Casual Conversation

1791 readers

231 users here now

Share a story, ask a question, or start a conversation about (almost) anything you desire. Maybe you'll make some friends in the process.

RULES

Be respectful: no harassment, hate speech, bigotry, and/or trolling
Keep the conversation nice and light hearted
Encourage conversation in your post
Avoid controversial topics such as politics or societal debates
Keep it clean and SFW: No illegal content or anything gross and inappropriate
No solicitation such as ads, promotional content, spam, surveys etc.
Respect privacy: Don’t ask for or share any personal information

Casual conversation communities:

Related discussion-focused communities

founded 2 years ago

MODERATORS

Blaze@lemm.ee

shinigamiookamiryuu@lemm.ee

orangeNgreen@lemmy.world

neidu2@feddit.nl

I think I have tinnitus (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by pepperonisalami@sh.itjust.works to c/casualconversation@lemm.ee

59 comments fedilink hide all child comments

One random night, I lay on my bed in my silent bedroom, and I felt that the silence is uncomfortable. Why, I asked myself, that the silence felt sharp, like I prefer the noise of my annoyingly loud dehumidifier, or the muffled sound of traffic in my old apartment?

I realized that the silence was ringing, in a high pitched noise that we all associate with being hit near the ears. My inner voice told myself: "man, you have tinnitus."

Thinking back, that wasn't the first time I thought that I have tinnitus, but I was probably in denial for years, or it just got louder. The sad part is that I'm only 26, and somehow, I feared getting tinnitus ever since my childhood.

Even worse, I just ordered a pair of headphones with ANC, and when I don't play anything through it, the ringing gets very clear.

Was depressed for a few days, thinking that it's not fair that I got it even though I don't expose myself to loud noises often, I listen to music at a couple levels lower than my preference, and I don't turn up my music to drown out noises.

But nothing in life is fair, and to compared to the suffering of others, this is only a mild discomfort. So I'll try to keep positive about it, and be grateful that I still enjoy a comparatively luxurious life.

I'll visit a doctor soon though!

Any of you have a similar experience? I'll be happy to read your stories!

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] dingus@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

It's a bit comforting to know how many others in this thread have also had it as long as they can remember. I'm the same...can't remember there ever being a time where I didn't have it. It also isn't the stereotypical classical single tone "ringing" noise for me, so I didn't ever connect the dots as it being tinnitus until into young adulthood.

Still makes me a bit concerned that I'll lose my hearing some day. Both my mom and maternal grandfather experienced significant hearing loss over time.