How to Manage Stress to Reduce Tinnitus Symptoms
In this post, we will explore the connection between tinnitus and stress and how stress can exacerbate tinnitus symptoms. I will also provide tips on how to manage stress in order to reduce the impact of tinnitus on your life.
The Relationship Between Tinnitus and Stress
- Many people with tinnitus report that stress can cause their tinnitus to start or worsen.
- Reactive tinnitus, where tinnitus reacts to the person being more stressed, is also common.
- Stress is a natural response to pressure or a perceived need to take action. In small amounts, it can be a positive thing that helps us achieve our goals.
- However, chronic stress can have negative effects on our health, including worsening tinnitus symptoms.
- The fight or flight response that stress triggers can also activate the areas of the brain that are active with tinnitus, exacerbating tinnitus symptoms.
Managing Stress to Reduce Tinnitus Symptoms
- Dehydration and sleep deprivation can increase tinnitus symptoms and are often linked to stress. Therefore, it is important to maintain good habits in these areas.
- Adopting an outsider’s perspective for 20-30 seconds can help reduce stress. This exercise involves distancing yourself from your thoughts and feelings and viewing them objectively.
- Engaging in physical exercise, mindfulness practices, and breathing exercises can also help manage stress.
- It is important to recognize the difference between positive and negative stress and to seek professional help if necessary.
