Unleashing the Power of the Mind to Manage Tinnitus?

[Sevv]

Temporarily shutting down tinnitus should definitely be possible since it's probably the same mechanism for which people can be suggested to not feel pain during hypnosis.

If you need convincing, here's a video about a hernia surgery without anesthetics:



There's also an indication that it can help improve wound healing:

Can medical hypnosis accelerate post-surgical wound healing? Results of a clinical trial

Using hypnosis to accelerate the healing of bone fractures: a randomized controlled pilot study

The reason behind this effect is unclear, meaning whether it's just because of lowered stress (which impairs healing) or if it's something else. It certainly can be very refreshing, like taking a nap.

I further wonder if hypnosis can bring the same benefits as intense meditation:

Meditation brings robust immune system activation, UF Health researchers find

It certainly seems possible given the deep relaxation by both meditation and hypnosis.

 

[AnthonyMcDonald]

Temporarily shutting down tinnitus should definitely be possible since it's probably the same mechanism for which people can be suggested to not feel pain during hypnosis.

If you need convincing, here's a video about a hernia surgery without anesthetics:

There's also an indication that it can help improve wound healing:

Can medical hypnosis accelerate post-surgical wound healing? Results of a clinical trial

Using hypnosis to accelerate the healing of bone fractures: a randomized controlled pilot study

The reason behind this effect is unclear, meaning whether it's just because of lowered stress (which impairs healing) or if it's something else. It certainly can be very refreshing, like taking a nap.

I further wonder if hypnosis can bring the same benefits as intense meditation:

Meditation brings robust immune system activation, UF Health researchers find

It certainly seems possible given the deep relaxation by both meditation and hypnosis.

I'm sure hypnosis and meditation definitely helped Kent Taylor, @Brian P, @Allan1967, etc shut down their tinnitus, right?

All tinnitus is the same, right?

 

[Chinmoku]

@AnthonyMcDonald, that's why in my messages above about hypnosis I mentioned Kent and Gaby. Twice. I was thinking of Allan1967 and Brian P too, of course, the wound is still open. I am also an experienced meditator and did hypnosis with one of the best in London but it didn't help a bit. I think impossible tinnitus which screams electrically with enough power to illuminate China is more than an internal "noise" and only very rare patients if any, with this level of suffering, can be helped by such methods. Having said this, it is an unmeasurable condition so there is no way to be completely sure one way or another.

 

[Pitseleh]

I'm sure hypnosis and meditation definitely helped Kent Taylor, @Brian P, @Allan1967, etc shut down their tinnitus, right?

All tinnitus is the same, right?

I don't believe he said all tinnitus is the same or that people that took their lives were "helped" by hypnosis or meditation.

I believe though you're being aggressive for no reason.

You realize this type of reasoning is not going to get you anywhere, don't you?

Here's another form of reasoning:

Have you tried every single option available to make you feel better?

Have you:

- Mastered hypnosis
- Mastered NLP
- Mastered mindfulness techniques
- Mastered meditation
- Mastered yoga
- Gone through courses of CBT
- Tried every benzo
- Tried every antidepressant
- Tried every damn pill on the market
- Tried every plant
- I don't know... tried religion?
- Tried changing your whole life completely? Selling everything you have to go for a retreat in the mountains that could take years?

There are countless options that could have a huge impact on your tinnitus but most people are too lazy/afraid/greedy to try them. Why? Oh well, because it takes time, it takes energy, it could take money (you know, that same money you keep saving for this hypothetical day you will feel better - while you keep saying nothing can make you feel better... kind of funny, isn't it?).

And yes, it sometimes take erasing every single thing you've built your life around. But do you want to feel better or do you want back the life you had before? You won't get it back, you know? Months go by, years go by, you will not get your life back.

I didn't get my life back, my tinnitus is still present 24/7, blasting. Yesterday I got this new medium frequency in my left ear. So I guess I've reached approximately 10 different tinnitus sounds. Of course, some of them are only "loud", but many of them are severe. And by severe, I mean severe, those running faucets that everyone likes to listen to to mask tinnitus are a joke to me, they don't mask anything.

And I am fine. Not only because I am happy, but because I know now what hypnosis can do with the mind if you really fully pour your heart in it (and yes, I believe it can shut down the sounds too).

I dedicated my whole existence to hypnosis, becoming a professional myself on the way. It was this, or jumping off a bridge. I made my choice.

I could have made a different choice dedicating myself to religion or meditation? Or getting rid of everything: wife, kid, house, car, and left for a "Mowgli" life in the woods? Maybe it would have worked all the same, I have no idea.

I just picked hypnosis because there was something very beautiful in it, but it's not THE solution. It was my solution.

Do something for yourself, but don't wait for a cure. Today and until science does something, the cure is you.

If your tinnitus is this bad, then you are ready to give everything to feel better, aren't you? Then go ahead, give everything you have (and I'm not talking about money nor talking about posting on tinnitus talk about your condition and how bad it is, I'm talking about involving the whole person you are in dedicating your whole life to FEEL BETTER). At the end of the day, if your last option is taking your life off, then why at least not try to dedicate what you have left to yourself?

 

[AnthonyMcDonald]

hypnosis
- Mastered NLP
- Mastered mindfulness techniques
- Mastered meditation
- Mastered yoga
- Gone through courses of CBT
- Tried every benzo
- Tried every antidepressant
- Tried every damn pill on the market
- Tried every plant
- I don't know... tried religion?

