Hypnotherapy / Hypnosis for Tinnitus

'Milder tinnitus'. I don't think this exists in any objectively measurable form.

But it does. Its enough when I tell you if I got one loud tonal high pitched sound or 10 different loud ones at once. The level of suffering here is determined not by the reaction but by the mere amount of sounds and their nature.

But you can only tell that when you experience both. There is the "mild" T to which you will habituate automatically after a period of time and theres the extreme, life destroying multiple reactive T. The latter one will not be helped by minfulness alone. I experience both on daily basis.

I know my post wont make a difference and I usually tend to ignore such statements.
But it makes me pretty angry when someone comes along and breaks out the old Dr.Nagler " The T doesnt matter, your reaction does" bollocks.

My post has nothing to do with hypnotherapy though...If I had an expert in my area, I would try it out. Just for the sake of it.
 
Hello Snow86

I suppose I place emphasis on the 'objective' part of the quoted statement. I'm happy to agree that a person may experience one sound or another as being milder but I wouldn't know how to go about measuring 'mildness' except through the hearer's own subjective experience. It's therefore a subjective thing. You may, I don't know, find a hissing less terrible than a whistle. Shall we both build a scale of mild to extreme and hope to find everybody agreeing? We'd be here for all eternity.

I don't know Dr Nagler or what his view may be. Please don't project his views onto my comments.
 
I just experience some peace after heard some hipnotizer videos in youtube. It helps with anxiety but no effects on T volume.
 
Hello there

If you could find a way or be taught to maintain that sense of peace then the brain would begin to habituate to the volume.

The easiest example I can think of - and I'm sure you've all heard similar things - is my own experience as a teenager. My grandparents moved overseas and left us all their stuff. My father hung their 'grandmother' clock on the wall of our hallway and every 15 minutes it chimed. It used to keep me awake or even wake me up. It was rather annoying but I also quite liked it because it reminded me of holidays in Cornwall. I adored my grandparents and so the sound had a positive association*

Over time I forgot to hear it at all. It stopped waking me up or interfering with my going to sleep. Its volume never changed. Only my perception of it changed. I had habituated to the sound of it. The brain no longer interpreted it as being of importance and so simply binned it as not being worthy of conscious attention. As I grew I had girlfriends stay over. They'd complain about the noise to begin with. They too learned to habituate over time.

This is the aim of every sufferer of tinnitus.

Best wishes

Paul

*One of the techniques I use is to have the client attach a cute cartoonish persona and appearance to the sound. With older clients I have them give the sound the persona of some dotty old aunt who they remember from their childhood. This makes the sound something to which they can relate and which doesn't seem quite so threatening. I expect it sounds trite and ridiculous. However, when used alongside other interventions it does have a positive effect.
 
Damasio, Doidges and Gladwell
Hey Paul, I'm very interested in Hypnotherapy and it's so hard to find someone knowledgeable to talk. You do realize that those three writers are very "journalistic", right? Do you have more serious reading sources to suggest to a more science-minded person such as myself? Thank you!!
 
Hello Zug

Yes, they are quite pop-science but they do write with a wealth of studies in the notes. I think I'd protest your comment with regard to Damasio, who has a solid pedigree of neuroscience to his name and who shot himself in the foot - from a serious academic perspective - by choosing to divert himself into the nomansland of studying the nebulous concept of consciousness.

I must confess to not having a wealth of scientific evidence to back up my claims with regard to hypnotherapy and tinnitus. Research into the efficacy of hypnotherapy with tinnitus is practically non-existent. The NHS has researched hypnotherapy and IBS and so NICE approves its use with that condition. That's a start. In the UK there is a group of doctors in Salford (Manchester) who treat IBS only with hypnotherapy.

Scientific evidence and psychotherapy in general is a problematic concept. How to standardise the million variables in play when two very unique people come together... When one controls the variables one removes what most therapists consider to be the most significant ingredient: rapport and the personalisation of approaches utilised.

Best wishes

Paul
 
Hello linearb

Yes, I do see some clients via Vsee. Skype is considered unethical by UKCP (my professional body) because it's not seen as being sufficiently confidential. Vsee is a similar medium which is considered as compliant with medical standards of confidentiality.

But, yes, it's always best to do these things face to face.

