Habituation and Tinnitus Treatments

[Mathieulh]

Habituation And Tinnitus Treatments

Tinnitus joins a long list of medical ailments and conditions for which there is no cure at present. If you are new to tinnitus you may not be aware that it is very common and many people, learn to live with it after a while, and are able to carry on doing everything that they want to in life. Mention to a friend, family member or work colleague that you are experiencing ringing in your ears and it's causing you some distress. You are likely to be told: "I get that but just ignore it". "At night it bothers me but once asleep I'm fine. "Mine plays a tune, at first it was strange now I'm used to it". And so the story goes on.

The early stages of tinnitus can be particularly troublesome for some people and this can lead to sleepless nights. If you are affected see your doctor who may suggest a light sleeping draft, or prescribe something to help with any stress and anxiety you might be having. Please don't be too alarmed as these symptoms are not unusual and usually improve with time. We are all different and each person that experiences tinnitus will be unique to them.

Some of you may have done a little research online before visiting in this forum, and concluded, it is awash with information. Some of it is good and much of it is bad, mainly due to a lot of ignorance and negativity that surrounds tinnitus. Unfortunately this is often mirrored at tinnitus support forums, although some are better than others. I am not referring to people that find their life is in turmoil and post the difficulties that they are going through and reaching out for help and support. I am talking about members whose main agenda is to impose their will on people and make them believe there is no light at the end of the tunnel for anyone that has tinnitus, and their life is now compelled to one of doom and gloom.

These people believe habituating to tinnitus does not reduce the noise and therefore, it's a complete waste of time trying to achieve it. They are vehemently apposed to the words acceptance and positivity and won't waste time listening to anyone that advocates counselling, TRT, CBT medication or the use of sound therapy to treat the condition. People that believe in such things should be ridiculed and therapists practicing them are often called charlatans and shills. Non believers first want to see scientific proof that a particular treatment is known to reduce the tinnitus noise. If this cannot be provided nothing else is acceptable to them as an effective form of tinnitus treatment.

I appreciate that everyone is entitled to their opinion and should air them if they want to. However, since you have come to this forum for help, I advise you to be careful and not read negative posts, that denounce recognised tinnitus treatments of the kind mentioned above, as not being effective because they are wrong. I know from whence I speak, having lived with tinnitus for twenty three years and had TRT treatment twice and used white noise generators for sound therapy that completely cured my severe hyperacusis in two years. The treatment with counselling helped reduce the tinnitus significantly, by taking away and demystifying the negative thinking that is often associated with the condition.

In 2008 I suffered a second noise trauma that resulted in a 2nd treatment of TRT lasting two years and it took a total of four years to habituate for the second time. If it wasn't for the help and support of my Hearing Therapist, ENT consultant and medication perhaps I wouldn't be here today. Those four years were the lowest points of my life and hope I never have to revisit them again.

Non believes in tinnitus treatment and habituation say, they don't reduce the tinnitus noise. I beg to differ as I believe they do or at least one's perception of it and quite significantly although this depends on the individual. Tinnitus is intrinsically linked to or mental and emotional wellbeing. Although tinnitus is often heard in the ears, the actual noise in generated in the brain. Stress makes tinnitus worse and tinnitus makes stress worse. Therefore, stress and anxiety needs to be managed and kept under control. This is particularly important for those new to the condition in the first few weeks and months as the brain tends to focus on it more.

Talking things over with your doctor how you feel can be beneficial, as I've mentioned something can be prescribed to make this process easier for you. As I have previously said, tinnitus is very common and people will often tell you they were once troubled by it but after a while it no longer bothered them. Many get so used to it they no longer hear it. The reason being they have all habituated.

Please accept whatever treatment you are able to get for your tinnitus particularly those mentioned above and if any of you are having recognised tinnitus treatment, my advice is to keep away from tinnitus forums for the duration.

I wish you well
Michael

PS: Tinnitus will be experienced differently between people but many do learn to habituate. This can be achieved naturally without treatment sometimes, specialist treatment is required. I have covered habituation in more detail in my post: The habituation process in the link below.
People that experience spikes in their tinnitus are usually those that have noise induced tinnitus. The spikes are caused by oversensitivity to sound caused by hyperacusis and not what is believed by some to be Reactive Tinnitus. Reactive tinnitus, is a made-up term that has been used in tinnitus forums for the last ten years or so.

That is my belief and I stand by it. To people that believe otherwise I say: you are entitled to your opinion.