Yep. Tried everything. I've had it over a year. Most of what I try makes me worse.

If I didn't have debilitating hyperacusis, which hypnosis and other mumjo jumbo do jack shit for, I'd actually be generally okay-ish. I'm guessing you don't have it?

Anyways im happy that you can live a generally happy life with your loud tinnitus.

 

[Sevv]

There's a very interesting psychological technique that I learned from my mental coach a while back (a mental coach is kinda a more practical and goel-oriented type of psychologist where I'm from). If I hadn't experienced it myself I probably would have never tried it because it is super-counterintuitive.

This technique has been very helpful to me but I am not sure if it has adverse outcomes associated with it, so try at our own risk.

Back then my mental coach told me about a client who had become the victim of a serious crime and had suffered for many years from the psychological after-effects. So my mental coach then inquired his client to do the following: He should apologize mentally to his attacker for giving him a reason/motive to attack him (this is it already; maybe with added mental visualization of the situation). I essentially did the same during my session because I still experienced difficulties after having been bullied in my childhood. The weird thing is, after you apologize mentally to those who caused you many problems (which was really difficult), something starts to happen emotionally. I still can't quite say what happened, I believe all associated emotions that I previously resisted were finally being processed. Maybe like a clogged pipe that finally starts getting drained. The result for me was that I suddenly was free from the oppression of most or all those repressed emotions that started back then. It was a very big relief.

I've since repeated this technique for other things. I've had a lot of setbacks recently with my tinnitus and hyperacusis and I wasn't doing well emotionally. I remembered this technique and tried to apply it to myself: I apologized to myself for giving me a reason to give myself tinnitus (another round for hyperacusis). Each round I sort of zoned out because my brain and body were focused on processing my pent-up emotions, and it still seems that I'm not completely through yet (maybe it will happen during sleep or I will just have to give it more time). But I already feel a lot more relaxed and having a lot of my energy back (like some sort of a sped-up habituation process). The effect was so dramatic that my heart rate is now around 80 bpm where previously it was between 90-100.

Maybe this can also benefit others?

 

[UKBloke]

There's a very interesting psychological technique that I learned from my mental coach a while back (a mental coach is kinda a more practical and goel-oriented type of psychologist where I'm from). If I hadn't experienced it myself I probably would have never tried it because it is super-counterintuitive.

This technique has been very helpful to me but I am not sure if it has adverse outcomes associated with it, so try at our own risk.

Back then my mental coach told me about a client who had become the victim of a serious crime and had suffered for many years from the psychological after-effects. So my mental coach then inquired his client to do the following: He should apologize mentally to his attacker for giving him a reason/motive to attack him (this is it already; maybe with added mental visualization of the situation). I essentially did the same during my session because I still experienced difficulties after having been bullied in my childhood. The weird thing is, after you apologize mentally to those who caused you many problems (which was really difficult), something starts to happen emotionally. I still can't quite say what happened, I believe all associated emotions that I previously resisted were finally being processed. Maybe like a clogged pipe that finally starts getting drained. The result for me was that I suddenly was free from the oppression of most or all those repressed emotions that started back then. It was a very big relief.

I've since repeated this technique for other things. I've had a lot of setbacks recently with my tinnitus and hyperacusis and I wasn't doing well emotionally. I remembered this technique and tried to apply it to myself: I apologized to myself for giving me a reason to give myself tinnitus (another round for hyperacusis). Each round I sort of zoned out because my brain and body were focused on processing my pent-up emotions, and it still seems that I'm not completely through yet (maybe it will happen during sleep or I will just have to give it more time). But I already feel a lot more relaxed and having a lot of my energy back (like some sort of a sped-up habituation process). The effect was so dramatic that my heart rate is now around 80 bpm where previously it was between 90-100.

Maybe this can also benefit others?

On a practical level how does one apologise to oneself mentally? I mean, is this literally sitting there and saying sorry, or is it to be done as part of a meditation?

 

[Sevv]

On a practical level how does one apologise to oneself mentally? I mean, is this literally sitting there and saying sorry, or is it to be done as part of a meditation?

During my first time I did it during hypnosis, imagining the hurtful situation. Nowadays I just do it verbally in my head (though it is not purely verbal; there needs to be a willingness to apologize, not just think the words despite not wanting to apologize). I think visualization or hypnosis would still improve the effect but for me the effect is big even without visualization/hypnosis.

 

[AnthonyMcDonald]

There's a very interesting psychological technique that I learned from my mental coach a while back (a mental coach is kinda a more practical and goel-oriented type of psychologist where I'm from). If I hadn't experienced it myself I probably would have never tried it because it is super-counterintuitive.

This technique has been very helpful to me but I am not sure if it has adverse outcomes associated with it, so try at our own risk.

Back then my mental coach told me about a client who had become the victim of a serious crime and had suffered for many years from the psychological after-effects. So my mental coach then inquired his client to do the following: He should apologize mentally to his attacker for giving him a reason/motive to attack him (this is it already; maybe with added mental visualization of the situation). I essentially did the same during my session because I still experienced difficulties after having been bullied in my childhood. The weird thing is, after you apologize mentally to those who caused you many problems (which was really difficult), something starts to happen emotionally. I still can't quite say what happened, I believe all associated emotions that I previously resisted were finally being processed. Maybe like a clogged pipe that finally starts getting drained. The result for me was that I suddenly was free from the oppression of most or all those repressed emotions that started back then. It was a very big relief.

