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When I was new to learning habituation skills and keeping hash marks to track my progress, I handled situations like the one you described—such as reading—by checking in every 5 or 10 minutes. I would acknowledge my tinnitus by saying to myself, “I hear my tinnitus, and I am feeling X.” I didn’t...

I don't know the answer to your question. Maybe these folks would be helpful: Pain Psychology Center. They have virtual programs available so just Google that name and you will find them.

I have all sorts of sounds myself. Tinnitus comes in many "types," if you will, like this list: Tinnitus can be a single tone, multi-tonal, or noise-like. It can be soft or loud, high or low pitched. It can be constant, pulsing, or intermittent. It can begin suddenly or gradually. It can be...

My Summary on How to Implement the Back to Silence Method The "Back to Silence" method involves avoiding any measurement, monitoring, description, or comparison of tinnitus sounds. The focus is on shifting attention away from the sounds and managing emotional responses. To simplify, follow the...

It’s really nice to read about your progress on the road to habituation. I’m reminded of Henry Ford’s quote, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you are right.” That idea does have some validity here, though it’s true that, for some unexplained reason, certain people do not reach stage...

Here is my thinking. If you practice meditation, you’re likely familiar with the concept of “noting.” In the Back to Silence method, the approach is to say: When you hear the sound(s), say to yourself: “I hear it, and I feel [insert your true emotion].” In mindfulness and emotional awareness...

I’ve had tinnitus for 13 years. I first developed it after a loud sound exposure, which I would now classify as mild tinnitus. It took me about a year to habituate, and like most people, I was really anxious at the beginning. The second time, a major loud sound event pushed my tinnitus to a...

This is Terry's method, which in my experience and years of posting on this thread, works for many to facilitate habituation: The "Back to Silence" method involves not measuring the sound(s), not monitoring the tinnitus sound(s) or focusing on it, and not describing or comparing the sound(s)...

What were they thinking? I guess to them, the whole Christian thing is the truth, and anything else other than the Christian thing is a lie. Did they even consider the possibility that someone might think the opposite, with the Christian thing being the lie? I wonder. Too funny. Am I missing...

As an Agnostic Atheist (one who does not believe or think there is a way to 100% disprove or prove the existence of a deity or not a deity, yet still does not believe in a deity), I like how Chat GPT 4.0 writes about it here:

Sorry to read of your troubles. I trust you have seen an ENT or Neurologist maybe for this level of troubles. I don't think the Back to Silence method would impact what you are experiencing.

I figure a lot of people started just like you write... hearing it all the time. There is no rigid "rule" if you will. It would be fine to mark it only when the brain causes you to attempt to measure it and see how that works for you. Does it reduce the number of times the brain attempts to...

The "don't monitor it" part means for one to keep listening to it constantly to keep track of what it sounds like and using every descriptive word one can come up with to describe it that many people do. They also hop online and have posts about it and comment on others who are doing the same...

I would agree with the each their own and different strokes for different folks aspect. What you are talking about with the "becoming accustomed to the sound" aspect is one I use. I found out about the approach of Glenn Schweitzer via his book Rewiring Tinnitus. He has a website with some free...

Many people have a white noise machine, or and electronic version, that they use for sleeping. I presume you are using one of them. If not, I would suggest you begin. I would also suggest you focus your attention on the sound of the white noise machine when you go to bed to sleep. If your mind...

Well that was a lot for my mind to follow. These days I just don't want to think that much it seems. Smart young man to be sure. Entertaining as well.Thanks for posting it. I think among the upsides of dying is the possibility of getting to find out if there is some sort of afterlife or not. I...

Well, interesting to note on "Rotten Tomatoes" that the critics give it 46% and the audience give it 86%. If you want to entertain yourself, the critics and audience reviews are here.

Yes, there are good people who are believers to be very sure. In the Orlando, Florida area where I live one of the three hospital systems is owned by the Seventh Day Adventist Christians. It is a super hospital system. I would much rather be in it with their people than the other two options. I...

Sounds like a confusing situation to be sure to get mixed messages from the adults. I was really, really bad at math beyond grade school. Failed Algebra one 2x in High School (I am in the USA). Managed to get through it and Geometry as well by being placed in the "slow class" that was designed...

