I still recall that first night it hit me—a high-pitched sound like a mosquito. I kept hoping it would just vanish. Surely it couldn’t stay, right? My hearing tests were fine, but my doctor suggested sleeping aids, which actually freaked me out more because it made me feel like something was seriously wrong. An ENT later labeled me as ‘anxious’ after some personal questions. I had moved abroad for work and was stressed, but I didn’t see myself as an anxious person. He put me on amitriptyline and told me to just ‘relax,’ which was frustratingly unhelpful. The meds just made me sleepy and miserable. Fast forward to now: I hardly even think about it. Maybe once every few months I’ll notice it for a second, acknowledge it, and then it’s gone from my mind. Time essentially ‘cured’ me. It’s not an issue anymore. If anything, it forced me to manage my stress better, exercise, and be kinder to myself. I’m sharing this because we often forget to post the success stories once we’ve moved on. It was terrifying at first, but after a year, it faded into the background. There is hope, and things do get better.
Did your ringing become a permanent sound, or does it change? I’m trying to reach that mindset, but mine seems to flare up whenever I’m stressed.
Congrats on your progress! It’s great how the skills you learned to manage this have improved other parts of your life too. Sorry the medical process was such a headache, but I’m glad you’re doing well now.
Hey everyone, my T started just 4 days ago. I’d been really stressed about losing my car keys and then a flat tire. I went off-roading, felt fine, but then after gaming for a few hours, it just hit me. It started as a bass sound in my right ear. I looked it up and got terrified by what I read. I’m only 19 and I really miss the quiet. A doctor said my ears are clean but referred me to an ENT. My mom gave me some herbal tea and put a plant extract in my ear; the right side stopped but now the left side is buzzing. I’m so scared this will ruin my life. I just want to be happy and hang out with my fiancée without worrying about the noise. Does it ever get better? Will loud environments make it worse? I’m just looking for some comfort and prayers.
Are you not curious about the underlying cause if your hearing is actually fine?
It’s wild that a doctor would give you antidepressants that can actually trigger T. Some GPs really don’t get it. Glad it worked out for you though!
How long were you on the amitriptyline and what did it do to the noise? Did things change when you quit? Also, how does the volume compare now to when it started?
I’ve dealt with this for over a decade. Lexapro made mine way worse years ago. Once I got off it, the sound dropped to a dull buzz. Then recently, a tiny dose of Xanax made it explode again! Once I stopped, it went back to a manageable level. It’s crazy how sensitive we can be.
Did you end up quitting the Amitriptyline? I had to stop because the grogginess was too much.
I appreciate the positive outlook. I’ve improved a lot since the initial panic 3 years ago. I’ve found that using things like Glycine and GABA, keeping my phone out of the bedroom, and using rain sounds helps me sleep. You just have to accept it as part of who you are.