Living with Tinnitus: Coping Strategies and Treatment Options

Tinnitus is commonly described as a persistent ringing, buzzing, or humming in the ears that appears to come from within the ear and not from an outside source. It can start as an annoying background noise and progress into having a large impact on mental well-being. The cause of tinnitus can sometimes be obvious, for example, if it began after attending a loud concert, but can oftentimes be unknown. At El Dorado Hearing, we want to offer direction and assistance to those who are living with tinnitus. In this blog, we offer valuable insights on how to live and deal with tinnitus and offer advice regarding coping strategies and treatment options. We aim to help people to manage and find relief from the ongoing ringing in their ears. Our methods range from mindfulness practices to cutting-edge therapy. 

Coping Strategies for Tinnitus

If you have already been through the grueling process of trying to uncover the source of the tinnitus without prevailing, then it’s time to begin the process of finding a coping strategy that works for you. Finding relief from tinnitus is very important to one’s mental well-being and peace of mind. Thankfully, there are a variety of great options out there that can offer relief. Some of our favorite options include

• Managing Sleep – Managing your sleep is an essential component of managing tinnitus. Lack of sleep is the quickest method to upset your body and put it under further stress, and thus worsen your tinnitus. Keep your body relaxed and well-rested when you have tinnitus so your body is in an optimal state for staying calm and healthy, and you have the physical energy to deal with the problem. If managing your sleep is hard to do on your own, you can schedule an appointment with your healthcare professional to create a plan together or look into devices that have the sole purpose of tracking your sleep. 

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – If and when stress and worry are the root causes of tinnitus, cognitive behavioral therapy is an excellent method for reducing emotional distress. CBT is based on the conception that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. Through CBT, you can learn how to identify any destructive thought patterns that may play a part in the persistence of tinnitus. Learning coping mechanisms and methods for calming and soothing one’s nervous system is one of the advantages of CBT.

• Mindfulness and Meditation – Practicing mindfulness and meditation is along the lines of CBT, but can be done on your own without a professional therapist. Again, mindfulness and meditation are a direct way to calm down your nervous system and thus reduce the persistence of tinnitus. Mindfulness means paying attention to yourself and your body and becoming present in the moment instead of fretting over the past or worrying about the future. An easy trick to become present is to move out of your mind and into your body, either by imaging your energy dropping into your core or literally practicing it by taking up a yoga class or participating in an activity that requires all of your attention (such as taking an art class or joining a sports team). When you are moving your body, you become more connected to it. Meditation is a more direct form of mindfulness, where you take the time to sit quietly and continuously redirect your thoughts to the present moment as soon as they begin to wander off. When you first begin to meditate, you will notice that it is very difficult. Your mind might wander every second. But don’t be discouraged, because the more you do it, the easier it gets. Meditation is an excellent method to quiet your mind, and ultimately quiet your tinnitus. 

Living With Tinnitus – Treatment Options

• Sound Therapy

• • • It could be time to make an appointment with a doctor to talk about hearing aids if it’s probable that the tinnitus is brought on by hearing loss. Hearing aids will amplify outside noises, which will lessen tinnitus perception. Additionally, there are alternative sound-based therapies that can lessen tinnitus perception, such as white noise listening or the use of a specialized tinnitus masker that is specifically designed to mask and alleviate tinnitus. These machines neutralize outside sounds and make tinnitus less noticeable and chronic. 

• Education

• • Because you will start to comprehend the issue more clearly, learning more about the issue and speaking with an expert will help reduce your worry. Understanding and information increase the sense of calm surrounding the circumstance.

Tinnitus can be an aggravating symptom that can ultimately impact your life and mental well-being. We hope that this blog offers helpful coping strategies and treatment options that help relieve and manage tinnitus. Visit El Dorado’s Hearing Center now to get one-on-one help with tinnitus and take the first step toward recovery.