Jamie Laing opens up about 'debilitating' Tinnitus struggle and causes of 'upsetting' ringing
A ringing in our ears is something we have and will all experience at some point. A noisy nightclub or a loud concert can leave our ears feeling a bit worse for wear, but for many, the noise is inescapable, and is clinically diagnosed.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an external source. It's often described as ringing in the ears, but it can also sound like buzzing, roaring, hissing, or clicking.
Around one in eight adults in Scotland experience Tinnitus, according to British Academy of Audiology. This translates to around six million people in the UK as a whole.
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This Tinnitus Awareness Week (February 3-9), Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing has opened up about his experience with the condition, and what the constant ringing may be telling you about your mental and physical wellbeing.
Speaking on This Morning, the presenter and podcaster explained: "It's like a high ringing whooshing noise and lots of tinnitus is different - people hear different things.
"The more anxious, stressed, and tired you are... the louder it gets. And when Tinnitus first starts, all you're thinking about is the Tinnitus... so it gets louder and louder and louder."
Offering advice to viewers, the 36-year-old went on: "People that have Tinnitus are so scared that it's going to be there the whole time, but actually now I sort of treat it as that really annoying friend
"If it's really loud, I go, 'Okay, what are you trying to tell me?' I'm either anxious, stressed, overworked, or overtired. So, if you do that with it, it kind of helps it a little bit."
When asked if he could essentially reduce how loud the noise is by confronting how he feels mentally and emotionally, the ex-Strictly contestant went on: "It reduces it because... basically Tinnitus is about accepting it.
"You just have to accept that it's there.... if you're thinking about the noise, you can hear it, but if you're not thinking about it, you block it out."
The Candy Kittens founder has admitted defeat against the diagnosis, which he finds "upsetting". He assured people at home struggling, though, that the condition does get better as long as you develop a strong state of mind.
"I promise you become accustomed to it," Jamie said. "Your brain and body are amazing things... you figure out how to work around it. Try and accept it and not fight it... look at all the good things you can do. That helps a lot."
