actually rule that one out. Ear infections are pretty common for tinitus.
Good luck, chronic health stuff sucks sometimes, especially when you don't yet know the cause.
Knowing that a lot of other people have various efforts to try, I figure I'll at least offer a potential help that I've personally done.
Direct inner-ear massaging. The inside of your ear has three sort of sections, two bends, before you reach the ear drum. If you're familiar with how your ears are, you can use a cotton swab (q-tip) to gently yet firmly rub around the inner ear which will both collect ear wax, and can massage along the deeper parts of the carotid artery. This, combined with the good ol' hold-your-nose-and-blow (not at the same time, of course) can help nudge your cochlea around and possibly realign things in there to remedy that ringing.
I say this not from an anti-doctor standpoint, but as an impoverished american who could not afford hospital care in any capacity - or even Over The Counter medication for the majority of my life and had to take most medical issues into my own hands.
Direct inner-ear massaging. The inside of your ear has three sort of sections, two bends, before you reach the ear drum. If you're familiar with how your ears are, you can use a cotton swab (q-tip) to gently yet firmly rub around the inner ear which will both collect ear wax, and can massage along the deeper parts of the carotid artery. This, combined with the good ol' hold-your-nose-and-blow (not at the same time, of course) can help nudge your cochlea around and possibly realign things in there to remedy that ringing.
I say this not from an anti-doctor standpoint, but as an impoverished american who could not afford hospital care in any capacity - or even Over The Counter medication for the majority of my life and had to take most medical issues into my own hands.
Just saw your post and want to throw in my words of encouragement as well. I have some tinnitus too that has stuck around since my college days of going to concerts without hearing protection. Now, it's kinda like I have crickets following me everywhere I go.
The moments where you first notice it are the worst, and anxiety that comes along with it.
Some days are worse than others. Might be because of the weather.
But eventually I realized, that I'm not going to let this thing get the best of me. I told it to eff off and put it at the back of my mind. And once you're able to accept it, and not give it any heed, your brain adjusts to daily life with the crickets.
On those bad days, little things to distract ya can help. For me, it's a gentle fan, basically some natural white noise.
From one ear ringer to another, it's going to be okay. <3
The moments where you first notice it are the worst, and anxiety that comes along with it.
Some days are worse than others. Might be because of the weather.
But eventually I realized, that I'm not going to let this thing get the best of me. I told it to eff off and put it at the back of my mind. And once you're able to accept it, and not give it any heed, your brain adjusts to daily life with the crickets.
On those bad days, little things to distract ya can help. For me, it's a gentle fan, basically some natural white noise.
From one ear ringer to another, it's going to be okay. <3
Hi, just wanted to pop on here as I have experienced essentially this exact situation before and might be able to offer, if not advice then comradery I suppose lol?
I've had issues with my ears my whole life, from airplanes to loud music, and I've developed intermittent, non-reversible tinnitus in both ears that was due to a combination of a lot of air travel, loud music, and infections. If at ALL possible I do recommend seeing an ear nose and throat doctor -- it might take a little while to get in, but if you have a GP and you let them know whats going on it should expedite the process. ER doctors are WILDY uneducated about ear health, and they have actually caused the tinnitus in one of my ears by poking around blindly. An ENT can give you a hearing test (which is just some quiet beeps u let them know u have heard), do a pressure test if need be (blow air in ur ears basically lol), and def look into them. It's entirely possible that this was caused by a perforation to the eardrum -- it feels and sounds exactly like really severe tinnitus from my experience! And even if they can't fix it, they can tell you what exactly is happening, why, and how to if nothing else minimize the symptoms if it is the worst case scenario :((
IDK if what I've said has been already said here, or if it's even going to be helpful to you, but I have been seeing ENTs for about 6 years now, and while I DID have very mild tinnitus before my eardrum burst from an infection, that worsened it significantly. If it IS from a perforation or a burst eardrum, it will almost always go away -- it takes about 4 months to heal fully, and to regain hearing, but most people's tinnitus goes away when that happens. Worst case scenario, it might be NIHL (noise induced hearing loss), which is a mixed bag of permanent or not. Seeing a ENT they can tell you if that's what happened though.
I hope you experience relief soon from this, as it is a really awful thing to experience especially when it comes on as suddenly as yours did. If nothing else, white noise like fans can help a LOT with minimizing the sound or making it significantly less noticeable in the mean time :( I hope this goes away for you and I'm so, so sorry you had this happen <3
I've had issues with my ears my whole life, from airplanes to loud music, and I've developed intermittent, non-reversible tinnitus in both ears that was due to a combination of a lot of air travel, loud music, and infections. If at ALL possible I do recommend seeing an ear nose and throat doctor -- it might take a little while to get in, but if you have a GP and you let them know whats going on it should expedite the process. ER doctors are WILDY uneducated about ear health, and they have actually caused the tinnitus in one of my ears by poking around blindly. An ENT can give you a hearing test (which is just some quiet beeps u let them know u have heard), do a pressure test if need be (blow air in ur ears basically lol), and def look into them. It's entirely possible that this was caused by a perforation to the eardrum -- it feels and sounds exactly like really severe tinnitus from my experience! And even if they can't fix it, they can tell you what exactly is happening, why, and how to if nothing else minimize the symptoms if it is the worst case scenario :((
IDK if what I've said has been already said here, or if it's even going to be helpful to you, but I have been seeing ENTs for about 6 years now, and while I DID have very mild tinnitus before my eardrum burst from an infection, that worsened it significantly. If it IS from a perforation or a burst eardrum, it will almost always go away -- it takes about 4 months to heal fully, and to regain hearing, but most people's tinnitus goes away when that happens. Worst case scenario, it might be NIHL (noise induced hearing loss), which is a mixed bag of permanent or not. Seeing a ENT they can tell you if that's what happened though.
I hope you experience relief soon from this, as it is a really awful thing to experience especially when it comes on as suddenly as yours did. If nothing else, white noise like fans can help a LOT with minimizing the sound or making it significantly less noticeable in the mean time :( I hope this goes away for you and I'm so, so sorry you had this happen <3
I also went to an audiologist, they also looked around and confirmed the same thing. My ears are in good shape as far as everyone can tell, they did the hearing test and the pressure text and everything, all clear, so I think something fixable is unfortunately out of the question at this point. Just good ole' fashioned hearing damage, yay. x3
Still, from what I understand, it's not entirely out of the question for things to improve over time, even if they don't fully disappear, so fingers crossed I suppose. And thanks for taking the time to write all this out for me! :3 Definitely going to be a lot of white noise in my future for sure, hah.
Still, from what I understand, it's not entirely out of the question for things to improve over time, even if they don't fully disappear, so fingers crossed I suppose. And thanks for taking the time to write all this out for me! :3 Definitely going to be a lot of white noise in my future for sure, hah.
