What Would You Do? A Potential New Sometimes Noisy Job

[Jamie]

Hi everyone,

I would like to hear your advice on what I should do regarding a job.

I have been head hunted by a company I used to work for to come back as a manager, great pay, car etc but my current job is in a nice quiet office a short drive from home and when I do have to go out and about they are usually short trips around town.

The job offered would be 1.5 hours of driving a day, half on the open road or highway, then the job will be mostly based in an office but I may have to go into noisy places from time to time.

I am really struggling to make a choice, on one hand i don't want to make my T worse and on the other I don't want it to rule my life. I'm worried if I do take the job I will be anxious about my T getting worse so of course it probably will but if I don't take the job I will resent my T even more as it is severely impacting my quality of life at the moment.

I have had T 30 years but it has been much worse over the last 7 years, I have been in my current quiet job 9 months and it's hard to say if it is any better but if I change jobs and it is aggravated by the new job what would I do.

Any advise welcomed, talking to people who don't suffer from T is a waste of time as they just don't understand what we have to go though.

 

[SoulStation]

Hi everyone,

I would like to hear your advice on what I should do regarding a job.

I have been head hunted by a company I used to work for to come back as a manager, great pay, car etc but my current job is in a nice quiet office a short drive from home and when I do have to go out and about they are usually short trips around town.

The job offered would be 1.5 hours of driving a day, half on the open road or highway, then the job will be mostly based in an office but I may have to go into noisy places from time to time.

I am really struggling to make a choice, on one hand i don't want to make my T worse and on the other I don't want it to rule my life. I'm worried if I do take the job I will be anxious about my T getting worse so of course it probably will but if I don't take the job I will resent my T even more as it is severely impacting my quality of life at the moment.

I have had T 30 years but it has been much worse over the last 7 years, I have been in my current quiet job 9 months and it's hard to say if it is any better but if I change jobs and it is aggravated by the new job what would I do.

Any advise welcomed, talking to people who don't suffer from T is a waste of time as they just don't understand what we have to go though.

Sometimes a I wonder the same thing (about my job making t worse)as a I am a private music instructor and I keep levals of sound EXTREMELY low and use hearing protection just teaching students on acoustic instruments... I don't know if it's the sound or my own paranoia and hyper vigallence that's making me more awear of T now a days... I also wonder if I just quit everything and had to start from scratch, would things get worse anyway? I think that is also a possibility if you don't take the job. 1.5 hours is a bit of a drive but not too bad at all IMHO. Maybe wear plugs on the noisy road. good luck.

 

[linearb]

sounds like a hard decision, @Jamie.

Do you know what made your T get worse ~7 years ago?

 

[Jamie]

Do you know what made your T get worse ~7 years ago?

My trigger started when I started a business 11 years ago and I was driving around in droney diesel vans and working in factorys (I am, well was an industrial electrician) before that the T was there but was in the background, I'd give anything to go back to those days, I was so happy then, full of life.

 

[Gosia]

There are things important and those even more important..I don't see what can be more important than good health condition in order to be able to enjoy the rest of life..If this job makes your T worse you risk losing it anyway..and being left without any job in the end and with worse T instead. For me the choice would be obvious.

 

[glynis]

I would do what makes you happy and not to much stress as that feeds tinnitus and could find your concentration hard at times .
I would also think not about the tinnitus sound but how you are emotionally feeling and how good you are at dealing with the unwanted emotions tinnitus can cause .
For me,Im a bubbly person and dont get stressed or let my ears take over even though blast 24/7 non stop but my concentration is poor and even with hearing aids I dont like sound coming at me from all directions as I have lost the ability to locate sound.
So take in to account your
tinnitus,
Feelings,
Work surroundings.
personality,
Concentration
stress level
happiness
distance
.....lots of love glynis

 

[Steve721]

If you're concerned about road noise, do you know what kind of car you'd be getting? My Lexus is very quiet; of course, you could also wear ear muffs or plugs when you're driving. When you have to go into noisy places, do you have any idea how much noise in db you'd be exposed to and for how long? Could you possibly wear ear plugs or ear muffs when you're exposed to noise? Do you already have hearing loss? Personally, I try not to let T stop me from doing the things I want to do within reason (however, my days of listening to my iPod at maximum volume through headphones are over), and I wouldn't let T prevent me from taking a better paying job if there were reasonable work arounds.

