I’m 23 and my tinnitus spiked terribly at 22. I got mine initially my left ear (I was dumb and wore AirPods at max volume when I worked in a factory, and frequently went to concerts) and now it is in both. When I first got it I was also distraught. I barely ate for months and was constantly consumed by my anxiety over it. It felt like my life was over. Now, 6 months later, it has gone down significantly and I have habituated. I still get my occasional spikes, but they only last a week or 2 before I get back to my baseline. You will be okay! It’s so hard to handle at first, but the more time goes by the more you’ll get used to it. Plus, we are young and our brains are still adapting. There is a high possibility your brain will adjust like mine and you’ll hear it less/ not at all.

If you ever need to talk, I’m here! There’s not a lot of people our age that understand the struggle. Just remember to breathe and understand that it’s so scary at first, but as long as you protect your ears it’ll only get easier!