Aw man I'm sorry :(( HOPEFULLY you end up with a mild case of NIHL and it heals overtime fully or even somewhat!! I always know that for me, using noise cancelling ear plugs actually can make it worse if used when theres no outside sound (aka no loud music), same with noise cancelling headphones that I dont have audio playing on. Even just low level, super quiet music in the bg helps me.
And no problem, I wanted to at the very least let u know that ur not alone in this and it sucks major ass, but there are ways to mitigate it :( Genuinely wishing u nothing but the best in terms of recovery, and hopefully one day we will know more abt how to treat NIHL! <3
And no problem, I wanted to at the very least let u know that ur not alone in this and it sucks major ass, but there are ways to mitigate it :( Genuinely wishing u nothing but the best in terms of recovery, and hopefully one day we will know more abt how to treat NIHL! <3
I've had it quite bad for many years you will get used to it over time, for me it is because of hearing loss, I hope it improves for you or you find ways to cope, I've yet to find any relief I hear it over anything I'm playing in my headphones, it's definitely unfair everyone else plays sound way louder and goes to clubs and concerts and they are fine, but I think some people have bad genetics, plus I've constantly put things in my ears because they've always been very itchy so that's probably what's caused my hearing loss, I'm glad your ears are healthy, even tho it's my fault it's very upsetting to know your ears will be permanently worse for the rest of your life, if it does stay just know you aren't alone.
Damn.. I know this is coming a bit late, but yea hearing protection is up to you. If other people are 'just fine' its probably 'cause they already blew out their eardrums. I'm sorry you felt like you should just deal with it at the time, and hopefully it doesn't end up being too serious or long term.
I've been thinking about this post for the last couple of days, but I'd held off on commenting until now. My thoughts on the matter felt, I dunno, insensitive, but they were also optimistic. I decided it's worth sharing, if there's even the possibility that it might be helpful. I promise I'm not trying to trivialize your condition, or suggest that it "isn't real"-- if I come across that way, that's not my intention for a second, and I'm sincerely sorry. What I'm wishing to offer is a bit of hope by sharing my own experience that I believe could be similar, to demonstrate that there can be a happy ending.
With all of that said, I'm thinking that your tinnitus could be a somatoform disorder.
My personal experience wasn't tinnitus, but chronic pain that went on for years, and worsened over time. I had difficulty with day-to-day mobility, and it eventually spread to my hands and wrists, making me unable to engage in even my stationary hobbies. I had no idea what to do with myself, and I had seen so many doctors and specialists that insisted there was nothing physically wrong with me, and that I should just learn to adapt to my changing body. But I was miserable. I was in my 30s, and it was painful to even get dressed in the morning. I didn't want to live like that.
In doing research on voice control/eye tracking software for PCs, I discovered discussion about somatoform disorders, and read about one person's journey to recovery. I ended up doing significantly more reading, and worked with my therapist, and in half a year's time my pain was almost completely gone. It was a recovery beyond my wildest imagination.
I now understand that the timing of the onset of the pain was important. At the time it began, my mental health was in the gutter, and I was suffering from extreme anxiety. When the pain began (I had simply overexerted myself exercising), I now had fresh medical anxiety to be worried about, and it seemed like every single time I had a moment to breathe, I was thinking about the pain. It created a feedback loop, where I was hyperaware of my pain at all times, and I was looking for new aches and pains in any other part of my body to confirm something was wrong with me.
And this state of perpetual anxiety has serious consequences on your body. There's tons and tons of science backing up the fact that poor mental health results in poor physical health, but it's rare that you'd ever hear this from your medical team. After all, how is a physician supposed to treat this? Even if they acknowledge that medical anxiety might be a contributing factor to the very medical conditions they're seeking help for, how is that helpful for the patient to hear? Nobody wants to be told, "well, if you'd just stop worrying about it, you'd feel better." Gee, thanks?
There's enough details that you've shared about your tinnitus and the situation leading up to it that make me think there's the possibility it might be a somatoform disorder. You shared that you were worried the whole month leading up to the event, to the point of nausea (which indicates the anxiety was significant enough to cause physical symptoms). It sounded like the event itself was stressful on you, the way you had to leave abruptly. And obviously, you were incredibly worried about the tinnitus the following day, and even mentioned that it seemed to be getting worse in the days after. Meanwhile, nobody else you've talked to after the event is suffering from the aftereffects.
What if the ringing was absolutely normal, the way anyone's ears would ring after spending time around a loud sound system-- but the anxiety leading up to and surrounding it is what kept it there and made it grow out of control?
I'm not asking you to accept this explanation (though if you do choose to investigate it more, I'll recommend the book "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers"), but I do want to point out the very real medical reality that people can suffer with unexplained medical conditions for years that just vanish like they were never there. It might be that your tinnitus persists for months, or even years, but once you adapt to it and accept that it's now a fact of life, it vanishes because you're no longer worrying about it. The doctors might say there's nothing they can do, and they might be right-- but there is absolutely, undoubtedly hope.
Best of luck to you, Ruaidri. It won't always be this hard.
With all of that said, I'm thinking that your tinnitus could be a somatoform disorder.
My personal experience wasn't tinnitus, but chronic pain that went on for years, and worsened over time. I had difficulty with day-to-day mobility, and it eventually spread to my hands and wrists, making me unable to engage in even my stationary hobbies. I had no idea what to do with myself, and I had seen so many doctors and specialists that insisted there was nothing physically wrong with me, and that I should just learn to adapt to my changing body. But I was miserable. I was in my 30s, and it was painful to even get dressed in the morning. I didn't want to live like that.
In doing research on voice control/eye tracking software for PCs, I discovered discussion about somatoform disorders, and read about one person's journey to recovery. I ended up doing significantly more reading, and worked with my therapist, and in half a year's time my pain was almost completely gone. It was a recovery beyond my wildest imagination.
I now understand that the timing of the onset of the pain was important. At the time it began, my mental health was in the gutter, and I was suffering from extreme anxiety. When the pain began (I had simply overexerted myself exercising), I now had fresh medical anxiety to be worried about, and it seemed like every single time I had a moment to breathe, I was thinking about the pain. It created a feedback loop, where I was hyperaware of my pain at all times, and I was looking for new aches and pains in any other part of my body to confirm something was wrong with me.
And this state of perpetual anxiety has serious consequences on your body. There's tons and tons of science backing up the fact that poor mental health results in poor physical health, but it's rare that you'd ever hear this from your medical team. After all, how is a physician supposed to treat this? Even if they acknowledge that medical anxiety might be a contributing factor to the very medical conditions they're seeking help for, how is that helpful for the patient to hear? Nobody wants to be told, "well, if you'd just stop worrying about it, you'd feel better." Gee, thanks?
