I’m new to the group and just had a traumatising meeting with the doctor. It’s out of hours for the helpline and I need someone to talk to. I don’t know what to do.
Is there someone I can talk to? : I’m new to the... - Tinnitus UK
Is there someone I can talk to?
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JamesJohn89
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Hi James, what's up?
I have been struggling with tinnitus and pressure in my left ear for 8 months. Doctor said there was nothing they could do on a phone appointment, and gave me a nose spray. Which didn’t work. I’ve tried cranial and osteo and feeling more and more depressed and wondering how I can live like this.
Had a bit of a breakdown today and went to hospital emergency appointment, because I am certain there is something wrong behind my ears. Doctor said my ears are fine, wait to see what happens with my ENT whenever that comes around but that he thinks there is nothing that can be done
I just feel scared, miserable and completely lost.
This is a long post James, get the tea on.
First of all, you are not alone. Many of us on this forum have different varieties of tinnitus (T) noise in our heads, a sense of pressure in our head, ears, throat and anywhere else connected to the ears. It can be one or both ears.
First of all, don't assume the worst. That's a feeling most of us have had, and it's not until we find a forum like this that we realize how common it is to feel really frightened about head noise and pressure and what's going wrong with us when it all kicks off.
I'm not medically trained, but I can offer up the following. There are lots of reasons for a feeling of pressure behind one ear or both ears. There are tubes connected to each ear, eustachian tubes, that can inflame, fill with fluid (or goo) and cause T, intense discomfort and a sense of high pressure. Hold your nose, close your mouth and breath out into your closed mouth. Don't open your mouth. Release the pressure after about 3 seconds. That's called the 'Valsalva' manoeuvre. Look it up. If it hurts to do that or your ear goes muffled as though there's cotton wool in it and/or there's a high pitch 'whine', it might be the eustachian tube that is the root of your problem. A steam inhalation with a couple of drops of olbas (eucalyptus) oil in the hot water might help ease the congestion. A couple of pints of just off the boil water in a bowl, towel over the head, eyes closed and breathe slowly for about 10 mins. It's great for the eyelids and skin too. Do this daily to see if symptoms ease. Give it a couple of weeks.
Also, try to hold something warm against your ear for about 15 minutes several times a day. Lavender grain bags that can be heated in a microwave are good. That should help relieve any aggravated areas and nerves, but warm only - not hot! And if it makes things worse, stop at once.
Other reasons for pressure might be a throat infection, or mucus build up in sinuses. Raw honey and lemon as a hot drink can help with a bad throat. Steam inhalation, again, helps with sinus blockages.
You could even have a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problem. The list goes on. Your dentist is best placed to advise about that.
Now, what might be informative in due course is a scan, either MRI or CT. Your ENT specialist might arrange for that when your appointment comes through. There's a massive backlog with the NHS at the moment, so appointments are taking ages to arrive. Rest assured though, the A&E department will have been looking for signs that you might need an urgent head scan. It's reassuring that they didn't order a scan. They're happy for you to wait, but it's understandable that this is adding to your worries.
Generally, where T is concerned, MRI and CT scans are really just precautionary; they don't often return any useful results that can fix T and we have to learn to live with it. But just take this one step at a time. You're at the 'it's driving me to distraction' stage at the moment. I remember being there too.
While you're waiting for ENT, go online and look up eustachian tubes and blockages. Look up sinus inflammation. Check out the Valsalva manoeuvre. Get hold of some Olbas oil and a grain bag for heating up. Look up TMJ problems. Start reading about meditation techniques too.
It will help when you can learn to relax with your symptoms. It will happen, but it takes practice. The main thing is to breathe calmly and focus on things you like that help you to relax, such as mood music, being out in the fresh air, gentle exercise.
I would suggest avoiding swimming and holding a phone to the affected ear for now. Also avoid headphones and earbuds. Basically, avoid anything that could add to an existing infection.
I hope some of this post is helpful for you and that you begin to find your way through the mire. I'm sure other T sufferers will be offering advice as well. There is a way through chronic T, it's called 'habituation', but it's individual to each of us and we all go at our own pace. You will find yours.