I think we are on the same page. I did not have good abstract reasoning at 12... it was only dawning then. It took me decades to sort through everything both emotionally and rationally. I was well into my forties before I got close to getting free of the fear of eternal damnation and reached the...

Why you wonder? Well because God works in mysterious ways that us humans can't comprehend what God is up to was what I was taught in Catholic school as a child. I bought the whole enchilada until I reached the age of abstract reasoning which begins at age 12 or so and it took me a few decades to...

I hope when you read my colorful chart you are not thinking I think you can just ignore tinnitus. I personally don't recommend anyone just ignore it nor does the Back to Silence method recommend that nor any other approach I can think of. I also agree with you that new treatments need to be...

I would say the following to your questions: 1. In terms of scientific research on tinnitus, there is insufficient science to definitively say about treatments or education about how to habituate although some treatments to facilitate habituation have more research on them than others. There...

I am not clear on what you are asserting with "those cases" and with "...which is a very different thing." All I can say is there is at least a preponderance of the evidence that there is value for most people by far in learning how to habituate over "letting it happen naturally" and value for...

Yes, for most people habituation happens normally over time especially for those with mild tinnitus. For most people, usually the beginning of tinnitus, in the first few weeks the distress level is very high or even extremely high. Then over months it tends to decrease. If there are systems in...

I have read this type of assertion many times. It may be 100% correct for many with severe tinnitus or even most. My personal experience is it is not 100% correct for all. Why? I have at least moderate tinnitus sounds and I have habituated and I am not remarkable. People with really severe...

You may be right asserting that habituation isn't a real thing. There is no scientifically sourced proof for the generally believed to be true assertion that most people by far can and do habituate, with or without help, in time. It is definitely true that some people are unable or can't...

Thanks for mentioning Dr. Leme's protocol. I read the protocol and indeed it looks very good to me (I am a retired psychotherapist). He also has a book on it here. His program is very well documented and he supports people along the way. All at no cost. Certainly something to check out at the...

Just to be clear, Dr. Hubbard does not claim to cure anyone from tinnitus or hyperacusis. He only works with people to help them habituate. See here on how habituation is described:

You're welcome. I did not find your post too negative or combative. So I am good on my end. I am reminded of the Buddhist quote "Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional." If you can accept pain for what it is, an inevitable part of life, and practice this acceptance in the place of...

Well, with all due respect and a little tough love, I get the "I can't" in what you write. Your thinking is justifying why you can't in your post. That would need to change I figure to open up the possibility of change. The "I refuse to not wear earplugs" issue probably means you will spend...

I have two thoughts in reading your post. First where you write "...It's definitely not going to fade into the background in these situations." I am reminded of this: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” — Henry Ford Whenever my “self-talk” in my head says to me or...

Indeed you are in a tough spot. It is accurate some people just can not habituate so even getting into acceptance about that fact in your life might be useful in some way if you are not at that place now. I wish I could fix it for you and we know that is not possible. I do wish you well.

I am sorry to say it is true that some people can't habituate. One does not have to be on forums like Tinnitus Talk to know that. Then it is a bit of a paradox. To escape, one has to stop trying to escape, get into acceptance that tinnitus is likely here to stay has been my experience personally...

In what you write I would first say to "it sort of worked" that if you moved the needle up in habituation, then it is a successful technique to cultivate. By moving the needle up in habituation, see here: → 4 Stages of Habituation From what you wrote, I would say Dr. Hubbard is correct to a...

Well yes, an interesting issue of is a Zen Buddhist an Agnostic or not. I do know that Zen is non-theistic and even Atheistic or at least Agnostic in the sense of the whole question of God existing or not is just not a useful thing to dwell upon as nobody can know yes or no, thus very Agnostic...

I also don't do meditation as often as would be best for me so I get that. I had to get to these two places in getting to habituation: “God (or maybe “My Unconscious”, or “Universe” if God does not work for you), grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change...

Yes, the hyperacusis decreased as I habituated to the tinnitus the first time. That first time to habituation took about 6 months or so to get to level 4. The second time it took a month or two to get back to a level 4 of habituation with the sounds and hyperacusis. The hyperacusis issue for me...

I first got tinnitus from a loud sound event from a digital device while wearing earbuds. Like many if not most first timers with tinnitus, I freaked out totally. Could not sleep, could not concentrate, hyperacusis, suicidal ideation etc. Took me months to habituate to what I would call low...

