Understand the relationship between anxiety and tinnitus in the ear!

Anxiety affects people in different ways and can cause restlessness and difficulty sleeping. In some individuals, it also causes an irritating ringing in the ears, a kind of constant buzzing.

Tinnitus sufferers may hear sounds such as ringing alarms, whistling, squealing and other noises that are not associated with an external source. The severity varies, and it may be something that disconcerts or disturbs us, affecting quality of life.

Read on and learn more about anxiety disorder, which can cause ringing in the ears and other health problems. Also check out how to avoid crises and help someone who is suffering with this condition.

Understanding more about anxiety

You need to understand that anxiety and anxiety disorder are not the same thing. To make the distinction, you take into account the frequency, severity and how it affects your daily life. Find out below.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural response of the body to stress, generating worry and more tense feelings, which can be reflected in physical problems such as high blood pressure. However, when the symptoms are persistent and severe, this natural response of the body becomes something of a disease, the anxiety disorder.

Data from 2015 WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that more than 3% of the world population suffers from some pathology related to anxiety. A curious fact is that the number is higher among women. In the American continent, for example, more than 7% of women have been diagnosed with this disorder, while the percentage among men is 3.6%.

Types of anxiety

There are several types of anxiety, since it can manifest itself in different ways, being caused by multiple factors. The aspects that differentiate this feeling from an illness are the frequency, severity and impact on quality of life.

The most common types of anxiety disorders are:

- Phobias in general;

- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (popularly known as OCD);

- Panic attack;

- Post-traumatic stress disorder (known by the acronym PTSD);

- Generalized anxiety (known as GAD).

How does an anxious person feel?

Anxiety causes unpleasant and undefined feelings, similar to fear of the unknown. Some individuals experience frequent catastrophic thoughts and many people also have a bad feeling accompanied by heart rate swings, sweating, and upset stomach.

This happens because the body is in constant alert, releasing substances such as noradrenaline and cortisol, which increase blood pressure and heartbeat, preparing the body to act in dangerous situations. When anxiety is exaggerated, it becomes a disease that greatly impairs the quality of life.

Anxiety and ringing in the ear

Anxiety and ringing in the ear have a very complicated and cyclical relationship. This is because mental health conditions can cause tinnitus, and tinnitus intensifies anxiety attacks. Studies show that chronic tinnitus often presents in conjunction with anxiety symptoms and often gets worse after a stressful situation.

Buzzing noises can vary, the most common being wheezing, alarm ringing, whistling, the sound of escaping air, and even musical notes. These episodes can be disturbing, causing difficulties for the individual to concentrate and sleep.

Dangers of anxiety and tinnitus in the ear

Anxiety and ringing in the ear often go hand in hand, as they are closely related conditions. Generally, people who suffer from tinnitus live with high levels of stress. And that's where the danger lies.

Constant tinnitus greatly disturbs the individual's quality of life, causing difficulties to sleep and concentrate. Therefore, productivity is affected, as the person becomes very sleepy and worried at the same time, unable to perform simple daily activities. Moreover, tinnitus can lead to the worsening of anxiety crises and trigger another disease: depression.

Other factors that can generate tinnitus in the ear

Tinnitus in the ear can be triggered by factors other than anxiety, such as excessive exposure to very loud noises, ear infections, and head and neck injuries.

In addition, some medications such as aspirin, antibiotics and diuretics can cause side effects in the ear, resulting in tinnitus. Other possible reasons for this disorder are:

- A foreign object or earwax touching the eardrum;

- Eustachian tube problems;

- Hardening of the bones of the middle ear;

- Head trauma;

- Cardiovascular diseases;

- Diabetes.

Other symptoms of anxiety

Anxiety disorder causes people to experience various symptoms, such as disturbing thoughts and worries that never go away, always coming back even stronger. Check out other manifestations of this disease below.

Physical symptoms

Anxiety disorder can trigger physical symptoms in addition to psychological ones. Find out which ones are the most common:

- Headache;

- Sudoresis (excessive sweating);

- Dry mouth;

- Muscle tension or back pain;

- Tachycardia (increased heartbeat);

- Hypertension (high blood pressure);

- Dizziness;

- Fatigue;

- Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath or breathing too fast);

- Gastric contraction (knotty feeling in the stomach);

- Nausea or vomiting;

- Diarrhea;

- Sensation of rising temperature ("emotional fever");

- Overactive bladder (instant and uncontrollable urge to urinate);

- Changes in the menstrual cycle.

Cognitive symptoms

Anxiety disorder causes some cognitive problems, that is, changes in the way information is processed in the brain. With this, the main symptoms are:

- Excessive and even obsessive worrying;

- Catastrophic and disturbing thoughts;

- Difficulty concentrating;

- Insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or waking up several times during the night);

- Problems with sleep quality, such as constant nightmares;

- Uncontrollable urge to cry;

- Generalized pessimism (focus on the negative aspects of any situation);

- Memory changes.

Emotional symptoms

Those who suffer with anxiety disorder can experience a wide range of emotional symptoms, such as:

- Vertigo and tremors;

- Blocking or paralysis in the face of various situations that do not represent danger;

- Constant state of alert;

- Irritability;

- Oscillations in tone of voice;

- Difficulties initiating or maintaining a conversation for fear of being judged;

- Difficulty saying the word "no" for exaggerated fear of reprisal;

- Excessive preoccupation with the opinions of others;

- Tendency to social isolation;

- Desire to neutralize your own personality.