I've since repeated this technique for other things. I've had a lot of setbacks recently with my tinnitus and hyperacusis and I wasn't doing well emotionally. I remembered this technique and tried to apply it to myself: I apologized to myself for giving me a reason to give myself tinnitus (another round for hyperacusis). Each round I sort of zoned out because my brain and body were focused on processing my pent-up emotions, and it still seems that I'm not completely through yet (maybe it will happen during sleep or I will just have to give it more time). But I already feel a lot more relaxed and having a lot of my energy back (like some sort of a sped-up habituation process). The effect was so dramatic that my heart rate is now around 80 bpm where previously it was between 90-100.

Maybe this can also benefit others?

The thing is many of us actually didn't do anything more than 99.99% of the world does. Most people listen to music in earbuds and headphones many hours a day. Most people go to concerts with no hearing protection. Most people absolutely destroy their ears daily for their entire lives without ever getting tinnitus or hyperacusis. I don't blame myself for getting this, I had no idea it even existed. I blame society for not warning others of the dangers of loud noise or earbud usage.

 

[Sevv]

The thing is many of us actually didn't do anything more than 99.99% of the world does. Most people listen to music in earbuds and headphones many hours a day. Most people go to concerts with no hearing protection. Most people absolutely destroy their ears daily for their entire lives without ever getting tinnitus or hyperacusis. I don't blame myself for getting this, I had no idea it even existed. I blame society for not warning others of the dangers of loud noise or earbud usage.

Aye, this is true for me as well. Regarding noise exposure, I should theoretically be in the last 10% to get tinnitus. Yet I have loud tinnitus, some loudness hyperacusis and some pain hyperacusis. Let's be honest even pain hyperacusis is odd. If it were just damaged hair cells or nerves everybody would get it. So probably even pain hyperacusis is at least a partial brain problem. Let's take my grandfather. Worked in the wood and was a farmer. Used chainsaws without hearing protection. Was exposed to gunfire in military for a whole day with minimal hearing protection (he had forgot his earmuffs that day). After that, he got tinnitus when he was sick, but permanent tinnitus didn't settle in before he was 60 years old (despite being around loud or very loud machinery his whole life). His hearing is pretty bad, but his tinnitus never spikes despite continuing to use very loud machinery. Also doesn't have hyperacusis of either type. Weird, isn't it?

If you're unsure what the benefit or reason behind the afore-mentioned technique is, maybe start with something else, like somebody who hurt you physically or emotionally and which still upsets you to this day when thinking about it. Isn't it just a mindgame in the end? Just a suggestion.

I can't really say to be much at odds with society at the moment since the technique relieved me from these emotions. They weren't very helpful anyway since I can't make others take responsibility for the worsenings they caused me since my illness is invisible.

 

[SonOfUhtred]

I wanted to thank everybody who has contributed to this discussion so far. I had no idea the response it would get. I've been regularly reading every comment and it's been very fascinating seeing everyone's take on this matter. All the contributions and debates have been very interesting!

 

[GeorgeLG]

No two people's tinnitus/hyperacusis/noxacusis are the same. No two people's reason for their suffering is the same. No two people's reaction to treatments are the same. No two people's journey in life are the same. No two people's path to healing and a better life are the same.

One thing is for certain. Our brains are required to perceive real sounds. The members on this site perceive phantom sounds and our brains are required to make up and then perceive these sounds. We will probably never completely understand how the brain works, its role in illness and in healing but our brains, its pain perception and reporting process, emotions, memories, plasticity, etc all play a role in everything we perceive. I'm not a particular advocate of hypnosis but it is fascinating. In this case mere thoughts and states of relaxation and consciences through listening and changing focus can eliminate the pain associated with surgery where actual physical trauma is intentionally being applied to the patient. An excerpt from a pubmed.gov article on the subject:

"Hypnosis is a physiological mind activity characterized by focused attention, absorption, dissociation and plastic imagination. In the early 19th century, several hundred surgical interventions were described with hypnosis as the sole anesthetic, in an epoch when no anesthetic drugs were available; then hypnosis was prejudicially abandoned and forgotten after its introduction. In the past two decades, an increasing number of studies on hypnosis has shown its capacity to modify the activity of the prefrontal cortex, default mode network and pain neuromatrix (including the anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, thalamus, insula and somatosensory cortex) and increase pain threshold up to the level of surgical anesthesia. Hypnotic analgesia also prevents pain-related cardiovascular response: therefore, it may stand comparison with pharmacological anesthesia, yielding true protection from stress for the patient. The wealth of data available in the literature provides clear evidence of its meaningful effects on perioperative emotional distress, pain, medication consumption, physiological parameters, duration of surgery and outcome."​

What else is possible? How can healing be impacted both negatively and positively by our mental state, our attitudes and emotions? There are countless studies on emotions effect on health. Stress and heart attacks, traumatic experiences and PTSD, memories and phantom pain, ...

Where you are on your journey is personal to you. Some may need to be angry, hang on to the reason for their illness. Some may be ready to explore their minds role in healing. Some need to criticize, assign blame, feel victimized by external forces. Some want to support others in healing, explore their minds role in healing.

