And my many mistakes.
I took medication and made things much worse.
Didn't realize I was taking a Benzo, but I was. Tinnitus is now worse.
Hi Tracy As I write this, the t. in my right ear is getting so loud it is hard to focus on writing this. Did I do anything wrong? No, it just happened, I turned my head and it happened. Should I blame myself for turning my head? No. Should you blame yourself for taking Benzo when you did not know that was what it was. No. The number of times I have in my life did something thinking it was the right thing to do, and WOW was it the wrong thing to do. What that has taught me is that you can not BLAME YOURSELF FOR ACTING IN GOOD FAITH, for doing what you honestly thought was the best choice at that time.
Once you start to realize this fact, it is amazing how you can start to look at yourself, and all the decisions you have made, differently. You begin to look at all the decisions, choices, and actions differently. You can start to look at them without blame, because there is no one to blame. All the choices were made honestly, and with the best information you had at the time.
So what this means is that once you stop blaming yourself, you can start to realize that that is how we as humans learn and to make a different decision in the same circumstances. I have this feeling that next time you will not take the same medication. Congrats, you just learned. Do you blame a 2 year old child for putting her hand on the flame of a candle? No, that is how the child learns. As we get older, we still learn just with different examples.
Maybe now it is time for you to learn that you are not to blame for any on this. You are not a bad person, nor are you a person to blame for this and that. No, you are just human and you, like me, are learning everyday when new options and choices are placed in front of us. Do I make all the perfect choices? Let me put it this way, if my name was Pinnochio, and I said yes I have always made perfect choices, my nose would not only go through the wall on the other side of the room, but out the building, across a road, and stop somewhere this side of Kansas (I live in Ontario, Canada).
So, please Tracy, stop blaming yourself for being human and making a choice with the best of intention as you try to make your life better. Once you start to do that, I really believe you will start to look at things differently, and you may even start to really feel and believe and see this thing called hope. As Glynis noted above "You will get through this but it takes time so be really kind to yourself and go at your own pace.", and you will. Your t. will fade, your life, and the one you share your life with Riley, and your friend from New Hampshire, will grow and become richer and richer.
Is not that what every human deserves? You are human, so start to see the hope, see the future that can be in front of you, and realize you are not to blame. The medications will work themselves out, your t. will work itself out and so will you. Have hope, accept yourself for the wonderful person who is trying her best, and for being human.
Take care, and best wishes,
JohnCC