There's enough details that you've shared about your tinnitus and the situation leading up to it that make me think there's the possibility it might be a somatoform disorder. You shared that you were worried the whole month leading up to the event, to the point of nausea (which indicates the anxiety was significant enough to cause physical symptoms). It sounded like the event itself was stressful on you, the way you had to leave abruptly. And obviously, you were incredibly worried about the tinnitus the following day, and even mentioned that it seemed to be getting worse in the days after. Meanwhile, nobody else you've talked to after the event is suffering from the aftereffects.
What if the ringing was absolutely normal, the way anyone's ears would ring after spending time around a loud sound system-- but the anxiety leading up to and surrounding it is what kept it there and made it grow out of control?
I'm not asking you to accept this explanation (though if you do choose to investigate it more, I'll recommend the book "Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers"), but I do want to point out the very real medical reality that people can suffer with unexplained medical conditions for years that just vanish like they were never there. It might be that your tinnitus persists for months, or even years, but once you adapt to it and accept that it's now a fact of life, it vanishes because you're no longer worrying about it. The doctors might say there's nothing they can do, and they might be right-- but there is absolutely, undoubtedly hope.
Best of luck to you, Ruaidri. It won't always be this hard.
Hrmm... It's possible I suppose, I don't want to write anything off entirely, I'm not really qualified. But just based on how it's behaving I really do think it's just damage caused by loud noise rather than anything else. Especially where, for the first few days I wasn't actually super concerned, it wasn't until several days in when it finally hit me that it might be permanent and that's when I freaked out a bit, hah. And while I'm doing a lot better now and not nearly as anxious or stressed about it, it's still there just the same. It's actually remarkable how stable and unchanging it is. I suppose we'll see what happens with time though!
No worries though, I don't interpret this as trivializing my situation or anything, it certainly doesn't hurt to present all the options. Thanks for taking the time to share your story and thoughts. :3 And I agree, definitely way too early to just give in yet. I do have hope it'll calm down or I'll adjust, given enough time!
No worries though, I don't interpret this as trivializing my situation or anything, it certainly doesn't hurt to present all the options. Thanks for taking the time to share your story and thoughts. :3 And I agree, definitely way too early to just give in yet. I do have hope it'll calm down or I'll adjust, given enough time!
Sorry to hear what happened to you. I hope it will get better with time on its own.
I personally cannot use headphones to listen to music or play games at all or else I get sound oversensitivity and kind of "dizziness-like" state for many days and then for example the sound of throwing a fork into a sink is making my ears hurt. So I hadn't used headphones in like 15 years in fear it will come back. It also sometimes appears after I'm sick (e.g. covid) and stays for a few weeks. One time a few years ago it was with me for like a half a year... that was exhausting, but not life ruining. I've seen a doctor about it and got some meds but it didn't help, it disappeared on its own with time.
But still, If I go to IMAX to watch a movie I need to have ear plugs or else it hurts.
I personally cannot use headphones to listen to music or play games at all or else I get sound oversensitivity and kind of "dizziness-like" state for many days and then for example the sound of throwing a fork into a sink is making my ears hurt. So I hadn't used headphones in like 15 years in fear it will come back. It also sometimes appears after I'm sick (e.g. covid) and stays for a few weeks. One time a few years ago it was with me for like a half a year... that was exhausting, but not life ruining. I've seen a doctor about it and got some meds but it didn't help, it disappeared on its own with time.
But still, If I go to IMAX to watch a movie I need to have ear plugs or else it hurts.
I also had a problem with my ears, but of a different nature - I was told that it was sensory shock that came from the inner ear (it is what ultimately distributes nerve signals to the brain) and for two months I took pills for older people that are aimed at improving blood circulation in the brain and improving the functioning of the inner ear (in Russia this drug was called Betogestin, and cost about $ 5-10, surprisingly it helped me quite well)
I recommend describing the situation in Chatgpt as well - it is quite good at making diagnoses (tens of thousands of medical textbooks have been loaded into it) and suggestions for treatment. (in the end, you won't lose anything from this, right?
I recommend describing the situation in Chatgpt as well - it is quite good at making diagnoses (tens of thousands of medical textbooks have been loaded into it) and suggestions for treatment. (in the end, you won't lose anything from this, right?
OH NO! I have a friend with tinnitus, she said it can be triggered very easily by any higher pitched noise, even from video playing in other room. But that is her case, yours sounds really way worse. Can you at least sleep or is it so intensive it wakes you up? Are you well rested if that is possible at all? Do you sleep certain amount of hours every day, even if it means sleeping three times instead of just once? If not, please, try it, it's really important.
I had two days of intensive headache recently, not yet migraine when you are just vegetable looking at wall for whole day but close. I wasn't feeling tired but had to force myself to sleep every few hours since any brain activity started real migraine - listening to even silent slow talk, thinking of anything ("what day is today?"), looking at video. Just sitting and looking at white wall mean only headache which was "bearable". Had to wait for like three hours till body decided it could sleep for a while again and repeated it all the time x.x
Years ago my classmate shown me weird trick for normal hissing in ears many years ago, basically made funnel out of arms from mouth to ear and whistled continuously from low frequency to high. It sounds really weird but it often helped. If you dare to try it, I hope it won't trigger anything worse D:
I really wish you'll get better and it won't be permanent. I don't know you at all, only your art, something is really cute, something too much, but no matter what and who you are, you really don't deserve this. Stay strong and keep informing us please!
I had two days of intensive headache recently, not yet migraine when you are just vegetable looking at wall for whole day but close. I wasn't feeling tired but had to force myself to sleep every few hours since any brain activity started real migraine - listening to even silent slow talk, thinking of anything ("what day is today?"), looking at video. Just sitting and looking at white wall mean only headache which was "bearable". Had to wait for like three hours till body decided it could sleep for a while again and repeated it all the time x.x
Years ago my classmate shown me weird trick for normal hissing in ears many years ago, basically made funnel out of arms from mouth to ear and whistled continuously from low frequency to high. It sounds really weird but it often helped. If you dare to try it, I hope it won't trigger anything worse D:
I really wish you'll get better and it won't be permanent. I don't know you at all, only your art, something is really cute, something too much, but no matter what and who you are, you really don't deserve this. Stay strong and keep informing us please!
I get this, most likely from the winter I used a metal ice chopper to help clean up my paved driveway thanks to the sharp loud sound of slamming metal through ice and into the pavement below.
Rather dumb in retrospect.
Good news is that the brain tends to tune it out until something reminds me of it, so 99% of the time I don't experience it. Can take a day or three to completely vanish for me these days, tho, since it's largely dependent on forgetting. A bit like blinking or breathing..
Rather dumb in retrospect.
