A few days ago I randomly got tinnitus out of nowhere and I didn’t understand what’s up. An hour or so ago I finally understood/learned what’s happening to me and read up on tinnitus and I’m devastated. I’m only over 20 and having this for the rest of my life as it becomes worse is heartbreaking to me. I was already overly sensitive to certain noises and am in love with music but with tinnitus I lost something precious and permanently gained somethimg that I just will need to live with. I’m heartbroken and scared. I know I will learn to accept it within a week as my brain processes this new experience but right now I just feel gutwrenchingly horrible. Especially so when I was already having some other physical and mental health issues that I’m unable to cope with and this adds to the burden. I need some advice on how to live with it and some comfort in knowing of other people going through the same. Thank you. :(
(I don’t live is US if that matters in any way.)
Assuming you go to the doctor and find out you do have tinnitus and it’s permanent, I can totally understand the panic you’re feeling right now. It’s a very existential, pit of your stomach sense of dread you’re feeling right now.
As somebody with tinnitus that is likely more severe than yours is right now, and have had it as young as you if not younger, you will get used to it with time, to the point that 90% of the time, you won’t hear it at all. Right now it’s going to seem far worse and suffocating because more than anything the tinnitus is triggered by remembering that you have it. Since it’s going to be stuck on your mind for awhile it might feel like you’re suffocating under it but as bad as I have it, it really is only an occasional annoyance.
The important thing is to start protecting your hearing today. Ear plugs at concerts, plug your ears when the ambulance drives by, don’t blast the music in your car so loud.
Don’t despair, when it’s really bad there are things that help like white noise, which can be generated on your phone or you can set up a fan at night. iPhones have a feature now that can add subtle nature sounds or white noise behind whatever else you’re listening to including music, if you find that’s something that helps you.