We can't control how other people feel, where they are today in their life's journey. We can control our own trajectory, we can explore our own path to healing. If you need to be angry about how you got here that's OK, then let that process play out until you make peace with it. If healing for you involves forgiving others or ourselves then that's where you should go. If this feels right to you then build on the work of others and let this help you. You are in charge of your recovery. Use the success of others as inspiration and build on that work. When others are struggling, provide support if you can otherwise wish them well and be hopeful for their recovery and put your limited energy into guiding your recovery, what is possible for you.

We cannot go back and control what brought us here but we can control where we decide to go moving forward.

George

 

[DaveFromChicago]

I cannot actually provide myself with a reason about how I got this.

My comment about a viral particle making contact with the cochlea / aural nerve is not substantiated and is entirely speculative. Even after an MRI no ENT Doctor can offer any explanation. I also never exposed myself to loud noise or music.

I therefore cannot apologize to myself for giving me a reason to give myself tinnitus.

 

[UKBloke]

No two people's tinnitus/hyperacusis/noxacusis are the same. No two people's reason for their suffering is the same. No two people's reaction to treatments are the same. No two people's journey in life are the same. No two people's path to healing and a better life are the same.

One thing is for certain. Our brains are required to perceive real sounds. The members on this site perceive phantom sounds and our brains are required to make up and then perceive these sounds. We will probably never completely understand how the brain works, its role in illness and in healing but our brains, its pain perception and reporting process, emotions, memories, plasticity, etc all play a role in everything we perceive. I'm not a particular advocate of hypnosis but it is fascinating. In this case mere thoughts and states of relaxation and consciences through listening and changing focus can eliminate the pain associated with surgery where actual physical trauma is intentionally being applied to the patient. An excerpt from a pubmed.gov article on the subject:

"Hypnosis is a physiological mind activity characterized by focused attention, absorption, dissociation and plastic imagination. In the early 19th century, several hundred surgical interventions were described with hypnosis as the sole anesthetic, in an epoch when no anesthetic drugs were available; then hypnosis was prejudicially abandoned and forgotten after its introduction. In the past two decades, an increasing number of studies on hypnosis has shown its capacity to modify the activity of the prefrontal cortex, default mode network and pain neuromatrix (including the anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, thalamus, insula and somatosensory cortex) and increase pain threshold up to the level of surgical anesthesia. Hypnotic analgesia also prevents pain-related cardiovascular response: therefore, it may stand comparison with pharmacological anesthesia, yielding true protection from stress for the patient. The wealth of data available in the literature provides clear evidence of its meaningful effects on perioperative emotional distress, pain, medication consumption, physiological parameters, duration of surgery and outcome."​

What else is possible? How can healing be impacted both negatively and positively by our mental state, our attitudes and emotions? There are countless studies on emotions effect on health. Stress and heart attacks, traumatic experiences and PTSD, memories and phantom pain, ...

Where you are on your journey is personal to you. Some may need to be angry, hang on to the reason for their illness. Some may be ready to explore their minds role in healing. Some need to criticize, assign blame, feel victimized by external forces. Some want to support others in healing, explore their minds role in healing.

We can't control how other people feel, where they are today in their life's journey. We can control our own trajectory, we can explore our own path to healing. If you need to be angry about how you got here that's OK, then let that process play out until you make peace with it. If healing for you involves forgiving others or ourselves then that's where you should go. If this feels right to you then build on the work of others and let this help you. You are in charge of your recovery. Use the success of others as inspiration and build on that work. When others are struggling, provide support if you can otherwise wish them well and be hopeful for their recovery and put your limited energy into guiding your recovery, what is possible for you.

We cannot go back and control what brought us here but we can control where we decide to go moving forward.

George

Amen.

 

[MindOverMatter]

No two people's tinnitus/hyperacusis/noxacusis are the same. No two people's reason for their suffering is the same. No two people's reaction to treatments are the same. No two people's journey in life are the same. No two people's path to healing and a better life are the same.

One thing is for certain. Our brains are required to perceive real sounds. The members on this site perceive phantom sounds and our brains are required to make up and then perceive these sounds. We will probably never completely understand how the brain works, its role in illness and in healing but our brains, its pain perception and reporting process, emotions, memories, plasticity, etc all play a role in everything we perceive

Great post @GeorgeLG - well written, and nuanced.

It's certainly a complex matter, with so many individual components that affect our perception of it.

 

[star-affinity]

The thing is many of us actually didn't do anything more than 99.99% of the world does. Most people listen to music in earbuds and headphones many hours a day. Most people go to concerts with no hearing protection. Most people absolutely destroy their ears daily for their entire lives without ever getting tinnitus or hyperacusis. I don't blame myself for getting this, I had no idea it even existed. I blame society for not warning others of the dangers of loud noise or earbud usage.

Must say I agree with you here. While I do blame myself in hindsight (I listened to music at what I understand is considered to be harmless sound levels all night to mask my two previous tinnitus sound) since I got some warnings in the sense of ear fullness and still kept going with the music all night until it triggered my latest, most intrusive tinnitus.

