Hi ladies...it was gone for a long time...my last anxiety attack was in February of this year. I was doing so well. Then, in July, I had gotten stressed out with my kids and when I finally got some time to calm down, I leaned over my bed to relax and heard that my tinnitus was just REALLY loud...it started a panic attack, but I was able to bring myself out of it quickly by rationalizing and changing my self talk. I make an appt to see the ENT. I stop worrying about it and I go back to the way I was dealing with it before, no big deal, it's not keeping me from living my life. Then all of the sudden, this past Tuesday night I was lying in bed and the noise was REALLY loud. I tried and tried to get ot sleep, but I fought anxiety ALL night long. That my dear friends was the beginning of a week from hell. I have not been this anxious since last year. And I'm tired of it. My son starts school for the first time on Thursday (he's only three...he has special needs and is going to FULL day pre-k). My daughter is 29 months (my children are adopted). I SO want to get past all of this, but every time I try, there's that DANG tinnitus again, and when I hear it I feel all shivery, cold and sweaty inside. I had to take a xanax this afternoon and I STILL have some anxiety right now. My husband said to me you need to let it go and stop worrying so much about it...it's going to be fine, there is a reson behind why it's louder and why it fluctuates now. I know he's right but it's like I can't let it go, I am actually listening for it and I know that this is my anxiety casuing me to do this...I need to break this cycle. I feel like such a failure. I was so strong. What happened to me? I am trying so hard to get past this, I really am. Please, someone share some good news with me about all of this and tell me that there is another light at the end of tis tunnel.

I am trying to change my life around...I ordered some pills from the interent for tinnitus (arches) because it got great reviews. I am taking more vitamin b now...just started. I am going to drag my butt to the gym and work out today, because I am very overweight and need to drop this weight (I've heard tere's a connection between being obese and tinnitus).

Please say some prayers for me...I still do what I have to do for my kids but everything is an effort right now...I want to be a good Mommy...I love my kids and my hubby so much...they just don't deserve this. I want to feel happy inside again...it happens but it doesn't stay long.

I need some kind words of encouragement...especially from woman who have been through similiar things...PLEASE tell me theres an END to all of this! I'm 38 and I feel like 100 right now! Anxiety and stress just plain STINKS for lack of being able to use a more ugly word!!!

-Christine

I can relate to the tinnitus. It's gotten worse as I progress from peri to menopause. I always have background music at work and use one of those noise machines (nature sounds, like water running, crickets, ocean waves) at night and it really helps me get the focus off the ear noises. I have found frequent neck adjustments from the chiropractor lessen the severity of the ear noises. I haven't tried acupuncture yet, but when finances permit I just may look into it.
Since they blame everything on "obesity" from cancer to hangnails, it's really tough to find the connection IMHO. My sister has it and has never been overweight. Tony Randall (the actor) suffered with it most of his life, too.

Ear noises aside, my own anxiety is through the roof right now. I've been through tremendous financial and family stresses and I think my poor adrenal glands are suffering acute exhaustion. I've been in a panic state all weekend. I finally had to take an Ativan in order to function at work today.

I don't know the answer except to say that doing relaxation breathing can help. Eliminating, if you can, some of the stress producing things in your life and taking some good vitamin supplements to support your immune system. (Bcomplex, pantothenic acid to name a couple)
Steer clear of refined sugar, processed foods and caffeine. You may have food allergies, too. I'm sensitive to wheat and dairy and avoid them as much as possible. They can trigger both anxiety and ear noises!

Good luck to you and I'll keep you in my prayers.

I’ve been dealing with anxiety for years and if I may be so bold as to offer my suggestion. I see you ‘trying’ and this is where the problem seems to lie. When you ‘try’ something, you are putting an effort into something and focusing and expelling energy into a direction of negativity.

What you need to be doing is the opposite and letting go and breathing. Easier said than done, I know. When I get caught up like that I first have to catch myself and forgive myself for not catching myself sooner and having got myself in this position of anxiety. It’s not your fault and with practice, you will get better at catching yourself. Then I take deep breaths and just tell myself that tinnitus may be super annoying but it never killed anyone and at this moment I am okay, and I will adjust, and everything is okay, then I will take another deep breath and keep doing this until I calm myself down.

And go for a walk, not because you have extra weight on your body, but because you are beautiful and it feels good and it helps pull you out of a state of panic by taking your mind elsewhere and helping you to breath. A person in anxiety tends to hold their breath.

Your mantra: Breath, let go, this will pass. I hope I have been of some help.

Angela

my over weight mother whos 84 has tin. it started at peri for her , it has lessened up quite a lot but she still to this day gets episodes of it- it hasnt done no ill effects on her yet so i doubt it will, but i know it can be very nerve racking....

Is tinnitus a hormone thing? never had it my life until recent! Driving me nuts! Right ear only and worse if I lay on that side!

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. I am dealing with anxiety myself and I do think it is hormone related although I am only 30. I started pristiq about 3 weeks ago and that helped some with the feelings of hopelessness and discouragement and not wanting to get out of bed and feeling like I needed to wind myself up..BUT it didn't get rid of all the anxiety just took the edge off. That's why I think there is something else behind this like a hormone imbalance. I feel on edge all the time even when I am NOT in a stressful situation.

