Is Adaptation All We Have?

[Jazzer]

Those of us with severe chronic Tinnitus know that there is (currently) no cure.
Let's face it.
It hasn't got better.
It hasn't receded, has it?
Has the volume got less?
Cochlea hair cells can not regenerate.
Nerve damage in the brain can not be reversed.

In his book "Tinnitus - from Tyrant to Friend"
Julian Cowan Hill says - I will show you
"how to let go of the ringing in your ears."
(He didn't say he could cure it, did he?
It can't be done for 'trades descriptions.')

So, my question is:
"Is the only way forward an adaptational route?"
Is the battle one of organising a conceptual shift in our observation and relationship to it?
I strongly suspect this is the truth of it.
If that is the reality then I have to accept it.
If your base concept is faulted, then there can be no reality to your structure.
Jazzer

 

[Sam Bridge]

How do you define severe?

 

[Jazzer]

How do you define severe?

Loud - always there - permanent.....

 

[Sam Bridge]

Loud - always there - permanent.....

Mines always there and permanent i guess. How do you define loud? Hear it over the shower? A running tap ect?

 

[threefirefour]

Yup. Sure does suck I wonder why that's literally all tinnitus sufferers have?

Oh yeah that's right. The medical community doesn't care about it. Almost forgot.

 

[fishbone]

Those of us with severe chronic Tinnitus know that there is (currently) no cure.
Let's face it.
It hasn't got better.
It hasn't receded, has it?
Has the volume got less?
Cochlea hair cells can not regenerate.
Nerve damage in the brain can not be reversed.

In his book "Tinnitus - from Tyrant to Friend"
Julian Cowan Hill says - I will show you
"how to let go of the ringing in your ears."
(He didn't say he could cure it, did he?
It can't be done for 'trades descriptions.')

So, my question is:
"Is the only way forward an adaptational route?"
Is the battle one of organising a conceptual shift in our observation and relationship to it?
I strongly suspect this is the truth of it.
If that is the reality then I have to accept it.
If your base concept is faulted, then there can be no reality to your structure.
Jazzer

Life starts out in a certain structure, as it progresses it always ends in a different way. Nothing will always remain, the same.

 

[Alue]

How do you define severe?

If you scored 8 on the tinnitus handicap inventory, then it's probably not severe.

 

[threefirefour]

If you scored 8 on the tinnitus handicap inventory, then it's probably not severe.

8 out of what? 10? That's pretty severe

 

[ChiGuy]

Yup. Sure does suck I wonder why that's literally all tinnitus sufferers have?

Oh yeah that's right. The medical community doesn't care about it. Almost forgot.

My friend, it's all about $$$$$. I do believe at the research level, there are researchers that are passionate about their work. Their driving factors include rising up to the challenge, name recognition, and those that are simply driven by helping out others. The problem is, their resources are limited. Once research identifies a positive development, the corporate vultures are circling above. Then it simply becomes a risk versus reward exercise for the vultures. If the risk is too high, investors won't pony up the cash. They will turn their backs on medicine and invest their money in something more lucrative... like the weapons industry.

The earth is a funny place. Its inhabitants spend trillions of dollars finding better ways to kill each other instead of helping each other.

 

[linearb]

"Is the only way forward an adaptational route?"
Is the battle one of organising a conceptual shift in our observation and relationship to it?

I think this is the most practical way forward, not just as it relates to tinnitus, but as it relates to most of the fabric of our lives. There are, and perhaps forever shall be, more known problems than known solutions.

That said, I'm somewhat less pessimistic in general than you appear to be on actual subjective improvement, at least in some cases (and I'd say the same about many other forms of chronic pain). The brain will, inevitably, change in response to these conditions, and if the conditions themselves are static then the brain changes around them and our day-to-day experience of the conditions also changes. So, that can either to some extent alleviate or exacerbate a problem; I think which way it goes is in many ways down to dumb luck and genetics, but also think that people often have more capacity to help themselves than they really want to own. Owning that is generally extremely painful and requires a near fearless capacity to accept change and our own limitations. When we find ourselves in a pit of despair, the path of least resistance may be to continue thus, in some cases to a degree where the idea of the existence of other options is offensive or just unthinkable.

 

[Jazzer]

I think this is the most practical way forward, not just as it relates to tinnitus, but as it relates to most of the fabric of our lives. There are, and perhaps forever shall be, more known problems than known solutions.