Hyperacusis can improve on its own but some people may need specialist treatment, in order for it to be brought under control. It can be cured for I am living proof of this. However, white noise generators need to be used under the care of a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist, that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment. Counselling may also be required. If hypracusis does not improve on its own and treatment is not sought, spikes in tinnitus will be a recurring problem and could get worse and sometimes lead to additional problems that I have covered in my article: The complexities of tinnitus and hyperacusis.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-complexities-of-tinnitus-and-hyperacusis.25733/

1. Habituation does not work for everyone; "many people" isn't everyone, everybody is different.
2. Habituation is the result of a physiological process (a modification in your brain's chemistry due to chronic overexposure of repetitive noise), this is a very lengthy process that nothing would accelerate, and for which the duration is entirely dependent on individuals.
3. In my opinion prescribing CBT or TRT for tinnitus sufferers is akin to prescribing bloodletting to cure a cold, all it does is putting your or the taxpayers' money into someone else's pockets.

 

[Michael Leigh]

All of us want to habituate to our tinnitus. Some have mild, some have moderate, some have bad/intrusive level(me). It can be quite a task for us to achieve habituation, everyone is different.

Habituation is something that requires lots of work. It's not easy and it's not an overnight ordeal either. The first thing is to accept that yes, our ears ring and this is how it is. Now, if you are a newcomer then your ringing might fade or possibly go away.

If your tinnitus is not going away, then it's time to make a plan to face our tinnitus. Facing it should not be in a negative manner. Tinnitus can possibly put stress on our minds and body. The last thing that we should do is to be negative about it. It's not an easy thing, but in my 31 years I have learned that fighting tinnitus is not going to help at all.

Instead we need to plan and come up with ways to manage and live with our tinnitus. Accepting, gaining support and taking baby steps to push forward are the ways I have habituated. All of these components have taken lots of effort, lots of patience and lots of planning.

Some will ask, "does habituation mean that I will not hear my tinnitus anymore?" Habituation simply means that the stimuli (tinnitus) is not affecting our lives in a negative manner. I still hear my beyond loud ringing, but I will not get emotional about it.

In regards to meds, some use it and some don't. It's a personal choice and more power to it. Some may use meds to push forward and not get affected by the ringing. Some do not use meds and push forward. Meds can be helpful to some people and other folks will not take them.

@Michael Leigh and myself always say, that having a good mindset when approaching our tinnitus goals is vital. Habituation, coping, adapting, moving forward can happen if we don't look at tinnitus as a foe. I am not over joyed that my ears ring in an intrusive way, but I will not let it get a rise out of my emotions.

I have accepted that this noise is part of me and my life and I accept that I need to adjust, plan and try to live a life with tinnitus. I use to not accept it in the early years and it DID NOT help at all. It just held my back and slowed down my progress to live a life with the tinging.

All of this take TIME, EFFORT, PATIENCE and lots of self love. Tinnitus is a horrible condition and it has impacted my life and changed me. It has also show me just how much courage I have, how resilient we can be.

People like @Michael Leigh give so much to this forum, it's a gift to have mentor care so much and help people out.

Bless.......

HI @fishbone @Sean

Thank you Fishbone for coming onboard and giving your comments they are much appreciated. Please note Sean. Fishbone has vast experience in tinnitus and in my opinion, has given an excellent explanation of what it means to habituate to it.

Some people believe one has to be medically qualified to know about tinnitus and the habituation process. This is incorrect. Everything these people are told by doctors and the medical reports and studies they read is sacrosanct to them and nothing else will change their mind. My advice to you is not to get swept along with this belief. Medicine and being medically qualified has it's place in tinnitus, mostly when the cause of it is due to an underlying medical problem within the auditory system or elsewhere in the body. However, being medically qualified and having a PhD does not make you a tinnitus specialist especially when it is Noise Induced.

To fully understand noise induced tinnitus and how it affects a person's mental and emotional wellbeing, it is my belief one has to have the condition for at least 5 years preferably longer. In addition to this, they should have personal experience of living with variable tinnitus: mild, moderate and severe, then they will have some idea, knowledge if you like of what other people endure living with this condition. Please also be aware of what I have said in my post: The habituation process: Not everyone is able to habituate for various reasons.

Take care and hope you start to feel better soon.

Michael

 

[david c]

Just wanted to briefly add some thoughts here as I think some of the "explaining", however well-meant has actually led to more confusion and lack of clarity.

As someone who has habituated to tinnitus I would not say that habituation is just about "acceptance", though acceptance is part of it. Severity and intrusiveness of sound are also important. That's why habituation is very difficult if the sufferer is regularly experiencing worsening of tinnitus due to noise exposure spikes.

I had some experience of CBT and TRT for tinnitus and neither helped me at all with habituation. What did help were two things: 1. Time - which is essential for the adjustment process and 2. Avoiding loud noise exposure as much as possible.