Here are a couple of numbers that work out of hours in case you need to hear a voice: NHS 111 option 2 is a 24/7 mental health helpline. the Samaritans are on 116 123 and they are very good at talking in the wee small hours when things just get too much. Don't be embarrassed to call either service. They are there to help people work through a personal muddle, and T is not so much a muddle as a stranglehold with very loud bells on.
You're at the start of your T journey; you will get to a more peaceful place in time.
All the very best to you.
Good informative post Bridgeit. I hope James read it. I have to say too that really. T has ruined my life . I do most of the things you mention and 50% of the time I cope but such a lot of my time I’m very lonely with it. This forum has been good for me .
Thx Rabbits. I know where you're coming from.
It's hard trying to carry on as others do, and really struggling in the process. What doesn't help is when doctors expect us to tolerate T as a matter of course from the outset. This attitude certainly made me feel isolated on occasion, alongside T being invisible so many non-sufferers don't realize how it can adversely affect us. This is where I think the forum comes into its own. I also have found it invaluable, both safe and full of handy practical advice.
Have a good night & sleep tight.
That's a great post bridgeit 🙂 I hope James read it too.
Thanks for the replies. I called Samaritans last night as I can’t keep thoughts of ending it out of my head because I really don’t think I can live with this, get used to it or can ever imagine it becoming normal. It’s so intrusive at all times. At night is usually the better times because I can put my noise generator on and mostly get to sleep ok. It’s just the fact I can’t sleep on my sides that drives me mad because my head on the pillow sets it off. I also can’t put an ear bud in my left ear because it also sets it off more and makes me feel unbalanced.
The worst times are throughout the day, whilst I am at my desk or having meetings - which I now avoid. I can’t go and sit in the living room with my family watching tv as it’s there, and when the channel changes and their is that second of silence, it flares up like a surge and triggers the cycle of dread again.
I’ve struggled mentally my whole life. And when I turned 30 I quit drinking which was a problem as I used it to cope, got off anti depressants for the first time in 14 years and lost loads of weight by buying a dog who is my world, and finding the gym and some hobbies.
But now I can’t even do my coping mechanisms. I can’t go to the gym because I don’t enjoy it because all I can think about and hear is my left ear ringing, and what breaks my heart is I don’t even enjoy walking my dog because it’s the same thing. All I can hear is my ear, and I can’t stop at a bench or anywhere and watch her play anymore because It won’t let me.
I honestly can’t see any other way out of this, and I cannot see myself finding a bearable position if it’s going to be like this forever. This last 8 months has felt like 8 years and seeing others saying that it has ruined their life, or they have had it X amount of years and there’s been no improvement etc just makes me want to end things even more
Oh James I’m so sorry your taking it this badly , nothing I can say at this point on here will help much , we are all in the same boat you know. I’m feeling terrible too over my head/ear trouble. Mine is worse when I move around and try to do jobs etc. I don’t know why walking your dog is not helping you , the outside environment I find very useful and hearing the birds etc. But yes we are all driven mad by this t but somehow others on this forum are learning and have learned to live with it. Please go and get some urgent counselling quickly.
James, James, oh how I feel for you right now, this may not help but I was exactly where you are “ the dark place” with only one way out, I was lucky, yes, my T is still there, but for a guy who deep down WAS weak I am now STRONG, you WiLL be the same, you know it’s not easy and what I say maybe a million miles away right now, but honestly you will improve, there is help out there, not always easy to access, but we are right here, you will get there , ok, along a rough and rocky road and at the end you will feel good about yourself, post here as often as you like, you will be supported, best wishes for your journey, today is the first day of it.
The thing is I had tinnitus first at about 22, I was drumming at the time and heavily involved with live music. I never looked after my ears and I remember it starting, and scaring me, but it was totally dealable, few months of white noise at night and eventually I forgot about it and even felt ‘cured’ unless I looked for it.
But this time, now at 32, it feels completely different. Massively in one ear and totally relentless. If it was just a sound, then I may be able to distract myself but there is this pressure there too, and that constantly makes me think about it, like a hand on my shoulder constantly reminding me. Then whenever I change rooms in the house, like go to the kitchen to make a drink or even to the toilet it surges where there is no masking sounds and there begins the cycle again. Constantly. It’s been the worst 8 months of my life, and after getting over so much I even remember saying ‘right, my 30s are going to be the years’ because my twenties were plagued with other issues I’ve overcome
But this honestly just feels like gods way of saying screw you. You’re going to be miserable. And I can’t help but think things like who’s going to look after my dog, and how will others be affected if I did etc.
