panic attack and signed off work

[RockyB88]

having felt like I was making some strides again back to acceptance and habituation I woke in the night with my T worse than ever. When I moved to the spare room to play some sound therapy and realised it no longer was able to mask my T because of its new loudness I had a panic attack. Having never had a panic attack in my life it was a very scary experience. My T has remained at this crazy new volume today and I’ve been to the doctor to get signed off from work as I can barely function as a result. Finding it very hard to remain positive today, hoping for better days to come.

[Happyrosie]

I’m so sorry you are distressed, Rocky, but you are certainly doing the right things, These spikes can indeed happen. A thought: when you use a masker you’re not supposed to “drown” the tinnitus - further explanation of why is on the British Tinnitus Association website.

While you are on the BTA website, I’d like to suggest you find their section called “Take on Tinnitus”. It’s a sort of self-led training program that will guide you, confirming what you’ve done and suggesting further things to think about.

I’m sure you’ll improve as time goes on. All the best.

[RockyB88 in reply to Happyrosie]

Yeah, I usually have the masker “mingling” with my T. But at this volume of T, i basically can’t even do that, the ringing in my head drowns out everything. I’ll certainly take a look at the BTA website as you suggest. Thank you

[Albax19]

I feel for you pal! I suffer similar spikes but have managed to somewhat control the stress it causes

Stay positive mate! You'll get there!!

[RockyB88 in reply to Albax19]

it’s so easy to say and so much harder to do (the staying calm). I felt like I was managing it so having a panic attack has really knocked me. I’m very lucky my partner is who she is as she’s very good at helping me reframe how I view things and she managed to calm me down from the attack.

[purenostalgia]

It maybe small comfort Rocky, but I am in the same position, my tinnitus is constant and very gradually getting louder, the masking is getting less of a solution. bedtime is now a nightmare.

[RockyB88 in reply to purenostalgia]

If you can get sleep it makes everything easier. Just finding it so hard during this spike. Hopefully MDAllen suggestions below can help you find some peace too. The app I use is ReSound Relief.

[Hidden]

Hi Rocky

I have had a similar experience but I have developed a fall back sound strategy. Having a sound strategy in advance helps to give you peace of mind and should help you avoid any sense of panic. When you get a spike go to your pre-planned masking sounds and then adjust the sounds of each to deal with the T spike.

I have a sound masking app on my phone linked to blue tooth ear buds. (I have found ear buds by far the best solution for delivering the sound as after a while you do not even feel them in your ear). I have various sound combinations to deal with the changing sounds so that when I get a T spike I know in advance what sounds to use.

For example:-

High pitched sound, low volume: Crickets (Fix your mind on the rhythm of the cricket noise, ignore the T).

High pitched sound, high volume: Crickets + violet masking sound. (Turn the volume up to mask the T with the violet mask but not so high that you cannot hear the T at all. The aim is to blend the T with the masking sound so that it sounds part of it).

Low pitch sound, low volume: Airplane interior. (Electric fan or white noise also works as a substitute. This is just a straight forward masking sound)

Low pitched sound intermittent: Airplane interior + purring cat. (The purring cat sound obscures the intermittent sound of the T).

Low pitch sound, high volume: Airplane interior + sound of rain. (The airplane sound is the principle masking sound and the sound of rain breaks the tone of the T).

Sometimes I have both the high & low pitch sounds at the same time so when this happens I combine two of the above, but seek to keep the number of simultaneous masking sounds to a minimum as simplicity of sound is the key, as the aim is to mask the noises but still leave a distinct masking sound that your mind can fix on as the dominant sound. E.g I would select the following combination: -

Airplane interior (Volume set low as possible to mask the low T tone), +

Violet noise (Raise the volume to mask the high pitch, but not completely) +

Purring cat ( Volume set to mask the intermittent aspect of the T).

To sum up my strategy, this is: -

Use a masking sound of a similar frequency to suppress the T but ideally not to eliminate it entirely as you need to build tolerance/habituation to the T.

Seek to blend the T with the masking sound to make it obscure.