Other people have talked about all sorts of plans, projects and strategies and if that helped them to habituate that's great but I actually don't they are essential and in some cases may do more harm than good.

Finally I think we ought to recognise that there always will be tinnitus sufferers who are not able to habituate, that the reasons for this are complex and do not really relate to anything this group of people are doing or not doing.

 

[fishbone]

We can debate habituation all we want. It is possible, it does take hard work and it can be helpful. Acceptance and having an emotional control over our tinnitus is a HUGE component of it. This is the reality of it. Until we accept it, see tinnitus for what it is, then it can be very hard to habituate.

Getting to that acceptance stage can be a challenge, I will not lie. Even I have struggled with it. It takes a lot to accept at times, but for me non-acceptance held me back. I only share my experience here, I do not tell people to live like me.

I have a lot of people that tell me, that I have helped them and I keep trying to help. Your OUTLOOK on tinnitus is what sets your path. You can have mild, moderate or severe tinnitus, your outlook shapes how you ACT, and plan for your life with tinnitus...

 

[fishbone]

To fully understand noise induced tinnitus and how it affects a person's mental and emotional wellbeing, it is my belief one has to have the condition for at least 5 years preferably longer. In addition to this, they should have personal experience of living with variable tinnitus: mild, moderate and severe, then they will have some idea, knowledge if you like of what other people endure living with this condition.

This is very important. If I go to an audiologist I go to a professional, that understands tinnitus, hyperacusis and all the proper protocols that deal with tinnitus. I look for ones that have experience with tinnitus and they need to fully understand what a person with tinnitus goes through. In all honesty, if someone has severe tinnitus for even 1 month, they will identify with the struggles and pain faced by those that deal with tinnitus of such intensity.

 

[fishbone]

In my opinion prescribing CBT or TRT for tinnitus sufferers is akin to prescribing bloodletting to cure a cold, all it does is putting your or the taxpayers' money into someone else's pockets.

TRT was worth every penny and then some for me. Unless someone has used TRT, then why even try to bash it? It's like saying that we think we can swim in the olympics and yet we cannot even swim in a pool

 

[dan]

TRT was worth every penny and then some for me. Unless someone has used TRT, then why even try to bash it? It's like saying that we think we can swim in the olympics and yet we cannot even swim in a pool

What did your TRT involve?
Did you just get the counseling and demystification of tinnitus?
Or did you also use wearable noise generators?

 

[Michael Leigh]

This is very important. If I go to an audiologist I go to a professional, that understands tinnitus, hyperacusis and all the proper protocols that deal with tinnitus. I look for ones that have experience with tinnitus and they need to fully understand what a person with tinnitus goes through. In all honesty, if someone has severe tinnitus for even 1 month, they will identify with the struggles and pain faced by those that deal with tinnitus of such intensity.

Fully agree with you @fishbone this is what I have been trying to get people in this forum to understand. I learnt this from an ENT doctor that I saw in 2008 after my 2nd noise trauma. She told me ENT doctors treat underlying medical problems within the auditory system that is causing the tinnitus. After hearing tests and MRI scans are done, if the cause of the tinnitus is found to be Noise induced, ENT doctors do not treat that as they are not tinnitus specialists. The patient is referred to Audiology to see either a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in Tinnitus and Hyperacusis management and treatment. These health professionals often (but not always) were either born with tinnitus or acquired it at some time in their life. They usually have a good understanding of tinnitus and this is helpful particularly when giving counselling, as part of TRT, CBT etc. The Hearing Therapist that I had for TRT was born with tinnitus.

All the best
Michael

 

[fishbone]

What did your TRT involve?
Did you just get the counseling and demystification of tinnitus?
Or did you also use wearable noise generators?

The TRT process included both for me.

 

[Sean]

So habituation is just accepting tinnitus? Damn! I thought it was being able to 'not hear it' by it somehow getting 'tuned out' into the background. I feel completely deflated by this.

That's what I was trying to convey Michael. If you have habituated then you hould not be severely affected by it. If you are severely affected then how can you say you are habituated?
One of the member replied to my message stating that he has loud tinnitus but he is not negatively affected by it for the most part.

 

[Michael Leigh]

That's what I was trying to convey Michael. If you have habituated then you hould not be severely affected by it. If you are severely affected then how can you say you are habituated?
One of the member replied to my message stating that he has loud tinnitus but he is not negatively affected by it for the most part.

So habituation is just accepting tinnitus? Damn! I thought it was being able to 'not hear it' by it somehow getting 'tuned out' into the background. I feel completely deflated by this.

@Sean @all to gain

I understand how you both feel and it's perfectly understandable because you are new to tinnitus. It is a learning process and this takes time to acquire. For this reason I asked @fishbone to give his comments, as he is a veteran to tinnitus like myself and I believe understands habituation and the process of it quite well. Other members in this forum understand the process of habituation too and realize it is different for each person.

