What My Therapist Said...

[Natalie Roberts]

My therapist said something interesting yesterday during a group meditation class and it had me thinking about how to apply the mindset to tinnitus. I understand this won't work or apply for everyone but it really resonated to me..


She was talking about nature and how we cannot control it. We cannot stop it from raining or snowing, being hot or cold or windy. That is natures course and it's constantly changing. We would never think of changing the weather or nature simply because we can't. It runs its course. Well, our feelings inside of us (anxiety, depression, frustration, being scared, happy, exited) are our bodies own 'natural reactions' and while we aren't happy about some of them and want to change them, only by accepting they are there and acknowledging them can we move past them. Talking kindly to ourselves acknowledging we have fear or depression and letting those emotions cycle as nature would but not dwelling on them is key to ending suffering. In a way, accepting we can not control every emotion and they are always fleeting and changing helps us to grow and move past difficult periods.

The same can be said for things like tinnitus which we really have no control over. Acknowledge its there and don't dwell on it because we have little control to change it. We can't control all of our physical symptoms but we can control our emotional reactions to them which ultimately helps us in the long run. I'm not sure I explained it quite as well as she did but it really resonated with me and I'm trying to think of that. Meditation has been extremely hard for me but I really do notice its benefits and encourage a lot of my friends with anxiety or health issues to give it a shot! Just wanted to share in case anyone else finds it helpful..

Today is a loud day for my ears. I could even hear my T in my dreams last night (when I did sleep) and yesterday was a ultra quiet day 1/10. This tinnitus stuff is really weird and hard to adjust to but I'm really trying to be positive! Hope this helps someone today because even re reading it helped me. Wishing you all quiet days today!

 

[glynis]

Hi Natalie,
Great your therapy is helping.
I agree too that we can not control tinnitus but we can control our reactions.....Great see you being so positive and hope your little family are all well and baby soon be here.
So excited for you.....lots of love glynis

 

[steffievdboom]

He Nathalie i have been reading your stories... I am from the Netherlands... Same issues here.
Also t ... For a long Time..

 

[Sailboardman]

Similar To IWLM's, "back to silence" method.

 

[NineNails]

That's a typical psychological fallacy. Your therapist compares apples with oranges. Feelings (anxiety, happiness) with physical symptoms (pain, T). An approach which is not applicable to T at all.
'Don't dwell on it because we have little control to change it.' No dentist ever said that to a patient with toothache. But imagine they would.
On the other hand, if we don't like the weather we could simply take shelter or move on. So we have options. We are in control.
Obviously your therapist doesn't suffer of T hence it's all surreal and easy peasy business for her. There's a pot of gold at the end if the rainbow.

 

[Natalie Roberts]

That's a typical psychological fallacy. Your therapist compares apples with oranges. Feelings (anxiety, happiness) with physical symptoms (pain, T). An approach which is not applicable to T at all.
'Don't dwell on it because we have little control to change it.' No dentist ever said that to a patient with toothache. But imagine they would.
On the other hand, if we don't like the weather we could simply take shelter or move on. So we have options. We are in control.
Obviously your therapist doesn't suffer of T hence it's all surreal and easy peasy business for her. There's a pot of gold at the end if the rainbow.

No, she doesn't suffer from T or have a knowledge about it but is teaching me mindful based meditation techniques to help manage my stress/ anxiety and emotional responses to the T (and other sufferings), not the T itself. I have found that the mindful meditation techniques help me control my anxiety which in turn helps me manage how I respond to my tinnitus. I know mindful meditation won't be right for everyone and I know it won't cure tinnitus however for me, it has been a valuable tool in basic stress management which in turn affects my t. And, that is the point has helped me tremendously make it 9 weeks without resorting to anti-anxiety medication which is something huge.

So for me, this technique has been applicable to all areas of my life including physical suffering and tinnitus. It's not right for everyone but meditation has had profound affects on a lot of people's emotional and physical health. No one said it would cure tinnitus, just make the emotional reaction to it more bareable. Don't knock it, until you've tried it . I had never tried meditation prior to seeking out this therapist and am SO glad that I did. It takes a LOT of work but in the end, I believe the benefits will be worth it.

 

[Natalie Roberts]

Also, if anyone is interested in mindful based stress reduction techniques, during a different meditation class I was recently recommended a book called

Full Catastrophe Living - Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

I recently received it as agift and have just started reading it. I will update you all if I feel it is worth the read but have heard great things about it.