Meds

[bailongo]

Hi.

Many of the T patients that write in this Forum, are taking meds to deal with the side effects of T, like stress, anxiety, and perhaps they don´t realise that there are other ways that can help without resorting to meds, and that is by uncluttering your mind of negative thoughts. Some of these thoughts are negative experiences from the past, and others are worries for the future that cause stress and anxiety. Therefore, if you learn to control your negative thoughts and negative inner voice, the stress and anxiety disappears. Think of your mind as a clear sky and your thoughts are like clouds that don´t let the sunshine through. By learning to control your thoughts, and letting your thoughts like clouds go by, and only engaging with the ones that make you happy. You can achieve this with mindfulness practice, meditation, or breathing therapies, that have no side effects, and I can reasure you it works.

[Happyrosie]

Yes. Hard work but worth it!

[Joeb17]

Tried that even went i a course with mind for mindfulness meditation at the end of the course the instructor asked hove it was for me I replied it had down nothing every time I tried as soon as I was getting in tho the zone my T changed so it brought me back.i still do it every day with music or just a person telling you what to do or sounds but all the time T changes in a period of half an hour my T can change tone volume up to tem times I think if I’d did not change so much I would find it easier to cope with.i will keep trying the meditation but have been doing it for over 5 years now I just hope one day it will work.

[Yogijo]

Whilst mindfulness, meditation and relaxation can work for people (me included) I don’t think it’s fair to suggest that it is the answer for everyone. It can also be quite challenging to learn. According to the biopsychosocial model anxiety and depression are caused by a number of different factors rather than a single issue. Tinnitus might just be a contributory factor. Some people manage those conditions without medication and some don’t. Others might need medication to get them to a place where they feel able to start to learn techniques like mindfulness. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.

[bailongo in reply to Yogijo]

Mindfulness, meditation, or breathing therapies among others are hard work, can be boring and time-consuming. Some people can´t be bothered and take what they think is the easy way out by taking pills, which in a way may provide short-term relief, but at the same time what they do is poison their bodies.

On the other hand, mindfulness and other therapies are clean but need constant practice. Even if you find it boring, just do it, you have nothing to loose but a lot to gain.

[FallenAngel83 in reply to bailongo]

Hi, I am on antidepressants and it certainly wasn’t the easy way out for me. I felt like my life was ending just a month ago. They have helped to bring me to a more balanced place, where I am mentally and emotionally better equipped to cope with the very scary new sounds. It’s very challenging in the first few weeks/months to adjust. Taking meds is NOT an easy way out, but can be very helpful in the beginning who suffer from anxiety, panic attacks & depression. Mindfulness & breathing/meditation can help when people are in a more stable place to help themselves naturally x

[1Dar in reply to Yogijo]

Well said , I take anti depressants to help me with depression because of tinnitus and could not cope without them . Have tried mindfulness .. didn’t work for me !

[Hidden in reply to Yogijo]

I have tried all of these mediation and mindfulness it does not work for me also you have to stick at these which I am not very good at .

[jill29]

Thank you for your post. I am an infant teacher and have to take meds to sleep otherwise I wouldn't. I need a lot of energy and I've had CBT, acupuncture and went on a 8 week course for mindfulness. Sleep to me is paramount to cope with this ranging T. I have tried to listen to rain music etc but with a very demanding job, a family to look after and a mum who is ill I need help for my wellbeing and that is meds atm. I'm also a, Christian and my faith helps me with keeping a focus on my thinking.

[Artee in reply to jill29]

HI, My Tin is very loud in one ear and very mild in the other. I had a panic reaction at first but I told myself I wasn't going to die, it was only a damned noise which I was paying too much attention. I had to take sleeping pills or I would have gone mad. I got a noise box and chose Rain turned up loud for just 30mins. That was it, I was asleep. The box turns off after 30 mins so no problem there. My mind was too busy during the day and I started to learn to cope but evenings I needed the rain. I think I'm quite strong willed and I've practiced switching off unpleasant thoughts over the years so why couldn't I do the same now.It worked and I no longer need the rain or any other noise. I concentrate on Winning the lottery and all the things I do wih the money like maybe Moving abroad , buying a new car etc etc etc. Thinking of great times and people Ive met and some memories are not so good, but tinnitus doesn't figure in any of it, because I'm now asleep. It takes a little practice but it's worth it. Good luck.

Arty.

[1Dar in reply to Artee]

Hi Artee, I think your comments and thoughts are very positive .. and good on you for putting it out of your head in such a short space of time. After 4 years I have finally adopted this attitude . I’ve had 7 operations on my ear , each time trying to help with the tinnitus and I now wear a cochlear implant . It’s been a tough journey .. with pain, lots of tears and tinnitus , but I’ve finally accepted it and moving on with my life. Well done ... I hope you have a win with Lotto!

[woodman72 in reply to Artee]

Hi Arty, I agree, I do the same as you, filling my mind with thoughts that distract from the T. This works, but overthinking can be a problem too, I try meditating but this is actually the opposite practice as you have to try to stop your thoughts completely! In fact both work, so try everything.

[Wringing1212]

The same is true for many illnesses. We often look to the medicine cabinet for everything. There is a time when you have to, but really, it's not the only answer.

I've also noticed that T conditions vary so much, it's hard to generalize. Perhaps when your T is severe to catastrophic, you need emergency intervention.

Two days ago I couldn't think straight. I thought I was on my way to the grave. I immediately began weening off my morning coffee dose and feel a little better today. Maybe I've habituated to Ménière's or maybe my drugs, cafein and wine, needed adjusting.

My audiologists and neurologists have interviewed me and determined that I'm emotional strong enough to avoid meds, for now at least, but with the levels of my T at this point, anything might happen.

Until we really understand what T is, we shouldn't treat it.

[bailongo in reply to Wringing1212]

I agree with you. We don´t know enough about T, and we should not take Meds for something yet unknown. When you take Meds, I am sure you have read in the leaflet that comes with the packet, the number of serious side effects warnings that the specific Med can inflict on your health. Is that not enough to put anybody off, and search for more natural ways in dealing with your issues?

[Wringing1212]

If it will save your life, ignore the disclaimers. They are there to prevent lawsuits. They are also evidence of the failures of big pharma.