Dear friend I do not know if you have a good support system around you, but if you have friends and family TELL them what you are going through. It has helped so much for me to not feel like I had to hide my struggles. Also I am a Christian and I know that God will give me grace and will not give me more than I can bear. He loves me and will never leave me or forsake me---that gives me so much comfort when I feel like I am just about to lose it. It gives me perspective and gives me hope.

You aren't alone in this.

You are surely not alone. I have the tinnutis sometimes too and it is irritating. I am dealing with overwhelming anxiety right now too and just wanted to tell you that it comes with the territory.

Hugs to you

I've had tinnitus since a series of bad ear infections as a child. It has been judged generally "moderate" in level. Accordingly, I've been "used to it" -- occasionally aware of it, usually not -- my entire life.

However, after a vacation last year where I picked up a bad cold on a plane, my tinnitus worsened dramatically. At the same time, I was also beginning to notice symptoms of perimenopause, though I did not know what they were at the time -- crashing fatigue, irritability, emotional instability, and the like. I too saw an ENT, was breezily told he could find nothing wrong, and dismissed.

I went through a period of trying OTC tinnitus remedies, gingko biloba, higher B vitamins, and such. There was very little or no effect. Even to a person "used to" what tinnitus sounds like, it was maddening, frustrating, and sometimes almost tear-inducing. I cannot imagine the horror of what this must be like for a person who is not accustomed to it.

After a gynecological surgery early this year kicked the peri symptoms into complete overdrive, I saw an endrocrinologist who confirmed what it was and that I was not, in fact, crazy or malingering. I was prescribed Lexapro 5 mg./day and Xanax 0.25 twice a day. I also take a magnesium/calcium/zinc supplement, a potassium supplement, a daily vitamin, and cod liver oil.

I am experienced with tinnitus. I can tell you that in my case, I believe the Lexapro/Xanax combination has significantly lessened both the noise level and changes objectively, as well as my anxiety response to them. It has not cured the tinnitus; I am not sure there is a "cure" at all for this. Yet over time, your mind comes to "filter out" the tinnitus in most situations. The key is to stop anxiety from interfering with the developing filtering mechanism. That's where I think the Xanax comes in, though I don't know if the Lexapro is also doing something to the disorder function as well.

Tinnitus has been repeatedly and reliably linked to perimenopause and menopause. I am 46, have always been genetically whip thin and do not believe it has anything to do with weight. I hope my experience at least gives you some food for thought.

With the exception of the tinnitus part, this sounds alot like what I've been going through since December. (I have generalized anxiety disorder, too). I know that your emotions are telling you that this is seriously affecting your kids and hubby and that they will be scarred for life, they really will be ok. You need to focus on getting yourself better. If there's someplace you can go to get some quiet time to meditate or whatever relaxes you, by all means, do that. Maybe your hubby can take the kids out for a treat while you rest. I think the noise machine that someone posted about would be a great idea. I know you feel very guilty right now because you can't be the perfect Mommy because I've been going through the same thing. (I'm 40 and have three kids, two are autistic). It's important for you to take care of yourself first right now. If you need to take the xanax to function, take it and don't wait until you're completely miserable.

If you're not taking an AD, you might consider talking to your doctor about it. When the anxiety is so bad, it can change your perspective so much. It can convince you that you're a bad mom or wife when you absolutely are not. You are a strong woman just because you get out of bed and muddle through every day. Yes, there is an end to this. None of us can tell when but as strong women, we do what we have to do to get better. I've noticed when I read posts from just a few years ago, most of those women aren't on the site anymore. My personal feeling is that they've gotten better and moved on.

Don't give up looking for the answer, it's a little bit different for all of us. And don't let the tinnitus win and don't let the anxiety tell you that you're weak or a bad mom or wife. That's you're feelings talking, not the truth.

PM me if you like, I check mine every day and I'd be happy to commiserate.

Ali

With the exception of the tinnitus part, this sounds alot like what I've been going through since December. (I have generalized anxiety disorder, too). I know that your emotions are telling you that this is seriously affecting your kids and hubby and that they will be scarred for life, they really will be ok. You need to focus on getting yourself better. If there's someplace you can go to get some quiet time to meditate or whatever relaxes you, by all means, do that. Maybe your hubby can take the kids out for a treat while you rest. I think the noise machine that someone posted about would be a great idea. I know you feel very guilty right now because you can't be the perfect Mommy because I've been going through the same thing. (I'm 40 and have three kids, two are autistic). It's important for you to take care of yourself first right now. If you need to take the xanax to function, take it and don't wait until you're completely miserable.

If you're not taking an AD, you might consider talking to your doctor about it. When the anxiety is so bad, it can change your perspective so much. It can convince you that you're a bad mom or wife when you absolutely are not. You are a strong woman just because you get out of bed and muddle through every day. Yes, there is an end to this. None of us can tell when but as strong women, we do what we have to do to get better. I've noticed when I read posts from just a few years ago, most of those women aren't on the site anymore. My personal feeling is that they've gotten better and moved on.

Don't give up looking for the answer, it's a little bit different for all of us. And don't let the tinnitus win and don't let the anxiety tell you that you're weak or a bad mom or wife. That's you're feelings talking, not the truth.

PM me if you like, I check mine every day and I'd be happy to commiserate.

Ali