I really appreciate the words of encouragement, I’ve signed up to the webinar meeting on Thursday as well because as said above, I’ve not really spoken with people in the same boat before and not many others really understand. Perhaps a ‘tinnitus Buddy’ would help. I don’t know.
It’s one of those things where I can’t say it’s worse than anyone else’s because you don’t know what it’s like in their head, but I just can’t see how anyone can have this Volume or noise and pressure in one ear and say they could get used to it
Morning James. We have two things in common. I have relentless tinnitus in one ear and I have a dog. At my lowest ebb last year I couldn't walk him - much to his sorrow. You will find a way to live again. You'll walk your dog again. I promise you. One more thing. I don't think God ever says - screw you. He's more likely to say - let me help you. I couldn't have come out of the dark places without my faith. Don't forget. You're not alone. Everyone here is rooting for you. Tinnitus won't defeat you.
Hi James
Sorry this is a lengthy post! And remember there is a crack in everything that's how the light gets in (Leonard Cohen), I say that because no matter how dark it feels now, things can and will get better. You 'cured' it before, you can do it again, write that down and all the other things you've achieved like changing your drinking and coming off anti depressants.
I know it must feel so bleak and hellish for you right now. I know because I am still partly in that place. I was sectioned 4 weeks ago and spent a week in hospital after my T started, and had exactly the same thoughts as you. I also have had extensive mental health issues, and after 8 months of being in lockdown living on my own, my T developed after going to just one restaurant and I felt like my life was over hence wanting to end things.
It's been a very long 4 weeks but one thing I've heard continually from the forum and from success stories is that positivity and believing the T will habituate is what will make the difference between living well with tinnitus and not. As Bridgeit says its a journey and you will get better. Even tho you can't imagine that right now. Habituation is a natural process and it will take time. The BTA is amazing and will help you, as will this forum. But search out success stories. I know they are hard to believe, I find it too at this point, but you have to change your core belief that this won't get better. This fuels your stress and cortisol and adrenalin and activates hypersensitivity to the T even more and you're trapped in a vicious cycle. There was an amazing webinar I attended this week on the basics of Tinnitus and they had Michael on there who talked about his journey with T and how he now lives well with it. You are stronger than you know. You've achieved so much and you can get through this. Change your mindset, get the Oto app, do CBT/get referred for it, if you can afford it get an appt at the Tinnitus Clinic if one is near you, watch Julian Cowan Hill, look up Glenn Schweitzer, enjoy what you can still enjoy, and slowly you'll have seconds that turn into minutes where you notice the T less. It's bloody hard work but you can do it, you've already fought so much. Flood your system with positive stories and take back control over the T, when you watch the Julian Cowan Hill videos you'll see that your auditory system is under pressure and you need to flood it with mindfulness, relaxation, self care and positivity.
Once you've binged on all that, stop googling and only look at forums when you need to and when you do, look at them for support. A lot of people who have habituated don't use the forums as they don't need to, if you search habituation on this lovely forum tho there are success stories. Focus on mindfulness, CBT and changing your core beliefs and creating that positive mindset. It's exhausting but slowly it'll pay off. The hardest thing about T is its not linear but you'll see infinitesimal changes over time which will start to add up to better days. Also look up radical acceptance, it's a really helpful concept as when we are denial that things can change or get better then that exacerbates our suffering.
I hope this helps, it might sound like I don't understand how hard it is but I am in a similar position and 4 weeks ago I could never imagine being where I am now. I still don't understand how I can ever ignore or not hear the T, but I can now see the difference in being able to get through a day or not based on my attitude. Also, as hard as it is remove thoughts of ending things. That will fuel your T as you're basically telling yourself you are under threat. Tell yourself you're safe and that there isn't that option, as you have a lot to live for. Do conscious breathing to calm your system (in through your nose for 7 and out through your mouth for 11). Remove ending things as an option as otherwise you're not allowing a belief that things can change and get better. Your family, your dog etc and YOU are what you need to live for.
