How do I tune this out?

[ViolinP]

Hi. It’s nearly a year since this thing started. I have bilateral tinnitus and hear 3 or 4 different sounds. Although I’m well past the seriously deranged early days, I can’t seem to get to the bit where you tune it out. I’ve done a mindfulness course and use meditation to relax when needed, been fitted with hearing aids, use sound masking as necessary and taken up some volunteering. I can do most things I want to do - I play in an orchestra with the help of musician’s ear plugs, go to the theatre, eat in restaurants and even been to ABBA voyage with ear muffs. However, I hear the tinnitus all the time. It’s not always loud but it is always there. My husband tells me not to listen to it, but I don’t know how to do that. I never know which sound and how loud it’s going to be each day.

Is this just a matter of time now? Has anyone got any suggestions for what I might try?

Many thanks

[Happyrosie]

yes, “ dont listen to it” - that’s the stage to get to. Easier said than done.

Let me give you an example.

I bought a flat on a main road. The first nights I was kept awake by traffic. After a week I was going bonkers with lack of sleep, But within a couple of months, well, I’d got used to it. Even changed noises (fire engines, motor bikes).

Your brain gets used to it. Might take a long time.

[ViolinP in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you Happyrosie for your reply. There’s a mile of difference between knowing where you want to get to and being able to get there. I guess it’s a matter of time.

[doglover1973]

Hi VP . It's a good question but there's no easy answer. I was able to tune out of T for a decade but I can't anymore - now it's considerably louder . Whether I will again I don't know. It sounds as if you're doing really well after only a year . Keep doing what you're doing. One day it might just happen. ABBA voyage sounds fun!

[ViolinP in reply to doglover1973]

Thanks for your encouragement doglover 1973. I think I’m asking a lot in expecting to have habituated in a year. Sounds like time will tell. ABBA Voyage was fun but loud and I simply didn’t care what I looked like in my ear defenders!

[doglover1973 in reply to ViolinP]

Haha. Good for you 🙂

Yes. I think so. The average time from onset to habituation is 18 months. The difficulty for you is you don't know which sounds you're going to hear and how loud they're going to be. That's unsettling to say the least. Hopefully your T will become more stable. It often does over the course of time.

[Darren6 in reply to doglover1973]

Adding to this that my habituation process took approx 18 months also.

[ViolinP in reply to Darren6]

Thanks Darren. I haven’t given up hope yet and it’s good to know that a year is still relatively new in the scheme of things.

[doglover1973 in reply to Darren6]

That's good news Darren. Habituation can take longer and it's not always complete (as in my case). I no longer worry about it. If this is as good as it gets it's OK.

[ViolinP in reply to doglover1973]

Yes it is the unpredictable nature of the beast that I find the hardest to deal with. I’m still hopeful as I do have quiet days and hopefully they’ll become the norm as time goes on.

[doglover1973 in reply to ViolinP]

It's a very good sign you have quiet days. It means it's possible 🙂

[bournville]

I found that this easier said than done aspect of tinnitus to be entirely psychological. I saw a psychologist who specialises in tinnitus and that helped me give the sound a lot less priority - it’s still there all the time but mainly I only really notice my spikes these days. It took me about 18 months to find the right person to help me so keep trying !

[ViolinP in reply to bournville]

Thanks Bournville. Who did you see and how did you find them?

[bournville in reply to ViolinP]

I saw Dr Laurence McKenna at UCLH hospital London on NHS. He does private too I understand.

[ViolinP in reply to bournville]

The main man then! Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi,Just reading about your experience with tT and the replies makes me hopeful and grateful too.

I developed T 3 months ago but just in right ear. It's high pitched whistling that can either last a minute to hours but I have had periods of quite and days when it's not so bothersome.

Zoning out, ignoring or staying distracted works for awhile but then I just want it to stop completely. I know accepting its not going away is the hardest part for me at the moment.

I am glad you have managed so well and continue too.

[ViolinP in reply to Hidden]

Hi Lavender63. I wish it would just go away too! I have good and bad days and I sometimes feel I’ve made no progress at all. But I know I have really and I just need to be more patient about achieving habituation.

I’m so glad I posted here. Such a supportive group!

[Hidden]

Yes. It's getting into good practice each day. I journal to which helps me get my feelings out and reminds me of my good days which comfort and reassures me on my not so good days. Walking mediation and deep breathing/ alternate nostril breathing is helpful. Meditation can take different forms as sitting in the lotus position or just sitting trying to visual colour doesn't work for everyone. We all find what works for us as we are all different. That's why being on this support site helps as people share tips and advice. Some people have just developed T while others have had it for much of their lives. I do have faith that it will get better as time goes by as we learn to adapt. It's not life threatening just life changing .

I really do hope you learn to habituate as it takes time so don't be to hard on yourself as you are doing really well. 🙂✨️🌷

[Hidden]

Yes. It's getting into good practice each day. I journal to which helps me get my feelings out and reminds me of my good days which comfort and reassures me on my not so good days. Walking mediation and deep breathing/ alternate nostril breathing is helpful. Meditation can take different forms as sitting in the lotus position or just sitting trying to visual colour doesn't work for everyone. We all find what works for us as we are all different. That's why being on this support site helps as people share tips and advice. Some people have just developed T while others have had it for much of their lives. I do have faith that it will get better as time goes by as we learn to adapt. It's not life threatening just life changing .

I really do hope you learn to habituate as it takes time so don't be to hard on yourself as you are doing really well. 🙂✨️🌷

[ViolinP in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!🙏