Tinnitus is far more common than you may realise.
For those of you that do not know, tinnitus is the perception of sound within the head/ears when there is no external source to it. This could be a buzzing, ringing, whooshing or humming. The noise could be intermittent or continuous and can vary in loudness. It can often be worse when background noise is low, for example some sufferers may struggle particularly when trying to fall asleep in a quiet room. People in all age groups have been reported to experience tinnitus, and it is more common in people that have some hearing loss or other ear conditions.
Everyone’s experience of tinnitus is different, and it is not always permanent - for many it might not be particularly bothersome, and they are able to carry on with their lives as normal. For some people however cases can be severe, and it can be difficult to live with, causing problems with concentration, sleeping and resulting in psychological distress that may interfere with their normal daily life.
There are a number of coping methods that people adopt to help them to live more comfortably with their tinnitus...
- Practising relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation can help you to feel less stressed, which can reduce your anxiety levels and improve your tolerance levels in living with tinnitus.
- Some people find going to sleep with some low level background noise/white noise (also referred to as sound therapy) can help them to drift off to sleep easier as tinnitus often becomes more noticeable in the quietness of going to sleep.
- Keep yourself active – occupying yourself with work, leisure and other interests can help to distract and take your mind off the tinnitus, as you put your focus into something else.
- Exercise is a good release, even just walking to begin with can help you to reduce stress and anxiety levels, boost positivity, and give a greater sense of general wellbeing.
- Talking can be a great help – discussing with friends and family can help to improve their understanding and lessen the burden of dealing with the problem alone. Don’t suffer in silence. Speak with your GP to see if they can offer any further help. Look for support groups, consider counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to help reframe negative thoughts related to dealing with the condition.
- Research has also been invested into the use of some supplements and their potential benefits in the treatment and easing of tinnitus symptoms. The most common supplements people look into taking in relation to tinnitus are:
As always with any new supplement it is advisable to consult with a doctor before adding it into your diet.
To find further helpful information you can visit the British Tinnitus Association website
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