Also, mark your progress with activity not on whether you can hear the T, as I know I hear it all the time at the moment. Glenn Schweitzer says this and its helped, so by activity, it would be what you do each day, and walking your dog, speaking with family, working, are all achievements.
You mentioned a tinnitus buddy - sign up to one of the support groups that take place online run by the BTA, the next ones are on the 5th or 7th July:
tinnitus.org.uk/online-supp...
I'm reposting a reply from another post I made below please have a read through and you can DM me if you have any questions.
Previous post:
I have found Julian Cowan Hill's YT channel very helpful esp the way he explains what is happening to the auditory system with tinnitus, would really recommend watching these videos on Recovery in particular. He also has a book available on Amazon that other forum members have recommended.
youtube.com/watch?v=dHc5Kty...
Also I am not sure where you are based but I went to The Tinnitus Clinic in London and had an assessment there and they were very helpful - was £195 but very much worth it and they carried out tests as well as giving me info about TRT and CBT. They have locations across the UK - London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Newcastle.
I've also been using a mobile app called OTO which I've found extremely helpful, it's a combination of CBT, mindfulness and soundscapes developed by 2 people that have tinnitus and have habituated to it and lead productive, enjoyable lives. You can use it for free for a week and then it's £60 for a year and effectively like having a therapist in your pocket. If you can access CBT sessions I would really recommend them, I am doing some with Julianne Mullen via The Tinnitus Clinic, your GP should also be able to refer you for NHS sessions if you're not able to go privately. The CBT sessions don't change the intensity or intrusiveness of the tinnitus but help to change your emotional reaction to the noise which over time helps you to habituate and move the noise into the background so your brain can filter it out as noise that doesn't need to be paid attention to (I know habituation is a bloody long journey but one that a lot of people do get to and I've been mainlining those success stories as helps so much to know other people have been able to do this).
There is also a CBT online programme you can do which is £175 or £148 for BTA members which I am looking into and the reviews are very helpful and encouraging:
Hey Emma, thanks for such a long and detailed reply. Really sorry to hear of your struggles but pleased to know your progress.
Unfortunately i am still at a point where i still can't see how this could be manageable forever. I looked at some of your previous posts and can totally relate to one comment you made - it was along the lines of 'i know i want to live' and i feel exactly the same, but i can't see any other way out at this point and it is just so loud, its unbearable!
I have downloaded the oto app as per your recommendation, and i actually went to London last month to meet with Julian in person for a CST session and some guidance. I have his quieten app, and do lots of his exercises. No improvement yet.
i had signed up for the webinar already on the 28th next week, but i have now booked the 5th too, which depressingly, is also my 31st birthday
That's really good you've booked in to the support groups. I think it will help a lot to talk and meet with other people who have been in similar situations. Have you done any CBT yet? If you can afford it I'd definitely recommend signing up to the online programme, or even doing a 1 to 1 CBT session via Skype with Julianne Mullen, she has been so incredibly helpful to me, or getting referred via the NHS.
Julianne's details below:
phoenixdramatherapy.co.uk/t...
If it's any consolation I spent my birthday morning at the Tinnitus Clinic, but I viewed it as a step towards getting better, and if you can view that with the support group it's a good way to reframe. Take good care of yourself.
Hi James. I rarely post anything on this forum but read it most days as a sufferer of tinnitus for 4 years now. I am in the throes of a really bad patch with T this past year and and get suicidal thoughts because I don’t think I’m ever going to be able to live with it again. I have also found it impossible to get an ENT appointment due to the dreadful backlog in the NHS. I suppose I just want you to know that you really are not alone with the terrible distress that T causes a lot of us. I have recently purchased a tinnitus retraining program and I am only just beginning it now. The one thing I absolutely absolutely know for sure with my tinnitus is how my anxiety about it escalates it way beyond my control and then it forms a toxic loop. Believe me I know how having a dreadful noise in your head and the pressure that you also have provides virtually no space to think straight never mind trying to do breathing exercises for example, to try and allow the nervous system to settle into a calmer place for long enough to be able to reduce the anxiety. I find that doing this though does help me get a tiny bit more of a perspective. There are resources on the BTA that might help you with breathing and mindfulness techniques. I’ll be on there this weekend trying this for myself. Having once habituated to some degree in my earlier stages of T, I hope I might find my way there again too.
