as a severe sufferer just want to let all my people know that you can live with it, hang in there when times are tough. There are ways to cope maybe not right away but over time it must become your friend not your enemy. Living with Tinnitus is a mental game not a physical. You Just have to find what works for you. Pills, medication, cognitive therapy, sports/hobbies, counselling, meditation, diet. I mean each of our cases is different but all the coping strategies are the same like I said you just have to find what helps you. Being stressed and anxious or depressed is the worse thing for you T , believe me I’ve tried every route and found a stable positive state of mental health is one of the biggest contributors to heightened T.
Don’t think that mine’s not as bad as yours right now because it is. Every waking (and sleeping) moment it’s there screaming in my head! We have the same thing in different forms so I can completely understand what it’s like and how it affects you. You’re not alone. Need to chat reach out! Need to listen reach out. There are people here for us.
Either way you’re gonna be okay, there’s something out there for you just need to trust the process and try to remain hopeful and positive as hard as it may sound. 🙏🙏😩
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Left_earMike
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According to more than one expert, T distress is not linked to the sufferer's subjective experience of T loudness. Now I may find that improbable, incomprehensible - but good research supports it. A person such as you, with a positive frame of mind, and better things to do (and a will to do them), than listen to the T, does seem able to keep things in perspective and live well. It may not be my condition, but for the > 95% of people whose T, though it may be very loud, is not perceived by them as catastrophic it is true - and it is encouraging for sufferers who often encounter negativity on these forums, to find a different opinion expressed.
completely understand what your saying. Believe me when I say, you have to go through the bad to get to the good. I still have bad days but figuring out who I am as a person and what makes my mind tick was the key to managing my T attacks.
Negativity only begets negativity but positivity will always overrule the negativity. It’s about state of mind yes you can get different opinions and ways of learning others experiences with T but thinking negatively will induce a negative mindset which is tinnitus’s best friend. Not an ideal combination if you’re looking for relief.
I only hope everybody that suffers with this phenomenon some day finds some sort of cure and go about a good healthy lifestyle 🙏
Pearlcoder I understand what you are saying about positivity it's better than being negative with t. But I'm telling you now anxiety and depression is definitely tinnitus best friend and it will get worse if you don't sought out the anxiety. It dose something to the fight or flight in the blood stream . All i know is 6 years ago I had health anxiety and depression and that definitely made me get t. Then my anxiety went through the roof becouse of the t.did not want to go on antidepressants (sertraline) because I heared stories that made it worse . I was under the mental health team and at the end I gave in and went on sertraline and after a while a good 6 months to a year I went upto 150mg but it got rid of my anxiety and depression took a while but for 5 years I didn't even notice my tinnitus and if I did I just got over it .so now 5 or 6 years on my tinnitus as got bad I now have general anxiety and can't get the tinnitus out of my head which is not helping my anxiety. So now I have Been on sertraline for 3 weeks not getting any better yet but have only just started. Let's see how it goes I also have hearing loss going to ent tinnitus next Friday so that could have made it worse and wax ears don't help either . But antidepressants definitely got me out of a black hole because I would not be here today .and I have also been told not to go on Google or any negative forums as that will not help you because there are always horror stories and that's a negative there millions of people with tinnitus and most of them live with it whether they done it themselves or used medication which I'm trying again we are all different what works for one don't work for another. Good luck everyone.
I understand. I am now more than 20 years into T, with a major deterioration six years ago and continuing to worsen. We are all different. Those six years ago I had a few months of sertraline - it had no impact at all on my T (other people's experiences will differ). It did well with the anxiety of the sudden deterioration, but I don't see it as a longer term solution for me. It is generally a good idea, I think, to keep away from the negative spiral of forums - on the other hand they can provide helpful companionship.
We all find our own path. Best wishes to all in this thread finding theirs.
Hello Mike. Thanks for sharing. That's very positive. Totally agree it's a battle of the mind. I have loud T and I'm well on my way to recovery but I'd like to think about T less than I do now. Is it possible to put loud T out of your mind? Have you managed to do so? Thank you.
thank you dog lover. I hope your recovery is swift. Out of my mind? I suppose yes and no. It’s a question of will power and a mixture of feelings, emotions and state of mind. For instance: if I’m more stressed than usual for whatever reason and maybe a little dehydrated from my day I’ll find my focus levels being less than if I was to have a productive day with less stress and more hydration. I think many things are linked to how our tinnitus sets off of heightens and always try to reduce stress anxiety and blood pressure. Diet is another factor. Sugar, smoking etc.
It’s really a case of discovering what can distract you enough from the fact that T does not go away.
Thank you Left_earMike Interesting name. Do you have more of problem with your left ear than your right one? Or vice versa? I'm almost deaf in one ear .
