So sorry to hear that @IntotheBlue03. Besides medication, I think you need someone to talk to. I can firmly reassure you that you will be fine. Take comfort in the fact that the tinnitus trend-wise remains stable, despite the intrusive reactivity to sound. Take comfort in that many has learnt to deal with it and lead normal life, and quite a few have had it improve or resolve completely. You WILL be fine. Praying.
Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Do you have anyone to hug? I would have perished if I didn't have the support of my family when severe panic broke lose at tinnitus onset.
Thank u so much @Stacken77 u r a breath of fresh air always. What's funny is my T has been better it's the panic that is out of control. I've unfortunately resorted to taking 0.125 Clonazepam for now. Hoping it can break this cycle bc I keep escalating. I'll have to look at a taper at some point. I have a psychiatrist and a TRT therapist now but the panic has beaten me.
I'm hoping that's a good sign because I've been able to increase sound around me and the T seems less reactive but that of course could be because I'm focused on the panic @Stacken77
Either way I'm almost 3 mo in and focused 100% on controlling the panic because that is definitely dominating my life right now. I did start hydroxyzine but it didn't do much for my physical panic symptoms. Did it help u with chest pain/racing heart etc? @Stacken77
@IntotheBlue03 I see. I don't have much advice to give, but I sincerely believe you will get to a much better place in time. The panic should ease its grip eventually. I have sought strategies outside the realm of medication to cope with anxiety and panic, but of course it surely isn't as effective as medication.
@IntotheBlue03 My main problem was that my heart began to race as I drifted off to sleep in the initial days of panic. This completely blocked me from falling asleep. Hydroxyzine helped my nervous system relax and hence my heart rate. I took at most 20 mg before bed (which I now realize was a small dose). 50 mg is max recommended dose here. It should make one drowsy/sleepy, hence more relaxed.
Thanks @Stacken77 maybe that's what I will try this evening because my problem is always taking really low doses of my medication out of fear. I hope it didn't cause me to develop tolerance to Grandaxin. I only took 5mg of the Hydroxyzine last night. Probably way too small to have much effect?
@IntotheBlue03 Yeah, 5 mg probably didn't do much. 10 mg gives slight effect, but 20 mg seems to have helped me more. Again these are all small doses, so nothing to worry about. I'd be cautious though to use it for more than a few days at a time, just to be safe. I don't know for sure if it can effect tinnitus or hyperacusis. Should be safer than benzos though as it doesn't build tolerance.
You're doing the right thing, got to tackle the panic and anxiety first. Once that has been handled your brain will start lowering the tinnitus since you will eventually tune it out. Maybe lol
The crazy thing is its been fairly low this past week even with me trying to taper from Grandaxin. For whatever reason my T didn't increase with my stress. The panic has completely dominated everything and has me ready to run to the hospital at this point if the Clonazepam doesn't kick in unfortunately. My panic is the highest it has ever been :( @Wrfortiscue
I understand, you just have to make it through
@Stacken77 ur sweet yes I do have great full time support with my mom since I've reverted back to a toddler with this condition. She literally puts me to sleep at night. I'm waiting for this Clonazepam to kick in and am getting nervous that it isn't. Wondering if the Grandaxin caused some kind of crossover tolerance. I haven't taken the clonazepam at all before today.