Tinnitus Making Me Anxious

[catMom]

Can anyone give me some hope for this? I am experiencing a condition called tinnitus - ringing in the ears.
I've been experiencing this for about a week and a half -- with a one-day break last Sunday. I visited my internist on Monday and she is sending me to a specialist. I will see the specialist on Monday (March 4).
I haven't been on these boards in a very long time because, frankly, I've been quite well for the last ten years.
I used the Attacking anxiety program very heavily a number of years ago and it enabled me to overcome my problems with anxiety.So, now, here I am again -- taking xanax and trying to take it one day at a time. From what I understand, there are no cures for this condition, but there is help - so in that sense, people do overcome it.

Has anyone else been through this? Can you give me any hope? It's really hard to sleep. I am taking a low does of xanax in the daytime and then more at night to sleep. I really could not make it right now without the medication.

Stress does make the noise much more noticeable so I think it makes a lot of sense for me to dust off my program CD's and get back to work on the program especially managing my thoughts and catastrophizing.

I will appreciate any encouragement I can get from this community.

Thank you.

[foxysmom]

Well, I don't get the ringing in the ears, but do seem to get a lot of ear infections, which make the anxiety worse. Especially the inner ear infection that makes you dizzy. I just finished a dose of prednisone for one, which i think didn't go away. My doc wanted me to see an ENT if the prednisone didn't clear it up. I am trying to give it some time though, and make sure it is still there before i go back. So I can definately see your problem!! Glad to see that you were able to go so long without the anxiety bothering you, and sorry its back, but i guess if you conquered it before you can do it again!! Good luck!

[tina martin]

Well, I suddenly had a terrible case of it in my right ear. Hardly any relief. So went to the ENT which I thought was very worthwhile. Mainly I was reassured it is not an infection, there is a slight hearing loss in that ear, but was assured it will subside and so it did.

Occasionally I still hear some clicks but they do not bother me. You may want to check with an ENT.

[coachchris]

This is Coach Chris from the coaching team here at Stress. I have had about a dozen clients who have struggled with this as well.

The program and its coping techniques have been very helpful and each one of them have had relief from the ringing.

I hope this is encouraging to you all of you.

Here to help,
Coach Chris StressCenter.com

[hope11]

Hi catmom. How long have you been on the xanax. Some of the medications I take for anxiety or the antidepressants have ringing in the ears as a side effect. I already had ringing in mine for many years before the anxiety problem started so I don't really notice the difference. Thankfully, mine has not gotten any worse. It seems like a high pitch sound and/or sizzling noise mostly in my left ear all the time. So far, I just ignore it. I'm not sure what you can do to stop it. Hopefully the dr will give you some relief. Good luck.

[Roxygirlgonecrafty(aka:hows)]

Catmom, you need to talk to my mom, she got rid of her tinnitus, you can pm me for her e-mail

[perspectivegirl]

I'm only 21, but I've had ringing in my ears even since I can remember. I find my ringing the loudest at night- which makes it difficult to sleep to say the least. Now I have a fish tank where I can hear the water and that really helps. If that's not enough I'll play some music or watch a movie until I get so tired I just fall asleep.

I would try to keep some "white noise" on when it gets too quiet.

[Karmerri]

I started taking Ginko Biloba and it has lessened it a whole lot! Good luck!