Achieving a Calm Mind with Tinnitus

[Natalier]

Okay. When I'm in the house I'll try to keep everything just under the tinnitus. I can't do that everywhere, but I'll try.

Hey, if you are still experiencing the anxiety related to the T I always recommend my anxiety techniques that I used to achieve a calm mind, that I posted here...
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...innitus-associated-anxiety.22257/#post-255326

This helps even with just overall negative thoughts you have about the T that bring you into a depression that you find yourself in. I guess you can called this mindfullness/cbt techniques, but these are the ones that helped me the absolute most as i am a anxiety suffer, prior to T. Give it a try. I promise you these techniques help in the long run as you are habituating/(i guess you can call that habituation when you really think about it.) Because it helps you to realize that your reaction to the feeling is more powerful the tinnitus it's self.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Okay. Sounds good.
I did some research and it's all very mixed for head trauma induced T. Even some claiming to go away after a year or two. It's a nice thought. It's interesting seeing which symptoms are shared. Mine had been fading well until March. I'll keep hope, but won't stress out about it. I know some of my sleep problems are also my muscles spasming on me now and then from the accident. They let up towards morning, which is when my T is the most quiet and almost nonexistent.

Give it time, time is a great healer. The tinnitus could go away but it's important not to dwell on it. Try and carry on doing things that you like to do. Things will get better...

 

[Shera]

@Natalier thanks.

@Michael Leigh, too true. It may or may not. Thanks again for all the advice and info.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

Many of us made mistakes that ended us in getting tinnitus. I probably make the biggest mistake by having my ears cleaned with high noise syringing.

I wrote my psychology degree thesis on the emotions of those who have tinnitus. This was before I had tinnitus. I also worked in a large trauma medical center as a operation manager where I viewed patients that suffered from tinnitus.

I also have degrees in economics and finance and can understand that some can't afford proper treatment. The healthcare system in the USA is a mess.

I know a lot about tinnitus from education and work experiences and I try hard to help newcomers here. I habituated from the syringing 7 years ago, but now I have loud high pitched screaming tinnitus from a recent dental experience. I don't know much about sound therapy treatment and drugs that could be used for tinnitus. The lack of drug knowledge is mostly because I have a problem with medications. I have conditions that would affect other conditions by medication use. I would also like to thank Michael for his assistance on sound therapy.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I would also like to thank Michael for his assistance on sound therapy.

Thank you for your kind comments @Greg Sacramento. As I have previously said sound therapy can help tinnitus a lot. The issues that you raise regarding tinnitus treatment in the country that you reside is unfortunate to hear. In the UK tinnitus treatment can vary a lot depending on where one lives and what is available at a particular hospital. If all tests show there is no underlying medical problem causing the tinnitus, most people will get some form of help once referred to Audiology and see a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist for tinnitus management. However, some people say they have received little help once referred so things still need to be improved.

I hope that in time you will start to feel better.
All the best
Michael

 

[william adams]

As time has passed I go for longer periods of time with out hearing my T and when I do hear it I have excepted that it is part of my life and have no control over. If you are a control type person adjusting to T I believe is more difficult. I try to avoid real quiet invironments and noisy {over 80 dbs} without ear protection. Your brain has trouble focusing on more than one thing at a time so keeping your mind busy with projects or things that you enjoy are important to focus on other things than your T. When I first got T I was a wreck and lost 30lbs and 1 1/2 years later my life is almost back to normal. Things that helped me habituate is going to the gym often, cut out salt, sugar, and keep a busy schedule. At night I play sounds of nature with crickets, birds chirping, stream sounds which I find helpful.

 

[Riya]

@Michael Leigh : thank you for ur post and all your helpful comments. Since this post is on T and habituation, I hope I can intrude. So I have T in one ear due to TMJ and other ear due to Meniere disease. It has been very difficult to cope with both. Frequent visits to ENT and Dentists are my day time activities nowadays. So at night I try to sleep with cricket sounds at the background which puts me to sleep for few hours and then I am up. The ear affected due to MD does not like sounds and starts to pulsate, but the T caused due to TMJ has a low pitched tone and gets masked with sounds. How do I try and habituate to such different preferences of my ears? Also, I have to travel by flight soon and could you also have some pointers on how to adjust in flights? And can I wear a headphone with the cricket sounds for one ear? Are these normal headphones or any specific ones. Would appreciate any suggestions!