I am posting a YouTube link on CBT and tinnitus by a Doctor Who also has tinnitus which I found this week and found it helpful to listen to if the moderators accept it you’ll see the post. Wishing you strength and courage and support at this really tough time.
Heya, thanks for the reply and details. Sorry to hear your struggles.
this is what petrifies me. Has it been 4 years of hellish, or just recently been bad? I honestly cant do 4 years like this. It would be impossible.
i will watch your video and just downloaded the oto CBT app that someone else has recommended in another comment above.
Thanks again for taking the time to reply to me, especially since you dont usually comment. It is appreciated. Will you be on any of the upcoming online zoom meetings? I dont really know what to expect, but it may be easier to share my struggles and experiences with words rather than over a keyboard
Hello again James. Just an extra word of advice. Don't go thinking ahead in terms of how you could or could not cope with T 1 year, 2 years or 4 years from now. Focus on today. Better still, focus on right now. Don't export thoughts and anxiety about unresolved T into your future; such thoughts will feed your anxiety and make things worse.
We none of us know what the future holds and we cannot live in what has not yet happened. It's the same as trying to live in the past. It's utterly futile.
Take your journey with T one hour at a time. You're already putting together a good plan: considering CBT, joining in zoom meeting, and watching related videos. I'm just watching the vid from the ADAA about CBT for T to the accompaniment of my left ear noise, which I hadn't noticed for almost an hour courtesy of distraction. Every minute of unnoticed T is a win.
Keep going in small steps; you're heading towards the right track for you.
Thank you for being so thoughtful. As you wrote it, i was also watching (and have now completed) the same video. I watched both of the others above that last night, however i actually have met Julian in person for a session, which was helpful but barely scratched the surface, he is also london and i am in crawley so visiting him wouldnt be ideal, and i think i need to see people face to face rather than online, as to do that means more time inside what has become my prison cell.
i will be in both the upcoming online sessions, and look forward to meeting likeminded people and for the last couple of weeks, have been spending 9-10pm with a becks blue (i am a recovered alcoholic) whilst doing next and head stretches and ear exercises. But i think i will try replacing the ear exercises with CBT techniques (using the recommended oto app above) as from some of the sources, they say leaving your ears alone might be a good decision, to encourage acceptance.
I do want to live, so i know i need to work on everything i can to make this work for me as best as possible.
Hi James, I hope you find the Oto app helpful - it really was a lifesaver for me as I started using it whilst I was in the hospital and at first it was tough as I thought it wouldn't help, how could breathing and doing reframing CBT exercises do that, but over time it has helped to regulate my anxiety and gives me moments of strength and hope through the day and evening or whenever my T feels overwhelming and unbearable.
I also came across this video which I have been watching today which you might want to check out, from a musician called Isobel Anderson:
youtube.com/watch?v=XDngnIM...
I hope the online sessions are helpful for you and that you are able to access in person CBT sessions near you soon, they have really benefitted me.
Hi, sorry to hear you are having a tough time. In regards to your T when you see your GP maybe go forearmed with the National Institute of Health Care and Excellence(NICE) guidelines on T (nice.org.uk/guidance/ng155) which all GP's should be following , this is a lengthy document so maybe have a copy of this flowchart (nice.org.uk/guidance/ng155/... which shows your GP should be helping you get a management plan in place for your T, if they are unable to do this then have them refer your to audiology/ENT who will be able to help. Has you tried the BTA online support groups (tinnitus.org.uk/online-supp... as I know this gave me a lot of comfort and really helped me on being able to manage me T and the stress and anxiety T causes?
Thanks for taking the time to share, i am seeing him again in a few weeks, My usual doctor seems to be more switched on with this, however my first appointment was over the phone due to Covid in October, she said i was basically screwed and to live with it, and then yesterday i had a breakdown and went to hospital and a doctor there basically said the same thing. I have told my doctor i cant see myself living like this, so i think next time i might let him know just how dark and troubled my thoughts are..
