Tinnitus for many is a debilitating condition. When the ringing in your ears limits or reduces your quality of life, depression, anxiety and other behavioral disorders can set in. What can you do when you are depressed by your Tinnitus? And, can depression cause Tinnitus? We discuss answers to these questions below. You will also learn how you can fight off depression and anxiety to improve your quality of life, even with Tinnitus.
Tinnitus and Depression – What Causes What?
When Tinnitus Causes Depression
Surprisingly, there have not been a lot of studies that have tried to link depression as a disorder arising out of Tinnitus as a driving factor. In fact, the most notable study is this small Italian study involving just 80 patients. It concluded that there was a significant correlation (57.5% of the patients) between Tinnitus and anxiety and depression, with Tinnitus being a precursor. One of the other conclusions was that anxiety (45%) was a lot more prevalent that depression (26.3%) in Tinnitus sufferers.
What is Your Tinnitus Handicap Score?
Calculate your THI Score in about 2-3 Minutes
The study also advised that Tinnitus patients should routinely undergo psychometric questionnaires to diagnose the onset of depression and anxiety. Both disorders can exacerbate Tinnitus in the long run.
13% of ATA’s (American Tinnitus Association) membership self-diagnosed themselves as having a mental health issue. The ATA also estimates that 48% to 78% of Tinnitus patients also suffer from depression, anxiety or another behavioral disorder. Depression is also very high among veterans who suffer from Tinnitus. In fact, Tinnitus benefits are amongst the top 3 types of disability claims that are claimed by veterans. Learn more about Tinnitus as a benefit paying disability here.
How Tinnitus Causes Depression?
Social Withdrawal
If Tinnitus prevents one from having normal conversations with others, it can lead to social withdrawal. Social withdrawal then leads to feelings of loneliness, helplessness and worthlessness. All this can lead to anxiety and depression.
How Severe is Your Tinnitus?
Find out by using this THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) Scoring Calculator
What can you do?
Reach out to people in your social circle to explain your condition. Friends and family will be a lot more accommodative of your hearing disability and will be more inclusive of you. This gives you a chance to continue to be social, albeit with some improvisations or limitations.
If you have hearing loss, visit an audiologist and get yourself fitted for personalized hearing aids. Hearing aids can not only let you hear other people, but potentially help ease Tinnitus as well. In case you did not know, hearing loss and Tinnitus are very connected. It is estimated that 90% of people with Tinnitus also have hearing loss. In many cases, hearing aids can really help reduce or even resolve Tinnitus, by restoring lost hearing.
Discontinuation of Favorite Activities
Reading a book or watching shows or movies might have been an enjoyable activity before. But, with Tinnitus, you might no longer find these activities enjoyable, as you simply can’t follow conversations or music. This can then lead to feelings of emptiness and reduced quality of life.
What can you do?
Try to look for alternative activities that you can continue to enjoy, even with Tinnitus. For example, if reading a book is too difficult to do with a ringing in your ears, try your hand at gardening or another activity that doesn’t require a great amount of cognitive focus.
Constant Worrying and Helplessness
Constantly worrying about having Tinnitus is not at all helpful. In fact, it makes Tinnitus much worse as stress sets in. Helplessness is not helpful either, as it can leave you in despair.
What can you do?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an excellent tool to change the negative response towards Tinnitus. CBT is a psychotherapeutic treatment where negative reactions are identified and replaced with objective, neutral or realistic thoughts.
One can also try to habituate to having Tinnitus as a condition that you can live with. Tinnitus meditation and Tinnitus yoga are excellent tools to help you on this path. Both will require persistence and time but can provide a feasible way to satisfactorily live with Tinnitus, even in the long run.
Lack of Sleep
Tinnitus is often loudest at night, when things are quiet. It can be very hard to go to sleep with a high-pitched ringing in your ears. Lack of sleep or insomnia can greatly upset both physical and mental wellbeing, easily leading to depression and anxiety.
What can you do?
Read our post with tips on how to sleep with Tinnitus. There, you will find information on melatonin and nighttime ear plugs that can let you sleep well. Even slightly improved sleep can greatly discourage the onset of depression and anxiety that can result from Tinnitus.
When Depression Causes Tinnitus
The ATA (American Tinnitus Association) states that people with generalized anxiety are 7 times more likely to experience chronic and debilitating Tinnitus.
Another study identifies the onset of Major Depressive Disorder as a precursor to Tinnitus.
Will I Get Tinnitus Because of My Depression?
No scientific studies will say that this is a surety. But, not habituating or coping to live with Tinnitus greatly increases your chance of developing depression or anxiety.
Antidepressants for Tinnitus Depression?
With depression and anxiety being very prevalent in patients with Tinnitus, it is no surprise that many resort to anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills. However, one must know that antidepressants are ototoxic in nature. What this means is that they are toxic to the ears, potentially making Tinnitus, hearing or even your balance worse, especially in the long run.
There’s a sliding scale when it comes to levels of ototoxicity. This post discusses antidepressant ototoxicity. Read that information and talk to your doctor about switching to a less ototoxic or natural antidepressant like St. John’s Wort. If you are only mildly depressed or anxious, you can try habituation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or other natural techniques to even try to cope without antidepressants at all. Your ears will thank you for it.
