Ask HN: Anyone else suffering from tinnitus?

Suddenly about 7 years ago when going to bed, it turned into that high pitch ringing 24/7 like after a concert, and caused me to have severe anxiety, panic attacks depression and suicidal thoughts for weeks. When I began losing sleep, it got worse. I would wonder around during the day trying to piece together my brain and try to get back to "normal thinking" again. Eventually it moved to both ears and louder in the left. The only thing I could think of a cause was slipping on a patch of ice and I slammed the back of my head really hard into the ground.

I went to hearing specialists and there was minimal hearing loss. Then I read an article about a researcher who suffered from tinnitus, and at some point (unrelated) he had a mild stroke and when he recovered, miraculously his tinnitus completely disappeared. Based on this he began working on a theory that it's neurological in nature and nothing to do with hearing loss. He also subscribed to the idea that stress plays a part.

I've tried acupuncture and it sort of dulled it for a few days but it comes roaring back. I've done CBD and it really helped dull it, and CBD lowers your anxiety and helps you sleep better, which could be the culprit.

Also I haven't had covid, but after I took the vaccine, it exasperated my tinnitus for the last year or so and it's worse than I had it before. Lucky by now i trained myself not to panic anymore and my concentration is almost back to normal. Cannot sleep without a noise machine though. And never taking that shot again.

I'm also wondering with the advent of every person on the planet hunched over their computers, then hunched over their phones if compressing the back of the neck is a culprit. I've also read a few articles about tinnitus increasing since the rollout of 5G.

They conclude there is no link from current data.

Using your logic you could blame any new reported medical condition on COVID.

The reality is that with such a huge vaccine rollout all over the world, there should be data by now.

There are also things that happened during the covid outbreak not related to the disease itself, such as more stress, people were in online meetings more, sharing workspaces at home which could have caused an increase in headphones usage, etc, etc.

> that's a "known thing."

Please show me the data! Because I looked and its not there.

And I didn't blame it on COVID.

It's irresponsible to ignore the likelihood of under-reporting, not to mention the fear of being "canceled;" this was mentioned in the article about the vaccine researcher getting it.

My hearing is no worse. It is actually very sensitive to noise. I need to use earplugs to be able to sleep. I am poor sleeper unfortunately, it could be the reason.

I got used to tinnitus. I think mindfulness meditation before bed could benefit you. I don't think there is much you can do, especially trying to fight it or think about it.