Being in a continual state of elevated alertness is the definition of anxiety. It alerts us to danger, but for some, anxiety becomes unregulated, and their bodies respond as if everything is a potential threat. Instead of feeling anxious before a big job interview, you might be simmering with dread while making dinner or calling a friend. Your day-to-day life becomes an emotional conflict, and everything seems more overwhelming than it should.
And anxiety, for others, can become more than an emotional issue – the symptoms may become physical. Dizziness, insomnia, nausea, and heart palpitations are a few of the physical symptoms. Some may suffer from these feelings all of their lives, while others might find as their hearing worsens, they begin to feel heightened anxiety.
Hearing loss doesn’t appear all of a sudden, unlike other age related health challenges, it progresses gradually and typically unnoticed until one day your hearing specialist informs you that you need a hearing aid. This shouldn’t be any different from finding out you need glasses, but hearing loss can cause anxiety that doesn’t arise with deteriorating vision for many people. It can happen even if you’ve never suffered from serious anxiety before. For those already struggling with anxiety or depression, hearing loss can make it seem even worse.
What’s That?
Hearing loss produces new worries: How much did you say that cost? How many times can I say “huh”? Are they irritated with me for asking them to repeat themselves? Will my children still call? These fears escalate as anxiety sets in, which is a normal reaction, particularly when daily activities become stressful. Why are you turning down invitations for dinner or steering clear of gatherings? If you’re truthful with yourself, you may be declining invites as a way to avoid the anxiety of struggling to hear conversations. While this might help in the short-term, in the long-term, you will grow more isolated, which will result in additional anxiety.
Am I Alone?
Others are also experiencing this. It’s increasingly common for people to have anxiety. Anxiety disorders are an issue for 18% of the population. Recent studies show hearing loss raises the likelihood of being diagnosed with anxiety, particularly when neglected. It may work the opposite way too. According to some research, anxiety will actually raise your chances of developing hearing loss. It’s regrettable that people continue to unnecessarily cope with both of these conditions considering how treatable they are.
Choices For Treatment
If your anxiety is a result of hearing loss you should make an appointment to be fitted for a hearing aid. Don’t wait until your next check-up, especially if you’ve observed a rapid change in your hearing. For many, hearing aids decrease anxiety by fighting miscommunications and embarrassment in social situations.
There is a learning curve with hearing aids that could enhance your anxiety if you aren’t prepared for it. It can take weeks to learn the basics of hearing aids and get used to using them. So if you struggle a little initially, be patient and try not to be frustrated. If you’re presently wearing hearing aids and still seem to be struggling with anxiety, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor. There are many ways to manage anxiety, and your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes like increased exercise, to improve your individual situation.