Ways Tinnitus Has Improved My Life

[volsung37]

Since I have had tinnitus I have never felt physically better. I walk 3 miles a day, eat healthily, juice and drink a bit less alcohol.
It has also helped my addiction. Over the last 20 years or so I have lost literally hundreds of thousands of pounds gambling - poker, horses, stocks and shares you name it. I could have been mortgage free two years ago. Now I'll be paying a mortgage into my dotage.
As I don't gamble much now at all I am much more financially secure and my partner is not a poker widow.
Perhaps tinnitus has filled a bit of that void in my life as I no longer have the compulsion to gamble endlessly.
I used to binge drink at weekends and lie in bed most of the weekend. Now my tinnitus won't let me lie on in that quiet room so much so I get up and do something. I'm lucky I live near a busy motorway (I never EVER thought I would write those words!) so if I'm out in the garden or in a local park my t is masked and I only hear a bit of hiss.
Tinnitus put the fear of God into me (not literally as I'm an agnostic). I was sleeping my life away putting everything off until this or that happened. I was stuck.
Don't get me wrong I still have bad days and the constant squeal of tinnitus during the night has led me to some very dark thoughts but if you excuse the pun tinnitus has woken me up.
I still hope that one day my t will disappear but until then I'll explore each day one at a time.
I would recommend any sufferer to read two books - Julian Cowan-Hills 'Tinnitus - from Tyrant to Friend' and 'Get out of your Mind and into your Life' by Steven C. Hayes. Both these guys have had tinnitus and indeed still have it to some extent but it no longer rules their lives.
Would love to hear others positive experiences.

 

[glynis]

volsung37,
I'm glad tiinnitus helped you get your life back on track and nice read a positive post.
I will mention the books to the Tinnitus Support group members.....lots of love glynis

 

[Marie79]

Well...it has forced me to deal with some deep seeded issues that I put off for a while and in the past dealt with in not so healthy ways. Things like major anxiety. Now I am in therapy and am literally forced to deal with it as I know that is one of the major keys to getting through this tinnitus. In the past I could go to therapy for anxiety and past issues only to get distracted and deal with it until the next crisis came along. The T doesn't go away though.

 

[volsung37]

I haven't been brave enough to face my other problems with therapy as you have. But I will in the next few weeks. I really believe that this tinnitus can teach us something really important if we let it. Still it would be lovely to learn the lessons and not hear the bloody noise. But that may happen. Everything in this world is temporary. That is both our greatest pain and our greatest hope.

 

[Jamie m]

Ever since getting this, I don't freak out about the little things anymore, I value my family and friends more and I have been more connected with God. I cracked my iPhone the other day.... And I don't care one bit. The old Jamie would be freaking out... Eh who cares.

 

[Starthrower]

This topic compelled my interest to reply.
I have been reading Tinnitus Talk but only just started getting involved here.

It has been SO long I forgot how tinnitus improved my life. One issue comes to mind. The people I have met over the past 14 years that I would never crossed paths with - who greatly influenced my choices in life going forward.

 

[Sailboardman]

My life before tinnitus. Rich, creative, productive, forfilling, fun, energetic, healthy, fun, (I forgot, I mentioned fun already.) carefree, peaceful, helpful, social, beautiful, faithful, enlightened, contemplative, mysterious, hopeful, wishful, youthful, whimsical, serious, businesslike, playful, fun, (sorry!) intense, busy, soleful, imaginative, boyish, manly, fun, (again?) forward looking, designing, sporty, fortunate, blessed, limitless, abundant, well planned, indestructible, perfection!

My life with tinnitus..............gone!

 

[InfiniteLoop]

Learning how to face adversity in the hardest possible way.

 

[Zora]

I stopped smoking bc I got T.

 

[AndreaM]

@Sailboardman you can change that!!

 

[RB2014]

Ever since getting this, I don't freak out about the little things anymore, I value my family and friends more and I have been more connected with God. I cracked my iPhone the other day.... And I don't care one bit. The old Jamie would be freaking out... Eh who cares.

Its just an excuse to get a new phone.

 

[GP55]

My life before tinnitus. Rich, creative, productive, forfilling, fun, energetic, healthy, fun, (I forgot, I mentioned fun already.) carefree, peaceful, helpful, social, beautiful, faithful, enlightened, contemplative, mysterious, hopeful, wishful, youthful, whimsical, serious, businesslike, playful, fun, (sorry!) intense, busy, soleful, imaginative, boyish, manly, fun, (again?) forward looking, designing, sporty, fortunate, blessed, limitless, abundant, well planned, indestructible, perfection!

My life with tinnitus..............gone!

At this point in my life and the severe T I can relate, my life is gone. BUT I am trying to turn things around, stay positive and make a come back. Hang in there and hope things improve for you. Best regards!

