Get used to live with all these sickness in my life

[Nancy1228]

Hi all,

I’m currently having Schizophrenia，anxiety, left side of neck pain & really bad tinnitus altogether for more than 2 years.

I have to take medicines Abilify & Imrest every day and night time so as to control my mental illness and put me asleep.

I believe all these sickness are linked together. I used to think tinnitus is just for elder people but no I’m now just like 30 years old something. I’ve got tinnitus since I was nine years old after I took a swim. Not too sure if that was affected by the water but I think it’s more about the anxiety. Since then tinnitus for both ears hasn’t been away from me for more than 20 years.

It’s funny that Abilify worsen my tinnitus, caused fatigue and anxiety according to the medical research however I have to take it everyday with no choice. I hope my anxiety will go away finally! For tinnitus problem, I might just get a hearing aids in the future. Stay positive is the only way to cope with sickness. It’s a long term race like a marathon but I think I’m not the only one who’s there to experience this. When I feel not alright on the day, I just take a good rest & then keep going next day morning.

Keep it up everyone

[rabbits65]

Hello Nancy ,I love your brilliant positivity with all you are having to put up with . Bless you .

My tinnitus has been worse this last month and I’m not sure what I can do to help myself . You have made me realise that like you I’ve just got to keep going . So thank you for that. 😃

[Nancy1228 in reply to rabbits65]

Hello there, thanks for your blessing. Actually I don’t feel well today because of my anxiety. Now I’m feeling better after rest and medicine.

If you cannot sleep with tinnitus, it’s not a bad idea to take some sleeping pill (there’s many option, I tried different brands at the beginning) as it definitely gives you a wonderful overnight sleep. I’m not encouraging you to totally rely on it, but medicine might does it’s jobs sometimes.

For the day time, I tend to listen to the radio, songs & the TV to help myself get over the tinnitus. I take multivitamin everyday (including B6,B12) it says that might help with the ear health. Although I don’t feel it has been improved, I just take it everyday just to keep going. This symptom doesn’t have 100% cure way, everyone to different treatments has different results. I believe that the common thing is it will be getting better gradually if we do it bit by bit everyday. 👍

[rabbits65 in reply to Nancy1228]

Thank you for your reply. When I lay down the tinnitus isn’t so prominent . I can sleep because I’m exhausted. My trouble is during the day when I’mGoing about the house doing the jobs . It seems to build up pressure and sounds like a humming fan noise like an oven makes. It’s very stressful. Oh well you and I have to try and get on with it but I find it’s exhausting. I walk my two

Poodles and it helps a bit , love the fresh air and the wind rushing through your hair and ears is my salvation. 😃

[Nancy1228 in reply to rabbits65]

My tinnitus are like high pitch noise on my both ears, it goes really loud at night time when it’s quiet in the bedroom. I used to be asleep easily when I was tired after work but not anymore since I was diagnosed to have schizophrenia, i have to take sleeping pill to make me fall asleep.

That’s cute you got two poodles to walk with. I’m walking my border collie everyday, he is 4 years old. wish to have another one but no they are too active. Very hard to control them on the street haha I also like the breeze & the fresh air outside!

[rabbits65 in reply to Nancy1228]

My Poodles are large miniatures . One black and one white. I’m 69 retired and they keep me “ sane” !!! Do you think this severe tinnitus that we are both enduring is possibly the root cause of some of our other ailments ? This bringing on the increase stress . If you get another dog it will keep the other one company when you have to go out. 🐩 🐩

[Nancy1228 in reply to rabbits65]

Hi, it’s good that poodles keep you busy during the day haha I think tinnitus is a symptom and not a disease. So i believe it’s something that cause the result of tinnitus. We are having two different types of tinnitus. I have read a book that is written by a doctor. There are many factors cause to that but basically it says our brain is very sensitive and affect the auditory part. Not sure if it’s totally correct but at least there is an answer for me to have this tinnitus for so many years. I might consider another small dog when my border collies gets old to keep him accompany. Now I just can’t handle two border collies they are really active!😁

[rabbits65 in reply to Nancy1228]