Best wishes

Paul
 
But it makes me pretty angry when someone comes along and breaks out the old Dr.Nagler " The T doesnt matter, your reaction does" bollocks.
Agreed. It's like saying it doesn't matter whether you've got a splinter in your finger or a knife stuck through your wrist, it's your reaction that matters.

Well, yeah, some people are masters at being able to control their pain reaction, like fire walkers. The rest of us, not so much.

Edit to add, this is where I think hypnotherapy could be useful. The perception of pain and tinnitus seem to be interconnected in the brain. It's obviously a complex connection, but if pain can be controlled and ignored (like via hypnosis in dentistry), why can't tinnitus? It's just something to think about.

 
I went to a hypnotherapist and for me, it didn't work. Being in his quiet office, trying to relax with my T screaming away, I almost couldn't follow what he was saying. in 10 minutes, I interrupted him and we had to stop the session. I was bummed to say the least.

We did a few, talk theraphy sessions beforehand, so I didn't just walk in cold. Was he the right person? I don't know? He admittedly said, he had never treated a Tinnitus patient before. I tried to find a therapist who had familiarity with Tinnitus, but still to this day, haven't found one. I find this unbelievable and discouraging!
 
Hello Zug

Yes, they are quite pop-science but they do write with a wealth of studies in the notes. I think I'd protest your comment with regard to Damasio, who has a solid pedigree of neuroscience to his name and who shot himself in the foot - from a serious academic perspective - by choosing to divert himself into the nomansland of studying the nebulous concept of consciousness.

I must confess to not having a wealth of scientific evidence to back up my claims with regard to hypnotherapy and tinnitus. Research into the efficacy of hypnotherapy with tinnitus is practically non-existent. The NHS has researched hypnotherapy and IBS and so NICE approves its use with that condition. That's a start. In the UK there is a group of doctors in Salford (Manchester) who treat IBS only with hypnotherapy.

Scientific evidence and psychotherapy in general is a problematic concept. How to standardise the million variables in play when two very unique people come together... When one controls the variables one removes what most therapists consider to be the most significant ingredient: rapport and the personalisation of approaches utilised.

Best wishes

Paul
Thank you @Paul Hughes, I have some problems with what Gladwell writes but Descartes error from Damasio is still a favorite.

I think that's the problem not only with hypnotherapy but with a lot of the "Alternative Treatments", it's very hard to find a practitioner we can trust, since it's hard to standardize as you would in more traditional fields of medicine. To tell you the truth I find it very frustrating that there are people around who take advantage of this. I didn't find a Hypnotherapist whom I could trust in my region, but the first acupuncturist I went to after getting Tinnitus was clearly a waste of time and money. A lot of people on this board have had similar experiences with Alternative providers, so forgive us if we seem suspicious. All the best, Zug.
 
My experience with a hypnotist/hypnotherapist may be salutary for some. I developed tensor tympani and middle ear myoclonus a month or so ago. This is drumming and clicking in the ears. It israndom and can be quite loud disturbing sleep. Actually the dread of it when one is trying to sleep is worse and I had many sleepless nights. I had heard that hypnotherapy could be quite good with this type of phobia. I had attended a meetup group for hypnosis and been quite impressed with what seemed to be on offer. However when I started looking for a therapist I was pretty desperate and sleep deprived. Mistake no 1 was taking the first hypnotist coming up on google. This guy had loads of 'testemonials' (now I realise probably another bad sign). I turned up at his offices. He said I had arrived too early but never mind. In his office I explained the details of the problem. He listened open mouthed and said it was probably stress. Then he got me to lay on a couch and suddenly plonked a visor with flashing lights over my head - something I later found out is a 'mind machine'. This is supposedly to sychronise with your brain waves. I was to close my eyes and concentrate on the lights.Then heplonked a pair of headphones on me asked me to close my eyes and listen to his voice. What ensued was basically a body scan followed by a generic insomnia script (you can get better in google apps for free). When he mentioned that I would probably feel tingling in my arms and feel sleepy I felt none of these things. After about half an hour mentally walking up and down steps following his script (delivered in a curious mid Atlantic drawl- I couldn'figure out whether he had stuck a recording on or whether he was speaking live) he took off the visor and phones and said he would give md a cd of this session. I was to listen to it before bed and continue to listen to it for as long as was necessary to fall asleep. Then he charged me £85 an said I was to come back for another 2 sessions (presumably at £85 each) to learn autohypnosis. By now I realised how much of a mug I had been and just wanted to get out of the place. Needless to say I won't be darkening his door again.
Desperation makes us do desperate things and there are legions of scammers and charlatans out there. I will try hypnosis again but next time I will do thorough research on the practitioners. Caveat emptor.
 
