Isn't it Christmas already?

A tinnitus survival guide for the next week

Just one week to go before Christmas Day!

The kids have broken up from school and are hyper with excitement. The cat has batted all the baubles off the Christmas tree. Your mother-in-law is due in 24 hours and you haven’t dusted all the light-bulbs. And you don’t ever want to see a roll of wrapping paper again… Stands to reason then your tinnitus might be jingling as loud as Rudolph’s bells.

Here are some more tips to reduce stress and anxiety, and keep your tinnitus at a manageable level during the festive period:

Scale back on social media

If you’re having a stressful build-up to the big day, scrolling through social media posts about the perfect family Christmas won’t make you feel any better. Although our head knows these posts don’t show the burnt turkey, the fights, and the horrendous hangovers the next day, our heart still compares our life to theirs, and we’re left feeling wanting.

Be self-compassionate - don’t put yourself through that. I do, however, whole-heartedly recommend watching all the videos you can take about cute cats and dogs.

Go easy on sugar and alcohol

Talking of hangovers… ‘Tis indeed the season to be jolly, which often means chocolates and cake, paired with plenty of wine and beer. For many of us in the tinnitus tribe more sugar or alcohol than usual can make our tinnitus seem much louder. So, boring as I am, I advocate balancing the healthy stuff with the treats (please can someone message me on Christmas Day to remind me to take my own advice?!)

Protect your downtime

If you’re spending time over the holidays with family, make sure you take time to yourself. I’m deeply grateful we have a dog, as it gives me a great excuse to escape the noise and ‘reset’ my ears by wandering around the local neighborhood admiring the Christmas lights. If you’re hosting, why not create a breakout room where there’s no TV, no music, and no gaming, and anyone can sit for a while to have a voluntary timeout from the mayhem and madness.

Educate others about tinnitus

If you need a break from noisy activities because you’re struggling with tinnitus, that’s a great opportunity to explain how the condition affects you. Be prepared, though, that amongst the sympathetic responses you receive there will, in all likelihood, be a family member who claims that tinnitus is nothing and you just need to get over it (I might be speaking from experience here!).

Resist the urge to say something that will get you written out of their will! You can’t control them and their insensitivity, but you can control how you respond. Take a deep breath and make a swift exit to have a smoke break/get a drink of water/grab another beer. The conversation will have moved on when you get back.

With the top tips from this week and last tucked under your belt, I hope you have a wonderful, peaceful Christmas, and that only church bells ring in the New Year!