As we finish up National Tinnitus
Awareness Week, let’s take a look at a common problem that may affect around
18-20% of the UK population (McCormack et al 2014). We probably all know
someone who suffers from it and may even have it ourselves, especially as we
grow older but it can affect any age group (British Tinnitus Association).
Tinnitus itself consists of hearing
unusual noises that are not coming from the external world but from within
ourselves, experienced as ringing, buzzing, whistling even musical. These
sounds can be loud or soft, in one or both ears, consistently or intermittently
and have been experienced temporarily by most of in response to a loud noise.
It can be caused by physiological problems like high blood pressure or nerve
damage.
For some, the distress of the condition
can lead to other symptoms such as anxiety or depression but for others it is
something they learn to live with.
Depending on the cause it may disappear on
its own, require medication to control the causes or other treatments. If it is
caused by damage to the inner ear there may be no physical recovery but there
is hope for addressing the psychological aspects of the condition.
Psychotherapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural
Therapy, can be helpful in dealing with the secondary effects of the tinnitus
as well as the symptom itself. Other approaches include techniques such as
mindfulness which can help reduce stress as well as decrease contributory
factors such as high blood pressure. Any therapy that can help the patient
learn to accept the situation and deal with mental tension can be of benefit.
Hypnotherapy combines well with Cognitive Behavioural
approaches to increase effective outcomes. In addition, therapeutic hypnosis is
often a very relaxing experience in itself. Learning self hypnosis can be
useful in calming the body’s stress response. Hypnotherapy can be applied in a
similar way as with phobias, allowing the patient to build up tolerance to the
noise and disturbing situations or even changing the perception of the noise
and re-associating it with something more pleasant, like the sound of the sea
or tuning it out like we do with noises around us that are not immediately
relevant.
In any event, appropriate medical advice
is essential before embarking on any therapeutic interventions for this
condition but there are many ways that hypnosis may be helpful in managing the
medium to long-term symptoms of tinnitus.
Kirsty Grant
www.kirstygrant.co.uk
McCormack,
A., Edmondson-Jones, M., Fortnum, H., Dawes, P., Middleton, H., Munro, K. J.,
& Moore, D. R. (2014). The prevalence of tinnitus and the relationship with
neuroticism in a middle-aged UK population. Journal of Psychosomatic
Research, 76(1), 56-60.