Good news is that the brain tends to tune it out until something reminds me of it, so 99% of the time I don't experience it. Can take a day or three to completely vanish for me these days, tho, since it's largely dependent on forgetting. A bit like blinking or breathing..
to me, tinnitus is a bit like a mosquito bite; its only there when something brings it to your attention, and then, it's THERE... until an hour later when you sit and think to yourself "huh, haven't heard anything in a while, I wonder where it went- okay THERE it is again..."
as with all other things, you learn to live with it..
lose an eye? you learn to live without
lose a leg? you learn to live without
have tinnitus? you learn to live with it
the question is not IF you'll learn to live with it, but how long it will take you to
if you are emotionally bothered by the tinnitus, you could consider making an appointment with a psychotherapist.. they can't make the tinnitus go away, but they can help you get your sleep and your mood back, and help you find your way to "live with it"
as with all other things, you learn to live with it..
lose an eye? you learn to live without
lose a leg? you learn to live without
have tinnitus? you learn to live with it
the question is not IF you'll learn to live with it, but how long it will take you to
if you are emotionally bothered by the tinnitus, you could consider making an appointment with a psychotherapist.. they can't make the tinnitus go away, but they can help you get your sleep and your mood back, and help you find your way to "live with it"
True, true. I mean, I'd rather not -have- to learn to live with it, but I guess that's out the window now, so, time to start learning to deal with it, hah.
It's really annoying, but I'm not as distraught anymore, and back to sleeping relatively well, so I think I'll be okay. Just gotta get used to it now.
Thanks! :3
It's really annoying, but I'm not as distraught anymore, and back to sleeping relatively well, so I think I'll be okay. Just gotta get used to it now.
Thanks! :3
This could mean you’re sensitive person to the social vibes, so to say. Better to go to smaller meetups, instead of going all out, too stressful.
Not that any of this is your fault, but just to say, you did worry sick for a month, and went anyways. Better to listen to your gut, might help getting tinnitus down with time. Ya know, in general, better to be careful, small steps, than sorry.
Not that any of this is your fault, but just to say, you did worry sick for a month, and went anyways. Better to listen to your gut, might help getting tinnitus down with time. Ya know, in general, better to be careful, small steps, than sorry.
I know all too well how this feels. I was in an explosion a number of years back, that paired with shooting competition without earplugs for years and working in heavy equipment and construction/demolition, it will never again be quiet.
You're a stronger person than you give yourself credit for and you'll get through this. Anyone who can overcome aphantasia and make wonderful works of art on your level is surely able to deal with this and still enjoy life. I know its scary now, i know you're worried, but just trust me, its not so bad after time adjusting.
Also; for what its worth, you inspire so many people. You are some one i always look forward to seeing make beautiful works of art and love interacting with when ever i have the chance. You may have a new problem, and it may seem big. But just know, its not the end of the world. You can overcome anything you put your mind to. In times like this, its best to rely on your social circle/support net, and spend time with others who care about you and can be there for you.
If you some how don't have anyone like that, feel free to DM me. I'd love to return some of the joy you've given me over the years just by being a fun person to watch, and inspirational artist.
You got this. You are strong, you are capable, you are resilient, you are going to get through this. Have faith in yourself. :) <3
You're a stronger person than you give yourself credit for and you'll get through this. Anyone who can overcome aphantasia and make wonderful works of art on your level is surely able to deal with this and still enjoy life. I know its scary now, i know you're worried, but just trust me, its not so bad after time adjusting.
Also; for what its worth, you inspire so many people. You are some one i always look forward to seeing make beautiful works of art and love interacting with when ever i have the chance. You may have a new problem, and it may seem big. But just know, its not the end of the world. You can overcome anything you put your mind to. In times like this, its best to rely on your social circle/support net, and spend time with others who care about you and can be there for you.
If you some how don't have anyone like that, feel free to DM me. I'd love to return some of the joy you've given me over the years just by being a fun person to watch, and inspirational artist.
You got this. You are strong, you are capable, you are resilient, you are going to get through this. Have faith in yourself. :) <3
Oh gosh, thank you so much for all the kind words and well-wishes. :3 It's rough right now, but seeing so many other folks get through it, I'm sure I can too, in time. But in the meantime, I'm very happy to hear you've gotten some happiness out of the things I've made!
I really appreciate you taking time out of your day just to help me out a lil'. It really does mean a lot, thank you. :3
I really appreciate you taking time out of your day just to help me out a lil'. It really does mean a lot, thank you. :3
Oh, I just saw this due to the other post.
I suffered from tinnitus for quite a while; same cause as you. I went to metal shows, concerts, headbanged, was in mosh pits, etc. One night after being in the VIP box, front row, right by the speakers, when I got home, I took a shower and noticed it when I got out of the shower.
A full feeling in my right ear, with the eeeeeeeeeeeee.
Nothing worked; even went to a specialist.
I lived with it for a considerable while. What I'm trying to say is, this happened when I was around 24. I'm 39, almost 40 now and it's gone. I don't know when it went away, but over the years; either my body fixed itself or my mind adapted to draining out the sound. It's not like, it was there and then gone, nah I like went through your entire thing... from denial to acceptance and went on with my life. Coped.
I wasn't really paying attention to it anymore, as I was coping, you know, and I assume one day it just started fading. Like it was stuck on 100% volume for years and then... it started going away like 1% every other week. I didn't notice this at all, though...
I mean, I was already coping and not really thinking about it, but with it fading, I realized now that I have no memory of it fading. I never really paid attention to it. But it's gone now. And I'm not sure when I 'got over' my tinnitus....
The point is, we're all amazing and while things are terrible right now... we all learn to cope, you will adapt, it will get easier. And eventually.... maybe even get rid of it.
I suffered from tinnitus for quite a while; same cause as you. I went to metal shows, concerts, headbanged, was in mosh pits, etc. One night after being in the VIP box, front row, right by the speakers, when I got home, I took a shower and noticed it when I got out of the shower.
A full feeling in my right ear, with the eeeeeeeeeeeee.
Nothing worked; even went to a specialist.
I lived with it for a considerable while. What I'm trying to say is, this happened when I was around 24. I'm 39, almost 40 now and it's gone. I don't know when it went away, but over the years; either my body fixed itself or my mind adapted to draining out the sound. It's not like, it was there and then gone, nah I like went through your entire thing... from denial to acceptance and went on with my life. Coped.
I wasn't really paying attention to it anymore, as I was coping, you know, and I assume one day it just started fading. Like it was stuck on 100% volume for years and then... it started going away like 1% every other week. I didn't notice this at all, though...
I mean, I was already coping and not really thinking about it, but with it fading, I realized now that I have no memory of it fading. I never really paid attention to it. But it's gone now. And I'm not sure when I 'got over' my tinnitus....
The point is, we're all amazing and while things are terrible right now... we all learn to cope, you will adapt, it will get easier. And eventually.... maybe even get rid of it.
