Many are experiencing anxiety, financial insecurity, isolation and a huge disruption to their normal routine. While it is difficult to cope with tinnitus under normal circumstances, the global pandemic has made managing the ringing in the ear even more difficult.
As we learn to adjust to the “new normal,” figuring out new ways to cope with your tinnitus is crucial. Below is an outline of three strategies that may help.
Focus on the Moment
When you find yourself in a difficult situation, the best thing to do is to focus on what is currently happening. Think if there are any actions you can take to make yourself more comfortable instead of focusing on how loud your tinnitus is or how much you want the ringing to go away.
There is a cycle of tinnitus – when you can’t stop your negative thinking about your tinnitus, it will only make it harder to focus on dealing with the tinnitus and end up making the ringing in your ear worse.
Focusing on the moment you are currently in and figuring out what little changes you can make to help make the tinnitus less bothersome is how you can break free from the cycle.
Tinnitus Reaction Technique
Even in your worst moment of tinnitus, there is always something that can be done to help you cope. Next time you are experiencing an episode, try the tinnitus reaction technique outlined below:
- Stop what you’re doing and get more comfortable.
- Close your eyes and take deep breaths, making sure to relax your muscles with each exhale.
- Focus on what led up to your tinnitus episode and remind yourself that every time you have suffered through an intense episode in the past you always got through it.
- Select a coping strategy or tool that has worked before and use it right away
Different Types of Masking
For many tinnitus suffers, masking the sound they hear is a simple and effective way to find relief. Unfortunately, many quickly give up on this option if they are unable to find a sound that works for them.
There are a number of different types of masking options beyond a white noise machine. You’ll have to experiment with the type of sound and the listening device you play it on in order to figure out what works best for you. Some popular options include:
- Music
- Nature sounds
- Spoken word audio
To learn more about finding tinnitus relief in this new normal or to schedule an appointment with the experts, contact Aaron’s Hearing Aid & Audiology Center today.