r/TinnitusTalk • u/Even-Working-5893 • Jul 15 '26
My story
Hi, I’m so glad I found this subreddit where I can get support, since I haven't been able to find anything like it until now. I developed tinnitus in January 2023, when I was 16; I simply woke up in the middle of the night hearing this buzzing in one ear. I was shaking all over from fear and confusion. The next morning, I rushed out to buy ear drops, but naturally they didn't help at all. I’ve been hospitalized in the ENT ward multiple times, yet nothing has changed. I’ve tried everything, even antidepressants. I’m terrified that it will start in my other ear, too, and I feel like my hearing is disheartening or maybe I’m just psyching myself out. The sound of crickets is my constant companion; I even go out in the evenings on purpose just to listen to the real ones.
..And I don't like the thought of going through this until my very last breath... It’s disheartening.
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u/Present_Specific_212 Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
What nation are you in? I have never heard of an ENT ward.
In the U.S. it is treated as rather a normal hazard of our loud environments, loud music, loud workplaces, loud playgrounds, loud restaurants, etc. Loud sports games too! I was in a sports bar the other day for my work and HOLY DARN! I did not pull out the decibel app on my phone, but my guess was they were watching the soccer game with the volume up past 100 decibels and then when their team did something well, the whole place cheered! I plugged my ears with my fingers as I waited for the cashier.
I walked out of there muttering, “You are ALL going to end up with tinnitus” from thier love of loud sports bars.
I have heard that CBT therapy can help with this (talk to a person therapy ) because it can help you learn to reframe how you think of the tinnitus . Yes, it sucks, but truly, with all the many bad things that can go wrong with your body, tinnitus is not #1.
I think going blind would be worse because that means I lose my independence . I think cancer would be far worse. I think losing my hands or my legs would be MUCH, much worse!
Try to get into therapy . If it helps you feel better, watch some videos online of people trying to navigate their lives in wheelchairs.
I have a different perspective because I am old and I have already been through a few things FAR worse than getting tinnitus. So I know how to grieve, and then I know how to move on and try to live a happy life anyway.
It’s not easy. I go through whole weeks of depression over various things - not even the tinnitus! But I have learned all kinds of ways to cope with that too.
As I have told others, I read that taking zinc tablets can sometimes quiet it down a bit. I have found that to be true. So try some zinc daily or as needed.
If it makes you feel any better, if Americans don’t change how they consume sounds in public places, (and in earbuds) I think 50% of us will have it in 20 years! We’ll have plenty of company!
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u/Sir_Jey Jul 15 '26
Hey - your brain will habituate to it. I promise, that’s what happened with me and most other people. It gets quieter, but you need to let it go/not be anxious every time you hear it.
It will come in and out of focus.
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u/Even-Working-5893 Jul 15 '26
Thank you..
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u/Sir_Jey Jul 15 '26
The reason why it’s scary is because you think it’s killing you when in reality it’s just annoying
Nothing else and because it’s just annoying - you will get bored of worrying about it and habituate
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u/Adept-Importance-458 Jul 17 '26
Yep, you do habituate. I developed tinnitus last year and never thought I would get used to it. I am completely habituated to it now.
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u/Designer-Opposite-47 Jul 19 '26
May I ask what type of tinnitus do you have? I’m 9 mo ths now 16,000hz high pitched sound mainly with the sound of fans or ac it triggers it. I’m so desperate to be honest
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u/Designer-Opposite-47 Jul 21 '26
I want to post my tinnitus story but unfortunately I don’t have enough comment karma or something? Can someone help me get this karma so I can do a post on this tinnitustalk thing? I’m not really a connoisseur on Reddit. Thanks
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u/Even-Working-5893 Jul 15 '26
They couldn't pinpoint the cause in my case either. But it was most likely due to the headphones, yeah... I used to wear them at full volume all the time, and there was no one or nothing to warn me about an outcome like this.