What is tinnitus?
Tinnitus is often referred to as “ringing in the ears” but it really refers to the experience of sound in the ears when there is no outside input. It can be a distressing condition for people especially if they are told there is nothing they can do and to just learn to live with it.
People with tinnitus often experience significant levels of:
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger
Help for tinnitus is available.
The first step is to consult your doctor and an audiologist to determine if there is any medical reason for your symptoms. Your doctor may pursue further investigations or referrals while your audiologist may help you to explore specific therapeutic and instrumental options.
In the Vancouver area, please visit The Tinnitus Clinic at St Paul’s Hospital for specialized tinnitus information and support.
There can be great fear around the reason for your tinnitus symptoms. Tinnitus can affect your sleep which in turn affects your mood and your concentration. You might feel isolated because your friends and family do not hear the sound and so have difficulty understanding your worries and stress. It can feel like the sound will never go away and you may wonder if you can tolerate it for one more second!
Counselling helps you to manage and lessen the distress of the condition. We work with the thoughts and beliefs around your tinnitus and what it means to your life. We also use mindfulness based techniques to deal with feelings and responses as they happen. When you are able to take a new perspective on the symptoms, the tinnitus often becomes less intrusive and other life areas regain importance for you.