Has anyone here ever tried hypnosis to treat their tinnitus or reaction to it? What results did you have?

Clutching at straws here!!
 
Has anyone here ever tried hypnosis to treat their tinnitus or reaction to it? What results did you have?
I have tried hypnotherapy for tinnitus specifically with two different practitioners (in fact I am still working with them both). I can't say enough good things about it. It almost completely eliminated my anxiety and increased the amount of time I go between noticing the sound (and I'm not even a quarter of the way through that program). Both of my hypnotherapists have tinnitus themselves, so they are extremely understanding and developed their programs in an effort to help rid or habituate their own tinnitus. Both are graduates of HMI in Tarzana.

One program is geared towards habituation, and the other program is geared towards sound reduction (I know it sounds impossible but he's had very good success with it).
 
I have tried hypnotherapy for tinnitus specifically with two different practitioners (in fact I am still working with them both). I can't say enough good things about it. It almost completely eliminated my anxiety and increased the amount of time I go between noticing the sound (and I'm not even a quarter of the way through that program). Both of my hypnotherapists have tinnitus themselves, so they are extremely understanding and developed their programs in an effort to help rid or habituate their own tinnitus. Both are graduates of HMI in Tarzana.

One program is geared towards habituation, and the other program is geared towards sound reduction (I know it sounds impossible but he's had very good success with it).
This gives me some hope. Thank you.
 
I have tried hypnotherapy for tinnitus specifically with two different practitioners (in fact I am still working with them both). I can't say enough good things about it. It almost completely eliminated my anxiety and increased the amount of time I go between noticing the sound (and I'm not even a quarter of the way through that program). Both of my hypnotherapists have tinnitus themselves, so they are extremely understanding and developed their programs in an effort to help rid or habituate their own tinnitus. Both are graduates of HMI in Tarzana.

One program is geared towards habituation, and the other program is geared towards sound reduction (I know it sounds impossible but he's had very good success with it).
Where are you based if you don't mind me asking? I'm looking for a UK specialist.
 
Where are you based if you don't mind me asking? I'm looking for a UK specialist
I'm based in the US but not in the same state as one of my hypnotherapists. I find it doesn't matter too much as they all do Zoom or phone sessions and record the mp3 for me to listen to for the rest of the week. What is far more important is that your hypnotherapist has training and experience treating tinnitus specifically and with good results in the patients he/she has treated. My hypnotherapist who practices in Utah actually has his local patients take a minimum masking level test prior to starting the hypnotherapy and at the end of his 6 session program. He's told me people are surprised to see their MMLs come down after they finish the therapy. Since I don't live local I didn't do this test, but it's important to find a hypnotherapist who is willing to quantify progress in this way and discuss with you what tangible results you may expect (whether that is habituation or noise reduction).

This gives me some hope. Thank you.
You're welcome!
Here is something fun both of you can do. Follow the link below to take the hypnosis suggestibility questionnaire. This test is usually administered amongst other tests such as an arm raising induction before the first hypnotherapy session and gives your therapist an idea of how best to hypnotize and introduce suggestions to you. People who score higher on the physical scale will accept literal suggestions better than people who score higher on the emotional scale.

https://hypnosis.edu/sq/intro


Some more info below

----
100% EMO will respond to all suggestions affecting her emotional behavior, but will not respond to suggestions affecting her physical body or physical movements. Does not respond well to direct, literal suggestions, but is very responsive to inferred suggestions.

