Monica (49) on tinnitus, stress and finding balance again

Reading time: approx. 4 minutes

Last updated on: 12 March 2026

Author:Editors SeeMe-nopause

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Monica (49) is an estate agent, married and a mother of three. She has a busy life and loves getting together with friends, colleagues and her family. When her body started to change, she first thought of something many women recognise: hot flushes. But her story took an unexpected turn when she started to hear a constant buzzing in her ear.

It started with sweating and headaches. But that buzzing sound in my ear started to take over my life.

Sweating, headaches and an unexpected symptom

For Monica, menopause a few years ago meant one thing above all: hot flushes. “When I started to sweat more often and more intensely and also got headaches, I immediately thought: this must be menopause.”

Her periods also became more irregular. She found it annoying, but it wasn't what bothered her the most. “The worst part was suddenly getting a buzzing sound in my left ear. Sometimes it was very loud, other times quieter, but it was always there. It was incredibly disruptive.”

The sound started to have more and more of an impact on her daily life. “I'm naturally a cheerful and optimistic person, but sometimes I didn't recognise myself anymore. I became more withdrawn and had less and less desire to socialise.”

She started skipping parties she would normally have been the life and soul of. “I love dancing and regularly went out for dinner with friends, people from the tennis club or colleagues. But I slowly started to withdraw more and more.”

I'm naturally a very cheerful and optimistic person, but because of that sound, I sometimes didn't recognise myself anymore.

Stress, loss and a period when everything came at once

Because Monica had many ear infections in the past and had grommets as a child, her GP thought that this history might play a role. At the same time, she was going through a period of a lot of stress. “My work was incredibly hectic. The housing market was booming, so I was constantly busy. At the same time, my parents' health was deteriorating.” Monica was their primary carer, on top of her work and family life. “I felt constantly exhausted.”

When her parents passed away shortly after one another, that caring role suddenly disappeared. But the loss and the long period of caring took its toll. “Not long after, I had a burnout. It had all become too much for me: missing my parents, the years of being a carer, and trying to keep my family life going at the same time.” Fortunately, she received a lot of support from her husband and children. “They took over tasks from me and tried to help me as much as possible. That was a huge help.”

The mindfulness and breathing exercises I learned, I still use almost every day.

Learning to live with tinnitus and looking forward again

Her GP referred Monica to a psychologist, where she received cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). “During the sessions, I learned to cope with the ringing in my ears and the stress that came with it. I could also talk a lot about everything that had happened in my life. That helped me a great deal.”

She learned mindfulness and breathing exercises that she still uses almost daily. “They give me an anchor, especially on days when the sound is stronger.” In addition, her GP discovered that she had a vitamin B12 deficiency. “Five years earlier, I had become a vegetarian for ethical reasons. But I'd never realised this could lead to a B12 deficiency.” She first received injections and then tablets to get her B12 levels back to normal. “That has certainly helped. The tinnitus hasn't disappeared, but I hardly ever have the sweating and headaches anymore.”

The sound is still there today, but Monica has found ways to live with it. “Sometimes I take a moment to myself and do my breathing exercises. It will probably never go away completely, but it no longer controls my life.” Her social life has also returned. “I'm going out for meals and to social events again. And the wonderful thing is, the people around me understand. If I have to cancel because I'm not feeling up to it, it's not a problem.”

So, Monica is looking to the future with confidence. “I feel happy. I know I'll get through menopause this way.”

Perhaps you recognise some of the symptoms from this story. Are you wondering if you are also in menopause? The menopause test can help give you an initial idea.