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 resistance then your suffering could lessen.
Some friend for sure.
That's where I'm at today. I cry a lot, then pull myself together and do the next thing, then cry again. At least I know I'm not alone if you and others are doing the same.
No one can claim to cure or reduce tinnitus or hyperacusis nowadays and be taken seriously. Sounds just like another scam.
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:
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 least I would say.Some friend for sure.
He has tinnitus too. The protocol is called "Tinnitus Habituation Protocol by Ed Leme." It's silly, I know, but I understand the reason behind why we would want to look at our tinnitus as a friend instead of something horribly negative (an enemy). It's supposed to help with habituation.
When it comes to tinnitus, at least in the first months, I was open to trying anything to get me out of the suicidal thoughts and manic I was having. I think it did help somewhat, after all is said and done.
I want a cure just as much as the next person. Here I am icing my ear at 9 in the morning because my "friend Tom" loves to sing to me all day and all night because he just loves me so much.
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 habituate since most professionals assert that is the case and clearly there are people who assert that is the case for them. We don't know exactly why it is the case some can't habituate and there are people working on trying to figure that one out. I am sorry if you are among those unfortunates. This conversation reminds me of this quote:
That's fine - I understand the reasoning.Some friend for sure.
He has tinnitus too. The protocol is called "Tinnitus Habituation Protocol by Ed Leme." It's silly, I know, but I understand the reason behind why we would want to look at our tinnitus as a friend instead of something horribly negative (an enemy). It's supposed to help with habituation.
When it comes to tinnitus, at least in the first months, I was open to trying anything to get me out of the suicidal thoughts and manic I was having. I think it did help somewhat, after all is said and done.
I want a cure just as much as the next person. Here I am icing my ear at 9 in the morning because my "friend Tom" loves to sing to me all day and all night because he just loves me so much.
I think it's real... for mild tinnitus. I had tinnitus for many years and was habituated before I even heard (or read) anyone talk about it. I didn't think about it much except in a very quiet room like in bed at night or waking up. But when tinnitus gets a lot more intense and variable, cycling between different sounds every couple days, and continues to get worse as months pass by, habituation is no longer realistic.
I guess that's what I've been trying to do recently; just shrug at it.
I have read this type of assertion many times. It may be 100% correct for many with severe tinnitus or even most.
Habituation normally happens over time. One just needs to use common sense: avoid excessive noise, eat well, exercise, try to be relaxed even if unexpected noise happens etc.
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 place to educate the "newbie" their suffering will be reduced and habituation can happen faster. This type of person would not require a physician, licensed mental health professional or audiologist of course to give that education.
I don't think doctors are addressing the tinnitus in those cases, but the mental health consequences or the distress caused by tinnitus, which is a very different thing.
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 some in what doctors can provide for those with tinnitus who are having what I will call complex tinnitus adjustment for lack of a better term. You may think otherwise and that is OK with me.
Hi Juan,
I think most people would break if they had severe hyperacusis. That said, there's always a low where things usually start getting better.
One thing is the hyperacusis and / or the tinnitus, and another the distress or the mental health issues as a consequence of hyperacusis and / or tinnitus.
I know what you mean.
When my hyperacusis started, I still had a bit of faith in the medical profession, basically due to lack of knowledge. I did not have any health problems before that, so I was actually ignorant about how the "medical ecosystem" works. Over the years, I have realised most doctors are just after the money, and not only regarding hyperacusis and tinnitus... it is something one could say about the medical profession in general.
Can you provide some pointers to that evidence?
I would say the following to your questions:
I can not see Back to Silence working for someone that can hear their tinnitus pretty much everywhere. That sounds like me, and it's an intense very piercing high pitch sound on many days, and that direct link activates the sympathetic nervous system and the fight or flight response which causes anxiety and depression, regardless of what I consciously "choose" to think about it or try to "ignore" it.
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 developed that will reduce tinnitus. Just for the record, I don't think someone with severe or catastrophic tinnitus would have as easy a time getting to Stage 4 of habituation if at all. To say it is not possible is not accurate in my reading either. @I who love music that established this thread may be one with severe tinnitus and I have read of others. They may be the exceptions that prove the rule. I must admit that people with severe or catastrophic tinnitus can't habituate. I would like to think everyone can at least reduce their suffering that has tinnitus. That said, even if someone afflicted at that level can just get to Stage 2 that would be a reduction of pain and suffering and worth working toward I figure.
I said ignore because of the wording for Stage 4 says "attention rarely given to the tinnitus". The tinnitus is still there, though. After 17 months since a sudden worsening and some additional worsening this year, I would say I'm a Stage 2 on my more mild "hissy" days, except continued poor sleep and still needing sleep meds. But my worst "piercing squealing" days are closer to Stage 1 - high anxiety, depression. I cycle between these different sounds every 2 or 3 days with no apparent triggers, so it's like getting hit with new tinnitus every 2 or 3 days.
I have a similar experience. My cycle these days is about 4 days long, different sound experiences on different days, making it pretty challenging to habituate. I have tried the Back to Silence method. Although I didn't achieve full habituation, it greatly helped reduce my anxiety response. In fact, I credit it for the lead reason for reducing my anxiety. Practicing the method, for me, was a form of acceptance. My anxiety dropped rather dramatically in the few weeks I was practicing it. And after about a few months of practicing acceptance directly, I was able to peel off antidepressants and sleep aids.
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