Don’t mean to put a downer on things but having had loud T for nearly 2 years, I have not habituated and I’m not sure I ever will. I still hear it, think about it and focus on it all day every day. Yes, I have tried everything from yoga and meditation to ‘making friends’ with my tinnitus’ and sound therapy. Nothing works.
I live my life, work, look after my kids, do everything I would have done anyway but I never forget about it. The uncomfortable metallic radio tuning buzz which makes me dizzy. Even when swimming, on the tube in a busy place, there it is!
I try to remain positive - I’m a very passionate, upbeat person but there’s no denying it’s affected the quality of my life hugely.
I remain hopefully but think T has stolen that deep sense of well-being.
Just putting an honest post out there go or those of us who don’t habituate. T is not an easy thing to live with. Not everyone learn to accept it but hopefully most find ways to cope.
We are all warriors.
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ArtyPants46
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I empathise ArtyPants46 After two and a half years I haven't fully habituated but I'm in a much better place. T still casts a shadow but it's not so dark. T is no longer my enemy but nor is it my friend. Life is different. There's no time limit on habituation as far as I know. You may get there yet. I live in hope too. It just takes some people longer than others. We are all warriors - as you say - stronger and braver than we know.
I agree with you , I too find it very difficult. Some days are better than others. It helps me if I keep busy, walk my poodles helps. I have not habituated either. Some days when I do feel better I think maybe I am getting there, but then I get another day when I think it’s a no go. I guess we must put a brave face on things and just get used to it.
Yes, I’m a positive person and my life carries on but it’s always there and I never forget about it. I think I’m just too anxious and sensitive to fully habituate, especially as my T comes with dizziness. Heho, life goes on and I’m determined to enjoy it.
I can agree with you ArtyPants my journey is very much like yours. I wish I could give you a solution to help particularly in the habituation which I long for. Is it out there for me , one day I hope so.
After two years I now have hearing aids which in the beginning I though rubbish this won't help , we shall see into week 2. They are unnoticeable in my ear and easy to use. I am grateful to get the chance to get these I was referred from ENT.
They have actually helped in the evening when sitting and watching TV they mask the T. Amazing.
I just need to conquer the bed time and the morning wake up call of screaming 😱 ear and head . At the moment I listen to peaceful sleeping music through my ear pods , and drop off to sleep, have you tried this .
Watch "Relaxing Sleep Music • Deep Sleeping Music, Fall Asleep, Meditation Music #44" on YouTube
I am so happy to hear you have had some relief with the hearing aids. That's really encouraging to hear. Can I ask what type of hearing loss you have? Mine is high frequency loss in both ears but more in left.
Hi ArtyPants, I know exactly how you feel, I am into nearly 3 years with Tinnitus and it took me just over 2 years to what I call is " learnt to live with it " I still have days when my Tinnitus seems very loud but most days it`s just in the background. For the first 2 years I thought the same as you, how can I carry on living with this noise but I just started to think I am not in any pain and there are a lot of other people with more serious illness than I have "e.g. Rob Burrows" You are doing all the right things and hopefully your life with Tinnitus will improve.
Thanks for your response - it gives me hope. I've had better weeks over the past two years - when you are in a dark place it hard to remember that. I had a really bad night with incredibly loud ringing and vertigo the other night and just started thinking bad things. I have three kids who need me - I had to really focus on them to lift myself out of that. In a slightly better frame of mind today but do worry about the future, it get worse etc.
Mate I could have wrote that as that’s exactly how I feel. I know it’s negative and people need hope but it’s robbed me of happiness. It’s been 2 years and it’s constantly on my mind and now I think it’s actually making me lose my sanity. I’m not trying to be dramatic but I have moments where I blank out and forget where I am. Please don’t think that I’m trying to frighten other sufferers.
I'm a naturally positive person but I just wanted to be realistic about habituation as it just doesn't happen to everyone. That said, they are ways for us to cope and life can still be lived (almost to the full).
Here are some things that help me cope and feel good: walks in the woods, swimming, getting enough sleep, eating healthily, thinking about my loved ones, planning holidays. What help have you had? When you say you blank out and forget where you are, when does that happen?
I'm probably similar, but whilst I'm aware of it a significant amount of the time it doesn't bother me to the extent it did earlier so I'm taking that as a level of habituation and a positive
I hate it and 100% its affected my life significantly but again I've adapted to not overly worked up about that.
I've had only had it just over two years. Constant hight pitched hiss/ whine.
Rob, sounds very similar sound to mine. Like you I try not to get worked up about it. The vertigo that accompanies mine tips it from being tolerable to being horrible. I am determined to not let it beat me but I find my mind wandering to dark places sometimes.
