severe tinnitus 4 months

[Hopefortommorow]

hi people , I have had tinnitus 4 months now it’s really severe ! I have ocd too and I’m latching onto it so bad ! It came from an ear infection , in the mornings it’s not as loud ? And as I go sleep it’s a little Quiter , I am obsessing over the fact it’s been 4 months and maybe it’s past habilitation ? It’s all I think about it’s all I can hear .. it can be like an Eeeee or like wind. It’s scary I’m petrified I won’t get better and have no quality of life ! I don’t want to be alive right now I’m suffering so bad. Is there a good life ? Or is it over ?

[Fridays_Child_62]

I imagine your OCD is not helping at all with this. You won't habituate if you're constantly thinking about the tinnitus. But no, I don't believe you can be 'past habituation' - you just have to change your frame of mind in order to achieve it. I'm sure you will then get your quality of life back. So yes, there is life beyond tinnitus.

[Happyrosie]

as you have OCD you probably know some breathing techniques which are helpful in resetting your mind, so you can make good use of these.

At the moment your brain is constantly checking ‘is my tinnitus louder just now? different noise? May it get better or louder?’ And the trick is to stop checking all the time. Not always easy,and it takes time for your brain to get bored with this and think of something else.

The website of Tinnitus UK is a good source of information on how to get there, and they have a helpline :

Call us on 0800 018 0527 or chat online with us from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday

[Graham-E]

Hi and sorry that has happened.

It’s not the end.

As some fantastic replies have said you may need to readjust your life view.

Once a senior audiologist told me that habilitation could take several years for some people. So don’t pressure yourself into time frames as that will not help.

Getting good sleep and avoiding stress are so simple to say but really have an impact.

I’m not sure from your post if you have signed up to see an audiologist via your GP or not. Getting help and not being on your own with this can stop some of the negative thoughts.

There are local meetings which are on the T UK website that could help not feel alone.

Take care - G

[Joo7nny]

hi buddy had it now for a month absolutely deafening any advice how to lower the frequency

[Jannypetlump]

hi I was very sorry to see you are struggling with tinnitus . I’ve just developed it too and I’m finding this group very helpful . The most important one for me is that as I write I am very aware of the sounds in my ear as I’m focussing on the subject and I definitely notice a huge increase in the level when I do this ! I was advised to look at mindfulness techniques particularly controlled breathing and using white noise -that is helping and I was also advised to download Headspace for other techniques . I note you have ocd and I’m no expert but if you are in contact with support services I think you may be able to talk about your current situation and get support from them to help your recovery .

[SeashellSara]

I really sympathise with you as my tinnitus is loud and very annoying at times particularly as the day goes on. I now wake up hearing strange music too. I think we need to do mindfulness/meditation and breathing exercises to help relax and get some quality of life back. It's a matter of keeping going and taking it a day at a time. Talk to T UK. Find a group near you. Maybe RNID have a support group near you...