Tinnitus is a physical condition where one hears buzzing or ringing sounds in their ears when no such noise is actually there. It is usually more present in those who are over 45 years of age, but I started experiencing it in my early 30s, probably due to being a musician and constantly being surrounded by loud sounds and a myriad of frequencies.
Recently, my tinnitus got so bad I was not able to sleep, hearing loud buzzing sounds inside my head that nothing could cancel. I would be in tears in the middle of the night, haunted by the sounds. I even had to stop working. I was ready to try anything, even surgery, but a holistic health professional suggested I try magnesium and zinc to help me sleep. I started using them and it turned out to help my tinnitus altogether. I did some research after the fact and it seems to be true, magnesium and zinc help the ears functioning overall, as well as help calm the nerves. I no longer hear the loud buzzing inside my head no matter what time of day, and I sleep like a baby.
I am a female in my late 30s and used 30mg of zinc and 300mg of magnesium per day. Consult with your doctor if you have tinnitus and would like to add these supplements to help.
I'm glad you didn't opt for surgery as I doubt you would have found a surgeon to perform an operation. To my knowledge there is no operation that will relieve tinnitus. In the early 1900s, attempts to relieve tinnitus sometimes involved removing the entire middle ear. These drastic measures had absolutely no effect on the tinnitus.
I point this out to help people understand how horribly devastating severe cases of tinnitus can be and what drastic measures those suffering will go to to get relief. To have something in your head 24 hours a day that over powers everything else, something you cannot escape, something that will not give you one minute of peace, not one minute, is just about more than most people can bear. Many fear they will lose their mind. I speak from personal experience.
As tinnitus seems to have no physical origins, treating it by physical means would seem pointless. The advice given to me by my very learned physician was, 'Try to put it out of your mind'. He may not have known that would be like looking at yourself in the mirror and convincing yourself you did not see yourself. Almost impossible for the average person.
If you ever get to the point you can put it out of your mind, even briefly, you are well on the road to effectively managing the tinnitus. It takes much practice. My case was quite severe, now I seldom hear the sounds. When I do, I can dismiss them, even though they are still in the 'background'.
I really believe if the zinc and magnesium had any effect on your tinnitus, it was a placebo effect. But for someone suffering from tinnitus, all they want is relief. If a placebo effect stops the tinnitus, that's all that matters.
We know so little. It is possible that these two supplements may have the physical means to relieve tinnitus. Having gone through the tinnitus nightmare, I am happy you have found relief, and if the supplements did help you, they may well help others.
Thanks for the post!
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm sorry you know what it feels like and sounds like. :( You're lucky you were able to put them out of my mind. I think you know I deal with insomnia that's triggered by overthinking, so when I try to ignore things, I make it worse ;) I would call this a placebo effect if I thought I was taking them for the sounds, but I was taking them to be able to sleep a wink or two... And it turned out to (thankfully) cancel all the buzzing inside my head when it was the middle of the day. Was not expecting that. Anyway, I hope people who are suffering from tinnitus try this, at least. I really wish I had done so years ago! Sleep tight! :)
I agree 100%. Tinnitus is not physical, it is mental. Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc, herbal supplements MAY have a placebo effect and help you to "dismiss" the tinnitus, however, so far there is nothing that works as predictably as a pain killer. Whether you call it the sound of the blood inside the brain, or the static from the UFO's, aside from mental tricks, there is no predictable way to stop it.
While I work I listen to http://accuradio.com. They have countless channels and I just pick whatever suits me that day, and train it by rating good artists and blocking others. While that music is playing, the tinnitus fades to unnoticeable. However, screechers and higher frequencies are unpleasant.
At night I am usually so tired, that I fall asleep as soon as I close my eyes. If I don't, I tell myself it's just broadcasts from the UFO's and try to make sense of it. I know it is BS, but trying to decypher the message in the hiss and roar puts me to sleep quickly, no matter whether I am in bed or in a chair at the doctor's waiting room.
Try it! With some practise you can make it quite predictable.
I can't wait to try that station!!! I haven't heard anything inside my head since I posted this but I'm curious to give that a go :)