So while I do feel in a way that I should have known better and had taken a listening break I had no idea that I could trigger tinnitus with such low volume sounds from a phone in speaker mode (I even tucked some toilet paper in my ear during the night since I wanted to mostly mask the other ear). I had no idea it could give so many symptoms such as hyperacusis, hearing loss, slight ear pain and constant slight "ear fullness".

Most warnings seem to be about loud sounds and listing to headphones too loud. Not often anything said about long term listening at not so loud volumes. And one rarely hear about other symptoms besides hearing loss and tinnitus. I think the other symptoms are distressing too – to constantly be aware of your ear.

We should talk more about it, but like you say a lot of people seem to abuse their ears quite a lot and are still fine. I also feel the symptoms are very difficult for people to comprehend when I explain them.

 

[dan]

is at least a partial brain problem.

100% it is a brain problem. It's all in the gates.

 

[StoneInFocus]

I never realized this. You really did delve into the Pali canon. I recall the jhanas being mentioned and I remember awareness of breathing (Thich Nhat Hnan wrote a whole book on that sutra) but the term "vipassana" I don't remember at all, that's true.

I agree with this and it's a good point to note that the two practices are in fact interrelated. I think I didn't do enough samadhi meditation in my practice as all the emphasis has always been put on mindfulness, also in Zazen sessions.

As I grow old I realize this more and more. I'm killing my idealized idols one by one. Again, if you meet the Buddha, kill him.

I've been thinking a lot about using Buddhist techniques to reduce suffering from tinnitus lately. If you are interested you could try the following method:

Phase 1, calming your mind:
- Go to your meditation spot, sit still and close eyes.
- Don't try to direct your attention to a particular phenomenon. Your attention will most likely rest on your tinnitus.
- While your awareness rests on your tinnitus, try to observe the tinnitus more carefully.
- Now, switch your attention to the phenomena the observation of your tinnitus causes. Maybe observing your tinnitus causing stress feelings in your stomach or chest area. Maybe your legs feel restless.
- Your attention will automatically switch between the tinnitus and the phenomena its observation causes.
- Now, switch your attention to the process of the observation of tinnitus causing internal phenomena. You want to observe the tinnitus causing the arising of certain phenomena. Notice how this causation happens on its own, there is no you involved in this process.
- Try to observe where suffering comes into the equation in relation to these phenomena. Try to find, outside the tinnitus and its stress phenomena, where 'suffering' is.
- Once you realise that the suffering you experience from the tinnitus and its stress phenomena is an illusionary construct and does not exist in reality, you might observe feelings of relief, joy, and positive thoughts emerging in your consciousness. Maybe you will think about this message. DO NOT ENGAGE WITH THESE PHENOMENA! It will shock you out of your concentration and you have to start all over again. Maybe you need to do Phase 1 a couple of times before you can equanimously observe positive internal phenomena caused by the realization that suffering in relation to your tinnitus can be overcome through meditation. Once you can avoid getting shook, you will pass the Phase 2.

Phase 2, equanimously observing phenomena:
You have now the concentration necessary to continuously observe internal phenomena. Observing your tinnitus is like observing any other phenomena. Maybe observing the tinnitus might cause a stress reaction, but you can observe this process before you engage with it. It can no longer rock you out of your concentration.

- As you continue equanimously observing phenomena you become more concentrated and more and more detached from these phenomena. It is beginning to feel more and more like these phenomena are not even related to you. Almost like watching them from a distance. You will also experience that your mind will decreasingly look for a particular attention object.
- You will observe that, from time to time, nothing will enter your awareness.
- Shift your attention to this nothingness, as vague as that sounds.
- Keep meditating until you feel that "nothing entering your awareness" feels like normal, the default state of consciousness. You will observe phenomena entering your awareness like a disturbance.

Phase 3, dwelling in the Void:
This is the phase of letting it all go. In this phase, even the most subtle psychic phenomena can be observed equanimously, and will decreasingly appear in your awareness. Conceptions of space and time will disappear. Your attention can rest in this nothingness almost effortlessly.

Phase 4, beyond Emptiness:
All psychic phenomena and conceptions have dissipated. What is left is pure, distilled consciousness. Nothing will enter your awareness.

After emerging from Phase 2-4 you will experience a sense of catharsis. You will experience that suffering or mental distress is no longer there. If you keep doing this regularly you will feel that you can pass through these phases more easily. After some time the desire to cleanse ones consciousness from all disturbances will be much stronger than the desire to be cured from tinnitus. After some time the desire to be cured from tinnitus will slowly fade away.

So there you have it. Feel free to try and let me know how it goes if you do. Remember that the most important step is achieving a sense of detachment from one's psychic life. From that point you can decide how far you want to take it.

