Leading a hecticly busy life can cause anxiety and stress to many people. The stress symptoms can vary, from the mildest ones like worrying a bit too much to the severest ones like physical disorders. If that is the case, does stress also cause tinnitus? How do we deal with it if that is true?
The Relation Between Stress or Anxiety with Tinnitus:
How bad does stress affect one’s health, which can cause tinnitus? What is the relation between stress or anxiety with it?
Before we carry on, here is a little heads-up on tinnitus:
Imagine hearing a mysterious, yet persistent ringing in your ears. At first, you may assume that it comes from having listened to loud music way too often. However, the sound does not go away, even after you have stopped blasting music in your ears. In fact, some people with the same condition may never listen to loud music like you do.
In some cases, the sound does not always come as that mysterious “ringing in your ears”. Some can hear it as a hissing, swishing, and even roaring. Some may only suffer it in one ear, while others can have in both. The worst part is, you tend to suffer from it as you grow older.
Before you start making assumptions, do a more thorough research and go to your doctor for further medical consultation. However, if you have been feeling edgy lately and tinnitus has come along with it, perhaps stress is part of the cause.
How To Find Out Whether Stress or Anxiety Might Be The Reason Behind Your Tinnitus:
So, how do you find out if stress or anxiety might be the reason behind your tinnitus?
You can try taking an anxiety test online. Even if the result does not show its relation to tinnitus, at least it can still give you a wake-up call on how to manage your health. If it does, then it is time to consult with your doctor on what to do next.
Of course, the loud noise has been the major and most common factor to tinnitus. It does not have to be loud music. If you happen to live in a super crowded area (like the central of the big city where traffic is always busy), that can also lead to tinnitus in the long run. Other location factor is a construction area, where drilling is often heard.
How Relevant Is Stress or Anxiety To Tinnitus?
How relevant is stress or anxiety to tinnitus? Although it is true that some people who are stressed out tend to have tinnitus, there has not been a solid, scientific proof regarding it yet. The possibility might be seen from how anxiety triggers quite plenty of things inside your body:
When you are anxious, you tend to automatically switch your instinct into a “fight or flight” quick decision. Because of that, your nerves are pressured and you experience “blood rush” within. This pressure can possibly lead up to your inner ear, which in the end might result to what we now call: “tinnitus”.
Sounds scary? It is even worse if you happen to be more sensitive (or “hyper-sensitive”) than some other people out there. For example: perhaps some people have been used to the loud music since they were much younger. Since their ears have been adapting to it, the noise does not bother them so much.
Unfortunately, that is not the case with you. Being hyper-sensitive gets your body to overly react to outer influences, whether it is a minor physical pain or uncomfortable sensation. This can also mean your lack of ability to ignore potential stress triggers. Perhaps once you start noticing even a faint sign of tinnitus, it really gets to you that you cannot stop dreading over it.
How To Battle Stress and Anxiety To Avoid The Possibility of Tinnitus:
Now you know that stress and anxiety may cause tinnitus, then what is your next step?
Unfortunately, once you start having tinnitus, the treatment is not a one-off. Getting yourself checked by your doctor is the first step. With their help, you will get to rule out certain underlying medical conditions. After you have described the symptoms, you can go from there with your doctor for medical solutions.
Perhaps your tinnitus is not really caused by stress or anxiety, but it can be worsened by it. That way, stress-management is also very important here. Once you have taken the online anxiety test and found the result, you can probably give these a try:
– Take a break from work and have a holiday. We all need it.
– Avoid the possible stress factors. If you cannot do it, at least try to minimize your contact with these factors.
– Learn to accept that not everything in life is under your control.
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