 

[Michael Leigh]

HI @Riya,
Thank you for your kind words.
Unfortunately TMJ and Meniere's disease I am not experienced in and therefore unable to advise you on habitation. I mostly deal with tinnitus that has been caused by "noise exposure". I suggest you see your ENT doctor or Hearing Therapist about your ear that is affected by MD. A friend of mine has this condition and it is treated with medication. Perhaps your specialists might review this and find something suitable to help.

Please have a word with your TMJ specialist and the ear that is affected by it. I do not advise anyone that has tinnitus caused by noise exposure to use headphones as I believe they can make the condition worse. However, some people use them and have no problems. Because I'm not experienced in TMJ and MD I cannot give advice on headphone use. I will say my friend that has MD uses headphones and she no problems with them.
Since I'm not experienced in the type of medical conditions you have, I am unable to advise on the flight that you will be taking soon.

Try and use a good quality sound machine at night such as an Oasis model S-650.
Sorry I could not have been of more help.
All the best
Michael

 

[Riya]

@Michael Leigh thank you for your comments. Yes I have been in touch with dentists and ENTs.. but maybe a visit to a audiologists makes more sense. I can give that a shot! Thanks again!

 

[Michael Leigh]

visit to a audiologists makes more sense. I can give that a shot! Thanks again!

You are welcome Riya. I think you are making the right decision and going to see and Audiologist. A Hearing Therapist is also good. Often these health professionals that work with tinnitus patients also have tinnitus. They were either born with it or acquired it at some time in their life. My Hearing Therapist was born with tinnitus.

Wishing you the best of luck
Michael

 

[fishbone]

Before tinnitus I was a super calm mind. Could zone out and when it first came on I still kept it pretty calm. Though when it got worse and I went through panic attacks, anxiety and depression my calm mind fled. I'm working on relaxing my body and not focusing on the T all the time. Which I have been doing. I'm starting to have moments when I don't focus so much on it. I have a hard time with this as it spikes at night so relaxing by watching TV and stuff is hard.

My question is for those who have had T a longer time and have habituated. Does your mind have to think and be active 24/7 to ignore the T? Or once you've quit fearing/fighting it can you just relax?

My mom has had T for years and she talks about how her mind is just going constantly. Not sure if that's her personality or something she developed to cop with the T.

(I have been looking into Mindfulness and positive thinking. Even praying more which has helped to calm my mind at night.)

The more you focus on tinnitus, the more it will bother you. Do whatever it takes to not dwell on it. How this is done, is all up to you...It is possible...It can be done...

 

[Shera]

Thanks for all the further advice guys. I've been doing better, and it helps as I get more sleep. Not to mention eating more and getting my appetite back. I didn't even realize I was down to 102lbs until I looked in the mirror and realized my summer time PJs were falling off my frame!

@Riya I have mine in both ears and find it distracting. The right used to be so quiet I would forget it had T, but now that both change frequently and in intensity all the time it can be. Though both my ears are from my accident with neck and TMJ trauma. If you're going for TMJ treatment I seriously advice making sure you find a massage therapist who can do TMJ message, makes a world of difference if you have to have your jaw put back in place. Not to mention cartilage and muscle issues.

 

[CaRd]

I personaly don't find the use of other artificial noises a must. I m doing it the hard way - sleep in silent room and listen to my T. We are becoming friends i think I actualy got used to my old one, even with the bad secondary ringing. But new sounds appeared, and now the whole process again ... so frustrating

Just be positive and try to convince yourself that one day it will dissapear, like many other ppl has had it that way.

 

[Shera]

I can sleep with my T pretty well now, it does like to spike in the night so that blast will wake me up sometimes, but I'm sleeping for longer lengths. Even though my cat yowled most of the night.

Just be positive and try to convince yourself that one day it will dissapear, like many other ppl has had it that way.

I am staying positive and believing it will heal over time. I'm also losing my "fight or flight instincts" as I'm too tired and just want to move on. Even with all the new noises.

 

[Riya]

@Shera thanks for all your suggestions. Yes I am trying massages but not very significant improvement! Hopefully it gets better in some time

 

[Shera]

Hopefully it gets better in some time

It could take time. My Chiro couldn't put in place for the first 2 months, then it finally moved after my first great message. The messages have been keeping the muscles more in place, meaning my jaw hasn't popped back out. However, it's your muscles, cartilage, and scar tissue that is the biggest issue. Don't forget how closely the neck is linked to it too.

I know if I get my neck in a wrong position I can hear a special ringing just for it.