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I think I have tinnitus (self.casualconversation)

submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by pepperonisalami to c/[email protected]

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One random night, I lay on my bed in my silent bedroom, and I felt that the silence is uncomfortable. Why, I asked myself, that the silence felt sharp, like I prefer the noise of my annoyingly loud dehumidifier, or the muffled sound of traffic in my old apartment?

I realized that the silence was ringing, in a high pitched noise that we all associate with being hit near the ears. My inner voice told myself: "man, you have tinnitus."

Thinking back, that wasn't the first time I thought that I have tinnitus, but I was probably in denial for years, or it just got louder. The sad part is that I'm only 26, and somehow, I feared getting tinnitus ever since my childhood.

Even worse, I just ordered a pair of headphones with ANC, and when I don't play anything through it, the ringing gets very clear.

Was depressed for a few days, thinking that it's not fair that I got it even though I don't expose myself to loud noises often, I listen to music at a couple levels lower than my preference, and I don't turn up my music to drown out noises.

But nothing in life is fair, and to compared to the suffering of others, this is only a mild discomfort. So I'll try to keep positive about it, and be grateful that I still enjoy a comparatively luxurious life.

I'll visit a doctor soon though!

Any of you have a similar experience? I'll be happy to read your stories!

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

About 8 years ago I got out of the shower and was cleaning the water out of my right ear (as I usually did) and I must have done it wrong that time, as when I went to lay down that night I heard this very annoying high pitch sound from that ear. I might have looked around to see if that sound was coming from something (maybe from my computer, other electronics, or something outside). But no, it was from my ear.

Took about 2-3 years for me to be able to completely tune it out when there's silence. Sometimes I miss being able to hear nothing when it's quiet, but now I have ringing in both ears so it's really easy to ignore it.

It might suck for a while until your brain is able to tune it out, but it'll be easier someday.

[–] pepperonisalami 2 points 2 days ago

It's a bit overwhelming for me at the moment, but it's very comforting to hear that it'll get easier over time.