How do you cope with the intrusive T?

I'd like to see how people copw with their T. Like when watching television or trying to read a book. I've been having to play games to try n take my mind off it, but tbh it is there all the time no matter what i do. Only places i don't hear it is in the shower or the kitchen with washing machine on. White noise can mask it but i feel it makes it louder.

[Happyrosie]

have you accessed the British Tinnitus Association website? There is a lot of information there.

As far as I personally am concerned: yes tinnitus is there all the time, certainly, but I choose to ignore it. It’s going to be with me for ever, so I accept it just like everyone accepts problems in their lives. This is not to discount your feelings, clearly you find the tinnitus distressing.

There are many ways in which you can help yourself,, some things work for some people and other things work for others,

[Hidden in reply to Happyrosie]

I have tried the BTA, and their services are really good. I'm just having trouble enjoying things i took for granted in the past. Thanks for replying.

[RockyB88]

Hi Smokey89. Keeping busy. Like, really busy! I go through stages still where I hear it all the time when watching TV etc, but at one point it had got so “loud” I could hear it in the shower, driving, literally everywhere. Now though if I’m having a chat at work or with friends, or if I’m listening to music and at the same time doing something like cleaning or drawing/ video games, I won’t think about it or hear it because my mind is elsewhere to say. And after a while that lack of attention you give the T starts to get your mind to filter it out more automatically as completely unimportant sound and I now usually find I’ll watch TV fine and not notice or “hear” my T at all. So hopefully you can take some comfort that even though it seems like it’s going to be annoying you all the time, there are many people in the forum who’ve had the same thoughts and have moved on to much easier times with T, whether it almost disappears completely or if you stay aware but in no way focused on it or bothered by it.

[Hidden in reply to RockyB88]

That sounds really good, i hope i can get to that point in the near future.

[doglover1973]

Hello Hidden It's not easy but it's possible to cope with intrusive T . I think acceptance is the key. I say to myself .. My T is there and always will be. It's a matter of learning to do things with T . It takes a little time to adjust to a new way of life. At first I struggled to read, watch TV, hold conversations. All very simple things but I couldn't focus. Gradually I got used to doing things with my T . You will too. Take your time. It's a life long journey.

[Hidden in reply to doglover1973]

Thanks, doglover1973. I really hope i get to that place where it doesn't bother me.

[doglover1973 in reply to Hidden]

Looking at your profile .. it's very early days for you. Those days aren't easy but things will slowly improve one way or another . Our brains can adapt & adjust to almost anything. Try & stay as calm and relaxed as possible - not easy I know. Have some low sounds if it helps you. Keep talking. It's one of the best ways to come to terms with T . You're going to get to a better place.

[Hidden in reply to doglover1973]

Thanks, doglover1973. I will try to keep this in mind. I guess it's a long road ahead.

[Xene]

Yay Smokey89,

I agree with what everyone else says but just as an after thought have you thought about recording your shower or washing machine working to play them on a loop during the worst times especially at night?

I’ve been existing with it nearly 37 years now in my completely deaf ear as there’s nothing else to do. Luckily I don’t get spikes but I consider it too loud and intrusive already. It also comes and goes in my hearing ear too, such a pain!

Hope you eventually get some improvement, there’s always a possibility 🤞

[Hidden in reply to Xene]

That could be a way forward, i use sound therapy sometimes during the day, trying not to so i hopefully habituate quicker. But i definitely use it to go to sleep, on a vaery low level.

[Xene]

Generally speaking you have got to try whatever you think may or may not help. The problem is we are all unique and one size doesn’t fit all unfortunately and no one not even the experts can give anyone with t a definitive answer.

I think for those that have had intrusive t for a long time eventually come to the realisation that they’ve just got to suck it up and get on with it regardless of anything else. I know this may sound a bit harsh but for some that’s the reality. Obviously for newbies to intrusive t it’s an absolute nightmare and hell on earth but that doesn’t mean they won’t habitate (private joke) it eventually.

I wish you well on your journey and there are always people here to listen and try to support you so you’re never alone.

Xene

[Hidden]

Thanks Xene

[surreycccfan]

Hi Smokey, from reading your post it seems like you rely primarily on distraction techniques. These are really important in helping us when we first get T as can give us some restpite from our T.

For me I realised as well as using distraction techniques, I also had to shift how I thought/felt about my T and myself to dampen my emotional response (fight/flight). I call these behavioral techniques and by using a combination of the two techniques I found I could start to take back control from my T and begin to live well again. I posted earlier some of things I did to a post from Suz, if you can find it let me know and I can repost here.

Seeing benefits from behavioral techniques can take time as we are trying to shift how our brain perceives our T when we are in fight/flight response, evidence based research shows this can work for most and is often referred to as brain plasticity. I know for me, these behavioral techniques were the things that really helped me take big steps forward in living well with my T.

I am a great believer in having a plan and set of tools to help us cope, manage and improve how we live with our T. By having a plan we can see our progress (positive reinforcement) and by having tools we have prepared 'toolkit' for difficult situations and/or when we spike which I found helped dampen my emotional response, as when I had these experiences I 'knew' what I would do and I knew it would help me not stress about my T or the situation.

I know this may sound a little trite, with all sincerity it took me a long time to find the correct objectives, plan and toolkit and took a lot of energy and determination but by sticking to my plan I (and I know others have too) can now live well with their T.

All the best and I hope this helps in some small way, stay safe

[Hidden in reply to surreycccfan]

Thanks for the replie surreycccfan, that's really posative to hear. I'm just feeling very low at this time. I have a 1 yo. I'm only 33, and the thought of this being permanent is very distressing. I'm trying my best to think positively, but it's hard.

[surreycccfan in reply to Hidden]

I can totally empathise, I got very very low for the 1st year of having my T (I was 48) and thought I would never be able to live normally again and things like habituation and acceptance seemed totally ethereal and unobtainable. For my behavioral type once I realised others could live well it (so why couldn't I), that helped build and focus on my plan and stick to my techniques, was a long road but worked for me. Hence why I still post here as I want to give hope and try and help others not suffer like I did. I wish you all the best, stay safe