I was wondering if you could give an explanation of what "habituation" means to yourself? To me, it means being able to live a normal life (pretty much as before tinnitus). That includes going to bed without having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, as well as being able to fully concentrate at work (the same type of work I was engaged in before I developed tinnitus). All of it without the use of "crutches" (e.g. sleep aids, anxiety medication).
Based on these screenshots, it would seem you have a different definition of habituation (given that you had to give up writing a lengthy post, as well as the fact that you resort to having to use clonazepam):
You must have gone to a lot of trouble searching my posts, in order to find any discrepancy or contradiction in my writing about tinnitus, hyperacusis or habituation. You could have simply asked me or sent a PM with a request without going to such lengths. Or was your intention to cause me some embarrassment on the forum for everyone else to see? I believe this was your intention since you don't even have the good manners and courtesy to address me by name when asking a question.
If you are comfortable with your definition of habituation then that's fine continue with that. When I relate habituation to my tinnitus it means to live with it. No two people experience tinnitus the same. My tinnitus is variable. From complete silence, mild, moderate and severe. I take medication (clonazepam) when the need arises and I'm quite comfortable with that. I also wear white noise generators and use a sound machine at night. I sleep peacefully and rarely does my tinnitus prevent me from sleeping. I can go about my day doing all the things that I want to do. I am an avid reader and an Audiophile. If my tinnitus is intrusive then I'm unable to read or do any serious listening to music through my HI-FI. This doesn't mean I haven't habituated.
When I wrote my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View. It took me many months to write and I gave up quite a few times whilst writing it, because my tinnitus at times was very severe. However, I never gave up and eventually finished it. Ask any tinnitus veteran and there are many in this forum. They will tell you even though they have habituated their tinnitus will still ramp up (spike) at times. Because of their experience and positivity, they are able to cope with it using some of the methods I've described. That's what habituating to tinnitus is. Living the best life that you can and not allowing this condition to get the better of you. It doesn't mean you will never have negative thoughts or feel occasionally down.
I have the belief: Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
My post below also explains my thoughts on habituation which can be found on my "started threads"
The habituation process.
Habituation is frequently talked about in tinnitus forums and probably comes in at second place to the popular question: when will a cure be found? It seems some people have become quite taken with this word and believe it is the most important thing to strive for when dealing with this condition. Everyone wants to habituate as soon as possible and carry on living their life doing everything that they want to and putting tinnitus firmly behind them.
I can honestly say that I see nothing wrong with that, but wanting something in the speed that we would like it isn't always achievable, especially with something like tinnitus. A few people that have had tinnitus for a while, have contacted me to discuss just that. They have concerns about the length of time it's taking to habituate. Similarly, I have heard from those new to this condition that want the habitation process to start as quickly as possible. Both groups tell me they are doing all the right things but it seems patience is giving way to despondency and despair and some are starting to believe habituation might never happen for them.
It is of little comfort to these people when they hear family and friends say, tinnitus is just a minor irritant and something that can easily be ignored. Occasionally, it might be intrusive but this is never more than temporary and they are still able to carry on with their life unperturbed. I often sense the frustration a person is under when they are relaying this to me. Whether I'm talking to them on the telephone, private messenger or answering an email. It is then that I'm often asked: why is it that the habituation process doesn't seem to be happening for them?
Answering such a question isn't easy because there is no single answer that I can provide but I will say this. Tinnitus is a common condition that comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. It can be very troublesome especially in the early stages of onset, but gradually this gives way and the condition settles down and in time many manage to cope with it when it's mild or moderate. Sometimes this may involve treatment via a hearing therapist or a person achieves this naturally without being referred to a clinic.
It should be noted that tinnitus can be a complex condition, depending on how loud and intrusive it is for the individual? So what I've just outlined won't apply to everyone. There are other factors that also come into play. A person's make-up or rather their outlook on life. Whether they are positive or negative thinking can help or delay the habitation process. In addition to this, stress and anxiety are often associated with tinnitus and a person might be taking medication such as an antidepressant to help cope with it. There are a myriad of scenarios that I could relay to you on how tinnitus can affect someone's quality of life, their well-being and the habituation process. For now I will say this:
When a person habituates to tinnitus it means they are able cope with it but this doesn't mean they will never hear it. Although some people habituate to a level where the tinnitus is rarely heard or stays at a very low level. Whether the tinnitus is silent for periods of time or remains low, mild, moderate or is occasionally intrusive, it doesn't really matter, because it all means the same thing. When habituation is reached a person will know, because whatever the level it will not bother you. However, like everything there are exceptions and tinnitus is no different. I believe there are some limitations to habituation. As I have previously said the condition comes in many forms and intensities. Some people have variable tinnitus that can fluctuate from silent, mild, moderate and severe. When it is loud and intrusive (severe) and this level is sustained for long periods it can become very debilitating and a person might have to take medication to cope with it, which is usually supplied by their doctor. This level of sustained intrusiveness shouldn't be confused with a tinnitus spike, which usually returns to baseline within a short period of time.
I want to say that I believe habituation is achievable for most people with time. In some instances a person might need the professional help of a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist, as there are a variety of treatment options available to help one in the habituation process. One should also try to be realistic. There are some people that will accept nothing less than a complete cure from their tinnitus and this is unfortunate, because they could waste a lot of time being miserable.
I have corresponded with people that have said, their tinnitus is very low and is only heard occasionally or in a quiet room, at night for instance. Yet these people are not satisfied because they want a complete cure and will deliberately seek out quiet surroundings to monitor their tinnitus, checking to see if it has increased or not. It's as if they have become obsessed with this condition and to the point where is starts to affect their relationship with those that are close to them, and I don't think this is healthy.
In summing up I want to say one last thing. Those that are having treatment with a Hearing Therapist, Audiologist, or finding that their tinnitus is becoming less intrusive and they are in the habituation process. Try not to read negative posts or associate with negative thinking people who are not in the same place that you are, as their beliefs can prevent your advancement, if you are not careful.
I wish you well
Michael
PS: further reading on habituation:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/answers-to-hyperacusis-and-habituation.12058/
Member
