Little Things That Make Life Worth Living

@Tweedleman Sublime was actually the very first concert I went to. Not with Bradley though. Sublime with Rome and The Dirty Heads in 2010 or so

I've always loved them. Wish I had just stuck with them and never gotten into the metal scene. As much as I loved metal I can't enjoy the music anymore since one metal concert mangled my ears.
 
I've always loved them. Wish I had just stuck with them and never gotten into the metal scene. As much as I loved metal I can't enjoy the music anymore since one metal concert mangled my ears.
I've always loved them. Wish I had just stuck with them and never gotten into the metal scene. As much as I loved metal I can't enjoy the music anymore since one metal concert mangled my ears.

I mostly went to hip hop shows and that did me in. Even sitting far away from the stage in huge arenas and never being near speakers.
 
Hello everyone,

I am really struggling to hang in here lately. Life seems pointless and I feel like a prisoner trapped in my own body daily. All of the things that used to bring me joy I am no longer able to do and being in my mid twenties I am unable to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I was always a pretty social person, but unfortunately when you live in a major US city most social activities involve noises that are at least 75-80 decibels.

I had so many goals and plans, both career wise and in my personal life and everything has been taken away from me in a matter of seconds. I am finding it increasingly harder to find the will to live and I'm worried this isolation and road to nowhere is going to drive me to end it all. I have absolutely nothing to look forward to anymore and am miserable on a daily basis.

I wanted to see if everyone here could make a small list of at least 5 things that bring them happiness and make live worth living despite suffering with this terrible affliction. Really needing a bit of positivity right now :(

What allows you guys to keep moving forward?

- I have a beautiful wife and family,
who give me so much love and hugs.
- three adorable pussycats.
- conversation with friends, both real and on line
(as on T.T.)
- going for walks around the beautiful park where I live.
- Studying psychology - a lifelong obsession.

Two aspects that have really helped me preserve my sanity:
1. Accepting once and for all that the beautiful life of jazz achievement that I once had is now a thing of the past.
2. A daily half hour of meditation - when I hear my tinnitus, but prove to myself that I can still drift off into a beautiful meditational doze.

Best wishes
Dave x
Jazzer
 
1. Shore's bi-modal stimulation device helping even NIT folks reduce/eliminate tinnitus maybe released by early 2021.
2. FX-322's possible conditional approval upon showing efficacy in phase 2.
3. Lifting weights and (hopefully) surpassing some PR's this year
4. Playing Wheel of Fortune/Jeopardy/Brain Games with my family
5. Playing D&D once/week with my brother and a few friends.

These five reasons are really the only ones why I'm still alive.
 
Thought I'd also make a list of things I enjoyed prior to T that I've lost. Trying to keep this thread positive but wanted to share this as well.

- concerts/music festivals

- listening to music with headphones. I had a nice pair of NC cancelling ones I'd use at home. At work I can deal with no headphones. The biggest struggle is not having music for the gym/when going on walks.

- enjoying places such as restaurants/ bars / movie theaters without panicking. This is what is keeping me from dating currently.

- going to dive bars, drinking cheap beer, playing pool and getting drunk/playing random songs on Jukeboxes. I am scared of getting drunk now because I don't trust myself to go home and not too something I'll regret.

- traveling. I am terrified of planes now. I live in the US and have never been to Europe but was planning on going this summer before I got T. I also have always wanted to visit Nashville and New Orleans (both known for music).
 
One of biggest blows to me, aside from screwed up hearing, was that I can't enjoy cannabis anymore. After waiting years for legalization here in Canada. I will admitt that I was over enjoying it prior to my acoustic trauma, but moderation doesn't even seem like an option now. Since it tends to exaggerate the volume and tones of tinnitus and make me acutely aware of how uneven I hear now.
 
Thought I'd also make a list of things I enjoyed prior to T that I've lost. Trying to keep this thread positive but wanted to share this as well.

- concerts/music festivals

- listening to music with headphones. I had a nice pair of NC cancelling ones I'd use at home. At work I can deal with no headphones. The biggest struggle is not having music for the gym/when going on walks.

- enjoying places such as restaurants/ bars / movie theaters without panicking. This is what is keeping me from dating currently.

- going to dive bars, drinking cheap beer, playing pool and getting drunk/playing random songs on Jukeboxes. I am scared of getting drunk now because I don't trust myself to go home and not too something I'll regret.

- traveling. I am terrified of planes now. I live in the US and have never been to Europe but was planning on going this summer before I got T. I also have always wanted to visit Nashville and New Orleans (both known for music).

Same here apart from getting drunk. Cannot even plan a holiday in advance.
 
I think I understand you. It feels like I'm watching the world and even myself from an outside perspective and at the same time like I'm inside a bubble. And I hate myself for it, but I'm getting envious and sometimes even a bit mad of people having a life without tinnitus.

Only time when I'm ok-ish is in the state between being asleep and awake. I sleep horribly, but sometimes I get some hours without awakening a lot, even dreaming, and for some minutes before totally waking up, I feel normal again. Then tinnitus starts creeping back...

Same. That brief few minutes after waking up when your mind hasn't fully turned on yet is bliss. I wonder if this is what it feels like to be in a coma.
 
