What Habituation Means to Me

[UpDownAround]

Obviously, I cannot enforce this, but I would hope to see just those who are habituated say what that means and how it feels to them. I think some expectations are unrealistic. I'll start...

In my very long experience with this, habituation does not mean total disregard, at least not for me. It doesn't even mean it never bothers me; spikes are still annoying, It just means it has become an unimportant detail in my life.

Obviously I still came to this forum, but mostly because of recent issues with H. Being habituated to tinnitus doesn't mean I wouldn't pursue a treatment to get rid of it if I found something new being discussed. It just isn't a major problem that I came and found nothing new.

 

[william adams]

Looks like you have had tinnitus for along time.

I agree with you that sometimes it can be very irritable but most of the time I am busy socially and with projects the T fades into the background for your brain is focused on other things.

I believe that I am habituated for it doesn't scare me anymore and keep pleasant nature sounds at night when trying to get a good nights rest. I think the tough part habituating or getting use to T is that our hearing is one of the first mechanisms in survival and when there is a foreign sound we want to hone in on it. So it takes time for your brain to except the sound of T as not a threat which is more difficult for some of us than others.

Unfortunately mine is high pitched and can be heard over everything but the shower...

Fortunately it really doesn't freak me out like the first few months I had it. I try to live my life at its fullest doing all the things I did before T but do where ear protection in noisey environments and work out at the gym 5 times a week and some people find Tai Chi, Yoga and other body based things helpful in relaxing which is great for this condition...

Wish you success in dealing with your hyperacusis and hope you are better soon!!

 

[fishbone]

I been at this since 1988, for me it simply means being able to live my life. It is very possible to achieve this, it does take time and patience. Good luck to all!

 

[Amber]

THIS IS HABITUATION: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/came-back-to-post-this-success-story.23565/

I rarely notice it, unless I go out of my way to listen for it. I can plug my ears and hear it clearly, but it doesn't bother me at all.

 

[Rohit Saluja]

I been at this since 1988,

You have had tinnitus for over 30 years, does it still bother you?

 

[fishbone]

You have had tinnitus for over 30 years, does it still bother you?

I have intrusive/constant tinnitus + close to severe hearing loss. It can be a challenge at times. I hate having poor hearing more than the tinnitus itself. It makes life a challenge, but I manage well.....

 

[Maddog]

Before my spike I was so habituated that I totally forgot about my tinnitus.

 

[JohnFox]

Ive only been dealing with this for a few weeks, but I am already mentally preparing for habituation. My hearing loss in right ear is total, so I am not too optimistic for recovery. With the T, the first few days I was sure there was no way I could live with this, and yes, it kinda freaked me out. Of course I am still hoping for something to occur that will give me relief, but I am day by day working towards full acceptance. Yes, the "new me". The old me may be gone forever. So, this is it. This is how I was "reborn" so to speak a few weeks ago. Today I had more time than ever where it simply didn't bother me much at all. A couple of hours would go by and I would realize "hey, that last two hours wasn't really that bad." Having that realization was encouraging to me, and gave me a little bit more confidence that there is a way forward. My expectation is that in a month from now I will have more of those times where it just wasn't a big factor in my day to day happiness. Even typing this out is a help towards that direction of peace. The brain is weird.