Hey guys, I've been an active reader of all of the threads here and I've finally decided to join the discussion. This is an outstanding community that has been built here and I'm glad to be a part of it. I've had tinnitus since September of 2014. I went and saw a concert with a few of my friends, yet I was the only one who ended up with this irreversible tinnitus. Ever since I've been taking it day by day, there have been some ups, and some very, very, low downs. However, I've just been taking every moment of every day one cautious step at a time. I went and saw an ENT about 2 months ago (Jan/Feb) of 2015 and they pretty much told me I was shit out of luck. Honestly, if you've had your tinnitus for more than a month, totally skipping the ENT would be much better for your psyche because I HAVE YET to hear good news from anyone after an ENT visit. Just today I went to an actual tinnitus center and although she told me my tinnitus is probably (she was being optimistic) never going away, there are ways to treat it. I have been put on a treatment where I will listen to different sound tracks, nature noises, and specific sounds designed to blend my tinnitus with everything else. She says that her patients have come back to her with a claimed 60% decrease in their tinnitus. I'll be listening to these tracks for 2-4 hours a day for 8-12 months. This made me extremely intrigued and optimistic. My tinnitus I would say is mild, however it does cause me pain after long periods of exercise, ESPECIALLY after surfing or swimming. But, from other stories on here, and from some other medical perspectives I am extremely fortunate. I am always going to try and look at the brighter side of things because at the end of the day it could be MUCH worse. I hope to add to some forums on here and I will definitely be throwing up any news or breakthroughs with my condition. THANKS SO MUCH! I look forward to getting in touch with many of you.