Ears?

[halfwayhome]

Can anxiety affect your ears at all?
I sometimes get random pain in either or both ears. It only lasts for a few seconds. I also sometimes get the beeping/rining sound in one of my ears. It can happen in both ears, depending on the time. My ears also pop sometimes when I swallow.
Doctor said I don't have an ear infection, and I've had two neurlogical exams to rule out neurological causes (even though I still think I have a brain tumor.. sigh.) and I heard stress can do this because when you're stressed there is more pressure and this can cause this? I don't know who to believe anymore, so I figured I'd ask.

“Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.”

xoxox

[rb1978]

I think stress can affect your ears. I've been having trouble with one ear for about 6 months on and off now. Similar things to what you describe...random popping, feeling like it's full, ringing sound etc. I've been examined now by 4 doctors at my surgery plus ENT who can't find anything untoward. I'm still convinced it's not right but that's half my battle.

I saw a dentist who's a jaw specialist too, purely by chance, just for a check up and he explained how stress can affect the ear/jaw area and cause problems. Muscles tensing and also overnight jaw problems due to teeth clenching and grinding which affects your jaw joint that's right next to your ear. Apparently tension in this area can radiate out to your ears, neck muscles (which I've also had a lot of problems with) and cheek area.

[looking4answers]

You hear a ringing or low rumbling in one or both ears. And
when things are quiet, these sounds are a lot louder. You
may also experience something like a plugged ear or
fullness in one or both ears. The condition seems to come
and go, however, when it comes it may last a long time.
Sometimes, it only affects only one ear, and the same one
over and over again.
The reason:
The ear is a very complex organ and is made up of a very
complex system of nerves, muscles and bones. These are
all intricately related to provide sound and balance
information to the brain. While the exact cause of this
symptom is unknown, I’ve noticed it personally, as well as
I have had others mention it as a symptom that has
bothered them. My family has a number of instances of
this. Some have been diagnosed with Meniere’s Disease or
Vertigo, but the medication provided produced no change.
It was interesting to notice that when a few were given a
tranquilliser, their ear problems cleared up.
I’ve also noticed that when some non-anxiety disorder
people are under stress, they experience the same thing.
And, when the stress has been relieved, the ringing and
low rumbling disappear.
I still notice that when I allow the stress to build up,
my left ear begins to ring. When I rest and unwind, the
ringing subsides.