Thanks for sharing your story! I'm glad yours eventually cleared up for ya. I'm already passed the 'it'll go away in a few days' stage, so hearing stories of longer term recoveries really does help. It's nice to know there's a chance. :P
Does kinda seem like the best advice is to just ignore it as hard as possible. Whether or not it ever goes away, if I don't care about it then it doesn't really matter, eh?
Does kinda seem like the best advice is to just ignore it as hard as possible. Whether or not it ever goes away, if I don't care about it then it doesn't really matter, eh?
Hi there. It does sound like you've damaged your hearing but that doesn't have to be crippling. The ringing should go away after a few days. You'll have lost some hearing range, but if you aren't actively *noticing* an issue once the ringing stops it's unlikely to affect you day to day.
You should definitely get your hearing checked. It's a good idea to do it at least every couple years even if you have no concerns. At the very least the doctors there will have a much better idea of the specifics of what is going on and can explain it to you in a way that should help with this panic attack.
You aren't ruined. You are going through something a ton of people deal with. Yes, it is scary. Yes, you can take a little better care of your hearing going forward. But *you will come through this.*
Take chances. Make mistakes. Get messy.
You've got this.
You should definitely get your hearing checked. It's a good idea to do it at least every couple years even if you have no concerns. At the very least the doctors there will have a much better idea of the specifics of what is going on and can explain it to you in a way that should help with this panic attack.
You aren't ruined. You are going through something a ton of people deal with. Yes, it is scary. Yes, you can take a little better care of your hearing going forward. But *you will come through this.*
Take chances. Make mistakes. Get messy.
You've got this.
We're already passed a few days, I'm afraid that's out the window. As far as I can tell I haven't lost much if any hearing range- did a hearing test with an audiologist and they didn't find any issues, and my own experience with tone generators tells me I can hear just about as high as I ever could. Maybe a tiny smidge less high, but it's pretty close. I think I got off lucky on the hearing front, just got a fun new sound to listen to all the time forever. :P
On the plus side, thanks to the kind comments from everyone here I'm doing a lot better mentally. I'ma be okay, just gotta take some time to readjust to things.
Thanks dude. :3
On the plus side, thanks to the kind comments from everyone here I'm doing a lot better mentally. I'ma be okay, just gotta take some time to readjust to things.
Thanks dude. :3
This is why it’s extremely important to know your own limits, you’re a recluse 99% of your life and decide the time to emerge is right into a nightclub? I cannot imagine a place you can go to hear louder noise besides the inside of a jet engine. If you don’t listen to music at foundation quaking levels on the regular, you should’ve known you wouldn’t be able to handle it for a night. People who go to those clubs regularly and listen to music that loud regularly, their ears can take it. So it’s not unfair that those people are fine and you aren’t, it’s unfair that you assume you have the same ears as they do. Ultimately I have no advice, this is a terrible situation for you and I really hope it passes or doctors can figure something out, I’m not good at sympathy I have Empathy I just can’t put it into words very well. I feel like my comment might send the message of ‘You should have seen this coming therefore you can’t complain’ but I’m just playing Devils Advocate. Someone has to point this stuff out or it’ll be overlooked by a lot of people who will just write this off as you had bad ears but they’ll be fine.
From what i read, a cortison therapy can do a lot. the first 7-10 days are most crucial for healing... but it can still heal within three months of it happening.
obviously avoid loud noises, but do not stand in complete silence, a fan or nature sounds are good remedies.
Two thumbs up that it at least gets better. This could really impact your life...
obviously avoid loud noises, but do not stand in complete silence, a fan or nature sounds are good remedies.
Two thumbs up that it at least gets better. This could really impact your life...
I've been following these comment threads to see how you're doing. I'm glad you're in a better mood lately. I don't want to add to the tsunami of text you've been receiving but I do want to add to the good vibes, genuine appreciation and concern. The brain is very plastic, if nothing works in the long term, you'll eventually be able to filter it out unconsciously, like those experiments where people used upside-down glasses for very long and then that became the new normal, and without glasses things were upside down. The pain and inflammation will surely go away.
Big hug!
Big hug!
The text tsunami has been appreciated honestly, gave me something to focus on other than the ringing for a while. :P So, thank you for adding to it! I really do appreciate you taking time out of your day to try and help me feel a lil' better. Hopefully you're right- will definitely take some time, but I think I'll get there eventually!
I've been away from FA for a little bit and I'm only just catching up, so… I don't think this is anything that hasn't been said before. I know that ringing brings as much psychological as physical pain, because even after the actual hurting stops, it just will not go away. But your brain and your nerves can recover, if you take time and treat them well. Peace and quiet and hearing protection, hydration, and vitamin C will (probably) help. It's always worst right after the incident and then pulls back in the next week or two, and then gradually from there; the brain is a surprisingly plastic thing.
If you haven't tried this yet, a little bit of white noise can also help your brain tune it out. A long-ago coworker of mine served in an artillery unit for a while, and in one ear he was nearly deaf except for the ringing (better but still noticeably hard of hearing in the other). He swore by a 12-hour MP3 of static to get him through quiet focus time and to help him sleep in peace.
I hope you can find some comfort and recovery soon.
If you haven't tried this yet, a little bit of white noise can also help your brain tune it out. A long-ago coworker of mine served in an artillery unit for a while, and in one ear he was nearly deaf except for the ringing (better but still noticeably hard of hearing in the other). He swore by a 12-hour MP3 of static to get him through quiet focus time and to help him sleep in peace.
I hope you can find some comfort and recovery soon.
It didn't bother anyone else because they damaged their hearing long ago. I notice a lot of people my age have the TV turned up far too loud, and I have to think it's years of concerts, festivals, with no hearing protection.
I recommend acoustic earplugs: they bring the music down to tolerable levels without muffling it. I think I got mine for £20 from Amazon.
Could it be the vibrations dislodged some earwax onto the eardrum? Has a doctor suggested water irrigation (syringing)?
I recommend acoustic earplugs: they bring the music down to tolerable levels without muffling it. I think I got mine for £20 from Amazon.
Could it be the vibrations dislodged some earwax onto the eardrum? Has a doctor suggested water irrigation (syringing)?
Naw, had some folks take a look, physically everything is good, just hearing damage most likely. Still a chance it might recover over time, I'm hoping!
But yes, you're absolutely right- gonna be nabbing some nice earplugs real soon and keeping them with me everywhere, hah.
But yes, you're absolutely right- gonna be nabbing some nice earplugs real soon and keeping them with me everywhere, hah.
First don't worry too much. Please check with your insurance and find a local PCP, and they should be able to redirect to specialists. I'm no expert but it sounds a little like things from mental side, especially you mentioned you didn't feel comfortable during the convention. Nervous could be traumatizing.
