I've been meaning to write here for a long time now, as I found this support forum gave me a shred of hope, during some very dark times while learning to live with Tinnitus.
As I write this, and most probably as you read this, there is a ringing sound in my ears, quite loud now, louder than it has been for a few weeks... because I'm thinking about it.
I didn't believe in the early days, that there was ever any hope, that I would be free of the stress of living with Tinnitus. I couldn't focus at work, I couldn't sleep at night, I was drifting apart from my girlfriend and friends, as I isolated myself from their mis-understanding of my condition. I had suicidal thoughts.
I went to The Tinnitus Clinic in London about 3 times. They said my frequency was too high, and couldn't do anything to help. They suggested some alternatives that would have involved me wearing headphones for 12 months listening to purple noise, but that was going to cost me about £2k. At that time I would have paid £200k, but I didn't believe it was the solution.
Eventually I decided to go to a councillor. Having had suicidal thoughts, and feeling very low, I figured this would be a good first step, but I never expected it to help with my Tinnitus, more just prevent me from doing something I might regret.
After 2 months of visiting my councillor, talking about my Tinnitus, all the concerns I had about it, for example, being quite young a lot of my social life involved going to clubs and festivals (I'm glad to say that now it still does with my ACS earplugs reducing any damaging noise), and he helped me to look at my Tinnitus in a different way. To not let it take control of my life, to not be a constant thought and most of all to not make me anxious.
I also started doing Mindfulness exercises every morning, for 20 minutes, using the Headspace app (not a plug), and with the help of the app, and my councillor I can now say that Tinnitus is not an issue for me at all. I probably hear the sound about 20% of my week, but it doesn't bother me, I don't mind it because i know I'm in control of it. I know that it is just a sound that will follow me around all my life, but I'm not scared of that, in a way it is comforting. There are only three certainties in life, Death, Taxes and Tinnitus!!!
I can honestly say, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I would never have believed I could get to this point in my life, looking back to the first couple of months I lived with it. But please please please read this and believe me, that it really is MIND OVER MATTER.
If you need any further support or advice please contact me and I'll try to help.
As I write this, and most probably as you read this, there is a ringing sound in my ears, quite loud now, louder than it has been for a few weeks... because I'm thinking about it.
I didn't believe in the early days, that there was ever any hope, that I would be free of the stress of living with Tinnitus. I couldn't focus at work, I couldn't sleep at night, I was drifting apart from my girlfriend and friends, as I isolated myself from their mis-understanding of my condition. I had suicidal thoughts.
I went to The Tinnitus Clinic in London about 3 times. They said my frequency was too high, and couldn't do anything to help. They suggested some alternatives that would have involved me wearing headphones for 12 months listening to purple noise, but that was going to cost me about £2k. At that time I would have paid £200k, but I didn't believe it was the solution.
Eventually I decided to go to a councillor. Having had suicidal thoughts, and feeling very low, I figured this would be a good first step, but I never expected it to help with my Tinnitus, more just prevent me from doing something I might regret.
After 2 months of visiting my councillor, talking about my Tinnitus, all the concerns I had about it, for example, being quite young a lot of my social life involved going to clubs and festivals (I'm glad to say that now it still does with my ACS earplugs reducing any damaging noise), and he helped me to look at my Tinnitus in a different way. To not let it take control of my life, to not be a constant thought and most of all to not make me anxious.
I also started doing Mindfulness exercises every morning, for 20 minutes, using the Headspace app (not a plug), and with the help of the app, and my councillor I can now say that Tinnitus is not an issue for me at all. I probably hear the sound about 20% of my week, but it doesn't bother me, I don't mind it because i know I'm in control of it. I know that it is just a sound that will follow me around all my life, but I'm not scared of that, in a way it is comforting. There are only three certainties in life, Death, Taxes and Tinnitus!!!
I can honestly say, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I would never have believed I could get to this point in my life, looking back to the first couple of months I lived with it. But please please please read this and believe me, that it really is MIND OVER MATTER.
If you need any further support or advice please contact me and I'll try to help.
