The holidays bring crackling fireplaces, clinking dishes and festive music drifting from the store speakers at Grapevine Mills. For people living with tinnitus, however, this season can also mean a persistent buzzing, ringing or pulsing. Unfortunately, when holiday stress rises, that tinnitus often follows.
A 2023 study examined the relationship between tinnitus and stress. The researchers have a few ideas about why stress and tinnitus seem to fuel each other. Some theories point to changes happening inside the ear itself, while others focus on the stress-regulating networks in the body, like the HPT and HPA axes and the autonomic nervous system.
Let’s take a look at three ways you can find a little stress relief this season to help soothe your tinnitus.
1. Create Quiet Time
The holidays are busy, and if you don’t purposefully set aside some quiet time, you may not get it. Depending on your schedule, you could allocate at least an hour every evening to unwind, or schedule a whole day in the week where you can be alone. You may be tempted to do a few chores during quiet time, but it’s crucial to resist the urge. Instead, read a good book, take a bath, watch a movie or do anything else that relaxes you.
2. Focus on One Task at a Time
Holiday chaos often means juggling cooking, hosting and last-minute errands all at once. Unorganized multitasking is stressful for your brain, and that strain can exacerbate tinnitus. Choose one task, finish it and then move on. It feels slower but reduces mental overload, and you’re less likely to make mistakes when you’re not overwhelmed.
3. Delegate
If you tend to be the person in charge, you might find yourself shouldering the burden more than necessary. Remember to delegate responsibilities. For example, if you like to do the cooking, ask a family member to do the cleaning. If you have a lot of errands to run, split the list rather than running them all yourself.
Caring for Tinnitus Beyond the Holidays
Tinnitus may arise more during the holidays, but this isn’t the only time it rears its head. Contact us at Heard It Through The Grapevine Audiology, PC today to explore ways to manage your tinnitus year-round for a quieter life.