Tinnitus is a medical condition that causes a constant buzzing or ringing in a person’s ears. In some cases, tinnitus can be eliminated by treating the underlying medical condition that’s causing the symptoms you’re experiencing. However, in some cases, tinnitus isn’t something that may go away on its own or with the appropriate treatment.
What’re you supposed to do if you find that the phantom noises stemming from this problem are something you must continue to face? The good news is that plenty of individuals who deal with tinnitus symptoms regularly have learned how to cope with these external sounds. If you’re looking to better deal with regular buzzing, ringing, or hissing, here’s a brief guide on how to manage symptoms of tinnitus.
How to Deal With the Physical Effects of Tinnitus
The first step to managing your symptoms is to reach out to a hearing health professional to schedule a comprehensive hearing test with an audiologist. This test will help you learn more about the severity of your tinnitus, as well as about the symptoms of tinnitus themselves. If the tinnitus does not go away on its own or with the treatment of an underlying condition, don’t fret. There are plenty of great treatment options out there that can help you cope with your symptoms. Treatment for tinnitus often includes:
- Masking devices: Wearable masking devices produce a low-level white noise to suppress the buzzing, ringing or hissing your tinnitus may be causing.
- Hearing aids: These may help to reduce the impact of tinnitus on those who suffer from tinnitus as a result of hearing loss.
- Tinnitus retraining therapy: During this type of therapy, a wearable mask is used to deliver various tones, helping you become accustomed to the sounds of tinnitus over time.
- White noise machines (and other noise-making objects): When in the home, it can be helpful to use items around the house like white noise machines, fans, televisions, air conditioners, and other devices that can help you keep your mind off of your tinnitus symptoms.
No matter how severe your tinnitus symptoms are, there are ways to make these symptoms more bearable.
How to Cope with the Psychological Effects of Tinnitus
Many people think tinnitus only affects your hearing, but this could not be further from the truth. More severe cases of tinnitus can have a major impact on an individual’s ability to function and their overall quality of life. This can cause them to develop serious mental health issues like anxiety or depression as a result of their tinnitus. Much like you need to address the physical symptoms of tinnitus, you’ll also need to address the psychological side effects as well. Some coping mechanisms and solutions for mental health issues related to tinnitus include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of therapy can help those suffering from tinnitus identify some of the feelings and responses they have and develop positive coping mechanisms that make it easier to deal with tinnitus symptoms.
- Biofeedback and stress management: Biofeedback helps individuals identify physical stress responses and give them more power over their stress by helping them employ relaxation techniques. This can make it easier to respond more mindfully to difficult emotions and feelings that arise as a result of tinnitus.
- Alternative medicine and supplements: Stress can worsen tinnitus symptoms. However, there may be natural ways to work towards a less stressful lifestyle. Take, for example, CBD. CBD is a chemical substance found within the hemp plant that may help to promote feelings of relaxation. That said, it’s important that you only purchase CBD products from reputable companies such as Plain Jane. Plain Jane CBD is responsibly sourced from local farms and offers more accessible, affordable options than the average online CBD store. If you believe that CBD may promote the feelings of well-being you need to better navigate tinnitus symptoms, try Plain Jane!
Tinnitus can have far-reaching effects on both the body and the mind. But that doesn’t mean that those who have tinnitus must suffer negatively as a result. If you have chronic tinnitus and are looking for ways to cope and manage your tinnitus symptoms, use the guide above to gain more insight into how others deal with tinnitus and how you can as well.