Causes of an anxiety attack

Anxiety attacks can have several causes and always involve a feeling of disproportionate fear, generating a lot of stress and worry. In fact, the episodes are often a response of the mind to an emotional trigger. Read on and find out some motivations.

Psychological traumas

For some people, psychological trauma can trigger an anxiety disorder, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (also called PTSD). Experiencing a very traumatic situation can cause an individual to suffer from multiple episodes of intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and terrible nightmares. These cases are most common in former veterans of war.

However, people who have been involved in trauma related to urban violence, such as physical assault, torture, sexual abuse, kidnapping, robbery, and natural disasters, are also prone to develop anxiety disorders.

Stressful situations

Anxiety crises can be caused by several stressful situations in our daily lives. By the way, it is worth remembering that motivations are not universal, that is, they affect individuals in different ways.

However, a very frequent case happens when a person believes that they will be judged by others for acting in a certain way. This causes their body to be on constant alert, expending unnecessary energy.

Another stressful situation that can act as a trigger for anxiety episodes is public speaking, as many people have difficulty and even dread it.

Environmental factors

Environmental factors contribute greatly to an individual developing the anxiety disorder. School, church, cultural difference and the family itself are examples of aspects that can cause a child to experience a certain level of stress from a young age.

By the way, childhood traumas are directly linked to increased chances of suffering from anxiety in the medium and long term. Therefore, for some researchers, childhood is usually a determining factor for a healthy adult life.

Genetic factors

Everyone has a certain level of anxiety, it is natural. However, when this feeling is exaggerated and becomes an anxiety disorder in parents, the disease can have an endless cycle, perpetuating for several generations.

It can be said that the genetic influence of this disorder represents approximately 40% of diagnosed cases. Thus, it is possible to state that there is the potential of the anxiety disorder to be passed on to the entire family tree of a family.

Therefore, if your parents or grandparents suffer from this illness, the chances of you suffering from this disease, unfortunately, are huge, since some people have anxiety completely determined by genetics.

Personal Triggers

Personal triggers are very powerful in triggering an anxiety crisis, so it is important to understand that they are different and particular to each individual.

These emotional triggers recall past moments and make us relive everything that is recorded in the subconscious. So, if you experienced a traumatic moment and at that time a song was playing, it is possible that this song becomes a trigger for those negative memories.

This is one of the reasons triggers are so hard to identify, since anything can generate a response. Smells, movies, music, places, and even colors can cause an anxiety episode.

Further information about anxiety

Anxiety plays several roles in a person's life, and can be a healthy feeling or a symptom of an illness. Therefore, it is very important to keep an eye on its evolution, so it does not turn into a disease. Find out more about the control of this disorder.

What to do to avoid anxiety?

Although the feeling of anxiety is always present in our lives, there are ways to avoid it and reduce the risk of it turning into an emotional disorder.

A few simple steps help keep emotions and worries under control, preventing the development of various diseases linked to our mind, including anxiety disorder. Check them out below:

- Consume less soda, coffee, chocolate and teas with high caffeine content;

- Consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking medicines that may make the anxiety state worse;

- Maintain a healthy and balanced diet;

- Have a regular and restful sleep pattern;

- Avoid alcoholic beverages, marijuana and other types of recreational drugs.

What to do to control anxiety?

In milder cases, it is possible to control anxiety with some techniques. See below:

- Use relaxation techniques: breathing exercises, meditation and yoga can significantly reduce anxiety;

- Replace negative thoughts with positive ones: write a list of any negative thoughts that come to mind, then write down the positive ideas, crossing out anything harmful from your life;

- Have a support network: always vent to someone reliable and friendly. Talking about your feelings can be liberating;

- Exercise: an active lifestyle helps your brain release substances that stimulate pleasant and positive emotions.

What to do in an anxiety crisis?

When an anxiety crisis takes hold of an individual, self-control is key to try to manage and eliminate the bad feelings. Breathing techniques, meditation and yoga are usually quite helpful in this situation.

However, if no relaxation technique can ease the manifestations of anxiety, seek medical advice and seek drug treatment alternatives.

Psychiatric treatment is nothing out of the ordinary, much less a reason for shame or prejudice. Keep in mind that your health and quality of life are at stake, and only a qualified professional will be able to help you get your life back.

How to help someone with an anxiety crisis?

The best way to help a person suffering from anxiety attacks is to encourage them to see a doctor they trust, preferably a psychologist or psychiatrist with experience in treating this disorder.

Remember that some fears may seem like an exaggeration to you, but they are a cause of much suffering for the anxious person. Never judge, and listen with an open heart and mind.

However, if you witness a severe crisis, help the person take a deep breath, calm down, and take them to the hospital if necessary.

Anxiety should be treated by a specialist!

Anxiety disorder is an illness that should be taken seriously, it is not a coolness, as many misinterpret it. Therefore, it needs to be treated with a specialist, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist.

The procedure to control anxiety includes therapy sessions, psychological counseling and, in some cases, controlled use medications. The treatment may also involve psychotherapy, which is done through cognitive-behavioral therapy. This technique helps the anxious person to stop harmful thought patterns and habits that can act as a trigger.

Therefore, never be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. With the right treatment, it is possible to live with anxiety in a good way.