Provide an alternative distinctive dominant masking sound that breaks the tone of the T where necessary. Usually for intermittent or high frequency T. Use an intermittent or broken masking sound that has a rhythm.

You need to experiment with what sounds suite you. Always aim to keep the masking sounds to the minimum that works. Simply blasting masking sounds at high volume into your ears is counter productive as you will not be able to relax or sleep anyway.

Finally, getting enough sleep is important, so I also use sleeping tablets when necessary but on alternative days only, so that your body does not develop tolerance to them.

I hope this helps you, give it a try.

All the best.

Marcus

[RockyB88 in reply to Hidden]

As silly as this now seems to say, it never crossed my mind to change the sounds on my masking app! Mine is that loud high pitched ringing but constant. So crickets is my go to but I’ll try mix it with some pink noise like you suggest. I managed to get a proper nights sleep yesterday which has definitely made me feel less desperate. Feeling like you can’t sleep definitely makes your outlook on T harder to keep positive.

[Rustreloaded in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply, could you tell me what masking app you use please? I've never heard of violet noise - what is this please?

[Hidden in reply to Rustreloaded]

Hi Rustreloaded

It is 'White Noise Sleep Sounds' by AMICOOLSOFT available free via Android play Store. You can play and mix multiple sounds at the same time.

Cheers Marcus

[Pooney]

Rocky, have you ever tried CBD for the anxiety? It works wonders for me as I have suffered from it most of my adult life and 15 years with Tinnitus.

[RockyB88 in reply to Pooney]

hi Pooney. No I haven’t tried CBD. I’m on sertaline currently which seemed to do the trick before. But just really struggling with a few bad spikes currently. As they’re really probably my first real significant spikes since feeling like I was at peace with T it’s really threw me off the steady course I was on. I’m sure most on this forum know that feeling that their symptoms got worse and you can’t imagine being comfortable again. I’m trying to take it a day at a time and take splice that spikes should calm.

[bennevis21 in reply to RockyB88]

Hi rocky

Try to find what's causing the spikes, with me its noise exposure it sometimes takes 2 days after for spike to occur.My tinnitus is very high pitched and unmaskable,kind of used to it now but for last month its been louder with frequent spikes after noise incident and fluid in eardrum ,many poor sleeps but it is improving slowly.

[RockyB88 in reply to bennevis21]

so I went out with friends to a few pubs but none were playing loud music, just the sound of lots of people talking. But it’s the only thing I can think of that’s given me this spike. Interesting that you say about the delay between the noise and when you spike, would have been about 3-4 days after the exposure for me and have noticed a delay before.

[bennevis21 in reply to RockyB88]

Yes could have been that,occasionally with me the spike comes within a few hours but mainly it’s a day or 2 later then it’s a loud night followed by a loud day then back to base line sometimes a 36hr but usually 24hr ,nearly always loud noise although Covid vaccines also caused it

[Hidden in reply to RockyB88]

Hi I get like this after lots of talking and listening. I've learned to pace myself which helps. It is difficult but I socialise for shorter periods - I'm like Cinderella but it is 10pm in bed - routine helps! I prefer a daytime meet-up with friends. I'm 52, it is easier. Hard to do if you're younger. All the best. xx

[Annie07]

Hi Rocky,

I’m so sorry to hear that. This happened to me few years ago. I had a relapse from my habituation which I had managed to maintain for over 4 years. I know exactly how you feel, that first week was so hard that I couldn’t see past that moment. I was so distressed. But know that better days do and will come. The more you think about it, the more anxious you get which causes the panic attacks and lack of sleep. It’s a vicious cycle. My pillow speakers really help me. I hope there has been improvement in your situation, stay strong!

Best wishes x

[SimToTheWorld]

Rocky, how are you today?

[RockyB88 in reply to SimToTheWorld]

Hi Sim, feeling a lot better now thanks. The time off work has been really good for me. Hoping to go back to work this week.

[SimToTheWorld]

I'm glad to hear it Rocky. 😊