When a person habituates they will know because they will not be overly bothered by the tinnitus. When I say this, I mean they will be able to accept it at whatever level they experience it, even when severe. This also means when severe they might feel down and occasionally negative at times, this is quite understandable but this negativity will not take hold and consume them. Acceptance isn't just a matter of saying: I accept it, it takes time and is a learning process to be positive and bringing positivity into your life. If medication is required to help a person with tinnitus this doesn't mean they haven't habituated.

Please read my post the habituation process again in the link below and Fishbone's comments above. As I have said in the link below, not everyone can habituate to tinnitus for various reasons.

Take care
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

 

[all to gain]

@Sean @all to gain

I understand how you both feel and it's perfectly understandable because you are new to tinnitus. It is a learning process and this takes time to acquire. For this reason I asked @fishbone to give his comments, as he is a veteran to tinnitus like myself and I believe understands habituation and the process of it quite well. Other members in this forum understand the process of habituation too and realize it is different for each person.

When a person habituates they will know because they will not be overly bothered by the tinnitus. When I say this, I mean they will be able to accept it at whatever level they experience it, even when severe. This also means when severe they might feel down and occasionally negative at times, this is quite understandable but this negativity will not take hold and consume them. Acceptance isn't just a matter of saying: I accept it, it takes time and is a learning process to be positive and bringing positivity into your life. If medication is required to help a person with tinnitus this doesn't mean they haven't habituated.

Please read my post the habituation process again in the link below and Fishbone's comments above. As I have said in the link below, not everyone can habituate to tinnitus for various reasons.

Take care
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

Dear Michael,

Thank you for the above. I'm finding it hard to come to terms with my new affliction and how it came to inhabit me. Not a day goes by that I don't look back in anger at the whole thing. But life moves on.

I think I am habituation's worst nightmare: I have a perfectionistic mindset in regard to certain things, I loved silence above all else, I loved looking to the future and 'coping' doesn't exactly fill me with joy or fit my mentality. Of course, I would like a cure here and now. But we are some way off of that at present. And even then, it may bring with it many unforeseen side effects.

It is not just habituating to this horrible affliction that will be difficult though, it's the very great fear/anxiety of what will happen in the future: Will it get worse? Will it cause deafness? Will it cause dementia? What if I can't 'get used to it'? How will my family suffer? Will I ever be happy? And so on...! Life, of course, has very few certainties, and death itself does not really bother me, but living a tormented life does.

Am I a negative thinker? Many would say yes. But that doesn't change the fact that all my fears are very real and all very possible.

 

[fishbone]

This also means when severe they might feel down and occasionally negative at times, this is quite understandable but this negativity will not take hold and consume them. Acceptance isn't just a matter of saying: I accept it, it takes time and is a learning process to be positive and bringing positivity into your life.

It's very difficult to not get down about having severe tinnitus, it's impossible. Still even if negativity does lurk, it will not consume and de-rail the person. I still have my days when I say "WOW, this thing is so loud". I may give myself a 3 minute timeout session as well, but after that I have to attend to my daily matters.

In my early years, I had an attitude that we lived in a perfect world, with perfect health. I had mild, barely noticeable tinnitus and just a little hiss in my ears. Now, fast forward a few decades later, it's loud and intrusive and just aggressive. I label my current years, "IT IS, WHAT IT IS" years. I had to re-group my thinking and just admit to myself that these ears are very damaged and there is no need to deny it. Acceptance is so powerful, not just in the realm of tinnitus. In all aspects of life, acceptance can bring such comfort and for me it brings inner peace as well.

I have had a very tough life from the beginning, so I had to accept my realities from a very young age. It taught me a lot and I used my lessons to fit it into my aggressive/intrusive tinnitus culture.....

All in all, habituation takes time, any level of habituation is better than none. I never aimed for 100%, I just aimed to live my life with this aggressive beast and be productive and help those that seek support

 

[Michael Leigh]

It's very difficult to not get down about having severe tinnitus, it's impossible. Still even if negativity does lurk, it will not consume and de-rail the person. I still have my days when I say "WOW, this thing is so loud". I may give myself a 3 minute timeout session as well, but after that I have to attend to my daily matters.

Thank you again for your comments @fishbone Some people having read our posts, might think we have discussed before hand, what we're going to write as they sound similar. Please be assured we have not done this. Habituating to tinnitus is a real thing contrary to what some people believe, as I have mentioned in my first post:

Mention to a friend, family member or work colleague that you are experiencing ringing in your ears and it's causing you some distress. You are likely to be told: "I get that but just ignore it". "At night it bothers me but once asleep I'm fine. "Mine plays a tune, at first it was strange now I'm used to it". And so the story goes on.