The suggestible pattern of an Emotional is based on a defense to protect his or her physical body. She will put her emotions out first, before she will accept physical touch. In other words, when she is faced with uncomfortable physical contact, attention, or pain, or if she senses she is about to be put in such a position, she responds with emotions of embarrassment, fear, anger, apprehension, emotional irritation or frustration, as a line of defense to protect her physical body from discomfort. She is especially susceptible to this threat because she tends to be overly concerned with what others think about her, and her embarrassment level relating to her physical body is easily reached. Only if the threat turns out to be unfounded or nonexistent and she finds that she can accept positive emotional feelings, will the defense mechanism lessen and her capacity for physical acceptance increase. The end result of the Emotional's defense is that she develops a habit of suppressing feelings in the physical body, and her ability to feel ego sensations diminishes. The extent of this suppression, of course, is relative to her degree of Emotional suggestibility.

The Physical speaks inferentially and understands literally; the Emotional speaks literally and understands inferentially.

With the Emotional, a message unit is taken in as a thought, which then becomes an image, followed by an emotional feeling, and, ultimately, a physical reaction.

100% PHYS will respond to any direct, literal suggestion affecting his body, but will not respond to suggestions affecting his emotional behavior.

The Physical, unlike the Emotional, uses his physical body as a defense to protect his emotions. He will respond to physical touch with pleasure and has a great need for it, as it represents acceptance to him. He expresses himself literally and bluntly and is not overly concerned with how others see him. When he becomes involved with explaining something, he tends to be animated in movement and gestures and to move close to the person to whom he's talking. He will usually dominate a conversation, barely listening to what the other person has to say. He may cut someone off in the middle of a sentence, in order to get a point across. Whether he recognizes it or not, he has difficulty understanding the emotions of others because he can relate only to what he feels and not to what others say and feel. Because he relates to physical communication, he attempts to reach others through physical closeness and body language and suppresses his ability to relate verbally on more than a surface conversational level. Only when he has achieved enough physical acceptance to ease his urgency and make him feel comfortable, can he open up to positive emotional communication.

The Physical speaks inferentially and understands literally; the Emotional speaks literally and understands inferentially.
 
Lcj and others,

I am searching desperately for the hypnotherapists you mentioned that have helped you, especially the one with the sound reduction program where the MML is measured. I did a hypnotherapist search based on your description of HMI graduate, tinnitus, sound reduction... but was unable to pinpoint. Could you please help with the contact information? I am in a panic everyday due to the noises and am in serious need of treatment to alleviate the distress.

Thank you!
 
Please, I have been searching in vain for the hypnotherapists that you described in UTAH. Especially the man who specializes in sound reduction and has you take the MML test. Could you let me know their contacts ? I am in desperate need of help. ktgirlie@yahoo.com
His name is Allan Elder. He operates under his own business now under Sage Life Institute. I believe they have acupuncturists and other types of treatment as well. Although I have only consulted with him over the phone and on zoom. Email is aelder@sagelifeinstitute.com

http://sagelifeinstitute.com/about-me/

Here is a copy of his certifications. He is wonderful for other modalities besides hypnotherapy as well. Please let me know if you try this and how it goes!

92C4587C-5D0C-43B3-80B7-567E0A56BF54.png
 
lcj,

Allen Elder is the hypnotherapist that specializes in noise reduction? I actually spoke with him earlier today and when I asked if he has clients monitor the change in their "minimum masking level test", he did not know what I was talking about.

But, if he's the one that you personally find effective and shows good success with tinnitus, then I am more than willing! I hope he can help with hearing distortion as well.

Thank you for your prompt response! It means the world to me.
 
lcj,

I spoke with the correct hypnotherapist and found him to be very pleasant and understanding, yet pricey. Would you be open to talking with me? I am very interested in how Allan has helped your tinnitus...and which program you liked the best 1)habituation 2)metaphors (noise reduction?). The recent onset of tinnitus and distortion has been horrific and I am having a hard time, to say the least.
I am located in CA. Please let me know. Thank you!

Utopia
ktgirlie@yahoo.com
 
Some studies have shown that hypnosis can speed up healing of wounds significantly:

"Using hypnosis to accelerate the healing of bone fractures: a randomized controlled pilot study" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10069091)
"Can medical hypnosis accelerate post-surgical wound healing? Results of a clinical trial" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12722936)

I wonder sometimes if hypnosis could also be used to support healing in the cochlea after an injury. What it certainly can help is changing your attitude to tinnitus and thus helping with habituation.

It's pretty amazing what it can do actually, I remember watching this video about a guy who was sedated only with hypnosis for hernia surgery (they used zero medication for the surgery):
 

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