One of biggest blows to me, aside from screwed up hearing, was that I can't enjoy cannabis anymore. After waiting years for legalization here in Canada. I will admitt that I was over enjoying it prior to my acoustic trauma, but moderation doesn't even seem like an option now. Since it tends to exaggerate the volume and tones of tinnitus and make me acutely aware of how uneven I hear now.
Got it prescribed for UC, was my vice of choice. Blissful detachment from ego, profound objective insights, unparalleled appreciation for art and music. Can't wait for the day we're free.
 
Got it prescribed for UC, was my vice of choice. Blissful detachment from ego, profound objective insights, unparalleled appreciation for art and music. Can't wait for the day we're free.

Was never able to reach this state, it always made me extra paranoid and anxious.

Unless I had already been drinking, smoking was never an enjoyable time for me
 
Got it prescribed for UC, was my vice of choice. Blissful detachment from ego, profound objective insights, unparalleled appreciation for art and music. Can't wait for the day we're free.

I miss the hell out if it. Blazing after work and listening to music was what I lived for. I suppose my lungs are thanking my ears for taking one for the team now.
 
I haven't tried CBD oil yet but edibles make no difference if they're heavy on THC. They'd actually be worse for their druarion.

I remember the first time I tried edibles. It was chocolate. I ate some and then about an hour went by so I got bored and started getting ready for bed. As I'm standing there, I literally heard a woosh like literally the wind in my ears, it hit me so hard lol. I had to lay down for a good while to calm myself down
 
I miss the hell out if it. Blazing after work and listening to music was what I lived for. I suppose my lungs are thanking my ears for taking one for the team now.
Man I feel this... it's been 3 months since my tinnitus got worse from a fire alarm and ive still not really been able to smoke, i think it may be ruined for me. I kinda used it as an escapism from the shitty every day life, it made work more bearable, but now it damn near makes me panic every time. I had the worst panic attack back in December while high, I heard so many tinnitus noises...

Here's hoping it gets better at some point, I miss it.
 
Man I feel this... it's been 3 months since my tinnitus got worse from a fire alarm and ive still not really been able to smoke, i think it may be ruined for me. I kinda used it as an escapism from the shitty every day life, it made work more bearable, but now it damn near makes me panic every time. I had the worst panic attack back in December while high, I heard so many tinnitus noises...

Here's hoping it gets better at some point, I miss it.

I get that now too. My tolerance has gone way down since I quit and now weed just makes me obsess on my hearing and my anxiety goes thru the roof.
 
- I have a beautiful wife and family,
who give me so much love and hugs.
- three adorable pussycats.
- conversation with friends, both real and on line
(as on T.T.)
- going for walks around the beautiful park where I live.
- Studying psychology - a lifelong obsession.

Two aspects that have really helped me preserve my sanity:
1. Accepting once and for all that the beautiful life of jazz achievement that I once had is now a thing of the past.
2. A daily half hour of meditation - when I hear my tinnitus, but prove to myself that I can still drift off into a beautiful meditational doze.

Best wishes
Dave x
Jazzer

This made me happy! So many good things. I love cats too :)

Jazz is amazing! I studied psychology for my Bachelor's but I took a jazz history class as an elective and I loved it! John Coltrane got me through a lot of late night library sessions.
 
1. Shore's bi-modal stimulation device helping even NIT folks reduce/eliminate tinnitus maybe released by early 2021.
2. FX-322's possible conditional approval upon showing efficacy in phase 2.
3. Lifting weights and (hopefully) surpassing some PR's this year
4. Playing Wheel of Fortune/Jeopardy/Brain Games with my family
5. Playing D&D once/week with my brother and a few friends.

These five reasons are really the only ones why I'm still alive.

Sound like good reasons to me! Honestly at this point, just knowing a treatment is available would help me cope. Even without receiving treatment, just the idea I have a safety net would turn my life around.
 
Having a really hard time tonight guys. Not going to lie. I keep on reading over everyone's lists and trying to snap out of it but it's so dang hard.

I can't shake the feeling that I'm not going to make it in the end. It won't happen soon. But I'm not strong enough. I thought I had so much time to enjoy life. I can't believe it has ran out so soon.
 
My wife
Two sons
Work
Video games
Drives

I try to keep living a "normal" life despite with the ringing. The only things that change is using earplugs everywhere where noise is loud and having sounds near me when I go to sleep.My family is what keeps me going, idk where would I be without them. Hoping for better days ahead. One day at a time. Hope one day we can hear silence.
 
@Orions Pain
You're new to tinnitus. This is often the toughest time for many. At least it was for me. I struggled in the beginning. I struggle now at times. Sleep is important. Distraction is key. Hope springs eternal. I often say what gets me through the bad days is the hope for a better day tomorrow.
 
1) A cat curled up on my lap.
2) Long rides with no destination.
3) Sunny days in the 50's and 60's (Fahrenheit).
4) Problem-solving when working on car, house, etc.
5) Knowing that no matter how bad the day was it all resets the next morning so we can try again.
 
1. My parents
2. My job, which fortunately is interesting and includes nice coworkers
3. Reading in general (still a challenge) currently focused on early Christian history
4. Learning, thinking about, and growing deeper in my faith
5. TV/movies
6. "Beating" tinnitus
7. Travel
 

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