The habituation process is easier for some than others. It took me 4 years to habituate for the 2nd time. There were occasions when I thought I couldn't go on but I never stopped believing, as a result it has made me a stronger person today.

Michael

 

[fishbone]

I think what led me to habituation or the process of it, was all the years that I had to struggle with myself, my tinnitus and my emotions and reactions. I been into this self mastery mode for a LONG time. I have always tried to logically solve my issues and not with emotions. Now when it comes to tinnitus, it can be a real tough one. We have noise that comes out our heads and it can possibly stress us out. After years and years of struggle with tinnitus I knew that not accepting my situation was not making it better for me. Through out my years, I always wanted answers on how to live my life better, always looked for that knowledge.

I have read many books on topics of inner/self control and what they all said to me was "Acceptance". They all told me to face that 500lb elephant that is in the room. Look at it, be at peace with it. That's what I have done in my life, in all aspects of my life, not just with tinnitus. All of this comes from years, even decades of living life and learning from it.

@Michael Leigh and I share the same wisdom because we might be older than many folks here and also our life philosophies are somewhat similar. My ways of thinking and helping on this forum have not been because of how @Michael Leigh thinks and acts. He has over 23 years of experience and knows tons about the matter and I been at it almost 32 years, so we kinda think a like on certain topics......

 

[Michael Leigh]

I have read many books on topics of inner/self control and what they all said to me was "Acceptance". They all told me to face that 500lb elephant that is in the room. Look at it, be at peace with it. That's what I have done in my life, in all aspects of my life, not just with tinnitus. All of this comes from years, even decades of living life and learning from it.

Twenty three years ago and after 3 months living with severe tinnitus and hyperacusis I had enough. My first appointment at ENT was another 3 months away and felt I couldn't go on. By chance happened to read a newspaper article that mentioned: Nineteen out of twenty medical conditions cannot be cured but most can be treated, to help a person to have a better quality of life. It was like a revelation to me because from that moment, I started to look at life and my situation differently. It wasn't easy but gradually I started to focus more on the positive things in my life and not so much on the negative, which can often affect people that are new to tinnitus.

It is not just habituating to this horrible affliction that will be difficult though, it's the very great fear/anxiety of what will happen in the future: Will it get worse? Will it cause deafness? Will it cause dementia? What if I can't 'get used to it'? How will my family suffer? Will I ever be happy? And so on...! Life, of course, has very few certainties, and death itself does not really bother me, but living a tormented life does.

HI @all to gain

You haven't said what caused your tinnitus? If possible try and get a referral to see a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus counselling. Have talk with your Dr about how you feel. Try not to focus too much on the past because what's done is done. You are still in the early stages of tinnitus and things usually get better with time.

Am I a negative thinker? Many would say yes. But that doesn't change the fact that all my fears are very real and all very possible.

What you are feeling is quite common but with time this usually subsides and you'll be more positive about life and the future. Try and see one of the health professionals that I have mentioned.

Michael

 

[Sean]

@Sean @all to gain

I understand how you both feel and it's perfectly understandable because you are new to tinnitus. It is a learning process and this takes time to acquire. For this reason I asked @fishbone to give his comments, as he is a veteran to tinnitus like myself and I believe understands habituation and the process of it quite well. Other members in this forum understand the process of habituation too and realize it is different for each person.

When a person habituates they will know because they will not be overly bothered by the tinnitus. When I say this, I mean they will be able to accept it at whatever level they experience it, even when severe. This also means when severe they might feel down and occasionally negative at times, this is quite understandable but this negativity will not take hold and consume them. Acceptance isn't just a matter of saying: I accept it, it takes time and is a learning process to be positive and bringing positivity into your life. If medication is required to help a person with tinnitus this doesn't mean they haven't habituated.

Please read my post the habituation process again in the link below and Fishbone's comments above. As I have said in the link below, not everyone can habituate to tinnitus for various reasons.

Take care
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

@Michael Leigh , this is a much better explanation of habitation . If some one is not overly bothered then I would consider that being habituated.
I have have a tinnitus since 2011 and it doesn't bother me most of the times because it's mild but when I get a spike ..I panick !
Some people in the past have said i am Least bothered by T and when I ask them can you hear T over Tv and conversions, they say no !
There is nothing much to habituated it T is mild because most of the time we can't hear it .
Real habitation really matters when T is loud as hell and you are not as much bothered by it ! I think fishbone is like that..you to a some degree I suppose but you do need benozos once in a while .
As I type I can hear my T in my left ear over my car engine noise but it's not bothering me because it's not loud .i wouldn't call my self habituated since it's really a mild hiss in my left ear .
Thank you for taking time and writing back .

