Tinnitus for 9 years

[-robbie-]

Hi,

I have had tinnitus for 9 years (am partially deaf since birth). Am reaching out as I feel it has been getting worse over the years. My tinnitus came about from a highly stressed event and around the same time having a panic attack (a truly horrendous experience) for the first (and only) time. Then the awful realisation that this is a permanent feature in ones' life. Ever since then my tinnitus has been going 24/7 without a single day of silence, mainly single tones or combination of tones like something around the middle of a piano keyboard and into the higher octaves. Some days are better than others but, when it's bad it's an incredible amount of internal mental torture. To explain it to someone who does not have it is so hard as it’s not something you can physically see wrong and how it mentally affects you, nor do I want to worry them. Stress (and I am an easily stressed person) does make it worse, however, it gets worse or better generally randomly. I can sleep but the tinnitus can be bad in the evening/night. Other things making it worse is getting in the car, especially driving long distances, doing exercise makes it worse. A head cold recently brought about one of the worse tinnitus noises I ever had and it was horrendous, like an old fashioned clock alarm bell ringing. My biggest fear is that I will have the bad days almost everyday and I don't know how I would cope with that. I can see that there are various alternative treatments most of which is never going to make any difference or not proven. I find mindfulness does not make any difference and tricking the brain into thinking it’s no longer there does not work for me.

I am wondering does anyone have a similar experience, anything that appears to work for them. Very grateful for any thoughts and suggestions, it’s my first reaching out about this. Am hoping over time and reading more about it that I will be able to find something that just makes it that little bit easier for me.

Thanks

Robbie

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

Hi Robbie - Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Does your doctor attribute the tinnitus to your hearing loss rather than originating from the stress event you mentioned? Just interested as it seems like stress will make tinntius worse, but isn't usually thought to be the originating factor in tinnitus.

Also - mindfulness is perhaps more about acceptance of the sound than trying to block it or trick yourself into thinking that it isn't there. The noise is still there - how you view it is different. Is that why it hasn't helped you yet?

[-robbie- in reply to TinnitusUKPat]

Hi Pat thanks for your reply.

I have mentioned a couple of times at the doctors, one suggesting that I am depressed, I am not, and lets discuss further, not my cup of tea, it does not lead further or discussed, perhaps because I feel that nothing can be done, nor do they suggest anything else, therefore I should be pushing for something to happen.

I have been partially deaf since birth, never had tinnitus before and it was that stressful event that triggered it, however, whether I was more likely to get it as a result of being deaf I do not know.

I find what works is keeping a busy mind, doing things, such as DIY which allows the focus to change. After 9 years I live with tinnitus and therefore do accept it but wish it was not there.

[Wringing1212 in reply to -robbie-]

Hi Robby,

I've had T since 2000. I've seen many specialist. Always find they can't help. I had a head injury a couple of years ago that made it much worse. As I persued diagnosis, trying to find the cause of the increase, the practitioners just made things worse. What my first audiologist told me in 2000, still holds true today. Many people will try to offer explanations or home remedies. It will just make it worse. Try to think of it as your friend. He's always their for you. When your friend annoys you, mask the sound with some soft background music.

I find your method of DYI type stuff, really helps distract from the fact. Yes, when you're done, awareness returns with a vengeance. I just mussel through it, and worry like you, that the spikes will never go down, but sometimes, they seem to, and I've built better coping skills over time. One thing I've noticed is that my brain will pick up on a song I've heard, and play a verse of it over and over in my head. I think I've figured out, that my brain has chosen this as a distraction. Now the little song I can't shake, is my friend as well.

Meanwhile, I'm still hoping someone finds a good treatment for it. My opinion, don't let anyone tell you they know everything about it as they close the book. That dismissiveness is a failure on their part. And while we wait for a cure, know that your mind can work through a lot of things on its own.