The holiday season is here, and it’s full of fun activities from snowball fights in Memorial Park to cookie decorating parties. While all that holiday fun is exciting, it’s not without its stress. One area where you might see the effects of that stress is your tinnitus.
How Does Stress Affect Tinnitus?
A 2023 study examined the effect stress has on tinnitus. Three takeaways from the study include:
- Psycho-social stress (caused by things like major life events or social isolation) has the same probability of developing and worsening tinnitus as work-related noise exposure
- High stress levels and work-related noise exposure double the likelihood of developing tinnitus
- Emotional stress can worsen pre-existing tinnitus and is an indicator of tinnitus severity
Whether you notice yourself getting stressed at a crowded grocery store or you feel overwhelmed by the number of social events the holidays bring, it’s crucial to employ effective stress management techniques to minimize your risk of a tinnitus flare-up.
Managing Stress During the Holidays
A persistent ringing or buzzing in the ear is an unwanted and troublesome holiday guest. If you notice your tinnitus worsening as your stress rises, try a few of the following to decompress during the holidays:
- Schedule alone time. It’s easy to overload your November-January calendar with one social event after another. While it’s normal to want to make the most out of the season, make sure you leave time each week for yourself. You can spend an evening reading a book, watching a silly movie or just napping on the couch to recharge.
- Talk about your stress. Keeping your stress bundled up inside doesn’t help you manage it. If you’re feeling stressed, consider talking to a friend, family member or licensed mental health professional. You can even try journaling. Getting your thoughts out of your brain and onto a piece of paper will help you determine what you need to do to address them and what you need from other people.
- Watch your spending. A survey conducted by the National Retail Federation found that consumers are budgeting an average of $890 for gifts and other seasonal items like food and decorations this year. $890 is a lot of money. If money is one of the factors contributing to your stress, sit down and create a spending plan that allows you to enjoy yourself without stretching your wallet to uncomfortable lengths. Things like hand-made gifts or a low-key potluck dinner for Thanksgiving can help you save money without taking away from your holiday fun.
Tackling your holiday stress is just one factor in managing tinnitus. For more information on your management options, contact Hearing Systems today.