That said, I'm somewhat less pessimistic in general than you appear to be on actual subjective improvement, at least in some cases (and I'd say the same about many other forms of chronic pain). The brain will, inevitably, change in response to these conditions, and if the conditions themselves are static then the brain changes around them and our day-to-day experience of the conditions also changes. So, that can either to some extent alleviate or exacerbate a problem; I think which way it goes is in many ways down to dumb luck and genetics, but also think that people often have more capacity to help themselves than they really want to own. Owning that is generally extremely painful and requires a near fearless capacity to accept change and our own limitations. When we find ourselves in a pit of despair, the path of least resistance may be to continue thus, in some cases to a degree where the idea of the existence of other options is offensive or just unthinkable.

Yes - differences in approach and success rate could be down to genetics, capacity for change etc.....and could also be down to actual differences in volume and intensity.
We can not hear each other's Tinnitus.

 

[Tinker Bell]

8 out of what? 10? That's pretty servere

It is a scale of 1 to 100. It looks at the emotional impact of tinnitus, not the sound volume. It also does not factor in whether an individual has additional hearing complications like hyperacusis or hearing loss.

 

[just1morething]

Yes - differences in approach and success rate could be down to genetics, capacity for change etc.....and could also be down to actual differences in volume and intensity.
We can not hear each other's Tinnitus.

Very true. Mine is a static hiss right now. Salty food and beverages seem to make it worse today. I have a crunchy left TMJ but my confidence is low in my mandibular advancer helping my noise. Everyone is a bit different on how to handle this as @Jazzer says. I'm trying upper cervical RFA C2-C4 in case it's neck nerve related. Not a lot of choices for relief if inner ear damage.

 

[Sam Bridge]

If you scored 8 on the tinnitus handicap inventory, then it's probably not severe.

I know but I was asking the OP. Hope you are well Alue..

 

[threefirefour]

It is a scale of 1 to 100. It looks at the emotional impact of tinnitus, not the sound volume. It also does not factor in whether an individual has additional hearing complications like hyperacusis or hearing loss.

I see. Only scale that's worth discussing is the volume and masking scale. It would be worth specifying the scale.

 

[Jazzer]

Mines always there and permanent i guess. How do you define loud? Hear it over the shower? A running tap ect?

I can hear it above every other noise.

 

[Sam Bridge]

I can hear it above every other noise.

Wow that's insane.

 

[Philippe79]

Those of us with severe chronic Tinnitus know that there is (currently) no cure.
Let's face it.
It hasn't got better.
It hasn't receded, has it?
Has the volume got less?
Cochlea hair cells can not regenerate.
Nerve damage in the brain can not be reversed.

In his book "Tinnitus - from Tyrant to Friend"
Julian Cowan Hill says - I will show you
"how to let go of the ringing in your ears."
(He didn't say he could cure it, did he?
It can't be done for 'trades descriptions.')

So, my question is:
"Is the only way forward an adaptational route?"
Is the battle one of organising a conceptual shift in our observation and relationship to it?
I strongly suspect this is the truth of it.
If that is the reality then I have to accept it.
If your base concept is faulted, then there can be no to your structure.
Jazzer

When you learn your tinnitus is chronic.. in my view, that little bit of light at the end of the tunnel suddenly disappears.. You then have to go through the transition from having some hope to having absolutely no hope. I am in that transition period now. My mindset in some ways, was better after 1 year of tinnitus than it is now (after 2 and a half years - there is no hope). The bottom line is, yes, you do have to lump it.

 

[Tinker Bell]

Wow that's insane.

That is how loud mine is, too.

I was actually surprised when I found this forum to realize there were people in extreme distress yet could only hear their T in quiet rooms.

 

[Tinker Bell]

I see. Only scale that's worth discussing is the volume and masking scale. It would be worth specifying the scale.

Really all the first scale does is measure anxiety from tinnitus.

Examining both the emotional impact and the volume scale gives a much better picture. As evident on this forum, one can have quiet tinnitus yet have a lot of anxiety and depression from it.

Other factors like hyperacusis and hearing loss can further complicate it too.

 

[Jazzer]

When you learn your tinnitus is chronic.. in my view, that little bit of light at the end of the tunnel suddenly disappears.. You then have to go through the transition from having some hope to having absolutely no hope. I am in that transition period now. My mindset in some ways, was better after 1 year of tinnitus than it is now (after 2 and a half years - there is no hope). The bottom line is, yes, you do have to lump it.

So if we are right about this - and we both qualify as having long term experience, Philippe - how do we move forward?
What is there that might help us to feel better?
For me, as you know, a meditation routine helps.