All this stuff is scary, especially as I'm under 35. Hope i do habituate. Hope you also in time.
Has anyone here who hasn't habituated had therapy?
I've had CBT - it was ok but didn't help me habituate. That said, if anyone on here is feeling low they should definitely speak to someone and seek therapy. I have called the Tinnitus helpline a few times over the last 2 years and they are so helpful. Don't suffer in silence.
Yes. I understand. That's how I felt a couple of years ago. How was I ever going to recover?! Give yourself lots of time. Be kind to yourself. Talk to your friends and family. Are you sleeping? That's top priority if you're not.
I sort of sleep, and i have sleep apnea anyway, so sleep has always been weird for me. I dream a lot and feel tired throughout the day. I have my partner and my 1yo son, not really have any friends left. I've been a recluse for years before my constant T, now i feel even more of the effects my OCD has caused.
I'm sorry. I can imagine it's not easy to manage both conditions side by side. Perhaps you would benefit from a tinnitus support group - if you felt able to go or online - if you don't. There's a list on the BTA website.
don’t give up. I’m confident I can get to step 2! You can too. Feeling a bit more positive today despite my vertigo being bad. Just trying to live for each day. Seize the moment.
Hello! I had very loud T for years, with extremely crazy spikes with suicidal thoughts! I began to search frantically on the web because science does not give me any answer.
If you TRY ALL of this, I'm sure in two or three month you’ll be much better!!
1.- Mother tincture of Passinflower plant at night, but you don,t have to take medicine for sleep!
2.- Magnesium L-Threonate (only this Magnesium works well with T.) in the morning and five hours before sleep.
3.- GABA with Gingko Biloba and L-Theanine before breakfast.
4.- Control your blood pressure and detects if you snore or have cervical problems.
I don't understand. But I understand english. Have you had success with all "useful" things that you try until now? Seriously you think I have time and energy for being funny? I'm trying to help with things that help me a lot. I saw many doctors with no answers. If you are happy with no solutions... Please tell me which are potentially dangerous, and why.
I’m intense because a suffered a maddening T, not aggressive. You’re just repeating to those who advise and fix nothing. I'm feeling so good with low T, that's all I can say.
You were aggressive. These are guidelines to help people not suffer more or pay for stuff that doesn't work. I'd trust a scientist over some matey on a forum.
• in reply to
And good for you having low T, i wouldn't be here if i didn't have loud T.
I didn't judge your writing i simply pointed out that what you suggested has been proven not to work and can be harmful. You didn't like that and got aggressive. Good luck to you.
My luck has arrived. Do you think I don't like the fact that I found a cure for myself, with hours of searching without prejudice, and almost spending no money? May be, may be...
Hi Smokey - many people on this forum have recommended Magnesium L-Threonate to help T . I take L theanine as recommeded by AldoA and i have found that it can take the edge off my severe T. The personnel experience of T sufferers and what helps them, is just as valid as any treatments offered by medical profession , which only amount to sound therapy and CBT both of which do not work well for me but help many others - which is the case for most treatments.
Yes there is a question mark about the Gingko but the others are generally safe in moderation - but these supplements are not less safe than medications such as anti- depressants / anti anxiety meds for tinnitus distress ( which can increase the T perception as well as other side effects)
Honestly, I'm done with these fourms , do what you want spread miss information to vulnerable people. BTA have literally done scientific research to help others not get worse or waste thier time, but some matey on a fourm has all the answers, drop me out.
jeez ! its just a difference of opinion - and theres always a variety of opinions and advice on this forum.
Medical Science does not fully understand tinnitus and the options for treating severe T are limited . My T is severe for more than 1 year now and I just need just something to take the edge of the volume, and i have only found this with 2 of the supplements recommended by AldoA and I dont take these every day . Supplements can be helpful and can work for some and not others.
If u are in the early months of tinnitus, it is very difficult and depressing and distressing - but it will not be like that forever - keep hope - most people can habituate , although for some it take longer. I have found i have to be careful with noise and i use ear plugs in certain situations.
Hi I am very interested to find out where you bought GABA from? Having a neurological condition and T with a bilateral hypofunction this is one supplement I was thinking of trying. As I understand it is freely available in the US but not in the UK. How are you finding it?
Try a hot bath before bed and do self soothing to your face and neck I've done it know daily for 3 months and it is reducing the T to a 2/3.Try self Havenning in the morning, overall it will gradually get better, there is no straight line recovery, stress is the major factor we all need to promote Delta brain waves getting to the Amygdala in the brain. Appreciate T a bit of a minefield but ANYTHING that reduces stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, no matter how small will gradually help us to have some control.Body scans also really help reducing T activation, and maintain our important mindset.