 

[fishbone]

Since I have had tinnitus I have never felt physically better. I walk 3 miles a day, eat healthily, juice and drink a bit less alcohol.
It has also helped my addiction. Over the last 20 years or so I have lost literally hundreds of thousands of pounds gambling - poker, horses, stocks and shares you name it. I could have been mortgage free two years ago. Now I'll be paying a mortgage into my dotage.
As I don't gamble much now at all I am much more financially secure and my partner is not a poker widow.
Perhaps tinnitus has filled a bit of that void in my life as I no longer have the compulsion to gamble endlessly.
I used to binge drink at weekends and lie in bed most of the weekend. Now my tinnitus won't let me lie on in that quiet room so much so I get up and do something. I'm lucky I live near a busy motorway (I never EVER thought I would write those words!) so if I'm out in the garden or in a local park my t is masked and I only hear a bit of hiss.
Tinnitus put the fear of God into me (not literally as I'm an agnostic). I was sleeping my life away putting everything off until this or that happened. I was stuck.
Don't get me wrong I still have bad days and the constant squeal of tinnitus during the night has led me to some very dark thoughts but if you excuse the pun tinnitus has woken me up.
I still hope that one day my t will disappear but until then I'll explore each day one at a time.
I would recommend any sufferer to read two books - Julian Cowan-Hills 'Tinnitus - from Tyrant to Friend' and 'Get out of your Mind and into your Life' by Steven C. Hayes. Both these guys have had tinnitus and indeed still have it to some extent but it no longer rules their lives.
Would love to hear others positive experiences.

EMPATHY.... That's what tinnitus gave me and I am grateful for that....

 

[JurgenG]

I got over my OCD..

 

[Bill Bauer]

Tinnitus had no positive effect on my life.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Tinnitus had no positive effect on my life.

It is too soon for you to notice the positive influence that tinnitus can have on your life @Bill Bauer @fishbone is 100% right. Tinnitus has also taught me Empathy and to be more understanding and grateful for what I have in life. It makes you look at the bigger picture.

 

[Bill Bauer]

It is too soon for you to notice the positive influence that tinnitus can have on your life @Bill Bauer @fishbone is 100% right. Tinnitus has also taught me Empathy and to be more understanding and grateful for what I have in life. It makes you look at the bigger picture.

I had already been empathetic, even before T. I had already been aware of the fact that health is the most valuable thing one can have.

 

[zombiechick]

I lost 89 pounds eating better. Became more aware of what I put in my body. Starting reading labels and avoiding so many harmful things.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I had already been empathetic, even before T. I had already been aware of the fact that health is the most valuable thing one can have.

One can never have too much of these qualties, so they will be enhanced even more. Tinnitus helps to make a person stronger because life is problematic. I'm not saying that it's necessary to have something like tinnitus to become a stronger person but for me, it's made me look at the positive things in my life and not to focus on the negatives, something that I've mentioned in many of my posts.

Like the time when I was returning home from a morning walk and noticed a young man of a bout 20 years, walking on the other side of the road with this hand stretched out in front of him as if he were in complete darkness. It wasn't until there were no more parked cars blocking my view, that I noticed he had a guide dog beside him. Or when I'm out and about and someone is coming towards me in a wheelchair and both legs have been amputated above the knees. I avert my gaze as it's not nice to stare but one cannot help noticing. Watching the news in the comfort of my home and in certain parts of the world there are wars that have gone on for years with no hope of it ever stopping. It makes me appreciate that I can go to bed and sleep peacefully without the fear of my home being bombed which could cause my early demise from this mortal plain.

Tinnitus isn't easy to deal with but the majority of people learn to cope with it in time and carry on to live a fulfilling life. Many of the people in this forum are working and have a roof over their head, food in the fridge and clothes on their back. Perhaps they have a partner and even a family that's something to be thankful for, because there are many people in this world that are not so fortunate.

Michael

 

[Bill Bauer]

Perhaps they have a partner and even a family that's something to be thankful for

I am thankful for not having a partner and for having a small family. No 'ball and chain" for me. I prefer life without compromises to a ball and chain.

The way I see it, each relative is like a ticking time bomb - they can be diagnosed with something horrible at any time, and that would darken the lives of everyone in the family possibly for a long time [this is based on my personal experience - my dad had brain cancer that took five years to take his life](unless it is a family where people don't care about the well being of other family members). The benefit you get from each person while they are healthy (yes, even if they provide support for you if you get sick yourself) is a lot less than the emotional trauma you will get when they get sick. This is driven not by the fact that the benefit is low, but by the fact that the trauma is huge. So I am grateful that it is just my mom and I.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I am thankful for not having a partner and for having a small family. No 'ball and chain" for me. I prefer life without compromises to a ball and chain.

The way I see it, each relative is like a ticking time bomb - they can be diagnosed with something horrible at any time, and that would darken the lives of everyone in the family possibly for a long time [this is based on my personal experience - my dad had brain cancer that took five years to take his life](unless it is a family where people don't care about the well being of other family members). The benefit you get from each person while they are healthy (yes, even if they provide support for you if you get sick yourself) is a lot less than the emotional trauma you will get when they get sick. This is driven not by the fact that the benefit is low, but by the fact that the trauma is huge. So I am grateful that it is just my mom and I.

As I said life is problematic and this affects everyone at one time or another. We just have to deal with it the best way that we can.
Michael

 

[fishbone]

Empathy/suffering has opened my eyes to the world and to those that suffer. It is a quality more people need to have, but we live in a fast paced/non-caring world. Empathy makes me care/talk/ and help the homeless and the less fortunate.

Empathy gave me the desire to take care of the elderly and sick. Tinnitus can bring lots of suffering, but it can also make one loving towards those that suffer as well.

I am thankful for it....