Doglover the main problem I have at the moment is listening to the TV my t wants to out do the volume whatever I have the volume up or down . The rest if I'm doing something else I can not listen to t . Like walking excersise talking but at the moment I'm looking for the noise which makes my tinnitus worse soon as I can stop looking for it I will get better . I am on sertraline only just started 3 weeks ago so only new to it .but 6 years ago I had depression and anxiety went on sertraline and that got me through and also stopped me listening for t . So I hope it does the same this time. I learned not to hear t. For nearly 5 years but after xmas came back strong and loud I think louder than last time but my family said last time you said it was loud.so it's now mainly the TV that's keeping me distressed no other loud noise is.i use sound therapy at night I have the miniature noise machine and under pillow speakers and that drowns it out quiet a bit . On a frequency that's 4000 common noise for tinnitus. I'm going to ent (tinnitus clinic) next Friday so I have some hearing loss so see our that goes .
Thanks Chedders I know what you're saying. I lived with T for a long time and didn't listen to it but since it got louder I can't help but listen. Hope all goes well at ENT next Friday. Make sure you ask everything you need to know.
I was put on sertraline , after been on mitazapine it takes a while and helped with anxiety ,but at times T was still a problem to me . trying to over ride it tv helps hobbies , reading .would love to meet up with people lkie minds socail chat ,can traval live in banbury area .janet
I think your post is brilliant , thank you very much . I agree with all you have said and although I am recovering I still have quite a long way to go.
When my tinnitus is loud,( it does vary from day to day) what helps me is that I think of it as a force field protecting me. Sounds weird I know, but it does help me put it out of my mind
that’s a really good idea! I’m going to try that. I try to think if mine as the sea (it’s more like a really loud gas hob on full) so that it doesn’t distress me on bad days.
Hi, thanks for your post. i can very much relate to it. I have overcome my tinnitus (as you say its still there screaming away) but my brain doesn't focus on it. I feel I have been very strong minded and used CBT and sound therapy to get to this point. The hardest part is breaking the anxiety and negativity at the beginning. Once you are through this it starts to ease over time. You are so right with saying you need to stay positive, no matter how hard it gets as it will get better over time.
My tinnitus is comparatively recent and has hit me hard at times and I'm finding it mentally difficult at times. The doctor has put me on on anti depressants which have helped. With so many negative thoughts in my head I found your post helpful, very helpful
and that’s it Alan. All we need is one good thing a day 💯 to give us another reason to cope. It would be so easy to give up Trust me I’ve tried and almost succeeded. My closest and my fellow T sufferers are why kept and continue to keep me going. One day there will be a procedure or operation that will remove this awful sensation/sound. I believe it. 🙏
I had some CBT sessions a year and a half ago and the practitioner told me to give the sound a shape and a colour and see it in your mind the way you want it to be.
needed to read this as my T is thru the roof and i want push on with my life. It’s so tough. Trying CBT but it feels like it’s getting worse and my body is in constant flight/fight mode. Anyone any advice?
so sorry to hear that your T is worsening. I’ve not tried CBD avenues yet but planning to try soon as I can afford it lol
Ok so here’s the thing. Many factors play in with how our tinnitus heightens or lessens mainly what’s going on with our body, the rest is all mental health.
For example if you’re usually more stresses or tired most likely your T will heighten or worsen. High blood pressure, lack of sleep, excessive external noise, bad diet are also contributors to T. The mental side of it is about control of your thoughts and your prospective on what it is you’re actually dealing with. Learning acceptance and practicing gratitude is the key to understanding why we feel mentally challenged with tinnitus. It’s only normal to feel this way Nanima. Nobody is built or designed to deal with this suffering and you must find ways to cope.
Meditation is extremely helpful if you can find time and space to give it a go. Also condescending noises such as the sounds of water, the wind, nature and relaxing soundscapes. YouTube has lots and lots of videos of these kinds of sounds.
you sound a very caring person and have found a way to cope with it . Each of us has our own struggle . Yes I’m hoping I’m beginning to come out of the depression stage and blaming myself for not checking the meds side effects and my doctor for prescribing it might take a while .
This post is perfect just what I needed, in September I woke up to T and was a horrendous experience really contemplated whether I wanted to be here anymore. However having not long had a baby who needs me I had to keep going. I'm still finding my way and trying to keep positive and busy. It sure has its tough moments, like now I'm hearing it louder than usual sounds like an aeroplane take off constantly in the one ear. Your post offers, hope, knowing that we all are connected by experiencing T however offer comfort to one another on here.
I pray we all find some way of coping and moving forward with life as best as we can 💜🙏🏽
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