Anxiety is defined as a constant state of alertness. It warns us of peril, but for some, anxiety goes out of control, and their bodies respond as if everything is a potential threat. You could find yourself full of feelings of anxiety while doing daily tasks. Everything seems more overwhelming than it usually would and day-to-day life becomes an emotional battle.
And anxiety, for others, can become more than an emotional issue – the symptoms could become physical. Insomnia, dizziness, nausea, and heart palpitations are a few of the physical symptoms. Some might struggle with these feelings their whole lives, while other people may find that as their hearing gets worse, they begin to feel increased anxiety.
Hearing loss doesn’t appear all of a sudden, unlike other age related health issues, it advances gradually and frequently undetected until suddenly your hearing specialist tells you that you need a hearing aid. This should be a lot like finding out you need glasses, but failing vision often doesn’t cause the same level of anxiety that hearing loss does. It can occur even if you’ve never experienced serious anxiety before. Hearing loss can make it even worse for people who already struggle with anxiety or depression.
What’s That?
Hearing loss creates new concerns: 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 kids still call? When day-to-day activities become stressful, anxiety intensifies and this is a normal reaction. If you no longer accept invitations to dinner or larger get-togethers, you may want to think about why. Your struggle to keep up with conversations could be the reason why you keep declining invitations if you’re being truthful with yourself. This reaction will ultimately result in even more anxiety as you grapple with the repercussions of self isolation.
Am I Alone?
You aren’t the only person feeling this way. It’s increasingly common for people to have anxiety. Around 18% of the population struggles with an anxiety disorder. Recent studies show hearing loss increases the likelihood of being diagnosed with anxiety, especially when neglected. The correlation may go the other way too. According to some research, anxiety will actually raise your chances of getting hearing loss. It’s regrettable that people continue to unnecessarily deal with both of these conditions considering how manageable they are.
What Are The Treatment Choices?
If your anxiety is a result of hearing loss you should come in to be fitted for a hearing aid. Don’t procrastinate and if you notice that your hearing has suddenly changed, come in as soon as you can. Hearing aids minimize embarrassment in social situations by preventing mis-communication which reduces anxiety.
There is a learning curve with hearing aids that might add to your anxiety if you aren’t prepared for it. Adapting to using hearing aids and learning all of the settings can take a couple of weeks. So, don’t get discouraged if you struggle with them at first. If you’re presently wearing hearing aids and still find yourself struggling with anxiety, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor. There are many methods to deal with anxiety, and your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes like increased exercise, to improve your individual situation.