 

[Chinmoku]

I've been thinking a lot about using Buddhist techniques to reduce suffering from tinnitus lately. If you are interested you could try the following method:

Phase 1, calming your mind:
- Go to your meditation spot, sit still and close eyes.
- Don't try to direct your attention to a particular phenomenon. Your attention will most likely rest on your tinnitus.
- While your awareness rests on your tinnitus, try to observe the tinnitus more carefully.
- Now, switch your attention to the phenomena the observation of your tinnitus causes. Maybe observing your tinnitus causing stress feelings in your stomach or chest area. Maybe your legs feel restless.
- Your attention will automatically switch between the tinnitus and the phenomena its observation causes.
- Now, switch your attention to the process of the observation of tinnitus causing internal phenomena. You want to observe the tinnitus causing the arising of certain phenomena. Notice how this causation happens on its own, there is no you involved in this process.
- Try to observe where suffering comes into the equation in relation to these phenomena. Try to find, outside the tinnitus and its stress phenomena, where 'suffering' is.
- Once you realise that the suffering you experience from the tinnitus and its stress phenomena is an illusionary construct and does not exist in reality, you might observe feelings of relief, joy, and positive thoughts emerging in your consciousness. Maybe you will think about this message. DO NOT ENGAGE WITH THESE PHENOMENA! It will shock you out of your concentration and you have to start all over again. Maybe you need to do Phase 1 a couple of times before you can equanimously observe positive internal phenomena caused by the realization that suffering in relation to your tinnitus can be overcome through meditation. Once you can avoid getting shook, you will pass the Phase 2.

Phase 2, equanimously observing phenomena:
You have now the concentration necessary to continuously observe internal phenomena. Observing your tinnitus is like observing any other phenomena. Maybe observing the tinnitus might cause a stress reaction, but you can observe this process before you engage with it. It can no longer rock you out of your concentration.

- As you continue equanimously observing phenomena you become more concentrated and more and more detached from these phenomena. It is beginning to feel more and more like these phenomena are not even related to you. Almost like watching them from a distance. You will also experience that your mind will decreasingly look for a particular attention object.
- You will observe that, from time to time, nothing will enter your awareness.
- Shift your attention to this nothingness, as vague as that sounds.
- Keep meditating until you feel that "nothing entering your awareness" feels like normal, the default state of consciousness. You will observe phenomena entering your awareness like a disturbance.

Phase 3, dwelling in the Void:
This is the phase of letting it all go. In this phase, even the most subtle psychic phenomena can be observed equanimously, and will decreasingly appear in your awareness. Conceptions of space and time will disappear. Your attention can rest in this nothingness almost effortlessly.

Phase 4, beyond Emptiness:
All psychic phenomena and conceptions have dissipated. What is left is pure, distilled consciousness. Nothing will enter your awareness.

After emerging from Phase 2-4 you will experience a sense of catharsis. You will experience that suffering or mental distress is no longer there. If you keep doing this regularly you will feel that you can pass through these phases more easily. After some time the desire to cleanse ones consciousness from all disturbances will be much stronger than the desire to be cured from tinnitus. After some time the desire to be cured from tinnitus will slowly fade away.

So there you have it. Feel free to try and let me know how it goes if you do. Remember that the most important step is achieving a sense of detachment from one's psychic life. From that point you can decide how far you want to take it.

It's very interesting but I feel that point 1 would require some peace of mind to manage. I have an electric scream that makes my skull almost vibrate, it's impossible to even sit still with this condition, I'm so far away from starting and attaining even the first level. Perhaps I should have tried this when my tinnitus was milder, instead of just mindfulness. I will consider it anyway, but I doubt I can make it in practice given my level of pain and distress.

 

[StoneInFocus]

It's very interesting but I feel that point 1 would require some peace of mind to manage. I have an electric scream that makes my skull almost vibrate, it's impossible to even sit still with this condition, I'm so far away from starting and attaining even the first level. Perhaps I should have tried this when my tinnitus was milder, instead of just mindfulness. I will consider it anyway, but I doubt I can make it in practice given my level of pain and distress.

I really feel for you brother. I'm sorry if this is redundant but I would really recommend heavy exercise if you haven't already tried it. It has helped me tremendously with my tinnitus spike the last days even though my case is nowhere near as bad as you. If you manage to suffer less from tinnitus each day, even though it's just a little bit less, you are on the good path. Best of luck.

 

[Chinmoku]

I really feel for you brother. I'm sorry if this is redundant but I would really recommend heavy exercise if you haven't already tried it. It has helped me tremendously with my tinnitus spike the last days even though my case is nowhere near as bad as you. If you manage to suffer less from tinnitus each day, even though it's just a little bit less, you are on the good path. Best of luck.

Thank you, and thank you for the meditation scheme above. It is not entirely without hope. I will try it. Exercise usually spikes me but I can find some particular forms of exercise that should not do that, maybe swimming or cycling. Running is disastrous unfortunately, and I used to run 10km every other day.

 

[StoneInFocus]

Thank you, and thank you for the meditation scheme above. It is not entirely without hope. I will try it. Exercise usually spikes me but I can find some particular forms of exercise that should not do that, maybe swimming or cycling. Running is disastrous unfortunately, and I used to run 10km every other day.

Do you have any idea why some types of exercise spike you and others don't? Have you ever tried strength training like doing pushups, squats or pullups?

I hope the meditation exercise works for you, but I have to warn you that trying it when you are already super stressed is not without risk. Maybe I should've mentioned this earlier but meditating for 20+ minutes can actually cause a temporary spike in my experience. Plus, in phase 1 you are confronted with your tinnitus to the highest degree. I have only read your previous posts on other threads since today, I had no idea you had it this bad. I see you've tried so many different types of medication, were there any that helped, even a tiny bit? Maybe you could try a high dose of a particular medicine and use the calmness it gives to meditate. But I am by no means a psychiatrist, just suggesting some things someone who has already done almost everything can do.

Again, I really feel for you and I want to apologize for being a bit rude earlier on. You are already a hero in my eyes.