To start, I take one deep breath in, followed by one long breath out.....after which I do not consciously breath at all.
My diaphragm breathes for me, while I actively listen to my "T", rather than just hear it.
Within a few seconds, I always drift off to a place of safety.
The noisy winds are still swirling high above me, but my relaxation is much much deeper.
When I come round (10/15) minutes later, I do feel calmer.

I enjoy the company of fellow sufferers who are very generous with their support.
I enjoy good walks round the beautiful park where I live.
I enjoy my adorable family.
I enjoy my beautiful pussycats.
I have to admit that I can still hear "T" at the same time as experiencing all of the above, but I am determined to live this life the best way I can.
I obviously hope my accommodation of "T" improves, and that is what I aim at.
Very best wishes
Jazzer

 

[just1morething]

When you learn your tinnitus is chronic.. in my view, that little bit of light at the end of the tunnel suddenly disappears.. You then have to go through the transition from having some hope to having absolutely no hope. I am in that transition period now. My mindset in some ways, was better after 1 year of tinnitus than it is now (after 2 and a half years - there is no hope). The bottom line is, yes, you do have to lump it.

The random good day gives me a little hope. Without any hope for managing the noise I get very depressed. It's like a car muffler that has a hole in it that never gets fixed.

 

[Alue]

The random good day gives me a little hope. Without any hope for managing the noise I get very depressed. It's like a car muffler that has a hole in it that never gets fixed.

Hope is cruel, but sometimes it's the only thing that keeps us going.

When you learn your tinnitus is chronic.. in my view, that little bit of light at the end of the tunnel suddenly disappears.. You then have to go through the transition from having some hope to having absolutely no hope. I am in that transition period now. My mindset in some ways, was better after 1 year of tinnitus than it is now (after 2 and a half years - there is no hope). The bottom line is, yes, you do have to lump it.

I gave up hope of it going away at around the one year mark. Until that time I was in clinical trials and had hope for a cure. Now I'm in the same boat as you. What do you do without hope?

Wow that's insane.

That's about the tenth time I've seen you say that's insane when people say they have loud tinnitus on this forum. I don't mean to be offensive, but I'm not sure why it still surprises you.

 

[Red]

If you scored 8 on the tinnitus handicap inventory, then it's probably not severe.

Where can I see this inventory?

 

[Alue]

Where can I see this inventory?

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/complete-tinnitus-handicap-inventory.25123/

 

[Philippe79]

The random good day gives me a little hope.

These type of days give me a bit of rest bite, I would say, but certainly not hope. I've been hopeful too many times. There have been so many times where I thought my T was maybe improving and maybe it was, but that was short lived. Now, I'm trying not to hope, but will take the good days (or not quite so bad days) when I get them.

 

[Sam Bridge]

That's about the tenth time I've seen you say that's insane when people say they have loud tinnitus on this forum. I don't mean to be offensive, but I'm not sure why it still surprises you.

Because it's horrible to think some people can't mask with a pink noise app or something similar.

 

[Screamin Ears]

Hope is cruel, but sometimes it's the only thing that keeps us going.

False hope is cruel, i would kill for some hope right now. I pretty much at the moment am just hoping it doesn't get any worse because it's intolerable now.

I gave up hope of it going away at around the one year mark. Until that time I was in clinical trials and had hope for a cure. Now I'm in the same boat as you. What do you do without hope?

Don't give up hope of it going away, just don't expect it to.

 

[Greg Sacramento]

I believe that tinnitus overall can include the most complex situations known to mankind. A statement in complete terms can't be made as a group condition. A complete informative subject book, care guide, psychological or philosophy book can't be written to address all.

For some tinnitus is manageable and for others it more complex. Although my neuro believe that once someone hears a ring and it goes away, they still don't have a lifetime free pass - the brain and body never forgets. Certain drugs can cause tinnitus and hearing loss. Some having tinnitus and hearing loss can't take certain drugs to help with other diseases and conditions. There's just no words to sum up the conditions of tinnitus for all.

 

[Alue]

False hope is cruel, i would kill for some hope right now. I pretty much at the moment am just hoping it doesn't get any worse because it's intolerable now.

Don't give up hope of it going away, just don't expect it to.

To me that is false hope. If you are new to tinnitus, there's a real hope of it going away. Now I'm just hoping it doesn't progressively get worse.

I don't know what happened, for the first year and a half (almost two years) my tinnitus was loud but stable. Now I seem to be getting new tones and I don't know why. When you get a spike in an already existing tone that can be due to stress, lack of sleep, etc., and it's usually transient; but new tones seem to mark a real worsening, at least to me.