Hi everyone,
I just wanted to share my story with you guys to give you hope (sorry for the long text, I tried to keep it as short as possible).
6 months ago, tinnitus and hyperacusis showed up in my life. First lockdown in France, I was under a lot of stress with work and had been mentally exhausted for months before that. I took a medical leave as I felt I couldn't work properly anymore… and tinnitus started with a feeling of fullness in my ears. At first, I thought it would go away within a few days but it got worse: a super high pitched sound I could hear over everything except when I was in the shower. I was so panicked, I remember crying myself to sleep at nights, thinking I would go crazy and desperately wanting it to stop
I tried a lot of things: Ginkgo Biloba, garlic (and countless other supplements), juice fasting, Acupuncture, Reiki… it didn't work for me.
I purchased Julian Cowan Hill's book « Tinnitus, From Tyrant to Friend » and read something that draw my attention: he said that you should not obsess over trying to stop tinnitus (easier said that done, I know...), but rather focus on being in good health in general, that tinnitus was a symptom and not a threat. So, I started listening more to myself: having good times with my supportive boyfriend, friends and family, going out in a park to meditate or reading a book, going for walks instead of staying on my couch being sad, painting… I remember consulting an ENT specialist who told me my ears were « healthy » and that if tinnitus started with stress, there were no reasons it wouldn't go away when stress would go away, but that I had to be patient. His optimism helped me a lot as I was in a dark place at the time.
I also decided to see a chiropractor as I felt so much tension in my body (especially in the neck/head area) and to talk to a psychologist. These are definitely the things that helped me the most.
About 3 weeks ago, I found out that moving my jaw would impact and lessen the sound. So I started massaging my face, jaw, neck and shoulders on the evening… and it got quieter! Now, I can still hear it when I am in a silent room but don't hear it anymore when driving my car, walking on the street, etc… and I have hope it will completely go away within the next few months/years. I still have fullness in my ears and hyperacusis (much more bearable that in May though, it's also starting to get better).
Tinnitus seems to have so many causes, so I know my testimony won't necessarily help everyone and each of you… but I just wanted to tell you it can get better in some cases (especially stress/tension related ones).
Tinnitus is such an awful sh*t and I know how bad it affects ours lives… but stay strong, and take care everyone! It can get better
I just wanted to share my story with you guys to give you hope (sorry for the long text, I tried to keep it as short as possible).
6 months ago, tinnitus and hyperacusis showed up in my life. First lockdown in France, I was under a lot of stress with work and had been mentally exhausted for months before that. I took a medical leave as I felt I couldn't work properly anymore… and tinnitus started with a feeling of fullness in my ears. At first, I thought it would go away within a few days but it got worse: a super high pitched sound I could hear over everything except when I was in the shower. I was so panicked, I remember crying myself to sleep at nights, thinking I would go crazy and desperately wanting it to stop
I tried a lot of things: Ginkgo Biloba, garlic (and countless other supplements), juice fasting, Acupuncture, Reiki… it didn't work for me.
I purchased Julian Cowan Hill's book « Tinnitus, From Tyrant to Friend » and read something that draw my attention: he said that you should not obsess over trying to stop tinnitus (easier said that done, I know...), but rather focus on being in good health in general, that tinnitus was a symptom and not a threat. So, I started listening more to myself: having good times with my supportive boyfriend, friends and family, going out in a park to meditate or reading a book, going for walks instead of staying on my couch being sad, painting… I remember consulting an ENT specialist who told me my ears were « healthy » and that if tinnitus started with stress, there were no reasons it wouldn't go away when stress would go away, but that I had to be patient. His optimism helped me a lot as I was in a dark place at the time.
I also decided to see a chiropractor as I felt so much tension in my body (especially in the neck/head area) and to talk to a psychologist. These are definitely the things that helped me the most.
About 3 weeks ago, I found out that moving my jaw would impact and lessen the sound. So I started massaging my face, jaw, neck and shoulders on the evening… and it got quieter! Now, I can still hear it when I am in a silent room but don't hear it anymore when driving my car, walking on the street, etc… and I have hope it will completely go away within the next few months/years. I still have fullness in my ears and hyperacusis (much more bearable that in May though, it's also starting to get better).
Tinnitus seems to have so many causes, so I know my testimony won't necessarily help everyone and each of you… but I just wanted to tell you it can get better in some cases (especially stress/tension related ones).
Tinnitus is such an awful sh*t and I know how bad it affects ours lives… but stay strong, and take care everyone! It can get better