I'm not a regular poster here and just found this fantastic page, but I notice regulars tend to attract the most replies, and I kindly ask as many people to reply and give their advice to me as possible as it's been a struggle …and yet, I'm not even certain I have tinnitus. Or at least a substantial case.
It all started a few weeks back when a friend spoke to me about their tinnitus. When I walked into a silent room shortly after, I heard some faint static hissing. Nothing too loud at all, but I heard something. I only hear it in very quiet rooms, and even then, I have to search to find the sound. But having battled OCD most of my life, I'm now fixated on trying to find the sound in my head and even find myself creating/hallucinating new sounds.
I do hear *something* when trying to sleep or in quiet rooms, but it's nothing like what most tinnitus sufferers explain. In fact, a specialist I saw recently, who did a lengthy tinnitus sound exam with me, wasn't convinced I even have it. Personally, I think it may be a mild case I was never aware of because I never knew this was even a THING, and now that I do, I can't help but obsess over it and constantly ask myself "is it there? Oh Gosh, I think I hear something"
Would sincerely appreciate any advice to overcome this, especially the psychological and mental component. Hearing some of you have real prominent cases of it and mine is mostly fabricated would also be helpful to reaffirm to myself. I'm protecting my ears and have normal hearing, btw. Your advice could be the difference between me getting on with my life vs going down a really destructive path. Thank you all in advance
It all started a few weeks back when a friend spoke to me about their tinnitus. When I walked into a silent room shortly after, I heard some faint static hissing. Nothing too loud at all, but I heard something. I only hear it in very quiet rooms, and even then, I have to search to find the sound. But having battled OCD most of my life, I'm now fixated on trying to find the sound in my head and even find myself creating/hallucinating new sounds.
I do hear *something* when trying to sleep or in quiet rooms, but it's nothing like what most tinnitus sufferers explain. In fact, a specialist I saw recently, who did a lengthy tinnitus sound exam with me, wasn't convinced I even have it. Personally, I think it may be a mild case I was never aware of because I never knew this was even a THING, and now that I do, I can't help but obsess over it and constantly ask myself "is it there? Oh Gosh, I think I hear something"
Would sincerely appreciate any advice to overcome this, especially the psychological and mental component. Hearing some of you have real prominent cases of it and mine is mostly fabricated would also be helpful to reaffirm to myself. I'm protecting my ears and have normal hearing, btw. Your advice could be the difference between me getting on with my life vs going down a really destructive path. Thank you all in advance