Tinnitus Meditation - Rewiring Your Brain & Neuroplasticity

[Hopeful108]

Hello, 3 weeks ago I began hypnotherapy for tinnitus and there was an immediate improvement. The same day I began reading the book by Glenn Schweitzer "Rewiring Tinnitus". When reading it, it makes perfect sense. The short version is: we react to tinnitus as a perceived "threat" which heightens our sense awareness, making tinnitus seem worse, and so the cycle continues; he recommends replacing the "threat" response with a positive reaction/association and explains how to do this using various meditation techniques. I'm already a meditator so feel fortunate to have a head-start on his practice, which is basically meditating on the sound of tinnitus, in order to re-wire a central nervous system response away from "threat" and towards "calm". Although I've previously been meditating with a sound mask, to meditate without one is hard core! However, this is the path to habituation (so Glen says). I'm keen to connect with folks who have tried this technique for some time. Is there anyone who can share their experience? Thanks.

[rabbits65]

That sounds like a book worth getting and reading.

[daverussell]

The key for my habituation was understanding Tinnitus, what caused it (for me, at least, it is due hearing loss and, as a result, ear surgery as a kid) and how and why we respond. In terms of the latter our bodies response to fear/stress is tinnitus (film makers put in such sound effects during stressful and fearful moments in their films).

So yes, in a nutshell once you understand Tinnitus you realize there's nothing to fear.

However, despite habituation it can become prominent and triggered during more stressful phases/moments in life.

[AnotherLevel]

I’m all for reducing the effect but would prefer to find a cure however as the meditation through hypnotherapy appears to be working in that you are training your brain to ignore it then I must ask what about the next step - what about having hypnotism to permanently hypnotise your brain to totally ignore it into a state of “it’s gone”.

It seems you are already in a halfway house and therefore the next logical step to me would be to be hypnotised.

If you do take this direction I truly would love to here the results of the perceived forever freedom.

Good luck on your journey.

The definition

[Healthunlocked_s]

Hi, I’ve just started using the Oto app which uses CBT, mindfulness etc to change the way you react to the tinnitus & habituate. It’s early days but I’m finding it helpful so far. Just wish it was a bit cheaper!

[Bellyboo]

Helo. Hypnotism once worked for me 25 yrs ago for an anxiety disorder so it does work for some people so keep us posted. The first thing I do in the morning when I get out of bed….regardless of the trauma I’ve had during the night is SMILE at myself in the mirror to try and create some joy chemical in my brain. It’s a big 20 second smile and I try to be convincing. Sometimes I notice and dwell on my ridiculous white Turkey teeth which then turns into a laugh. This all helps not to take myself too seriously and to stay humble. My journey to habituation is 65% complete from where I was 4 years ago with zero help from any credible humans. Hearing aides help a little as well as this forum.

Best of luck with your hypnosis

[Ana20]

Thank! I’ll try it! Good health! I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon!🥰

[Artgirl98]

I'm definitely going to look up that book. I've had T for 10 months (since my one and bout of covid) and its gotten worse in the last 4 months probably due to stress. I looked up meditation for T on YouTube and this one helped me feel more comfortable with the sound. The first time I did it, I fell asleep before the video even finished and the T noise didn't bother me. I'm getting to the point where I'm getting fed up with masking noises and it's almost like a break to turn it off and just have the T 🙈 youtu.be/KjBopniQFtI?si=oBz...(Not working as expected?)

[Hopeful108 in reply to Artgirl98]

thanks, that was really good to listen to, I think this is the right approach to go down.

[Jabbey in reply to Artgirl98]

Hey there,I also had my first run in with covid just before Christmas.

Just some congestion and that's it.

A week later....very loud tinnitus suddenly, strangely enough 5 days in back to normal just like that.

Next day full blow tinnitus again.

Saw an audiologist, bought hearing aids that did nothing but make it worse in my opinion.

Just saw a ENT who said it's tinnitus and hyperacusis,

Driving me nuts. Good thing is she has had it, not covid related but understands how anxious you can get and said obviously habituation and mind over matter will get you there.

She did say the hyperacusis will subside at one point and the tinnitus will follow.

Let me tell ye that day can't come soon enough!

Cheers

[Tal-r789T]

Be interested to hear your experience although not something I've tried/would try.As any species, we adapt to our environment, such as when I used to live near a rail line as a child, ignoring the noise.

I've tried CBT and didn't work for me. But everyone is an individual. I think with the multiple/varied reasons for T (hearing loss, infections, emotional/psychological etc) it is a symptom. Like others I'd really want a cure that could turn the T off, however unrealistic my expectation.

Good luck with it.

[TheLadyLovesPink]

Hello there. I am new to this forum and also a lover of self-care via well being techniques. Have you discovered the app Oto? I have used this for over 12 months now and there are a lot of resources for example visualisations and sleep stories.

[TinnitusandAye]

I don't know much about the author but this was my process and I am having a more positive experience with my T.

[Karlos99]

the way I habituated was to associate my tinnitus with a clock. I’d meditate and visualise the noise of my tinnitus was powering this giant clock in my mind. I’d picture the hands going around. Basically I thought of my tinnitus as the power source. Once I’d got my brain to have this association with something so unimportant it stopped the fear and anxiety response. It’s hard to break the cycle as the natural response is negativity and this makes it worse. All the best.

[1966366]

I know that we are all different but I have never perceived T as a "threat". A threat to me is yesterday on the tube and a drunk with a knife; going up a alley in Thailand for a wee and being confronted with a King Cobra etc etc ... T is a noise/noises in the head and ears and in my opinion nothing to be scared of as it will not physically hurt one, and this is what "threat" implies. For me at least