Tinnitus and being headstrong

[AndyTinTin]

I have been diagnosed with T since 2009. All I hear constantly is 13mhz in both ears 24/7. It all started from when I was on an airplane and my ears did not pop when landing. I thought nothing of it as I had heard this noise before when leaving night clubs in the past and expected it to just go away or maybe on the return flight home. About a month later nothing had changed so my GP referred me to St Guys in London for an audio booth hearing test. I was diagnosed with T and the only advice I got was not to make it my enemy and don't read online forums. Well curiosity killed the cat and wanted to know more... wish I hadn't as all I read was people felt that they could not cope with life and wanted to end it! Being a headstrong guy with a family, that was just no option for me and needed to find a way of coping. For a while I thought I would just ignore it but when it came to bedtime and no other background sounds to mask it I then realised that sleep was not going to happen for me! After a few months of only getting about 3hrs sleep a night and constantly struggling to stay awake a work and my performance at work suffering, I lost my job and could not get any help other than my partner supporting me financially. From there it was a downward spiral feeling worthless as I could not support my family. I didn't realise that I was depressed until I was diagnosed with depression and was prescribed Citalopram. This has helped a little but the only way I can get any sleep is drinking far too much alcohol or necking Night Nurse. The one and only thing that has helped me, other than my family, is reverse psychology buy telling myself that tinnitus is going to be with me for life so why not make it my friend rather than my enemy. Rather than try to mask it out, tell yourself that it is in fact a relaxing sound. I know that sounds crazy but be headstrong and try to accept that it is now part of your life and deal with it.

Good luck guys, and just think of all the other people in life that are far worse off than you. x

[Woodentop99]

A good post tin tin, however I wish I had a penny for everyone that has said to me” there are people much worse off than you”, well, have to say this really gets my goat, as I have no room for that, in fact I wish I had, no matter who is worse or better off than me I believe at least they have “peace” in their head and what price I would pay for that.I believe I am a decent person and don’t really understand why I cannot accept the fact that there are probably 1000s of folk worse off than me, very selfish I know, but cannot help this thought, I would be interested if others feel like you, best wishes to you.

[berry76]

So sorry to learn your problems. I wonder whether your ears did eventually 'pop' or whether you have had blocked eustachian tubes.......anyway all I can say is that as a person with moderate hearing loss I now have aids with a masker in the mechanism and they are a great psychological as well as physical help. Tinnitus is such a depressing condition and we have to find ways of coping - either by telling it to sod off - or accepting it. Diversions and peace be with you!

[Michael8272]

Hi, good post,did this happen once your eustation tubes finally popped after landing.does your tinnitus stay the same constant noise all the time.it is such a deliberating illness that unfortunately nobody really knows much about.depression and anxiety are the killers because I think everybody who has it always thinks what was my life like before tinnitus and I'll never get it back.i have tinnitus 11 months now and it was calming until I went on holiday in August but the flight definitely done something because mines is very loud since then..well it starts off lower in morning and then gets horrendous by evening.everybody thinks there nothing really wrong because they can't see anything wrong with us physically.

Thanks Michael

[dsh2358]

👍

DSH🇺🇸

[Richmac]

Andy I’m so sorry to read how dramatically T has affected your life. Ten years ago, mine started and it was overwhelming and I thought there was no way I would be able to tolerate and live with tinnitus.

But I managed to control my thoughts about T and that had a huge impact and improved the quality of my life. Tinnitus was no longer in charge, I was. Tinnitus eventually became background noise for me.

Our thoughts are so powerful. However until you realize and accept this, you will not get any relief from your tinnitus.

Several weeks ago with the advice of an audiologist, I was able to dislodge and remove a large amount of severely impacted earwax from both ears. My hearing improved and, since then, my Tinnitus has become barely audible. This may or may not

[Pjware]

Hi there, I have a similar story as yours. My T came about from my clubbing days and it was horrendous for a good few years, even bringing on Depression and I was treated for citalopram. All my efforts were pushed into hiding from it as it was the enemy. That didn't work for me. I even think the stress brought on bruxism (teeth clenching) and now I have TMJ problems and somatic tinnitus - every time I move my jaw, it brings my T to the front of my mind

Eventually I had enough and instead of hiding, I listened. Every night for weeks I would go to bed, lie on my back, and listen and listen.....and somehow I ended up being more accustomed to the noise. Its still loud but now my strong emotional response has dampened

If you can make your brain turn the noise into a positive sound, the good luck

Paul

[Lynne-H]

I did exactly the same thing Andy - I kept telling myself that I liked this noise and that I didn`t mind it. Four and a half years later and along with a lot of other help I am now at a place where I don`t really notice my tinnitus and if I do it doesn`t bother me.

At the beginning I was despairing, desperate, even suicidal at times.

Other things that helped me were hearing aids for my hearing loss, counselling with an NHS Hearing Therapist, Support Group and reading lots of success stories.

Lynne