Usually hearing a pitch is from anxiety and/or tired based on my limited knowledge. I would recommend think on the good side - you are young and body will heal itself. You just need to provide it mental support and enough energy to recover. When I had similar, sleep, alot, and do favorite things like browsing arts here ;P
But again, please don't worry. If it was physical injury doc will surely take good care of you. If mental then psychologists will always take good care of you :)
Usually hearing a pitch is from anxiety and/or tired based on my limited knowledge. I would recommend think on the good side - you are young and body will heal itself. You just need to provide it mental support and enough energy to recover. When I had similar, sleep, alot, and do favorite things like browsing arts here ;P
But again, please don't worry. If it was physical injury doc will surely take good care of you. If mental then psychologists will always take good care of you :)
Unfortunately I don't think mine is due to anything like anxiety or stress, I'm pretty much back to normal on the mental front but things are still a ringin'. Classic case of hearing damage, I think. Still, folks have said there's a chance it may dissipate over the coming months, so I'm hopeful. And even if it doesn't, it's a pretty steady tone, I should be able to adjust.
Long term, I think I'll be just fine. :3 Thanks for taking the time to leave your thoughts, I really appreciate it!
Long term, I think I'll be just fine. :3 Thanks for taking the time to leave your thoughts, I really appreciate it!
Bit late on the reply but best recommend see if there is a local therapist and see if they can help. I used to have ringing in my ears bad few years ago and took going to doctor to realize it was due to stress, kinda tuned it out after some time but it was always there. After learning about the cause I had to take a deep dive on my life and figure out where it was coming from and after sorting it out over a couple years it slowly stopped. It does come back once in a while but its been manageable. I really do hope your able to get it to stop. Lots of thoughts with ya :3
Unfortunately mine is a pretty clearcut case of hearing damage. Stress never caused ringing in my ears before and it doesn't seem to make it worse now, just stayed in a loud place for too long. But there's still hope, some folks have said it could take up to a hear to fully recover so it may still go away yet. If I'm lucky!
Thanks a bunch. :3
Thanks a bunch. :3
Dunno whether this has been suggested already or not, but you might want to look into sound therapy
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog.....n-202112082654
https://www.tinnitracks.com/en/therapeuticeffect
I hope you get some relief
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog.....n-202112082654
https://www.tinnitracks.com/en/therapeuticeffect
I hope you get some relief
I'm so sorry you're going through this. :( One thing I've heard works is these wristband vibration things from Neosensory. Basically it retrains your brain on how to handle audio signals and when your brain realizes there is no real ringing sound, it stops the sound in your head. https://neosensory.com
They seem to be out of stock right now but you may be able to find a second-hand one on eBay or watch for restocking.
Hope it gets better, and that you feel better regardless!
They seem to be out of stock right now but you may be able to find a second-hand one on eBay or watch for restocking.
Hope it gets better, and that you feel better regardless!
You're not alone here. Been struggling with tinnitus and hearing issues my whole life too, and multiple of my family members the same. It'll get worse, it'll get better. I'm in my late twenties now and am avoiding more and more those places where I know my ears are going to be pushed and punished. It's difficult, and nobody finds it easy. But it's good to talk about it. Sending lots of hugs to you.
People that are around sounds that are at hearing damage levels a lot won't notice anything wrong. They just think the music is a little loud so everyone can hear it, and that hearing damage happens with loud sudden sounds like gunfire and fireworks. Sustained volume sounds will cause permanent hearing damage at lower volumes and will tend to be right at or just above the threshold for pain, and they will feel the cost later in their lives for clubbing hard.
Wear hearing protection, electronic hearing protection allows safe level sounds through while blocking unsafe levels. Some might look at you funny, but those that know will applaud. Basically every musician that performs in big concerts wear hearing protection.
I say all of this as I am diagnosed with military service connected tinnitus. Had to choose between running artillery shells to the gun or put in my hearing protection before the first rounds were fired.
Wear hearing protection, electronic hearing protection allows safe level sounds through while blocking unsafe levels. Some might look at you funny, but those that know will applaud. Basically every musician that performs in big concerts wear hearing protection.
I say all of this as I am diagnosed with military service connected tinnitus. Had to choose between running artillery shells to the gun or put in my hearing protection before the first rounds were fired.
I've had tinnitus my whole life as far as I can tell.
I think most people just don't realize they have it or don't think about it, it doesn't bother a lot of people and I think they learn to tune it out.
I tune it out a lot but it is annoying at times.
I think that normalization though, is part of the harm. It puts your guard down and makes you think that because something is normal, then it's okay.
Hopefully the tinnitus you have gets better in a few weeks. It can just get slowly better as you heal, over weeks or months. But it's good to be wary of loud noises from now on just to make sure it doesn't cause any further damage.
I always put my fingers in my ears, or hands over my ears, even with vehicles with sirens pass buy. I feel awkward being the only one doing it, but it's better safe than sorry.
Some people also wear earplugs to these sorts of events, that you can't necessarily see, to mitigate the issues somewhat. But I am not sure how much these help.
I think most people just don't realize they have it or don't think about it, it doesn't bother a lot of people and I think they learn to tune it out.
I tune it out a lot but it is annoying at times.
I think that normalization though, is part of the harm. It puts your guard down and makes you think that because something is normal, then it's okay.
Hopefully the tinnitus you have gets better in a few weeks. It can just get slowly better as you heal, over weeks or months. But it's good to be wary of loud noises from now on just to make sure it doesn't cause any further damage.
I always put my fingers in my ears, or hands over my ears, even with vehicles with sirens pass buy. I feel awkward being the only one doing it, but it's better safe than sorry.
Some people also wear earplugs to these sorts of events, that you can't necessarily see, to mitigate the issues somewhat. But I am not sure how much these help.
I’m a bit late to the party and I’m happy you’re feeling better but just wanted to join in the support.
I’ve had tinnitus for as long as I can remember, probably got it early in school as I have some memories of kids screaming in my ears or in very echoey rooms. Regardless, what I really wanted to say is even if it never fades, your notice of it does. It’ll always be there, your constant companion, but you learn to hear around it, to tune it out and stop “noticing” it even if it never truly goes away.
There are some tricks you can use, some techniques that help though I can’t vouch for them myself.
Nevertheless, life goes on. It might not feel like it at times, but this isn’t the end of the world. It’s just another thing you’ll have to learn to live with (no matter how much that sucks).
I’ve had tinnitus for as long as I can remember, probably got it early in school as I have some memories of kids screaming in my ears or in very echoey rooms. Regardless, what I really wanted to say is even if it never fades, your notice of it does. It’ll always be there, your constant companion, but you learn to hear around it, to tune it out and stop “noticing” it even if it never truly goes away.
There are some tricks you can use, some techniques that help though I can’t vouch for them myself.