 

[erik]

What would your decision be if you didn't have tinnitus? That's the one I would go with.

Your T may have gotten worse due to trucks or driving but you will never know with 100% certainty. Maybe none of that was the cause and it was just age related or genetic (which was going to happen anyway no matter what you did or what job you had).

 

[linearb]

My trigger started when I started a business 11 years ago and I was driving around in droney diesel vans and working in factorys (I am, well was an industrial electrician) before that the T was there but was in the background, I'd give anything to go back to those days, I was so happy then, full of life.

if you believe that your problems were already permanently worsened by driving loud trucks and being in loud work environments, then it seems like taking another job which involves lots of noisy driving and being exposed to loud environments isn't a great idea. But, this is obviously a very personal choice.

 

[LadyDi]

I agree with @erik, that you shouldn't let tinnitus rule your decision. Then again, its a very personal choice.

But I will share my experience:

For two decades, I always had an average to long commute. I would have to drive anywhere from 3o minutes to an hour each way, most of it on crowded interstate highways. Then, although I still am with the same company, my position was relocated to an office that's about five, maximum 10, minutes from my house. I could walk to work, if necessary. It wasn't until I stopped commuting that I realized what toll those drives were taking on my health and sanity.

Living close by, I also can go home and nap for a bit if I am not feeling well, can easily go back home and get something I left behind, etc.

Today, I would be willing to take a job that paid a lot less if it didn't involve a long commute. To me, that's more of an issue than the tinnitus itself -- the stress of the drive.

 

[Jamie]

What would your decision be if you didn't have tinnitus? That's the one I would go with.

Your T may have gotten worse due to trucks or driving but you will never know with 100% certainty. Maybe none of that was the cause and it was just age related or genetic (which was going to happen anyway no matter what you did or what job you had).

Hi Eric, Thanks for the advice.

If I didnt have Tinnitus (apart from running around hugging everybody I see and jumping on my motorbike which I haven't been able to ride for 5 years), I would take the job, it's not just the pay increase but I have a chance to make a real difference.

 

[Jamie]

I agree with @erik, that you shouldn't let tinnitus rule your decision. Then again, its a very personal choice.

But I will share my experience:

For two decades, I always had an average to long commute. I would have to drive anywhere from 3o minutes to an hour each way, most of it on crowded interstate highways. Then, although I still am with the same company, my position was relocated to an office that's about five, maximum 10, minutes from my house. I could walk to work, if necessary. It wasn't until I stopped commuting that I realized what toll those drives were taking on my health and sanity.

Living close by, I also can go home and nap for a bit if I am not feeling well, can easily go back home and get something I left behind, etc.

Today, I would be willing to take a job that paid a lot less if it didn't involve a long commute. To me, that's more of an issue than the tinnitus itself -- the stress of the drive.

Hi Ladydi,

Yes I can relate, I have worked at this place before for 4 years and always thought the travel was making things worse. I have had a much shorter commute for the last 9 months and I think things could be a bit better but it's hard to tell, most days in the evening it seems as bad as it always has been.

The last time I was there I had a 4wd with very noisey tyres and I have since got some bose noise cancelling headphones which seem good while driving but still a worry.

 

[valeri]

Agree with @Gosia
I doubt that more money or better job would make you happier if you are under constant stress about tinnitus getting worse due to longer drives or noisier job.
I say take it easy and look after yourself.

Sad reality is that tinnitus changes our lives in so many ways (family, friends, work) that all we can do is adopt to the circumstances.

Yes, it may not be what we would do if we didn't have it but it's here and we have to be cautious.

Just my opinion

 

[Karl28]

Id keep the old job you know is good.

 

[PaulBe]

Can you balance the tinnitus factor against being able to do the job properly?

 

[Anthony13]

Jamie, by saying you don't want T to rule your life regarding your decision making, means in some way that it is doing just that. And besides, you already have tinnitus. Whether or not you take the new post or not.

Do what you feel is right for you, otherwise you will regret it, and will be constantly saying to yourself "what if"? Fuck tinnitus and the boat in comes in on. If you think something will make your tinnitus worse, then it probably will. That, unfortunately is how it works with us after our subconscious has sown the seed of fear of the unknown.

As already has been pointed out, you can always use some ear protection for when you need it. So no need to worry about that.

Keep your options open also. By all means give this job a go. If it doesn't work out for you, then try to arrange a possibility with your current employer to keep your job open, or be able to re-apply for it if you wanted ever to go back.
In other words, don't burn any bridges!

