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Is this possibly schizophrenia?

User Profile: BasicYume03
BasicYume03 May 31st, 2022

So for pretty much my whole life I have had tinnitus. I usually only notice it at night or if I happen to wake up in the early morning hours. I have had this for so long that I have gotten used to the specific tinnitus sound variations.

On September of 2020, during a rather stressful week, I was laying in bed and began hearing a beeping like sound from my right ear. At first I thought it was coming from outside my bedroom but then I covered my ears and realized the sound was from my head. I became anxious as I didn't know what this meant. The sound lasted for like four days and the noise was on and off. This first time, I was a nervous wreck because I thought I was hearing things and this was a sign of impeding trouble. I couldn't sleep properly, and at times it became louder. After those 4 days I did not hear this beeping noise until recently.

Around last month, I began hearing this noise again, coincidentally around the same time frame, late afternoon. I had just gotten out of the shower.

Like last time, it lasted a few days but I still cannot explain what causes it. One possible explanation, is stress. But still that does not make much sense, as I had stressful situations multiple times, work or school related, and I did not hear that noise during those times.

Well everything was OK for the past few weeks, I still worried it may come back. Somehow I developed some ptsd symptoms from it. I avoid certain things, whenever I hear a similar beeping noise whether it be from a timer or car, i worry that somehow that noise will get stuck in my head.

Now last Saturday on the 21st of May, while I was in bed I began noticing a buzzing like sound almost like an old computer monitor that is running, in my right ear. At first I thought it was the leaky water pipes in my house or something from outside. Keep In mind that I sleep with my window open. I covered my right ear and it could hear it from the inside. It wasn't loud but not really quiet either, so when I first noticed it I began worrying. Eventually I fell asleep and when I awoke I could no longer hear it.

This past week I would only notice this noise at night in my bedroom.

However that changed last Friday, when I noticed that droning/ buzzing sound during the day time as well. Which is strange, because from my experience with tinnitus. I only notice it at night when it's really quiet and not during the day time.

At this point, I began wildin to say the least. I came to some conclusions 1.) I somehow developed some sort of nerve damage in my right ear or 2.maybe this could be some sort of psychosis.

These past few days, I have been dealing with this buzzing sound in my right ear. Almost nonstop, It does not really matter what time of day it is.

From what I know, psychotic episodes usually last a few days and there is a time period of lucidity before the next one happens again.

I really am not sure what to make of this.

No one in my family has schizophrenia or anything similar.

Also if this helps, I had an ear infection about two months ago which was treated.


2
User Profile: PieceoftheUniverse
PieceoftheUniverse May 31st, 2022

I don't believe we are allowed to diagnose you here. My sister also had tinnitus, has unfortunately and her doctors said that it could be also something psychological and unresolved trauma.

She cried while they asked here about the relationship with our parents. So she might wanna do emdr for that. Its up to you, maybe it's good to talk about it with psychiatrists to see if emdr is an option?

Feel free to message me if you wanna exchange thoughts about it:)


User Profile: RarelyCharlie
RarelyCharlie May 31st, 2022

@BasicYume03 No one here can diagnose, but according to the diagnostic manual (DSM-5-TR) schizophrenia is not just a single symptom. You would need to have other symptoms in order to be diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Also, the perception-like experiences of schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses are described as "vivid and clear, with the full force and impact of normal perceptions". The sounds you describe seem to be nothing like normal perceptions, but they do seem to match descriptions of tinnitus that I've seen.

So something wrong with your right ear, or the associated nerves, seems more likely, I would suggest. Your doctor might be able to tell you more.

Charlie