Nevertheless, life goes on. It might not feel like it at times, but this isn’t the end of the world. It’s just another thing you’ll have to learn to live with (no matter how much that sucks).
Thanks! I still really do appreciate folks reaching out with their thoughts. I'm getting better, but it's still a fresh wound so it still helps. :P
I miiiight still get away with this one? I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, but I could swear it's been getting a tiny bit quieter lately... it may fade over time to a point where I hardly notice it. Almost two months in and I can still hear it pretty clearly so maybe the odds aren't great, but a guy can hope, hah. But, even if it doesn't, a lot of folks have said similar, so I'm not toooo worried about it... as you say, I should get used to it in time to the point where it doesn't matter if it does fade or not.
Just gotta play the waiting game now. :P
Thanks again- I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts!
I miiiight still get away with this one? I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, but I could swear it's been getting a tiny bit quieter lately... it may fade over time to a point where I hardly notice it. Almost two months in and I can still hear it pretty clearly so maybe the odds aren't great, but a guy can hope, hah. But, even if it doesn't, a lot of folks have said similar, so I'm not toooo worried about it... as you say, I should get used to it in time to the point where it doesn't matter if it does fade or not.
Just gotta play the waiting game now. :P
Thanks again- I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts!
I don't know if the audiologist helped, but there *are* treatments for tinnitus. Not everything works for everyone, but they are coming up with new treatments all the time.
There are devices they have that train your brain to filter out the sound (the same way you don't feel your clothes against your skin until you think about it, or don't hear your own blood running through your veins, and don't see your nose). Our brains have to be very good at filtering out superfluous sensory input, because otherwise we'd be overwhelmed constantly. Some of us (like myself) have sensory processing disorder that messes with that, but there is still a lot that our brains can ignore even so. (It's not counseling, not telling you "just ignore it", it's a neurological thing.)
There are devices they have that train your brain to filter out the sound (the same way you don't feel your clothes against your skin until you think about it, or don't hear your own blood running through your veins, and don't see your nose). Our brains have to be very good at filtering out superfluous sensory input, because otherwise we'd be overwhelmed constantly. Some of us (like myself) have sensory processing disorder that messes with that, but there is still a lot that our brains can ignore even so. (It's not counseling, not telling you "just ignore it", it's a neurological thing.)
Yeah, I'm familiar with 'em. One of the first things I found when I landed myself with this. I also dug around in the papers and looked for personal accounts from people who've tried it, and evidence is... not great, as far as I can tell. They have helped... a few people, but for the vast majority it seems to do nothing, and it costs several thousand dollars while doing it. :P
I do appreciate you taking the time to mention them to do me, don't get me wrong! I'm just not super convinced they're worth it, especially where my condition isn't currently that severe. Maybe if it gets worse and I get desperate I'll reassess, hah.
I do appreciate you taking the time to mention them to do me, don't get me wrong! I'm just not super convinced they're worth it, especially where my condition isn't currently that severe. Maybe if it gets worse and I get desperate I'll reassess, hah.
Hey friendo. I hope you're doing better. A lot of my friends and family aren't even very old and they tell me they're hard of hearing or practically deaf in one ear, etc. I'd advise getting some high fidelity earplugs for social occasions. Anything that gets too loud. Most people seem to not care about their hearing. I work at a movie theater so I have to bring them with me every shift just about.
Hey I just saw this and you should keep trying the method that the first person talked about with the palms on the ears (I used by thumbs instead).
So from here I'm gonna speak as though you're suffering from the same issue I did. Which you very well may not be.
Sometimes tinnitus can actually be a mental thing instead of a physical thing. While its very likely you suffered some hearing damage from the continuous loud sounds. Considering everyone else's reaction you are likely hyper focusing on the issue which is making your brain continue to panic and focus on the issue as well. I am of course speaking from my own experience.
So since my tinnitus issue was more mental than physical I read the that the ear snapping technique can actually help with that. The biggest trick that worked for me was concentrating on the sound and doing the snapping. Think of it like doing meditation. You arn't trying to escape the sound, you arn't scared of it and how it may effect you. Its just a noise.
using this Method would provide me with about 30 mins of relief. during the relief period I would start listening to music as it would drown it out and my brain would stop focusing on it which would provide me with longer term relief until my stupid brain would pick it back up.
All in all it probably took half a year for my brain to get used to it and stop amplifying it. It may take you even longer since it sounds like you are having it worse than I did.
So from here I'm gonna speak as though you're suffering from the same issue I did. Which you very well may not be.
Sometimes tinnitus can actually be a mental thing instead of a physical thing. While its very likely you suffered some hearing damage from the continuous loud sounds. Considering everyone else's reaction you are likely hyper focusing on the issue which is making your brain continue to panic and focus on the issue as well. I am of course speaking from my own experience.
So since my tinnitus issue was more mental than physical I read the that the ear snapping technique can actually help with that. The biggest trick that worked for me was concentrating on the sound and doing the snapping. Think of it like doing meditation. You arn't trying to escape the sound, you arn't scared of it and how it may effect you. Its just a noise.
using this Method would provide me with about 30 mins of relief. during the relief period I would start listening to music as it would drown it out and my brain would stop focusing on it which would provide me with longer term relief until my stupid brain would pick it back up.
All in all it probably took half a year for my brain to get used to it and stop amplifying it. It may take you even longer since it sounds like you are having it worse than I did.
Yeah, I tried it, several times- never did anything for me. :P Fortunately I'm past the worst of the effects... I can still hear it, but most of the time it's not particularly bothersome. If just not being worried about it is enough to make it eventually go away, I should be well on that road 'cause it's mostly something I'm able to ignore and even when I do notice it it's more of a mild irritation than something severely distressing.
We'll see how it goes- I'm three months in, but I've heard stories of it not even starting to fade until six months and then eventually still going almost entirely away, so there's still a chance. I'm cautiously optimistic... but even if it doesn't, I'll live. There are certainly worse chronic conditions to end up with than a little noise in the ears, heh.
We'll see how it goes- I'm three months in, but I've heard stories of it not even starting to fade until six months and then eventually still going almost entirely away, so there's still a chance. I'm cautiously optimistic... but even if it doesn't, I'll live. There are certainly worse chronic conditions to end up with than a little noise in the ears, heh.
Thats good to hear. The toughest part for me was to not focus on it. I have lots of anxiety issues. And it's the absolute worst when its just not something physical and its all in your head. There is no real treatment or cure. Not that yours is all in your head. But I had to bring it up on the off chance it is. As going down a route of constantly worrying over it, looking for physical treatments and such, can be a lot. When all you need is stop worrying about it and let it go. Which is sounds like you're already on that road.