This is where the NICE guidelines will help you as these are national guidelines clinicians should be following, if they say there is nothing you can do then point them to the flow chart in the guidelines which references management plan. I know things feel bad, I can empthaise as when you first have these tough T spikes it can get desperate BUT will support from BTA and clinicians I can now habituate, there is hope. Take care and stay safe
TinnitusUKPatPartner
Hi James. I'm sorry that you couldn't talk to anybody from the BTA out of hours - but I'm glad that you were able to join the forum and have some support from the lovely people who are members of it. I can only add my voice to those members who've sent positive messages your way and asked you to look after yourself during this difficult period.
A negative or non-committal prognosis from a doctor has an impact which many in the profession cannot seem to grasp - even a message along the lines of, 'things are difficult now, but it does get better' would be the life raft which a lot of people new to the condition would find to be a light in their darkness. We've worked consistently to convey the impact of tinnitus to the medical profession, but there's still a lot of minds to win over.
As SurreyCCCfan points out, the NICE guidelines do exist and we worked hard to have input from the tinnitus community incorporated before their publication - which turned out to be in the first week of so of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Any doctor who says that there isn't much that can be done about tinnitus or offers limited guidance is - let's say politely - behind the times and in need of some continued professional development.
Take care and please feel free to give us a call next week. There'll be a friendly voice on the end of the Helpline to offer support and understanding.
Tough one JamesJohn89, just want you to know that I and so many others have been where you are now. I am relatively new to this wonderful forum and have had the T for appx 7 months. The short version of my experience is it started with clicking noise then light whooshing and culminating in horrendous screeching. I contacted 111 as I was panicking and ended in A&E where they sent me home and said it would go away.they also gave me 3 days supply of Prochlorperazine which did nothing. I paid private for ENT and brain and ear MRI scans but all clear , went to private audiologist who said same as ENT. Told me mind management was about all that would help and also that I would get used to it. Ended up in terrible dark places and contemplated taking my own life, fortunately it started to subside but returning in spikes . Having a great family around helped me to realise there was hope and would ask you never to stop believing there are better times ahead . 7 days ago I wanted to leave this planet and my wife suggested British Tinitus Association and that contact led to the forum which in turn changed my perception on T. No quick fix for this but definitely hope and help. Stay with it JamesJohn89
So glad you found the BTA Gymee - and the forum. And now you're encouraging other people! 🙂 Have you thought about CBT? I've just started and I'm finding it helpful so far.
Hi doglover1973, thanks for comments, could you please let me know what CBT is and what it entails. Best regards
It's cognitive behaviour therapy. Changing the way you think and behave. A type of mind management. The BTA recommend it as an effective treatment for T. I found someone local to me on the website - Psychology Today . I'm having half hour a week for 6 weeks. You can read more about CBT on the NHS website.
Hi James.
So I've had tinnitus for 30 years caused by noise damage, over this period of time I have learned to live with tinnitus and allowed it to become part of the background and part of me.
From my experience, you are going through what each of us has gone through, fear, uncertainty, anxiousness, despair...etc. We have all been there and feel you and understand you. It will get better and easier, you have to allow this to happen though, no one else can do it for you, YOU can fix YOU.
1st understand that what you are hearing is electrical signals in your brain, it can not hurt you, it is not dangerous, everyone has noise in there head and body, it's just our brains take no notice of these, as they are not important. Tinnitus at first is seen as a threat, because we hear it but can't place it to an outside source, so our brain, then monitors it, to see if it changes, we then notice it and pay attention to it, this gives it importance, our brain recognises this and says ok let's turn up the volume of this, so we can't miss it, you then hear it..monitor it...the brain thinks it's important, so turns up the volume a bit...and the loop starts again, do you see where this is going?
The flight or fight response is triggered, so chemicals are released Into your brain, your senses are heightened, your auditory cortex becomes super alert and monitors every little sound you hear, you become hyper sensitive your body is on constant alert waiting for something to happen regarding the noise but nothing will happen as it is not dangerous or harmful, your muscles become tense and you spend all of your time fixated on the tinnitus, so around and around you go. So your tinnitus is linked into the emotional part of your brain and to your entire nervous system, that's why we all feel so desperate at first, however YOU can change that.
