Stuffed ears & anxiety anyone?

[Smile]

Sometimes my ears feel like they’re clogged/stuffed... the feeling you get sometimes when you come out of the pool. And it happens to coincide with times when I’m anxious.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Or perhaps I just have a cold ???‍??‍.

Thanks & hope your all doing well ??

 

[TruthSeeker]

I have a hearing loss.....(got the aids) and with or without the hearing aids- my hearing is worse when: a) I'm symptomatic, b) a part of me doesn't want to hear what someone else is telling me (the same part of me that "forgets" to wear the hearing aids I think)-so definatly, I have a part that doesn't want to hear. If I'm really dissociative a bomb has to go off -I can't hear a thing....

 

[Invisible Fire]

I have issues with my hearing. Sometimes it starts for no reason, others it’s when my anxiety is high. It’s like sound is slowing. Or it’s a ringing. Like being punched in the head. I’ll go weeks and it won’t happen then it will be several times a day. I find it very disturbing. I have never been told a reason for it. I hope it’s just a cold and it passes for you

 

[TruthSeeker]

Hearing originates in the brain....if one's brain is screwed up......the hearing can be affected. I have had periods on seizure meds where I couldn't smell anything, periods where my vision was totally screwed up-became the norm (oops, found out it was dissociation) so it isn't just our sense of hearing that is impacted. My sense of touch and balance has also been negatively impacted as well.

 

[ms spock]

Sometimes my ears feel like they’re clogged/stuffed... the feeling you get sometimes when you come out of the pool. And it happens to coincide with times when I’m anxious.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this?

Yes I have.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Yep....anxiety affects my eyes and ears.....it's like everything is shutting down.

 

[Smile]

Hearing originates in the brain....if one's brain is screwed up......the hearing can be affected. I have had periods on seizure meds where I couldn't smell anything, periods where my vision was totally screwed up-became the norm (oops, found out it was dissociation) so it isn't just our sense of hearing that is impacted. My sense of touch and balance has also been negatively impacted as well.

That makes so much sense! Wow, I never connected it?! Amazing how many things we go through in life without making a connection...

I’m so glad to know I’m not alone... I was kinda starting to feel like I was going mad.

I have issues with my hearing. Sometimes it starts for no reason, others it’s when my anxiety is high. It’s like sound is slowing. Or it’s a ringing. Like being punched in the head. I’ll go weeks and it won’t happen then it will be several times a day. I find it very disturbing. I have never been told a reason for it. I hope it’s just a cold and it passes for you

So this is REALLY interesting... what you mentioned about things slowing down... it reminds me of when I was a child and night was coming I’d have this strange sensation I could never explain to anyone. It felt like everything was slowing down. When people spoke, they sounded slower. To date myself a bit... it sounded liked when the batteries in a tape recorder starting going bad and the tape would slow down & all sounds on the tape cassette sounded warbled & slowed down?

That’s the closest I can get to explaining it ??‍

(oops, found out it was dissociation)

Hmmm, I wonder if it can be dissociation. It doesn’t feel wrong...

I’m sorry you went through all that :(

 

[TruthSeeker]

No need to feel sorry for my past, I try hard not to.....I am different because of my struggles....but I wouldn't be who I am without them......they can be mighty inconvenient, and knock me on my ass....but eventually, I get up and get back on track.

Thank you for your kind words. but Hell, my life has been one kinda trauma after another, and the blissful part is that I didn't know it was trauma-I thought that was normal life (alcoholics, emotionally distant, abusive). I just felt different from everyone, and I'm glad I am..... I'm glad I'm not a part of the family they have chosen to be). I am much better now with being different and a "trauma survivor". Life makes us stronger.....I did spend a lot of years dissociated....it is what it is....I guess. Don't have a clue what it would be life if I could change it.....maybe feeling all that shit that happened would have made me crazier than I am....LOL.

After my head injury, I went back to work and people would talk, and I'd try to watch their mouth as they talked but I couldn't understand the words. Everything had slowed to a crawl.......it is kind of like this with dissociation with me......I'm not functioning in everyone elses's time.
When my stress level is low......food tastes sooooo much better, and I tend to be more connected with my need to eat and can feel hunger......when I'm dissociated......I have no need to eat.....so I believe anxiety/trauma impacts all of our senses and our body signals (like for food). With high stress, my gastro-intestinal system shuts down temporarily and I have no need to go...these are survival needs...........I mean it can go a week.....without output. So the effects of stress, anxiety, combined with dissociation (which leaves me feelingless and very disconnected from my body) distances me from normal bodily signals.....and interferes with my senses.
So, I'll ask this question-anyone get really hungry when they dissociate? I don't. I know all I want to do is either go to a dissociative state (art, writing, poetry......something that requires a lot of focus, or totally escape all the way and go to sleep, or just sit and stare without recognition or feeling of bodily needs/functions.

 

[Invisible Fire]

I’m so glad to know I’m not alone... I was kinda starting to feel like I was going mad.

To date myself a bit... it sounded liked when the batteries in a tape recorder starting going bad and the tape would slow down & all sounds on the tape cassette sounded warbled & slowed down?

yes that is exactly how it is,like a tape cassette going bad. Thank you for saying that. And I also feel like I’m going mad at times. I can not tolerate loud noises because it sometimes feels like it.

 

[Smile]

Wow. Your response has made me feel so much less alone and for that I’m so appreciative.

It (hopefully) goes without saying that I truly wish you DIDN’T understand what I’m going through and have your own battle with it ?. But since I’m powerless to change anything, I’ll just try to express how I’m feeling.

You have made me feel so much better just by knowing that I’m not alone in this. And it sounds silly to me ... of ALL the crazy side effects of this ridiculous PTSD roller coaster ride, for some reason this one “little” thing always takes me by surprise & I end up so confused and thinking that I’m going bonkers. But your response, that you shared your own similar situation, makes me feel oh so much “better”. Or maybe more “normal”.

Sorry, I don’t mean to go on and on about this... I just can’t find the right words to express my massive appreciation for you, for all of you, for this site, all the beautiful people on it and of course the founder... who I believe is @Andy? Andy, the amount of suffering you have lessened because of this safe, loving place I can’t quantify because it’s larger than any sort of measuring tape.

And not only have you created this but your constantly working on keeping it the amazing place it is.

When I’m at my worst, I come here before going to a close friend, family member and sometimes even before my therapist.

@Invisible Fire , I totally get you on the loud noises. I FINALLY just invested in myself and bought a great pair of noice canceling headphones & they are a complete lifesaver... if your able to get a pair, I highly hiiiighly recommend it.

 

[Invisible Fire]

@Smile , I agree with your post and the relief of not feeling alone. My hearing/ear issues are one of my most disturbing.
I have a noise canceling headphones and carry ear plugs with me. I have the Bose ones. I like these because I can just cancel the noise and not always play something because at times I can’t tolerate anything.

 

[Smile]

@Smile , I agree with your post and the relief of not feeling alone. My hearing/ear issues are one of my most disturbing.
I have a noise canceling headphones and carry ear plugs with me. I have the Bose ones. I like these because I can just cancel the noise and not always play something because at times I can’t tolerate anything.

Exactly! I also have Bose :) Same reasons... ??‍