Tinnitus is characterized by hearing noises that are not from the environment on a more or less constant basis. The condition can be temporary or permanent. Although tinnitus does not cause any physical pain, it can wreak havoc on someone mentally by affecting sleep patterns, breaking concentration, and even leading to anxiety and stress. The more you understand about the causes, prevention and treatment of the condition, the easier it is to learn to manage it.
When you begin to hear the ringing noise in your ears, you must stay calm. Usually it doesn’t mean anything too serious, but you do want to figure out the cause of it. You might consult a physician if it dissipates by itself, but it’s really not something to stress over.
A white noise generator may be helpful at night. The white noise can help to focus your attention on the noise, as opposed to your tinnitus symptoms. A lot of people find that tinnitus is made worse by tinnitus. Try it and determine what is best for you.
Give yourself no more than a 15 minute window to fall asleep at night. If you have not fallen asleep, get out of bed and leave the room. Don’t do anything that is stressful. Instead, engage in an activity that relaxes you. Following this procedure makes your bed into a “sleeping only” zone, cutting down on tossing and turning.
Consider visiting a counselor to engage in cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy will teach you how to stop focusing on tinnitus so much. Therapy with a professional helps you to let go of issues, such as anger, that surround your tinnitus. This will make it easier to cope with. Suffering from tinnitus can leave you feeling depressed, but luckily there is help available to help you take your life back.
The first step toward treatment of tinnitus is to go to a doctor to have your ears cleaned. If you have a lot of ear wax, your tinnitus will worsen, and Q-tips only push the wax up to your eardrum.
Stress can make ringing associated with tinnitus seem louder, so do what you can to eliminate stress from your life. Learn to leave your work problems at work, and find ways to relax on your days off.
Getting to sleep can be tough when you have tinnitus; providing a source of background noise, such as a fan or a white noise generator, can help. Run through several types of noise to discover the one that relaxes you the most. White noise offers a welcome distraction from the ringing in your ears, which may make it easier to fall asleep.
Some evidence has shown that tinnitus is a condition that is inflammatory. An anti-inflammatory diet is a good way to control your condition. This type of diet would include such foods as plenty of fruits and vegetables and other anti-inflammatory foods, such as salmon and flax seed oil.
If you are suffering from symptoms of tinnitus, be sure to tell your doctor about your condition. The number of medications known to exacerbate tinnitus is over 200, and that covers both over-the-counter drugs, as well as prescription products. Letting your doctor know you have this disorder, can prevent your condition from worsening due to medication complications.
Try to do as many interesting and fun things as you can each day. This can distract you from the constant ringing in your ears. Do not allow tinnitus to compromise the quality of your life. Concentrate on doing activities you enjoy to distract yourself.
Tinnitus Retraining Therapy
TRT, or Tinnitus Retraining Therapy, is a treatment option that may be worth a look. This therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that is specifically designed to help people habituate to tinnitus sounds. The theory behind it is that tinnitus should not be uncomfortable any more than your clothing should. If you have been unable to find a treatment that eliminates your tinnitus symptoms, try tinnitus retraining therapy.
Look for other tinnitus sufferers to talk to. For many people who have been diagnosed with tinnitus, a solid support group offers just the encouragement and empathy that is needed to live with the condition. There are a great deal of people going through what you are, and you can exchange advice with them. This will make living with tinnitus a lot easier.
Find other tinnitus sufferers either locally or online. You can find fellow sufferers via online support groups, classified ads, and through other means. Finding others dealing with the same thing you are can help you to cope and to find answers. Many other people are suffering from this condition. Sharing helpful tips can help you and others as well, thus making the tinnitus much more bearable.
While tinnitus won’t cause you physical pain, it can lower your overall quality of life. Finding effective ways to proactively manage your tinnitus is the best way to live with the condition. Apply these tips to help get rid of your tinnitus.