A few days ago I randomly got tinnitus out of nowhere and I didn’t understand what’s up. An hour or so ago I finally understood/learned what’s happening to me and read up on tinnitus and I’m devastated. I’m only over 20 and having this for the rest of my life as it becomes worse is heartbreaking to me. I was already overly sensitive to certain noises and am in love with music but with tinnitus I lost something precious and permanently gained somethimg that I just will need to live with. I’m heartbroken and scared. I know I will learn to accept it within a week as my brain processes this new experience but right now I just feel gutwrenchingly horrible. Especially so when I was already having some other physical and mental health issues that I’m unable to cope with and this adds to the burden. I need some advice on how to live with it and some comfort in knowing of other people going through the same. Thank you. :(

(I don’t live is US if that matters in any way.)

  • serpineslair@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    I am in a very similar position. I am at an age which ig would be considered “young for getting hearing problems”. Music is my life. Practically all my hobbies involve it in one way or another. Guitar, going clubbing, seeing live bands, going to raves etc. I spend most of my waking hours listening to music in some form. And not quietly either. Im well aware my hearing is getting worse and worse as time goes on, currently at the stage where i have tinnitus, but in one ear more than the other, which can be off putting. Not changing the way I live my life though, so I’m having to come to terms with the fact it is only going to get worse.

    First things first, give it time. There have been a few occasions where I’ve thought “Fuck. That’s it. I’ve really fucked my ears this time. I’m never going to enjoy my music the same way again.” Only for my hearing to stop ringing so much after a week or so. Second, if it is permanent (again, I have permanent hearing loss now, thought it would be a good idea to stick my head into a subwoofer cab a few too many times) know that it does get better with time. Our brains can find ways of getting used to it and tuning it out over time. In fact, as I’m writing this, my tinnitus has become deafeningly loud in one ear, because I am thinking about it. Usually I’d have to focus on it for it to become unbearable. I also have ADHD which makes things more inconvenient, especially when my hearing first got worse, was a hard pill to swallow for a couple weeks. Can’t lie, between my adhd and already poor sleep patterns, I had a few sleepless nights, but it does get better.

    • Starya67@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      Do you have ear plugs for live shows? Because you will 100 percent regret fucking up your hearing.

      • serpineslair@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        Yeah but only wear em sometimes. For raves/sound system events I ALWAYS wear em. Metal shows/festivals not so much. Usually dependent on how loud the venue is, if I’m moshing, which band is playing.

        And yes. I will - I do. But I don’t plan on sticking around for too long. And in the rare case I see 40, I’ll be happy knowing I lived life the way I wanted, and experienced everything I wanted to, no regrets.