I also ride a motorcycle. And yes, I am more aware of my t once I put my earplugs in and helmet on. It becomes more internalised for sure. But I am more focussed on the road and traffic conditions and enjoying the ride, to stress over that. So I hope that is not the reason why you don't ride yours.

All the best, and please do follow your gut instinct. Life's too short for regrets...

 

[Jamie]

Jamie, by saying you don't want T to rule your life regarding your decision making, means in some way that it is doing just that. And besides, you already have tinnitus. Whether or not you take the new post or not.

Do what you feel is right for you, otherwise you will regret it, and will be constantly saying to yourself "what if"? Fuck tinnitus and the boat in comes in on. If you think something will make your tinnitus worse, then it probably will. That, unfortunately is how it works with us after our subconscious has sown the seed of fear of the unknown.

As already has been pointed out, you can always use some ear protection for when you need it. So no need to worry about that.

Keep your options open also. By all means give this job a go. If it doesn't work out for you, then try to arrange a possibility with your current employer to keep your job open, or be able to re-apply for it if you wanted ever to go back.
In other words, don't burn any bridges!

I also ride a motorcycle. And yes, I am more aware of my t once I put my earplugs in and helmet on. It becomes more internalised for sure. But I am more focussed on the road and traffic conditions and enjoying the ride, to stress over that. So I hope that is not the reason why you don't ride yours.

All the best, and please do follow your gut instinct. Life's too short for regrets...

Hi Anthoney,

Thanks for the advise, my T is reactive so gets worse the more noise I listen to, I used to be able to get away with hearing protection and felt safe behind my earmuffs as I worked or played but now just wearing hearing protection seems to aggravate it. There is nothing more demoralizing thank looking out the window watching your 8 month pregnant wife mow the lawn because you just can't face it, makes you feel so pathetic over a little noise.

I think I might take the job and as you say fuck tinnitus and the boat it came in on, if it turns out too much and I just can't handle it, I'll just find something else.

 

[Anthony13]

Hello Jamie,
glad to be of some help, and I hope it all works out well for you whatever you choose to decide.

The big issue many of us face with T, is we are perpetually living in fear of it getting worse. You rightly say it is a pathetic little noise, but we let it boss us about and think about things other people don't think twice about. Such as : you get asked by friends for a night out, and that may include a noisy pub or club. Immediately you have to think about the effect it will have on your T. Thus maybe robbing you of a good night out.

Once we remove that fear and the constant need to question ourselves, the T will cease to become a problem.

I'm with you on the hearing protection. The irony there is when you have some plugs in or some earmuffs, your existing T seems to become more intrusive, and ramps up because it wants to be top dog.

I know it can be tough sometimes but you need to show it who's boss...

 

[LadyDi]

If I didnt have Tinnitus (apart from running around hugging everybody I see and jumping on my motorbike which I haven't been able to ride for 5 years), I would take the job, it's not just the pay increase but I have a chance to make a real difference.

@Jamie, I think these feelings are important factor in your decision. There is nothing more gratifying than having a job where you feel you are making a difference. I have been very lucky that way. No job is perfect; maybe the drive would be worth it. You can find a way to keep tinnitus at bay, in my opinion.

But just my opinion. The decision is yours and there are important factors for you to consider, pro and con.

 

[glynis]

Hi Jamie,
I like your positivity and looking forwards .
At least you wont be wishing all your life you should have taken the job.
who knows it might be the dream job for you and you have things that could help you.
Relaxation music in the car.
ear plugs handy etc.
If you give it a go you wont regret not trying just dont be disheartened if It gets to much as their will be other jobs....lots of love glynis

 

[Gosia]

I admire the 'optimism' of some of you..just that in some cases optimism can be mistaken for putting oneself at risk. T can be mild and tolerable or catastrophic and debilitating.

• 'Do what makes you happy', sure..but isn't having milder T what makes you happy if you have to chose between this and unbearable T ?
• ' What would you do if you did not have T ?' is not a relevant question because you do have it. It's like asking 'what would you do if you had legs ?' to sb who doesn't have them - denying the reality.
• 'you already have T, so what do you have to lose?' - having it bearable instead of debilitating ? I might write this because I know the difference - I have bearable T but experienced some nasty spikes so I can tell - nothing in the world would make me risk making this spikes sth permanent . That would be unbearable.