Social Experiment

[Capricornus]

Tempted to try this!

 

[Tyler Montgomery]

Wow this is a really great idea, and I think the results would be pretty phenomenal.

I wholeheartedly believe that the things you are proposing are precisely the cures for tinnitus. I spent months and months suffering and not getting any better while I was reading tinnitus forums and monitoring my tinnitus day in and day out. I did pretty much the same things you suggested in order to habituate.

I think if newcomers try the things you suggested, most of them will feel considerably better at the end of the test. Provided of course that they stay true to the guidelines and actually disrupt their brain from ever acknowledging tinnitus.

 

[Ed209]

Wow this is a really great idea, and I think the results would be pretty phenomenal.

I wholeheartedly believe that the things you are proposing are precisely the cures for tinnitus. I spent months and months suffering and not getting any better while I was reading tinnitus forums and monitoring my tinnitus day in and day out. I did pretty much the same things you suggested in order to habituate.

I think if newcomers try the things you suggested, most of them will feel considerably better at the end of the test. Provided of course that they stay true to the guidelines and actually disrupt their brain from ever acknowledging tinnitus.

It helped me significantly. There are a lot of variables and it's not guaranteed to help, but I guess you don't know until you try. I still think it would help a lot of who find themselves in a rut.

Thanks for your input Tyler

 

[Jazzer]

I have an idea for an experiment if anyone is seriously interested in doing it. It would take hard work and possibly some financial input so it may be hard to get this off the ground, but here goes:

I believe that it is easy to become entrapped in a tinnitus bubble. You may find that your routine has become orientated around tinnitus. For example, maybe you wake up and come to the forum to get your daily dose of tinnitus news before you go about your day. You may think this is harmless, but what if some of you are actually just re-enforcing your own obsession. This could be a crucial difference between hanging onto and letting go of the hold tinnitus has on you.

I believe each time you read about it part of your perception is made aware of it (think of it as making the dominance it has over you, stronger). Before you know it, everything you think about is T related and you realise it has taken over your life.

I propose this:

• We get some volunteers who are considered quite regular readers/contributors who are currently having a hard time.

• The volunteers stop coming to the forum, completely, for 3 months (debatable time frame). This includes no further internet research or reading of any kind about tinnitus at all. Tinnitus effectively dies as a concern and all efforts are made to ignore the sound no matter how annoying to begin with.

• The volunteers start a well planned exercise routine that includes a mix of HIIT and cardio. A weight training regime can also be added but can be considered optional.

• The volunteers take up a new hobby to replace reading this forum. Maybe learn an instrument; learn to draw or paint. Become a chess master. Take up photography maybe? It can be anything as long as it's thought provoking and highly interesting to the volunteer.

• The volunteers curb their carbs and sugar intake and eat as healthy a diet as possible. This may include the use of vitamin supplements.

• The volunteers buy ear plugs, preferably molded ones with filters. They wear these anytime sound goes over 80db (monitor using SPLnFFT, it's the cheapest most accurate app). Anything above 100db is avoided completely. Anything above 90db and the use of plugs rated at 25db-30db must be used. Again preferably molded plugs as people often misuse foam ones.

• We set a date and the volunteers come back here and report how they feel. No diaries are kept of how loud their tinnitus is at all.

Something like this is unlikely to happen, but if we get some willing participants maybe we can give it a go? It's all about changing your current perception.

Sticking to the plan would be really hard, but only to begin with. I believe some of you would find it has a profound effect on your life.

Hi @Ed209 - this is not for me.
Since my T ramped up it has never receded.
Deciding not to make contact with TT would not help me to forget I have it.
It is always there.
Breaking contact would effectively mean losing the support of like minded, knowledgeable people, unlike the public at large, who are completely ignorant of what we go through.
Tinnitus is a BASTARD thing, no question.
It is also an interesting dilemma,
and a massive human challenge.
I am a realist.
We can not put the clock back prior to our exposure to the excessively loud noise that caused our acoustic trauma.
We are where we are.
We can only 'go on' from now.
I accept that I have Tinnitus.
I expect noise/hiss.
Accepting is all I can realistically do.
I no longer thrash about, beat myself up, cry, sob, rage, despair.....in turns.
Where I previously avoided social contact, I now enjoy it.
I can converse well, think clearly, socialise, laugh and joke, enjoy a lovely meal, enjoy intimacy..etc..
I am getting my life back.
Anycase......I'd miss you guys.....so there !!

PS......I talk too bloody much....sorry...

 

[Ambassador]

This is 110% correct and the one and only way to deal with tinnitus. It can be done, millions of tinnitus sufferers do it every day.

"I accept that I have Tinnitus.
I expect noise/hiss.
Accepting is all I can realistically do.
I no longer thrash about, beat myself up, cry, sob, rage, despair.....in turns.
Where I previously avoided social contact, I now enjoy it.
I can converse well, think clearly, socialise, laugh and joke, enjoy a lovely meal, enjoy intimacy..etc..
I am getting my life back."

 

[Ed209]

Hi @Ed209 - this is not for me.
Since my T ramped up it has never receded.
Deciding not to make contact with TT would not help me to forget I have it.
It is always there.
Breaking contact would effectively mean losing the support of like minded, knowledgeable people, unlike the public at large, who are completely ignorant of what we go through.
Tinnitus is a BASTARD thing, no question.
It is also an interesting dilemma,
and a massive human challenge.
I am a realist.
We can not put the clock back to prior to our exposure to the excessively loud noise that caused our acoustic trauma.
We are where we are.
We can only 'go on' from now.
I accept that I have Tinnitus.
I expect noise/hiss.
Accepting is all I can realistically do.
I no longer thrash about, beat myself up, cry, sob, rage, despair.....in turns.
Where I previously avoided social contact, I now enjoy it.
I can converse well, think clearly, socialise, laugh and joke, enjoy a lovely meal, enjoy intimacy..etc..
I am getting my life back.
Anycase......I'd miss you guys.....so there !!

PS......I talk too bloody much....sorry...

Sounds like you don't need to if you're genuinely improving. Especially if you are socialising, going out for meals, and actually enjoying yourself. Acceptance is a huge milestone. It is healing and frees us from any guilt.

I'll leave you with these quotes:

You can't fall if you don't climb. But there's no joy in living your whole life on the ground.

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.

Change your thoughts and you change your world

If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.

 

[Jazzer]

Sounds like you don't need to if you're genuinely improving. Especially if you are socialising, going out for meals, and actually enjoying yourself. Acceptance is a huge milestone. It is healing and frees us from any guilt.

I'll leave you with these quotes:

You can't fall if you don't climb. But there's no joy in living your whole life on the ground.

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is doing it.

Change your thoughts and you change your world

If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.

@Ed209 ........gotcha !

Something profound for you mate:

"If it wasn't for Venitian Blinds,
it would be curtains for the lot of us....."

Cheers
Jazzer
(of whom it was once said)

 

[Kolisar]

Anycase......I'd miss you guys.....so there !!

And we would miss you.

 

[Jazzer]

And we would miss you.

Blimey @Kolisar - you say the nicest things x

 

[Twinkle18]

I happened to stumble on this thread... I have considered doing this starting tomorrow. I will report back in three months and give everyone and update. I need to find a way to move on with life and this is truly a great challege!