Tinnitus is part of you, not you are part of tinnitus, you can't control tinnitus but you can control and change your reaction to it. You will get to the point where you really won't care if it's there or not, it will happen and does happen, it takes time but if you allow it to it will, don't avoid hearing it, allow your self to hear it but don't listen for it, if that makes sense. You need to take the fear out of it. Read up about tinnitus and how it works, gain an understanding of it and that will help you to begin to accepting it, for what it is and that it's part of you.
Learning to relax and breathing exercises are vital to gaining control over your reactions and restoring
Calm, not only in your brain but body also, when you are calm and relaxed, you can think logically and see things in a clearer light.
You are not alone, approx 10% of the world's population have tinnitus, so that's roughly 7 hundred million people, a great majority of those, live a full and happy life with tinnitus, there is no reason why you should be any different, your brain is no different to anyone else's, it can be rewired, to put the tinnitus noise into the background, the same as it does for many other things in your daily life, it does happen and will happen.
Don't wait for the ENT to start your recovery, start now, there are plenty of breathing exercises on this website, lots of relaxation exercises on YouTube, start to take back control of the bits you can. It's hard but it can be done and it's worth the time and effort, to get back to being you. Do the things you love doing, spend time with your family and loved ones, watch TV with them, walk your dog, play with your kids, those are the important things In life, not tinnitus. Don't let it be important.
Debbie Featherstone, runs an online CBT course for tinnitus distress, look her up, she can help to make things right, she helped me and many many others.
Have hope James, you will be ok and it will be alright, small step my friend make many miles, start now, don't wait.
I have just been reading all posts of this thread as I’m struggling to sleep and trying to reduce the anxiety and relax. My symptoms really kicked in a few days ago and I have been completely knocked for six. And the panic set in. I can see that the anxiety and fear are not helping so thank you for the advice shared. I think nights may be difficult for me as that’s where anxiety has always triggered in the past. So any advice to help particularly with sleep would be great.
Hi Mags.
From my experience and how I see it is, when we think ahead about tinnitus we nearly always see it as a negative experience, this is known as predicting the future, this is very common with tinnitus. So by saying that you think nights are going to be difficult for you, you are already telling yourself that it's not going to be plain sailing. Your sub conscious takes all this in, because it can't tell the difference between what's reality and what's not, it then produces thoughts to relate to how you are feeling about something, in this case sleep and tinnitus, so therefore it reinforces your feelings, which produce more thoughts etc.
It is important how you talk to yourself, again because of the way your sub conscious works. So maybe try thinking, Ok I might not get to sleep straight away but that's ok, sleep will come when I'm ready. From my understanding it's not tinnitus that keeps us awake, it's us thinking about it and how that thought process makes us feel.
I am a massive advocate of quided relaxation and breathing exercises, try these before bed, maybe a bath and allow yourself to chill.
We always catastrophize about the outcome, however question yourself when has it ever been as bad as you thought it would be?
You are totally in control of your thoughts and reactions to those thoughts, remember thoughts are thoughts not facts. Put a positive spin on the bedtime process, think about how much you like your bed the smell of fresh bedding, the feeling of the soft comfy pillow, think about the good bits of bedtime and not the negative.
Don't be hard on yourself if it doesn't work 1st time, practice makes perfect. Keep going at it, it will all work out.
👍
Hi MattThank you - this has all really helped. I had already been struggling with sleep before the tinnitus and I was managing that so this is no different. I need to try some new things now. I listened to some natural sound last night and my story and just switched things as I felt I needed to when regularly waking up to help drift off again reduce the anxiety and it’s morning. So it’s early days
Morning Mags.
You are more than welcome. It's great that you can establish that you had a bit of an issue with sleeping before T, that does show you that the noise isn't really what's stopping you from dropping off.
Great idea to have sound playing in the back ground at night, even when you are asleep, your brain still hears it, it also hears the tinnitus noise too, what it does help to do, is show your brain that tinnitus is really not important and place it into the background too. Remember when you have sounds playing at night they need to be at a volume where you can hear your just hear your tinnitus too, you don't want to completely mask it.
Keep it up and you will get there, be proud of the achievements you make, focus on the good bits, they become more and more. Soon you will be snoring like the rest of us👍
hi JamesJohn - i came across yr post from 1 year ago - I am suffering with T and have many of the same feelings as you . I was wondering how you are doing 1 year later - has yr situation with T improved
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