Huh, i'am so dumb >< Sorry, seems like it is too late, i think my case should help you maybe, but your situation happend around half of the year... I am really sorry, that i didn't check furaffinity
Well, anyway, maybe my case will help you. So, do you know that tool with disk, angled grinding machine? So, I think I'am a bit idiotic and crazy man - my tinnitus started after cutting concrete to plug in walls the wires in my apartments. But, one thing is different with your case - it started a bit later, like in 1,5 month, I was cold and my throat was hard hurt for one week. And right after my sick has gone - i start to hear that ringing in my left ear. I was heared that sound very silent whole day, til the evening, and it was really hard for me to get sleep. How it solved? Firstly, i went to doctor. 1, 2, and 3rd - final and very important, because just last one seemed to be a real professional in my case. Vitamins B6,B12 for 10 days and no more loud sounds, no more in-ear headphones. But anyway, that fucking noise was unstoppable. So, how, how it stopped? Someday, I think like in 7-9 months after that visit, I just noticed, that noise has changed. Few days after - It seemed even stopped! Few times came back, and anyway has gone. But now, left just very silent electric-like noise on both of ears, I even can't tell if i can always hear this.
Anyway, sorry dude, i feel like i should be here, in comments, few months ago, to try to help you with that thing thou(
Well, anyway, maybe my case will help you. So, do you know that tool with disk, angled grinding machine? So, I think I'am a bit idiotic and crazy man - my tinnitus started after cutting concrete to plug in walls the wires in my apartments. But, one thing is different with your case - it started a bit later, like in 1,5 month, I was cold and my throat was hard hurt for one week. And right after my sick has gone - i start to hear that ringing in my left ear. I was heared that sound very silent whole day, til the evening, and it was really hard for me to get sleep. How it solved? Firstly, i went to doctor. 1, 2, and 3rd - final and very important, because just last one seemed to be a real professional in my case. Vitamins B6,B12 for 10 days and no more loud sounds, no more in-ear headphones. But anyway, that fucking noise was unstoppable. So, how, how it stopped? Someday, I think like in 7-9 months after that visit, I just noticed, that noise has changed. Few days after - It seemed even stopped! Few times came back, and anyway has gone. But now, left just very silent electric-like noise on both of ears, I even can't tell if i can always hear this.
Anyway, sorry dude, i feel like i should be here, in comments, few months ago, to try to help you with that thing thou(
I read this when it was first posted, linked from a friend.
Forgot about it.
And then I did the exact same thing, or close enough, at the start of this month.
I was invited to a metal concert by someone online whom I might not really have any other opportunity to meet; I kinda had to accept if I wanted to have my first non-family, in-person social interaction in over a month.
The venue was absolutely tiny, maybe 30 ft. between the stage and the back wall. I asked the bartender about hearing protection, but was met with a verbal shrug. I even looked for pharmacies that might sell earplugs but it was too late in the night.
In the end I just rationalized my way (with the help of the two people I went with) into going in unprotected, and didn't leave even when this insanely loud band started playing. I was gonna get my 30 dollars' worth.
I had a good time, but it wasn't worth the potentially permanent damage. I feel incredibly stupid, I always took great care of my hearing and had some pride in it, and one mistake likely fucked it up forever, just like it seems happened with you.
I admit to a certain lack of empathy on first read. But, yeah, I get it now, and I get it good. The mind has a way of ignoring even known dangers for the sake of a good time.
It's no one's fault but the bands' and the venues', and the fans' fault for always wanting louder.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks for reading through, if you did. I just wanted my own story out there somewhere, I guess.
Forgot about it.
And then I did the exact same thing, or close enough, at the start of this month.
I was invited to a metal concert by someone online whom I might not really have any other opportunity to meet; I kinda had to accept if I wanted to have my first non-family, in-person social interaction in over a month.
The venue was absolutely tiny, maybe 30 ft. between the stage and the back wall. I asked the bartender about hearing protection, but was met with a verbal shrug. I even looked for pharmacies that might sell earplugs but it was too late in the night.
In the end I just rationalized my way (with the help of the two people I went with) into going in unprotected, and didn't leave even when this insanely loud band started playing. I was gonna get my 30 dollars' worth.
I had a good time, but it wasn't worth the potentially permanent damage. I feel incredibly stupid, I always took great care of my hearing and had some pride in it, and one mistake likely fucked it up forever, just like it seems happened with you.
I admit to a certain lack of empathy on first read. But, yeah, I get it now, and I get it good. The mind has a way of ignoring even known dangers for the sake of a good time.
It's no one's fault but the bands' and the venues', and the fans' fault for always wanting louder.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks for reading through, if you did. I just wanted my own story out there somewhere, I guess.
Very easy. If only things started hurting before the point of no return...
My experience with it seems multi-tonal, somehow.
There's the high-pitched "eee", which is the loudest/clearest one, but at times, I'll also be able to distinguish a middle-pitch "uuu" which is more subtle.
My experience with it seems multi-tonal, somehow.
There's the high-pitched "eee", which is the loudest/clearest one, but at times, I'll also be able to distinguish a middle-pitch "uuu" which is more subtle.
Sounds pretty much exactly like mine. The loudest and most ever-present is the 16khz, CRT-TV noise which virtually never goes away or gets covered by anything, but I also have a couple other pitches that I can hear if it's anything remotely close to quiet that are more mid-range stuff.
If you're lucky, it may still go away with time. But even if it doesn't, the good news is it does get easier to ignore after a while. I'm only a bit over four months in and already I mostly only notice it when it's quiet and I'm not doing anything, if I'm focused on anything my brain tunes out the noise pretty well. It sucks, but as far as chronic incurable conditions go, it could be a lot worse. :P
If you're lucky, it may still go away with time. But even if it doesn't, the good news is it does get easier to ignore after a while. I'm only a bit over four months in and already I mostly only notice it when it's quiet and I'm not doing anything, if I'm focused on anything my brain tunes out the noise pretty well. It sucks, but as far as chronic incurable conditions go, it could be a lot worse. :P
I'm still processing all of this, but it's good to hear that from someone who's been through it recently as well...
It's only been about 3 days since I got out of the anxiety spikes; it might just be manageable once the depressive phase is done. I'll keep crossing my fingers for it to go away & hearing to get back to 100%, but... it's livable, probably.
It's only been about 3 days since I got out of the anxiety spikes; it might just be manageable once the depressive phase is done. I'll keep crossing my fingers for it to go away & hearing to get back to 100%, but... it's livable, probably.
Late and the doctors probably already checked for this, but in case they didn't on my end earwax somehow causes it and cleaning out my ears with medical grade hydrogen peroxide then clearing it out with isopropyl alchohol after fixes it for a week or two.
Annoyingly it has to be left in there for like 5-15 minutes straight per ear and sometimes takes multiple days of doing it for it to work fully.
Annoyingly it has to be left in there for like 5-15 minutes straight per ear and sometimes takes multiple days of doing it for it to work fully.
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