Long Time Listener, First Time Caller

[MichaelOS]

Hello everyone. I've had tinnitus for 8 months and it's probably been the most difficult period of time I've gone through. It's in both ears, had hyperacusis which seems to have abated thank God. It was brought on by working with headphones at high levels. I was working all hours and not taking precautions. I'm self employed so no one to blame but myself.

We've two small kids and are in the process of buying a house. So it's busy.

Been down all the roads, ENT, hearing tests, small amount of damage but within normal limits, and one visit to a therapist specialising in tinnitus. But not much progress. The problems that face me are mainly concentration with work and concerns for the future.

Will I be able to keep it together for work, will I be able to raise my family, will I loose my mind. Will it get worse. It's daunting. Although I have relatives who also have it it does give me some comfort but at the same time I can't help seeing another 40 years of this ahead of me. Should I go around afraid of every noisy situation, not concerts but family get togethers.

How can I just get back to my life?

Anyway I'm amazed by the number of people out there with this affliction.

How can you get used to it?

 

[glynis]

Dont worry about the future as things dont pan out how we expect them to be.
Your future can be lovely and like myself doing better than I have ever been in 12 years regarding my ears.
Will it last ? I hope so ....
Its the here and now that matters and getting through life the best we can and having fun along the way to balance out the down times.
Enjoy the family time and off load stress and relax when you can and stay positive as their is nothing posative about being negative
...lots of love glynis

 

[MichaelOS]

Thanks Glynis. That is lovely advice. I've always been a worrier, I think that's why I someone who let's this get on top of things. I'm glad that you're in a great place and enjoying life.

 

[Bobby B]

the best way to deal with this is one day at a time - one hour at a time even.
if you start on projecting your fears and negativity in the future then its the end !

concentrate on the small things you are doing right now or in the immediate future today - get busy with stuff, find new hobbies (not music) etc.. and just accept the T as part of yourself without fighting it. My H is also down a lot so I'm very thankful for that that was pretty depressing to feel so weak against everyday sounds. At the end its up to us to not listen to that shit

 

[MikeL1972]

Hi MichaelOS,

Welcome to the site!

Great advice from other members.

Since no formal FDA cure exists, the best thing you can do for yourself at this time is to accept it, commonly known in clinical terms as habituation. This becomes easier once your mind convinces itself that tinnitus is not a threat to your well-being. In essence, the less you think about your tinnitus, the better off you will be. This is definitely not easy, but it is the optimal way to co-exist with it.

Focus on what's important in your life - your family, not tinnitus. Tinnitus is a nuisance that needs to be swept under the rug; it is there, but if you do not allow your mind to focus on it, it is not there.

Regarding noise, I personally avoid all situations where I know there will be loud noise (bars, concerts, etc).

Good luck!