Tinnitus: That High-Pitched Friend Who Won’t Shut Up (And How to Deal)

“Is That a Fire Alarm or Just My Left Ear Again?”

👋 Welcome to the Soundtrack You Didn’t Ask For
It starts as a whisper.
A distant whine.
A high-pitched shriek.
A subtle eeeeeeeeeeeeeee – like a mosquito wearing stilettos tap-dancing inside your ear canal.
Congratulations. You’ve unlocked Tinnitus, the audio equivalent of a ghost haunting your cochlea.

Some people describe it as ringing. Others say buzzing, whooshing, clicking, hissing, or like a TV set to static while tuned to “Channel Existential Dread.”

If you’ve ever said:

• “Do you hear that?”
• “Wait, is that…me?”
• “Is the fridge… screaming?”
  You’re not crazy. You’re hormonal.

📉 What’s Actually Happening?

Tinnitus is not a disease. It’s a symptom. A very annoying one.

Here’s what’s possibly behind the noise:

• Estrogen drop → affects blood vessels and nerves in the ear
• Stress/anxiety spikes → tightens muscles, raises blood pressure
• Changes in hearing → natural aging, yes, but also hormone-related sensitivity shifts
• Middle ear fluid changes → welcome to hormone-induced chaos
• TMJ dysfunction or jaw tension → classic stress symptom
• Medication side effects → including some antidepressants and NSAIDs

🎯 Bonus triggers during perimenopause/menopause:

• High cortisol from stress (surprise)
• Blood pressure fluctuations
• Migraines
• Poor sleep
• Iron, magnesium, and B12 deficiencies
• Loud concerts back in the 90s. (We see you, Lollapalooza.)

It’s surprisingly common, especially in women over 40. One study showed 1 in 3 women over 50 report intermittent ringing or hissing sounds in their ears. And nearly 0% of them were told it might be hormonal.

🎧 What It Feels Like

• Like a mosquito set up camp inside your ear canal.
• Like someone left an old television on a dead channel in your skull.
• Like your nervous system is attempting morse code.
• Like a wine glass is constantly ringing just out of reach.
• Like your brain is trying to prank you into madness – and it’s working.

🛠️ What Actually Helps (Not the “Just Relax” People)

🔬 Supplements That Have Your Back (and Ears)

1. Magnesium – Often low in people with tinnitus; supports nerve health + relaxation.
2. Vitamin B12 – Deficiency can cause or worsen ringing. Bonus: helps with energy and brain fog.
3. Zinc – Supports auditory health and reduces inflammation.
4. Ginkgo biloba – Improves blood flow to the brain and ears. Mixed research, but many swear by it.
5. Melatonin – May help reduce nighttime tinnitus perception and support sleep (your sanity needs both).
6. L-Theanine – Calming amino acid to reduce the stress-tinnitus feedback loop.

💊 Pro tip: Always check doses and don’t take all at once unless you enjoy expensive urine and chaos.

🔄 Lifestyle Shifts That Don’t Require Becoming a Monk

• White noise machines or apps (or YouTube fan noises). Tinnitus thrives in silence – give it competition.
• Sound enrichment – Soft instrumental music, nature sounds, brown noise. Avoid anything with lyrics that remind you of exes.
• TMJ jaw exercises – Seriously. Some tinnitus comes from jaw or neck tension. Ask a physical therapist or look for a gentle routine online.
• Stretch your neck and shoulders – Think less “yoga goddess,” more “uncrumpled paper.”
• Stress management – Tinnitus loves stress. Stress loves tinnitus. Break the toxic couple.
• Audiologist consult – Especially if tinnitus is severe or one-sided. Hearing aids help in many cases (even mild ones).

💫 Gentle Calming Reframe

It’s loud, yes. But it’s just a sound. It cannot hurt you. It’s not dangerous. It’s a false alarm from a nervous system trying its best in a body that’s changing. You can breathe. You can sit with it. Let it ring like a bell in the distance – noticed, but not feared. Each time you meet the sound with curiosity instead of panic, you take back a bit of peace. It may be there – but you don’t have to fight it. Let it float. Let yourself soften around it. The calm you want is still possible, even in the noise.

🌀 How to Use It to Your Advantage (Yes, Really)

We’re flipping the narrative. Here’s how tinnitus can be your very strange superpower:

1. Exit Strategy Tool

“Sorry, I can’t attend that networking event. My tinnitus acts up in crowds.”
(AKA: You don’t want to make small talk about someone’s kombucha side hustle.)

2. Noise Excuse

Someone’s droning on about crypto or how “they don’t believe in menopause”?
Just tilt your head, squint, and say: “Oh sorry – ringing’s bad today. Didn’t catch that.”

3. Unsolicited Music Critic

You don’t like someone’s playlist? “Hmm, this frequency really aggravates my auditory sensitivity.”
Boom. You just became the menopause DJ.

4. Household Chore Dodger

Vacuuming? No thanks. “The high-pitched motor really spikes my tinnitus. Doctor’s orders.”

5. Mystique Factor

Repeat: “It’s not me. It’s my auditory hormones.” (Nobody can fact-check that.)

💬 The Elistocrat Take

Tinnitus isn’t a punishment. It’s a signal – sometimes literal, sometimes emotional – that your system needs care.
It can mean you’re stressed, deficient, overstimulated, or simply navigating hormone havoc.

It’s not your fault.
It’s not because you “don’t meditate hard enough.”
And it doesn’t get to define your day.

So the next time your ears start singing their weird, exclusive song?

Smile slightly.
Tilt your head.
Whisper back: “Not today, buzz boy.”

You’ve got earplugs, humor, and an entire hormone army to wrangle. One ring will not rule them all.