 

[Michael Leigh]

this is a much better explanation of habitation . If some one is not overly bothered then I would consider that being habituated.

@Sean

Thank you for your kind comments.

It is not possible to evaluate one person's tinnitus from another, or to be more precise the way it is affecting them, because it is more complex than just the noise but one's emotional reaction to it and the problems and stresses in their life. I have previously mentioned tinnitus is 90% mental. A lot of people are ready challenge me on this, believing I mean its intensity can be controlled by thought alone. This is not what I mean. Tinnitus is generated in the part of the brain known as the limbic system. It is here our emotions are controlled: love, hate fear etc. Therefore, it is intrinsically linked to our mental and emotional wellbeing and cannot be separated. Anything adversely affecting us emotionally will have a direct impact on the tinnitus and causing stress. Stress makes tinnitus worse and tinnitus makes stress worse. Stress needs to be managed and kept under control and there are various ways this can be achieved.

Fishbone has remarkable resilience and resolve to deal with whatever comes his way. I am mentioning this for clarification to anyone reading this thread, so there are no misconceptions about habituation or at least the way I see it. Whether a person takes medication occasionally such as me, to help suppress the cacophony of noise that my tinnitus creates or another person requires similar medication daily and another needs non at all, it doesn't matter, because it all means the same thing. Habituation is about acceptance and to be positive and outward thinking even in the downtimes. It also means they can be quite cable of feeling down and despondent as I have mentioned in my previous post. The thing is not to allow negativity to consume you and wear you down. The way to do this by accentuating the positive things in your life and focusing on what you're able to do with tinnitus and not what you cant.

Some people regard habituation as the holy grail and to achieve it one has to fit a particular criteria, for it to be right and correct. This is not so as I have indicated above and in my previous posts. You might find my post below: Positivity And Tinnitus, helpful that I wrote some time ago.

Wish you all the best

Michael


Positivity And Tinnitus

For some people prolonged intrusive tinnitus can be very stressful and at times debilitating. This can sometimes lead to depression and a person may need to go on a course of antidepressants. I have often been asked in tinnitus forums and via email "It is great if you're able to be positive, but simply telling someone to be more positive about tinnitus isn't going to change anything". I want to clarify here and now, that isn't what I mean.

Thinking more positive about tinnitus and bringing positivity into your life takes time it isn't achieved overnight or by simply thinking to yourself "I must be positive about my life".

If a person wants to improve the quality of their life they have to be prepared to try and help themselves, because there is no wonder drug or operation that can cure tinnitus at this time. Unless a person faces these facts they will forever be trawling the Internet going from forum to forum complaining why there is no treatment for tinnitus when actually many of these people want a complete cure.

I once read a newspaper article that mentioned: nineteen out of twenty medical conditions cannot be cured. Someone once told me "I don't want to be positive about tinnitus, I hate it. Being positive wont make it go away". This is true, however, thinking more positive and bringing positivity into your life will reduce the perception on how you relate to tinnitus. CBT and TRT are based on having a positive attitude, without that these treatments aren't effective.

Long before CBT, TRT and the Internet came on the scene Doctors have been telling tinnitus patients, there's no cure you'll have to learn to live with it. Most of us know this is easier said than done.

So how does one start to think more positive about their tinnitus and to bring positivity into their life?

The fact that someone with tinnitus is reading this page suggests to me their tinnitus for today at least isn't so intrusive that they are unable to function, for that I'm pleased because this is something positive, instead of lying in bed on medication doing nothing. If you are able to work that's even better as your tinnitus isn't so severe you're incapacitated. I see this as something positive in a person's life. Being able to earn a living and support yourself. Therefore, you're able to do all the daily tasks one needs to survive in this world. You may have some difficulty granted, but you're still achieving and that's progress.

It is still better than someone that is visually impaired or severely disabled and unable to earn a living. Or, people with severe tinnitus that are depressed and on medication and unable to work. So by looking at our own circumstances and seeing what we're able to do and achieve we can think more positively about ourselves. There is nothing more satisfying than being independent and I suggest you hold onto those thoughts.

If you live by yourself consider getting a cat or a dog so your home environment won't feel so lonely. If you have a partner and family think about spending some quality time with them, as this can help reinforce your sense of belonging, and the love that binds you together, then your T won't make you feel so isolated. Sometimes opening up sharing your thoughts and how you feel can help immensely and keep negativity at bay.

I have just given a synopsis of what I believe can help a person's quality of life improve with positive thinking. It doesn't happen overnight but a lot can be achieved when one is prepared to try. By moving forwards and taking one day at a time you can occasionally look back and see how far you have come.

