For many people, stress is a trigger for their tinnitus. Learning some relaxation techniques can help prevent it before it occurs. At its best, meditation can be an extremely pleasant experience. Relaxation and inner peace are not necessarily the end goal of meditation, but it is this aspect of the practice that can set you on a path to lasting relief from tinnitus. It is not uncommon to feel anxious and unsettled when you first experience tinnitus.
If you relax more , you may feel less stressed and notice your tinnitus less. Different types of relaxation include yoga, tai chi and meditation. The idea behind meditation therapy for tinnitus is to retrain the brain. During treatment, the mind is trained to come to terms with and accept the tinnitus.
This technique is the opposite of traditional approaches that try to avoid the problem of tinnitus altogether. Researchers believe that the more the brain tries to combat the problem, the more it adjusts. Meditation teaches people with tinnitus to stop and deal with their thoughts and worries about the problem and realise that it is harmless to their hearing. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for tinnitus, and in many cases the cause is unknown.
However, many have found that meditation can help alleviate the noise. Based on recent studies, the British Tinnitus Association recommends that a mindfulness course for tinnitus, based on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, is very effective in treating this chronic condition. In the USA, mindfulness-based stress reduction for tinnitus has been shown to be very helpful for some sufferers. There is general consensus that mindfulness training and guided meditations can significantly help people living with tinnitus to manage the condition.
According to the American Tinnitus Association, more than 45 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, and nearly 20 million are regularly affected. In most forms of tinnitus, the brain usually adjusts to the condition, but it can take a while. Meditation is an effective way to cope with anxiety, depression and other emotions that can overwhelm people with tinnitus. It boosts self-esteem and leads to a deeper appreciation of the present moment. However, instead of emptying your mind, observe your thoughts, which include worrying about the tinnitus.
According to the American Tinnitus Association, about 12 million people suffer chronically from tinnitus, and two million find it debilitating. Using outside sounds to retrain the way the brain interprets tinnitus sounds can do much to reduce the annoyance and frustration associated with the condition. I want to make it clear that meditation is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to managing tinnitus. Studies have shown that meditation is a useful tool to better manage tinnitus because it allows you to focus on your breathing rather than the noise in your ears.
It is known that certain medications can aggravate or even cause tinnitus, including certain antibiotics, diuretics and antidepressants. And if you do, there’s nothing to stop you blocking out the sound of your tinnitus in the same way you block out all other meaningless noises. It takes some practice to develop good relaxation techniques, and what helps one day doesn’t necessarily help the next – so don’t give up if it doesn’t seem to help at first. Also, frequent use of earplugs can lead to earwax, which can further aggravate tinnitus.
Perhaps the greatest benefit, however, is that meditation reduces the stress caused by the tinnitus and helps to divert attention away from the tinnitus symptoms. If you are looking for someone to guide you in a relaxation or meditation exercise, you should be able to find a class in your area. Feel your abdomen expand as you breathe in, and with each exhalation feel your whole body relax more and more so that all the muscles go completely limp like a rag doll.