 

[Chinmoku]

Again, I really feel for you and I want to apologize for being a bit rude earlier on. You are already a hero in my eyes.

Thank you and we are good, man, no need to apologize, your heart is in the right place.

I think exercise that involves high levels of vibrations spikes me permanently. So running is a big no. But swimming, I have done it a few times, and it hasn't worsened me, although now I'm so debilitated that I haven't tried for a while. Maybe I could cycle with muffs in some silent roads, but traffic roads are risky as they are noisy. I need to find the strength to do something, but I feel I'm reaching the end.

 

[Pitseleh]

Thank you and we are good, man, no need to apologize, your heart is in the right place.

I think exercise that involves high levels of vibrations spikes me permanently. So running is a big no. But swimming, I have done it a few times, and it hasn't worsened me, although now I'm so debilitated that I haven't tried for a while. Maybe I could cycle with muffs in some silent roads, but traffic roads are risky as they are noisy. I need to find the strength to do something, but I feel I'm reaching the end.

I think you could find a decent indoor bike for a reasonable amount of money. This would allow you to have physical activity without risking unwanted traffic noise.

What about "socializing" with people you haven't seen in a long time? Not talking bout going to a bar or anything noisy, but just trying to interact with people you like, have a beer or two at your place or their place? This sounds really basic but I remember back in the days when I would feel really down, this was one of the few things that I had to push myself to do that would eventually distract me (at least very temporarily) from my mental state.

I never wanted to socialize back in the days, but when I pulled myself out of my apartment and went meet a friend or two, I would always come back home in a less catastrophic mental state. (I'm not talking about reducing the tinnitus level here, just working on what your brain focuses on. It really is a destroying process to be home alone in one's own mind, thinking about one's problems, etc. I believe it can have a huge impact to force social interactions even if you don't want to.)

 

[Sevv]

My situation is pretty difficult due to the many setbacks I've had with my hyperacusis. Leaving the house has gotten somewhat difficult. Because I've worked on and still work on my attitude, I am still very content with my life at the moment despite being severely handicapped. Here is what helped/helps me:

1. Staying in the present with my mind and focus on what I can do. Instead of thinking about a catastrophic future or other "what-if" scenarios, I enjoy something that I can (like reading comics). Mindfulness has been important here because otherwise my mind would still be ruminating about a life I "could have had", which is useless escapism from reality and takes away my energy. It got a lot easier as time went on and nowadays my mind is fairly calm.

2. Accepting impermanence of life. I think there is a big tendency in society to avoid dealing with questions about aging and dying, especially if you're young and healthy and doing well otherwise. However, regardless what we do in life, it will eventually end. For me, this leads to the old question on life perspective: "Is the glass half empty or half full?". Half empty would be a perspective of: "It's meaningless anyway". Half full would be: "I can't take anything with me, but I'll still try to make the best out of it".

3. Trying to stay in touch with my emotions, so I can be kind to myself. What has helped me is putting my hand on my chest because it helps me feel myself better. I'm a total head person so this has been an effective solution to improve my decision-making.

4. Fostering loving-kindness because it makes me feel good and also allows to replace intense emotional responses I have to loud noise (anger, hate and fear usually). This makes everything a lot more pleasant.

 

[GeorgeLG]

I don't believe he said all tinnitus is the same or that people that took their lives were "helped" by hypnosis or meditation.

I believe though you're being aggressive for no reason.

You realize this type of reasoning is not going to get you anywhere, don't you?

Here's another form of reasoning:

Have you tried every single option available to make you feel better?

Have you:

- Mastered hypnosis
- Mastered NLP
- Mastered mindfulness techniques
- Mastered meditation
- Mastered yoga
- Gone through courses of CBT
- Tried every benzo
- Tried every antidepressant
- Tried every damn pill on the market
- Tried every plant
- I don't know... tried religion?
- Tried changing your whole life completely? Selling everything you have to go for a retreat in the mountains that could take years?

There are countless options that could have a huge impact on your tinnitus but most people are too lazy/afraid/greedy to try them. Why? Oh well, because it takes time, it takes energy, it could take money (you know, that same money you keep saving for this hypothetical day you will feel better - while you keep saying nothing can make you feel better... kind of funny, isn't it?).

And yes, it sometimes take erasing every single thing you've built your life around. But do you want to feel better or do you want back the life you had before? You won't get it back, you know? Months go by, years go by, you will not get your life back.

I didn't get my life back, my tinnitus is still present 24/7, blasting. Yesterday I got this new medium frequency in my left ear. So I guess I've reached approximately 10 different tinnitus sounds. Of course, some of them are only "loud", but many of them are severe. And by severe, I mean severe, those running faucets that everyone likes to listen to to mask tinnitus are a joke to me, they don't mask anything.

And I am fine. Not only because I am happy, but because I know now what hypnosis can do with the mind if you really fully pour your heart in it (and yes, I believe it can shut down the sounds too).

I dedicated my whole existence to hypnosis, becoming a professional myself on the way. It was this, or jumping off a bridge. I made my choice.

I could have made a different choice dedicating myself to religion or meditation? Or getting rid of everything: wife, kid, house, car, and left for a "Mowgli" life in the woods? Maybe it would have worked all the same, I have no idea.