 

[Renee W]

Hi Michael,

I'm new to this site and have been reading lots of your posts. I am dealing with very intrusive reactive tinnitus that I got during pregnancy over a year ago. I have lots of questions and would like to PM you, but don't know how to use this site. Should I ask you questions on this thread? Or can you walk me through the steps of sending you a PM?

Thank you,
Renee

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi Michael,

I'm new to this site and have been reading lots of your posts. I am dealing with very intrusive reactive tinnitus that I got during pregnancy over a year ago. I have lots of questions and would like to PM you, but don't know how to use this site. Should I ask you questions on this thread? Or can you walk me through the steps of sending you a PM?

Thank you,
Renee

HI @Renee W

You can ask your question here or by PM which I will try to send you.

Michael

 

[Brock WS]

Hi @Michael Leigh

I seem to be unable to ask you a question via PM so I'm doing so here if that's alright. I've read a lot of your posts on here and recently bought the S-650-02 Oasis machine (my main goal is to try and combat my reactive tinnitus, or possible hyperacusis, which reacts to and manifests itself in the sounds I hear). The machine itself has a speaker that is either of low quality or faulty, as it makes an odd buzzing sound that overlaps with the actual sounds being played, and thus I'm planning on returning it through Amazon. My questions are A) what is the reasoning behind getting one of these machines over using a normal bluetooth speaker to produce the sounds, and B) what do you suggest I do now? I spent 100 dollars on this one, and I'm willing to go higher if whatever I purchase is the best chance of helping me with this.

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Brock

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi @Michael Leigh

I seem to be unable to ask you a question via PM so I'm doing so here if that's alright. I've read a lot of your posts on here and recently bought the S-650-02 Oasis machine (my main goal is to try and combat my reactive tinnitus, or possible hyperacusis, which reacts to and manifests itself in the sounds I hear). The machine itself has a speaker that is either of low quality or faulty, as it makes an odd buzzing sound that overlaps with the actual sounds being played, and thus I'm planning on returning it through Amazon. My questions are A) what is the reasoning behind getting one of these machines over using a normal bluetooth speaker to produce the sounds, and B) what do you suggest I do now? I spent 100 dollars on this one, and I'm willing to go higher if whatever I purchase is the best chance of helping me with this.

Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Brock

HI @Brock WS

I will answer your questions later at length and hope that will be okay.

All the best
Michael

 

[Michael Leigh]

My questions are A) what is the reasoning behind getting one of these machines over using a normal bluetooth speaker to produce the sounds, and B) what do you suggest I do now?

HI @Brock WS

From what you describe, it seems your Oasis sound machine has a fault. I have the Oasis: S-650, S-850 and S-5000 machines. None of them have the buzzing sound you have mentioned. There is nothing wrong using a an external speaker that is blue-toothed to a mobile phone to play nature sounds.

One of the best ways to treat hyperacusis (oversensitivity) to sound is with white noise generators. Depending on how a person is affected by the hyperacusis and by this I mean, mental and emotional wellbeing, a person might also need counselling with an Audiologist trained in tinnitus and hyperacusis management. This is something that should not be overlooked or considered as unnecessary.

Treating tinnitus and hyperacusis can be complex depending on how much a person is affected by these conditions. Please click on my link below: Hyperacusis, As I see it.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

Michael

 

[bobvann]

My audiologist programmed pink noise for hyperacusis. I can lower it quite a bit. I am still trying to build up tolerance. The sound therapy is helping navigate bad days.

Like I have mentioned to Michael in the past according to some being truly habituated is having tinnitus no longer bother you. That saying to limit certain activities is creating fear & distorted thinking.

They are boasting CBT but saying avoid things like using headphones and not playing musical instruments. Yet tinnitus CBT books like A self management to ringing in your ears says different.

There has also been charts posted here stating to live your life and do everything as if one does not have tinnitus.
I have some reservations about this. It is like telling someone who suffers from chronic hyperacusis not to worry being in environments like bars and restaurants.

I like Fishbone I can tell he truly wants to help and is a humble human being.

 

[Michael Leigh]

My advice to readers. Please do not pay attention to what bobvann has said regarding habituation. He and others think, true habituation means that the tinnitus will never bother you and you can carry on doing everything as you did before example: subjecting your ears to overly louds sounds, such as playing drums and you'll be safe using earplugs are wrong. These people also believe, habituation means you'll be able to use headphones as long as the volume is kept low and the tinnitus will not be adversely affected. This is true for some people but for most that have noise induced tinnitus, there is a risk of it getting worse and it often does. Peruse some of the many posts in this forum from people that have habituated, returned to using headphones and regretted it.

