Emotional Effects of Tinnitus

Dealing with tinnitus can put you into an emotional cycle.  Physical and emotional tension increases and the anxiety and stress cycle is in full fright, flight and fight mode. Then more tension, more anxiety, more stress and worsening tinnitus. The emotional effects can be diverse and understanding the patterns of the emotional cycle is a start to finding out how to deal with it.

What is fright, flight and fight mode?

People routinely respond to tinnitus, the annoying, constant ringing in their ears, in different ways. Some people are fearful (fright) and withdraw into the hopelessness of it all. Others run away (flight) by abusing chemical substances like alcohol as they try to dull the sounds. While others get angry (fight) and lash out at everyone – workmates, doctors, family and friends

Tinnitus sleep disorders

Some people cannot deal with the ringing in the ears, which ultimately affects their ability to fall and stay asleep. The point at which the sleeping pattern or insomnia begins to negatively impact upon your life and family, then it is classified as a sleep disorder. The body needs sleep. Insufficient sleep or interrupted sleep can cause as much disturbance as trying to function permanently drunk. This is only one of the negative mental, physical effects that tinnitus can have.

Tinnitus frustration

It is hard to know what is more frustrating:

• Understanding what is wrong with your hearing
• Talking to ill-informed physicians who just say  “get over it”
• Or discovering ways to live with tinnitus

Lots of people who have a hissing within the ears will know that it totally disrupts the basic essential capabilities of your life. You might have difficulty hearing others, recalling things, focusing and concentrating on specific tasks. This makes it extremely difficult to function well at home, socially or at work.

Other common emotions associated with Tinnitus

People with tinnitus often experience similar problems and additional health conditions. In the beginning you might experience denial, then disappointment and rage (particularly if you’re being informed there’s no help) after which you might feel frustrated and hopeless. Why did this happen to you? You have a reasonable healthy lifestyle. Why did this happen? Your life will never be the same again – or so you believe. Next comes anxiety.

You might fear that you’ll never have your ordinary life again, concern this ringing in the ears may cause chaos in your work as well as your home. You may worry that your abilities will disappear. You may even think you are going insane or that there’s something psychologically “wrong” with you. Sooner or later you will seek help or in some cases, give yourself permission to seek help. You need to find someone who will understand AND  believe you.

Accepting the issue

With acceptance comes the realization that while you do have this condition and there may be no cure for ringing in the ears,  that doesn’t mean you have to be a victim for the rest of your life. There are many options to follow up

You’ll quickly discover that you’ve stopped concentrating on the hearing issues constantly. You start to see some sort of hope which ultimately will help your body start the recovery process.  Additionally you should begin to see that tinnitus and it’s emotional effect  impacts  on you and your family as well. When your hearing issues become less consuming, both you and your family will benefit.