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Tinnitus causes stress — that’s a fact that’s probably not surprising, considering how disruptive tinnitus can be to everyday life. Up to 60% of people with tinnitus report long-term emotional distress.
But what’s not as clear is which comes first, the tinnitus or the stress. Could stress be responsible for the development of tinnitus or the worsening of it?
The answer isn’t entirely clear, although some experts have noted that it’s common for people to report that they had psychological distress before or during the onset of tinnitus.
One study compared people experiencing high levels of stress to those who were exposed to loud noises at their jobs and found that the probability of developing tinnitus was about the same between the two groups. If people were stressed and exposed to loud noises, their risk of developing tinnitus doubled.
Tinnitus is thought to be strongly influenced by how a person processes emotional stimuli, and it often appears alongside other mental health issues, like depression and anxiety.
Some experts think that people who experience worsening or disabling tinnitus are those who tend to react the most strongly to unpleasant sounds. In turn, they may be unable to “shut off” or effectively cope with stressors to lessen their negative impact.
In people with distressful tinnitus, images of the brain show that these responses tend to be centered in the emotional center of the brain (amygdala), while people who have lower levels of tinnitus distress tend to bypass the amygdala and use parts of the brain responsible for problem-solving and judgment instead.
Because there’s likely a psychological component to tinnitus, addressing mental health through treatment with techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy is key. Cognitive behavioral therapy often involves interventions focused on changing negative thoughts and feelings about tinnitus, cutting out negative coping mechanisms, and increasing positive ways of coping.
In research focused on cognitive behavioral therapy as a treatment for tinnitus, study participants reported significant improvements in quality of life and depression following therapy. It didn’t change the volume of tinnitus they were experiencing, but it helped them cope with it. Medication used to help treat symptoms of anxiety and stress also may be helpful.
Chat with others about hearing and tinnitus in the Hearing Loss group.
Get clear answers to your questions about the health of your hearing with a copy of Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance.
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Since the exact cause and trigger of tinnitus isn't yet fully understood, it may receive as many comments as there are postings. I had and continue to have partial hearing loss over the last 5 years, now age 70. In my case, a 3 day long unresolved headache, probably triggered by the initial pfizer covid-19 vaccine in early 2021, brought on left ear tinnitus (I never had covid). After 2 weeks, prednisone was started. It helped diminish the sound to almost unnoticeable during the day. Not so at night. I've continued with the vax and eventually both boosters. The last Omicron booster aggravated tinnitus, followed by prednisone after 2 weeks. To little avail. I don't regret the vax, but moderate hearing loss along with long lasting migraines (in my case) seem to go hand-in-hand with aggravating tinnitus.
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2 Reactions@bb4bb747, you may also be interested in following the Hearing Loss grou here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/hearing-loss/
And connecting with other members dealing with tinnitus.
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1 ReactionHas anyone tried a new tinnitus treatment by Lenire? That's the name of the company. Recently approved by FDA?
My name is Rosemary, I'm 79 and I have tinnitus, not whistles or roaring wind but full concert orchestra of classical music over and over 24/7/52. I have not heard of the Lenire treatment and will look it up.
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2 ReactionsIt’s helpful to know I am not the only one listening to music 24/7. Thank you for sharing .
Rosemary, I am wondering if what you are experiencing is possibly an "earworm" or involuntary musical imagery? Tittitus is usually a tone, roar or static sound. If you are hearing repeating melodies, that is more likely involuntary musical imagery. You might try chewing gum, which can sometimes interrupt earworm. [Earworm is not an actual worm in the ear, it is the name for a melody that "gets stuck" in our mind.]
Thank you edsutton for your reply. I hadn’t thought of an earworm (familiar somewhat because of Big Bang Theory when Sheldon had one). I get repetitive music, woshes, gushes, bangs, whistles and a sound like a motor running in the next room. Nothing physical that I do helped but I am getting relief from a diffuser in my office misting out a vapor with menthol aromatherapy oil. Also Lipo Flavonoid which was my first attempt at a solution. It worked to a point but not total. Now I have some days with no noise at all. Thank you for your suggestion and information. Every bit of information helps.
I have somewhat similar symptoms.
The tinnitus is a mix of high-pitched white noise like sounds. It's always there, but I notice it more as I get tired in the evening.
I enjoy aromatic oils, and will try using them intentionally to see if it can reduce the tinnitus. Elsewhere I've read that aromatic oils can improve cognitive functioning, so I keep little bottles on my desk.
I also get non-stop earworms when I listen to some of my favorite opera recordings. I love Caruso, but if I listen to certain arias I will hear him singing for two days!