Hi again Nancy , I have felt quite stressed today , I have terrible arthritis in my feet, sciatica in back comes and goes , but I’m getting so very tired and the tinnitus is making me exhausted. I was just going to ask you the name of the books you’ve read. I’ve got the book called : Tinnitus . From Tyrant to Friend. By Julian Cowan Hill . Any others you can recommend please ? 😊 🐩 🐩 x

[Hidden]

Thank you for your honesty and positivity, Nancy. I agree with you about a link between conditions. My brother has diabetes and schizophrenia, definitely a chemical link.I've 'got' tinnitus/inner ear balance issues, psoriasis, athritis and anxiety. I take B vitamins and occasional diazepam, if I can't sleep. You are right ...it is all about the narrative we give ourselves in our experiences and you are an inspiration. Best wishes.

[Nancy1228 in reply to Hidden]

Hello there, thanks for your best wishes. To be honest with you, my family has schizophrenia history. My father has been taken medicine for more than 30 years. He is now 75 and still needs to take the prescriptions! I guess I have to do this also when I’m getting old. He has a more serious condition compare to me and the medicine he is taking is not the one with latest edition in his country! So the side effect on him is pretty bad. My psychiatrist said there is a possibility of inherited on mental illness so I don’t blame myself onto this. I hope you stay positive everyday and best wishes for your health too!

[Hidden]

Thank you!

I agree with you about the inherited aspect. My dad had bi-polar disorder all his life which was partly inherited partly triggered after a traumatic accident in which he crashed his car into the sea and his friend drowned. He blamed himself all his life and had many breakdowns around anniversaries. I just felt like sharing that, hope you don't mind. I miss him.

He always said that lithium really helped him and he took it for decades.

I've definitely inherited his anxiety but I think people who experience mental illness have much more empathy and self-awareness. Take care - best wishes to you and your Dad. 💐

[Nancy1228 in reply to Hidden]

I don’t mind you sharing your story. I feel sad to hear what happened to your dad. My dad’s disease was triggered after he lost his whole clothing factory in a fire by accident. It was happened when I was really young. I barely knew that until he told me lately after I was diagnosed the same as his. People’s mind are easily fragile after some bad things happen in life so we have to really look into this mental health as important.

[Hidden]

Thanks. Definitely. It seems partly inherited risk and part experience. What a shame your Dad went through that. Take care xx

[surreycccfan]

Hi, thanks for the positivity, yes I couldn't agree with you more when you say 'Stay positive is the only way to cope'. I found shifting how I thought about my T by reframing any 'unhelpful' thoughts was key in me managing my T. Keep positive and stay safe

[night7]

i tired of it. i have an idea to finish everything ... tinitus keeps heavy pressure on me. i have a sharp noise in my brain and im very disappointed at the moment

😞

[surreycccfan in reply to night7]

Hi Night7, sorry you having a tough time. If you are feeling this way can I suggest you talk to your GP and if you feel this low then maybe talk to the Samaritans samaritans.org/ (Phone - 116 123 and Email - [e-mail]) and/or Mind mind.org.uk/ (Phone – 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 - Email [e-mail]) they are excellent and are proffesionals in dealing with low mood/mental health.

[Hidden]

Hi Night7

I'm really sorry to read that you are struggling with Tinnitus at the moment, and that you are feeling so desperate. Please be reassured that Tinnitus does get better over time. Like surreycccfan's said, I would recommend contacting the Samaritans while you’re feeling so distressed, as they have a lot of expertise in supporting people who need some extra help and support.

Tinnitus often goes through better and worse periods and it won't always be like this. I would recommend giving us at the British Tinnitus Association a call, as it can be helpful to talk it through with an understanding person. We can suggest some techniques to help you manage your tinnitus and recommend a few support options to help whilst you are currently feeling this way. You can contact our Helpline on 0800 018 0527 (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) (outside the UK you can call [phone]).

Finally, if you are finding your tinnitus distressing, your local hospital should have a Crisis Team connected to mental health service and you can just turn up to the A&E department and ask to see them. Their whole purpose is to see people who are distressed and help them find appropriate help quickly. Again, even though a mental health service might not specialize in tinnitus, we do know that if people can be helped to feel less depressed they generally cope with their tinnitus better.