If you follow this erroneous advice and your tinnitus becomes worse, then you will be all alone suffering without anyone to help you.

Michael

 

[bobvann]

My advice to readers. Please do not pay attention to what bobvann has said regarding habituation. He and others think, true habituation means that the tinnitus will never bother you and you can carry on doing everything as you did before example: subjecting your ears to overly louds sounds, such as playing drums and you'll be safe using earplugs are wrong. These people also believe, habituation means you'll be able to use headphones as long as the volume is kept low and the tinnitus will not be adversely affected. This is true for some people but for most that have noise induced tinnitus, there is a risk of it getting worse and it often does. Peruse some of the many posts in this forum from people that have habituated, returned to using headphones and regretted it.

If you follow this erroneous advice and your tinnitus becomes worse, then you will be all alone suffering without anyone to help you.

Michael

I thought you were ignoring me. I did not say I believed this to be true. I just offered other points of views that have been offered.

Some folks who have tried TRT & CBT stated that it did not help them as well. Read the book, it's free online.

I guess they don't count.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@bobvann

I am ignoring you because you do not listen and have disrespected me after I gave you advice (that you asked for) which I will not do again. My post was not specifically replying to you but to readers of this thread which I started. I have many years experience with tinnitus, hyperacusis and the habituation process. I am trying to help people and you have highjacked my thread, giving wrong advice after having tinnitus for a very short time and listening to people from other forums, that also have little understanding of tinnitus, hyperacusis and the habituation process.

Since you have so much faith in what people have told you at other forums about the habituation process, I suggest that you stay there and leave my thread alone. Of course, you can start a thread of your own on the habituation process and I will have the curtesy of not commenting unless asked to.

Michael

 

[bobvann]

That's fair, sorry man. It was your topic apologies.

If you are referring to TRT king or God it was more meant in humor.

I am still figuring it out for myself. Still working on the TRT

 

[fishbone]

There has also been charts posted here stating to live your life and do everything as if one does not have tinnitus.

Unfortunately, people with tinnitus CANNOT rely on such advice. Everything changes when tinnitus comes into our lives. We have to adjust and find ways to push forward while protecting our ears. I have always said that habituation is not so much of us not hearing our tinnitus, but it's about not letting it STOP us from doing things.

My tinnitus is now beyond severe and it's impossible to not hear it. Even though I do hear it, I still DO what needs to be done like going to market, taking pets to vets. I may not feel like going outside, but I still do. What has to be done, has to be done to move forward in our lives.

PRE-habituation, if someone hears their ringing it can possibly cause them feelings of negativity, stress, anxiety and a lot more. That noise, obsessions is at the forefront of their life. This is very normal, I had it as well.

Post-habituation, even if we still hear the sound, our emotional ties to the tinnitus are not as strong. Our reactions can possibly be better as well.

Once we do have some degree of habituation, we still need to do what we can to protect our ears. Keep our stress low and just keep having a tinnitus centric life. A tinnitus centric means that we must still adjust and do our best to protect our ears.

We cannot go back to our pre-tinnitus life when we are post-habituation or pre-habituation. Habituation in my opinion is not a 100% deal anyways. Folks will habituate to some degree, even I am not 100% habituated.

Any habituation is better than not having it at all. It takes TIME and patience and effort to gain some habituation.

All in all it is possible to reach it.

 

[bobvann]

Unfortunately, people with tinnitus CANNOT rely on such advice. Everything changes when tinnitus comes into our lives. We have to adjust and find ways to push forward while protecting our ears. I have always said that habituation is not so much of us not hearing our tinnitus, but it's about not letting it STOP us from doing things.

My tinnitus is now beyond severe and it's impossible to not hear it. Even though I do hear it, I still DO what needs to be done like going to market, taking pets to vets. I may not feel like going outside, but I still do. What has to be done, has to be done to move forward in our lives.

PRE-habituation, if someone hears their ringing it can possibly cause them feelings of negativity, stress, anxiety and a lot more. That noise, obsessions is at the forefront of their life. This is very normal, I had it as well.

Post-habituation, even if we still hear the sound, our emotional ties to the tinnitus are not as strong. Our reactions can possibly be better as well.

Once we do have some degree of habituation, we still need to do what we can to protect our ears. Keep our stress low and just keep having a tinnitus centric life. A tinnitus centric means that we must still adjust and do our best to protect our ears.

We cannot go back to our pre-tinnitus life when we are post-habituation or pre-habituation. Habituation in my opinion is not a 100% deal anyways. Folks will habituate to some degree, even I am not 100% habituated.

Any habituation is better than not having it at all. It takes TIME and patience and effort to gain some habituation.

All in all it is possible to reach it.

Well written again bro, makes a lot of sense.