I would not use the term "push it to the background" if you will. For me with what I consider moderate tinnitus, I become aware of it when I become aware of it and I don't when I don't. Either way it does not bother me. When I do become aware of it, I just say to myself "I hear my tinnitus and...

Ah your post reminds me of Joseph Campbell (University Professor who studied myths and comparative religion) who did a series in the USA decades ago called "The Power of Myth" on Public Broadcasting. The series was wonderful back in the late 1980s. It is free on YouTube here:

You write how religious belief can affect people's rights. Little question that is accurate. At least the preponderance of the evidence indicates that is the case. You would probably find this article of interest. It is from the New York Times: Do You Live in a ‘Tight’ State or a ‘Loose’ One...

Well, nothing wrong with being a theist of course. If there was a God, which I have no evidence of, I kind of like these two options I ran across in my pilgrimage. It would be nice if God exists, God is something like one of theses as well written by ChatGPT: #1 Seth, as channeled by Jane...

All well said. I am not interested in converting someone to agnosticism or atheism. I am interested in helping people to think the whole thing through if they have a mind. There are young ones who are coming to terms with their spiritual life with conflicts in their families over religion and...

Yes, I am aware of the assertion that feelings are another way of perceiving and if one lets go of the thinking then one can experience XXXXX. Here is where I think biology enters the picture. See this on the biology of feelings for example: The Biology of Emotions Or even better is this...

Welcome Sarah. Brave of you he says with a smile. Is that assertion your sole basis for believing there is a God? I am into the idea of if one doesn't know both sides of the argument, one has not thought it through enough. To get a refutation of the "Jesus resurrection" story see here...

I was brought up Catholic. I was also an alter boy going to a Catholic School. No approaches by Priests though. My mother, very Catholic, once asked me why none of her 3 children were Catholic. I said, well, you taught us to read widely and think critically. It is real hard to be a Catholic if...

The Bible seems very worthless to me as the basis for evidence of anything about the divinity of Jesus or the basis for religious belief. It just seems so compromised in too many ways. More like a work of fiction or at best a novel. Thanks for the Brian Cox video. All well said I thought by all...

Thanks for the acknowledgement @Lane. Your post reminded me of taking a course on Medical Anthropology. This written by ChatGPT for example of a main principle in Medical Anthropology: "Illness is a social and cultural construct: Medical anthropologists have shown that illness is not only a...

Very interesting that you make a distinction between Zen and Zen Buddhism. I had not thought of Zen stuff that way. I can get what you write since I have been into Secular Buddhism. Secular Buddhism is about taking the "religion" elements out of Buddhism which leaves the practices (mostly...

My take on the whole Jesus/God thing is to look first at if there is a God or not. I don't think anyone can prove it one way or the other. So I would look first at if there is a God or not and then, if I came to the conclusion there was a God, I would work out which religion was "the one" if you...

Interesting... I did not know that. When I got mine in 2011, I had a very hard time finding anything about tinnitus online. Now, there is a ton of information which is a good thing on balance I figure. Even with the poor information often given with good intent and the scammers that are out...

You would not be the first person who has asked about this type of situation so just know that. Of course as you know there are no guarantees in using this approach. I am reminded of a quote that goes like this: Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. If all the approach did was reduce...

Could you also use the same process with the sound distortions? Maybe like: "I hear a sound distortion, I feel... insert your true emotion" when they show up in your consciousness?

The "Back to Silence" method calls for not measuring the sound(s), not to monitor the tinnitus sound(s) or focus on it, do not describe the sound(s) or compare the sound(s). Another way to think about it is to follow the four "don’ts" of the Back to Silence method: 1 - Don't measure it. 2 -...

Here is something I posted on this topic on this thread in the past that might be useful: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/posts/625600/

You might find this of interest: Arguments Against the Existence of God (Overview) Enjoy, Henry (Agnostic Atheist)

Glad to hear it went back to your regular level. I wish it had worked for you. I use 100 mg, a low level, at most once or twice a week and don't have any trouble. I wish I had a solution for you that worked.

Sorry to hear that news. By spike do you mean temporary or do you mean your tinnitus is now permanently louder than before due to the L-Theanine?

Piggy back from George a bit on the acceptance part. I use this all the time in my life, not just with tinnitus: “God (or maybe “My Unconscious”, or “Universe” if God does not work for you), grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and...