I just picked hypnosis because there was something very beautiful in it, but it's not THE solution. It was my solution.

Do something for yourself, but don't wait for a cure. Today and until science does something, the cure is you.

If your tinnitus is this bad, then you are ready to give everything to feel better, aren't you? Then go ahead, give everything you have (and I'm not talking about money nor talking about posting on tinnitus talk about your condition and how bad it is, I'm talking about involving the whole person you are in dedicating your whole life to FEEL BETTER). At the end of the day, if your last option is taking your life off, then why at least not try to dedicate what you have left to yourself?

@Pitseleh, do you have a resource to start exploring hypnosis for medical purposes? I find this fascinating.

You can prepare a person with words and thoughts so that they perceive absolutely no pain while a surgical knife cuts into their body and parts are detached and permanently removed. Then recovery is improved. I have read the same thing for C sections. Holy shit, that is extraordinary. The mind body connection is extraordinary. What else must be possible? My pain hyperacousis is awful but not as bad as being cut open with a knife and parts removed with no chemical anesthesia. This tells me that further improvement is waiting for me to get it together.

George

 

[Pitseleh]

@Pitseleh, do you have a resource to start exploring hypnosis for medical purposes? I find this fascinating.

You can prepare a person with words and thoughts so that they perceive absolutely no pain while a surgical knife cuts into their body and parts are detached and permanently removed. Then recovery is improved. I have read the same thing for C sections. Holy shit, that is extraordinary. The mind body connection is extraordinary. What else must be possible? My pain hyperacousis is awful but not as bad as being cut open with a knife and parts removed with no chemical anesthesia. This tells me that further improvement is waiting for me to get it together.

George

Hypnoanalgesia and hypnoanesthesia are two of the most simple aspects of hypnosis. They are basic techniques that anyone can learn for themselves, providing you meet with a decent hypnologist. It's just about learning how to use your brain in a specific manner. Anyone is able to do that. For some, it will require a couple of hours of practice, for others it's just a matter of minutes.

What is more subtle (and what I find more interesting in my daily activity) is working with emotional problems, traumas, limiting beliefs that lead to unwanted behaviors, addictions, depression, etc. This is far more complex than analgesia or anesthesia, but so much more interesting.

What are you looking for in terms of resources concerning medical hypnosis?

 

[GeorgeLG]

What are you looking for in terms of resources concerning medical hypnosis?

@Pitseleh, how to apply it to my ear pain in reaction to normal sounds.

George

 

[Mr Joel]

My situation is pretty difficult due to the many setbacks I've had with my hyperacusis. Leaving the house has gotten somewhat difficult. Because I've worked on and still work on my attitude, I am still very content with my life at the moment despite being severely handicapped. Here is what helped/helps me:

1. Staying in the present with my mind and focus on what I can do. Instead of thinking about a catastrophic future or other "what-if" scenarios, I enjoy something that I can (like reading comics). Mindfulness has been important here because otherwise my mind would still be ruminating about a life I "could have had", which is useless escapism from reality and takes away my energy. It got a lot easier as time went on and nowadays my mind is fairly calm.

2. Accepting impermanence of life. I think there is a big tendency in society to avoid dealing with questions about aging and dying, especially if you're young and healthy and doing well otherwise. However, regardless what we do in life, it will eventually end. For me, this leads to the old question on life perspective: "Is the glass half empty or half full?". Half empty would be a perspective of: "It's meaningless anyway". Half full would be: "I can't take anything with me, but I'll still try to make the best out of it".

3. Trying to stay in touch with my emotions, so I can be kind to myself. What has helped me is putting my hand on my chest because it helps me feel myself better. I'm a total head person so this has been an effective solution to improve my decision-making.

4. Fostering loving-kindness because it makes me feel good and also allows to replace intense emotional responses I have to loud noise (anger, hate and fear usually). This makes everything a lot more pleasant.

Love this.

 

[tpj]

My situation is pretty difficult due to the many setbacks I've had with my hyperacusis. Leaving the house has gotten somewhat difficult. Because I've worked on and still work on my attitude, I am still very content with my life at the moment despite being severely handicapped. Here is what helped/helps me:

1. Staying in the present with my mind and focus on what I can do. Instead of thinking about a catastrophic future or other "what-if" scenarios, I enjoy something that I can (like reading comics). Mindfulness has been important here because otherwise my mind would still be ruminating about a life I "could have had", which is useless escapism from reality and takes away my energy. It got a lot easier as time went on and nowadays my mind is fairly calm.

2. Accepting impermanence of life. I think there is a big tendency in society to avoid dealing with questions about aging and dying, especially if you're young and healthy and doing well otherwise. However, regardless what we do in life, it will eventually end. For me, this leads to the old question on life perspective: "Is the glass half empty or half full?". Half empty would be a perspective of: "It's meaningless anyway". Half full would be: "I can't take anything with me, but I'll still try to make the best out of it".

3. Trying to stay in touch with my emotions, so I can be kind to myself. What has helped me is putting my hand on my chest because it helps me feel myself better. I'm a total head person so this has been an effective solution to improve my decision-making.

4. Fostering loving-kindness because it makes me feel good and also allows to replace intense emotional responses I have to loud noise (anger, hate and fear usually). This makes everything a lot more pleasant.

When you say fostering loving-kindness, what do you mean in regards to how it relates to loud noise?