Tag: anxiety

The Mental Toll of Tinnitus: When a Ringing Ear Becomes a Constant Companion

Posted on by Jordan Zommick

Tinnitus is often described as a ringing in the ears, but for those who live with it, the experience is far more complex and deeply personal. It is not simply a sound; it is a constant companion that follows a person into moments of silence, rest, and reflection. When the external world grows quiet, tinnitus grows louder, filling the mind with a noise that cannot be switched off. Over time, this persistent presence can take a serious mental and emotional toll.

One of the most challenging aspects of tinnitus is its unpredictability. The sound may be a ring, buzz, hiss, or hum, and it can change in volume or tone without warning. This lack of control often leads to frustration and anxiety. People may find themselves constantly monitoring their symptoms, wondering when the noise will spike or whether it will ever fade. This hyper-awareness can trap the mind in a cycle of worry, making relaxation feel impossible.

Sleep is frequently one of the first casualties. Silence at night amplifies tinnitus, turning bedtime into a battleground between exhaustion and an unrelenting internal noise. As sleep quality declines, mental resilience weakens. Fatigue can intensify emotional responses, making stress harder to manage and small challenges feel overwhelming. Over time, chronic sleep deprivation can contribute to mood changes, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.

The emotional impact of tinnitus often extends beyond stress and frustration. Many individuals report feelings of sadness or grief for the quiet they once took for granted. Social situations may become draining, especially when tinnitus interferes with hearing or focus. This can lead to withdrawal and isolation, as people avoid environments that worsen their symptoms or feel embarrassed explaining an invisible condition to others. When misunderstood or dismissed, these experiences can deepen feelings of loneliness.

Anxiety and depression are common mental health companions of chronic tinnitus. The constant noise can create a sense of being trapped in one’s own mind, with no escape from the sound. Some individuals fear that tinnitus signals a worsening condition or that it will dominate their future. These thoughts, if left unchecked, can fuel persistent anxiety and hopelessness, making the condition feel even more overwhelming.

Despite its challenges, many people gradually learn ways to cope with the mental toll of tinnitus. Acceptance, rather than resistance, often marks a turning point. When the mind stops fighting the sound, it can reduce its emotional power. Techniques such as mindfulness, sound therapy, and cognitive strategies can help shift attention away from tinnitus and rebuild a sense of control.

The mental toll of tinnitus is real and significant, but so is the human capacity for adaptation. While the ringing ear may remain a constant companion, it does not have to define a person’s inner life. With understanding, support, and effective coping tools, many individuals rediscover calm, purpose, and moments of true quiet—within their own minds.

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Stay Active During COVID-19 with BrainStim Centers

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COVID-19 took us all by surprise and has definitely kept us under the unknown for way too long. For many of us, staying at home means giving up on a daily routine. With fitness centers such as yoga and Pilates studios closed, we have had to adapt to a new normal.

Why should I care and keep my body moving?

How to Stay Active During COVID

Working out is not only about physical appearance or feeling strong. Working out helps to decrease stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine in our bodies. After a workout, your body’s chemical balance will positively change leaving you feeling relaxed and happy.

Moreover, working out has similar effects as antidepressant medication. The purpose of antidepressants is to increase the amount of serotonin—your happy hormone. Working out can also help manage anxiety and panic attacks. The American Psychological Association (APA) states that physical stress during working out mirrors those attacks. The more you work out, the better your response will be during those overwhelming moments. According to the APA, it has been proven that at least 30 minutes a day of any type of physical activity can make a huge difference and increase the amount of serotonin in your body!

What can I do when my gym is closed?

Gym closures don’t mean we can’t work out anymore. There are numerous physical activities to choose from such as walking, bike riding, dancing, hiking, yoga, Pilates…you name it! You can stay active outside of your house, get some fresh air, and go for a walk or hike. If you prefer to stay indoors, YouTube has a great selection for at-home workouts or you can find workout applications for any smart device. We recommend checking out Pamela Reif for workout videos and Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. These two women can change your life and you don’t even need to leave your living room!

Here at BrainStim Centers, we offer free classes via Zoom. Join us for one of our Zumba, Meditation, Yoga, or Pilates classes. This is a great opportunity to explore new outlets to help manage any stressors you may be facing. Facebook

Our upcoming Zoom classes are:

Monday, November 30 -Zumba with Dario at 7 pm

Monday, December 14- Breathwork & Meditation with Wendy Hassenpflug 7 pm

Tuesday, December 29- Pilates with Cristina 11:30 am

Send an email request to info@brainstimcenters.com to receive a link to our zoom classes.

Overcome from the Anxiety

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Empower yourself with proven strategies, expert guidance, and tools designed to enhance your mental health and foster lasting positivity.

Non-invasive Ways to Treat Depression and Anxiety

Posted on by Jordan Zommick

Medication is not the only answer in treating depression and anxiety. In fact, many antidepressants do not work or leave people with multiple side effects. The best option is to combine medication with non-invasive treatments, or if possible, to eliminate medications altogether.

