Push the button?

[ade-the-pade]

Folks. I was listening to Alistair Campbell who was talking about depression. (This is mental health awareness week). He recounted a story about Stephen Fry who said that depression had now become part of his personality. Apparently Stephen said that if he had a button to push that would take away his depression for good, he did not know whether he would press it or not.

Now, I am in no way trivialising depression, but I don't know anyone that had a button to push to take away T would not press it. T has shaped my personality. It has made me short tempered, moody and "scratchy". I really do my best not to be but that is the way that it is.

This had made me wonder. It there anyone out there who would not "press the button" to take away T for good and what are your thoughts behind it?

Kind regards

Ade

PS- Still in training for my Big Cycle for Tinnitus!!!

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[Judyspal]

I for one would definitely push the switch off button,why T is not classed as a mental health issue is beyond me,it certainly doesn't help when ,if like myself you're listening to a high pitched buzzing continually and can't concentrate on anything else,and yes I have sat and cried because of the affect it is having on my life.

Thank goodness for different apps that play distracting noise.

[ade-the-pade in reply to Judyspal]

Thanks for your reply.

Wishing you peace and quiet.

Ade

[Judyspal in reply to ade-the-pade]

And to you too

[Charleslima]

I have Tinnitus for 21 years, i would definitely push the button. But there are reasons that could make me think twice.

Tinnitus is still as opressive as before in my life, and i have passed through everything you've had. But i don't know if i would be the same person i am today, if i have pushed the button, if it existed, lets say 10 years ago, Would i be in better mental health and happier ? Yes. Would i be a better person ? Maybe.

Yes, suffering does provide you more empathy.

I don't agree not to push the button because it helps me to be what i dont wanna be. The main point is, the qualities, lessons, and humbleness that comes with a disease are more valuable than our suffering.

Help others with the qualities this terrible disease gives you, and with the possibilities you have, and have a better reason to feel happy.

[ade-the-pade in reply to Charleslima]

Very thoughtful indeed. I agree it has made me more aware of the suffering of others. However, I was reasonably aware before that. My wife has a hidden disability so I understood that what you see if different to the reality. I do look back at the things I worried about and now understand that "Your health is your wealth". It would be good that now that I have this knowledge that I could push that button.

Wishing you peace and quiet.

ade

[SUS776]

In a funny way would be strange without my t it's been 11 months think I'm starting to habitate to it slowly does anyone have sore ears with t and very itchy scratch during the night unaware hurt ear going to doctors Tues can't wear hearing aids due to ears feeling very irritable

[ade-the-pade]

Thanks for reply. My ears hurt occasionally but pain soon goes. Ade

[Marlayna]

What an excellent and thought provoking question! I’ve had T since I was 11 so it has shaped my entire life.

The good?

I’ve never been to a music event or loud place of any kind without protecting my hearing.

I didn’t experiment with drugs much because I didn’t know how it would affect the T.

I stayed super fit because running (circulation) helped keep me sane.

I questioned doctors when they wanted to prescribe drugs due to T.

I am much healthier than most of my peers.

The bad?

It’s been a constant and long term nag. If you’re familiar with Dexter, T is my dark passenger.

It’s contributed to a lifelong depression that I managed by doing all the good things I mentioned.

It’s gotten worse over the last three years for some reason, but I figure I have made it this far I may as well keep going.

It’s been 43 years now and I hardly remember a life without it. When I feel down, I remind myself it could be worse.

[ade-the-pade in reply to Marlayna]

Thank you for your reply. No sitting on the fence!!! Will you push the button?

Ade

[Marlayna in reply to ade-the-pade]

Oh hell yes.

[dsh2358]

I would push it in a heart beat!

Anything to bring normalcy back to my life 😔

[ade-the-pade in reply to dsh2358]

Thanks for replying.

Wishing you peace and quiet.

Ade

[Sally07]

I would definitely push the button. That said, t has taught me things, mainly how to be positive without being unrealistic. For instance, I am hopeful that one day I will get used to it though I don't expect to be 'cured.' also it's taught me not to be too hard on myself, because to err is human. 😊 All the best!

[ade-the-pade in reply to Sally07]

Thanks for replying. I would be a better person now that i have had t. My appreciative of my health. I realise that i took it for granted. Like you, i hope to get to a place where it is not so troublesome .

Wishing you peace and quiet .

Ade

[Ingrid-p]

I would push the button immediately. After 38 years I would literally love to hear silence.

[ade-the-pade in reply to Ingrid-p]

38 years is a long shift. I am a relative new comer at 4 years. Wouldn't it be great if we had a button pushing party. Rather than cheering we could all just enjoy the silence!!

Wishing you peace and quiet .

Ade

[Ingrid-p in reply to ade-the-pade]

I know really getting sick of it now 😭

[Smo8]

Push push push.

[ade-the-pade]

Thanks for replying. Another one to push the button. Ade

[dsh2358]

👍

[Micpel]

Why would anyone want to tolerate T? Push that button and find peace again...Bliss!

[ade-the-pade in reply to Micpel]

Thanks for reply. l agree with you but one person was having second thoughts. Read their reply back a few messages.

wishing you peace and quiet.

Ade

[Joeb17]

I would push the button

I said to someone once that if they said that if they cut of a leg it would stop my T I would have to say yes chop it off

I wonder how far someone would go to stop their T

[ade-the-pade in reply to Joeb17]

Good point. I read an article about a soldier who got his legs blown off on Afghanistan. He said that the resulting tinnitus was harder to live with than the loss of his legs. How far would i go? Sometimes i feel that deafness would be better than listening to the T 24/7.

Thanks for giving your opinion.

Wishing you peace and quiet.

Ade