My ENT specialist told me it will improve, I believe using gentle body awareness, will calm our overwhelmed minds, but it's not helped in any way with pushing ourselves with timescales.Have a listen to Dr Jennifer Gans on u tube regarding letting go of bothersome Tinnitus to non bothersome Tinnitus?
Thanks for all the responses. I’m feeling a bit more positive today. I think I had a bad couple of days and my mind went to a dark place. I’m someone who loves life and lives it to the full so I think the T and vertigo (often accompanied by nausea) hanging over me feels like it will threaten that and it makes me depressed at times. I’m hopefully seeing my audio-vestibular consultant soon. When I last spoke to him he did say that everyone he sees with my symptoms feels down sometimes. I also wanted to add that The Tinnitus association have been a lifeline for me and anyone on here who is feeling really down about their T, I really recommend you call them. We can get through this crazy buddy world. We are in it together. Let’s keep this thread friendly and as positive as we can. Thanks 😊
I have had severe T for 1 yr m half and hasnt improved and it has restricted my life - sometimes its so loud (evening mostly) - or other times i am low mood - and also i have times when i can just get on with stuff.
I’m so sorry to hear that and I can totally empathise. I was crying about it in the week. Nights are the worst aren’t they? I find going to sleep and waking up with it still there so depressing. But I still love life. I’m just trying to focus on all the things I love more and go them more. Do you have a hobby? I find cold water swimming helps me so much and walks in the woods.
I go for walks every day along country lane - as i live in a village outside of Aberdeen . There are other nice walks and short drives around as well. I cant go too far in car as it pushes up the T , so I havent been able to go down to N.Yorkshire ( where I am from) to visit relatives.
can i ask u about the Vertigo - is this short episodes ? - every day?
My vertigo is low level all the time - has been like this for one year. I'm woken every night at 4am with room spinning and nausea. The only thing that helps is getting up. General disequilibrium every day. Loud T all the time. I have no idea why this is happening but I am 47 and so possibly it's linked to perimenopause. My diagnosis so far is chronic vestibular migraine, possible meniere's but waiting for follow-up appointment. How about you?
I dont have the vertigo - I really feel for u -do u have to have medication for the vertigo ? I developed T after a head bump and then triggered by music speakers
I was on migraine preventative meds for 6 months. Did absolutely nothing so for now med free. I’m hoping to try betahistine next year. It’s used to treat Ménière’s and is meant to help with vertigo. I now look back to the year when I just had tinnitus and long to be back there. Vertigo is by far my worst symptom 😔
I have tried Betahistine, did nothing for me, both low and high dose. Ménière's was first diagnosed but I knew that was not it, now left ear hypofunction that causes dizziness and vertigo with T. Now trialling a HA, private as so fed up with waiting for NHS appointments. And early days but so far results are positive. For me the dizziness and vertigo was worse than T. Whatever the condition then people have good and bad days and can vary throughout the day too. Someone mentioned MND and when you have a neurological condition that effects 24/7 of life then T does not take priority. We must all be grateful for the things in life that brings us joy.
Define healing? Define most people? Most of the population of the planet have some level of tinnitus but it is at a level that they do not hear it unless in a quiet room.
Most people that 'heal' from tinnitus do not come back on the forums to pass their story on.
Posts like this one are not helpful for people that are suffering and looking for the guidance of what they can do to manage their tinnitus.
There is a lot you can do to manage your tinnitus and habituate over time.
Habituation is possible for most people.
Most people?
Yeah, Tinnitus is bad news. But you know something? so is diabetes, so is MS, chronic leukaemia, being stuck in a wheelchair is no fun either....the list of chronic conditions is l o n g and sad, and no, it is not easy to live with a chronic condition, but it is possible. People do. Hold this thought and it will give you comfort and hope.
We try to do the best we can. We take courage and hope from people who are in the same boat as us. A treatment which would alleviate one person's T, might not touch another's. That is because we are all so different, our psyche, our mind, work in different ways.
Are peanuts bad? Of course not; yet they would send a susceptible person into an anaphylactic shock.
Same is with CBT, it may work wonders for some but leave others out in the cold. This in NOT because CBT is no good. This is because we are individuals and may or may not relate to it.
Same is with sound therapy, white noise, black noise, waterfall, whatever pleases your brain will do.
One thing I can tell you, vincentchan, venting your anger is not going to help you. Banging your head against the solid brick wall of T is no good.
Tinnitus is a bastard this way: the more you stress about it, the more heavy handed it becomes.
Please remember, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hold this thought and believe in it, because it is true.
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