Fundamentally, depression and anxiety are linked to the human brain. The human brain is built of billions of neurons doing multiple tasks at the same time. These neurons receive and fire signals from different parts of our body to our brain and back. Unfortunately, if some parts of our brain are less active than others, the brain will not send and receive the signals it is meant to. Research has shown that the part of the brain responsible for depression and anxiety is the prefrontal cortex. It is believed that by stimulating the brain, our body will start producing serotonin. Serotonin is the main hormone linked to depression and anxiety. If our body has enough serotonin our mood will be uplifted.

How to increase the serotonin levels by non-invasive methods?

  1. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): TMS is one of the best methods to stimulate the exact part of the brain responsible for serotonin production- the Dorsal Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC). TMS therapy should be repeated for about 36 sessions which will leave the patient with significant mood improvements. TMS doesn’t hurt, the sessions are short, and have very little to no side effects. The most common side effect is headache during the treatment.
  2. Working out: regular exercise reduces the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine. As a consequence, our body is more relaxed and our minds are more focused. Regular workouts are linked to memory and concentration improvement, as well as being better equipped to deal with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks.
  3. Meditation: just like working out, meditation helps with balancing the stress hormones in our body. Moreover, by learning how to meditate, we learn how to put our body in a relaxation stage, accept everything that is going on in our body and brain, and release those stressors.
  4. Breathing: breath control is a key component in reducing stress. Learning how to take deep breaths from your belly helps to reduce feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious.
  5. Good diet: what you eat has a huge impact on how you feel. Foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, unsweetened dairy products, and spices such as turmeric and cinnamon will improve your overall mood. Moreover, nuts, seeds, and olive oil can improve your brain work.

As you can see there are many ways that your mood can be uplifted without medication. Call us at 310.895.7122 if you would like to learn more about TMS. Our team will walk you through the process and create a plan of action best for your healthcare needs.

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Understanding the Symptoms of Tinnitus and Finding Relief

Posted on by Jordan Zommick

It usually starts out small — you “hear” something that doesn’t come from any external stimuli. The sound may last for a minute or two and then dissipate. Some people go on to experience this noise more frequently. In severe cases, the sound turns into a constant and life-altering companion.

The name for this is tinnitus, which is a symptom of an underlying issue involving your auditory system. The team at BrainStim Centers has extensive experience helping patients find relief from tinnitus using an innovative technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Before we get into how TMS may be able to resolve your tinnitus, let’s take a closer look at this condition to help you better recognize the problem.

The many faces of tinnitus

As we mentioned, tinnitus isn’t a disease but is a symptom of a problem in your auditory system. This symptom is most often described as ringing in your ears, but the sound can also present itself as:

  • Clicking
  • Hissing
  • Humming
  • Buzzing
  • Whistling

Sometimes the noise caused by tinnitus is like a roar or rushing sound.

While you can “hear” these noises, they don’t come from any external source, which means it’s created by a malfunction in your auditory system.

These sounds can come and go or remain constant. As well, the levels of the sounds can vary, depending upon the underlying issue.

Common causes of tinnitus

There are any number of problems that can lead to tinnitus, and here are just a few of the more common ones:

  • Damage due to prolonged exposure to noise (working in a noisy plant or wearing headphones)
  • Damage due to sudden, proximal noise (such as a bomb)
  • Age-related hearing loss
  • Ear infections
  • Certain medications
  • Trauma to your head or neck
  • Blockages in your ear canals
  • Blood vessel disorders
  • Eustachian tube dysfunction
  • Meniere’s disease (abnormal inner ear pressure)
  • Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)

When it comes to treating tinnitus, it’s imperative that you receive a proper diagnosis, which will dictate how you go about treating the problem and finding relief.

Tinnitus and TMS

In a best-case scenario, you’re diagnosed with an ear infection or wax buildup, both of which can be quickly cleared up. Unfortunately, tinnitus isn’t usually that easy to figure out and takes a fair bit of sleuthing. Even after an extensive analysis, you and your doctors may be unable to pinpoint the underlying problem.

In these cases, treating this symptom can be very difficult, which is where our TMS treatment may help you find much-needed relief.

To start, we perform a brain scan (MRI) to determine the exact target on the surface of the brain to treat. Using TMS therapy, we can deliver pulses into these areas to stimulate brain neuron activity.

If we find that you may benefit from TMS, we discuss an appropriate timeline — typically five sessions per week for 2-4 weeks. Each of these sessions (except for the first) usually lasts only 20 minutes. Because the TMS treatments are noninvasive, you’re free to get on with your day after you come to see us.

As you progress through your treatments, you should realize gradual improvement in your tinnitus, and we can always make some adjustments along the way for optimal results.

If you’d like to explore whether TMS therapy may hold the key to resolving your tinnitus, contact one of our offices in Encino or Valencia, California, to set up a consultation.

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