Hey people!
So it has been a while since I have posted - apologies!
Anyway, I am coming up to my one year anniversary of tinnitus and what a journey it has been. My T, aside from the first couple of weeks when it was REALLY loud, has not changed much. Sometimes it goes completely, mostly it is like a TV has been left on either side of my ears and occasionally it is a bit loud.
So if your T has started very recently then don't panic - most T will die down over time or go away completely. Don't take my word for it, the British tinnitus association have many polls in this and people here will also tell you the same.
Anyway, I think the topic of anxiety needs to be discussed more with newbies and having anxiety helps to talk about it!
So if you are reading this and you have just got here then don't worry - there is hope and you will find a lot of support here.
See what you will come to realise eventually is that, that annoying noise you hear is not really a problem. The anxiety and panic is the main problem. I can never emphasise enough that these are the two things you need to learn to deal with because once you do the noise drastically reduces in your brains threat meter - and stops paying much attention to it. Thus you hear it less.
Perfect example - I go to work in a quiet office and for hours I won't hear the clock which ticks loudly - mainly because I don't see it as a threat and also because I'm busy and not focused on it. Then when my attention is brought to it - it is so loud! We have all done that. Your T is no different as you will soon find out!
Go to the doctor, take some vallium, take some sleeping pills, take CBT, whatever..., but get your anxiety under control and your life will be MUCH easier. Trust me on this and everyone else will tell you the same. I find worrying about the future of my T getting worse a lot harder to deal with than the T.... The mind is strange!?
Also - make sure you stay active and keep with your social life - this is probably the most important thing you can do while sorting your anxiety - again, ask anyone here they will back me up on this!
Another thing I found was to not mask it too much - I found that letting myself hear it and get used to it worked for me. I appreciate this will not suit everyone depending on how they feel. Suffice to say I sleep in total silence with it buzzing away - not one fuck given. You will also be like that, give it time folks!!!
Remember - Rome wasn't built in a day. We all have crap days with T.... Even people who are completely habituated. However if it wasnt the T annoying you it would be something else. Never lose sight of the big
Picture!
Keep your chins up everyone, it for sure gets better, live life to the full and bollocks to the T!
Keep fighting the good fight!
Feel free to message me if anyone needs to have a rant!
Chris
P.s pardon the expletives but I'm Scottish and it's kinda of my national identity. It is also good the soul. Ha!
So it has been a while since I have posted - apologies!
Anyway, I am coming up to my one year anniversary of tinnitus and what a journey it has been. My T, aside from the first couple of weeks when it was REALLY loud, has not changed much. Sometimes it goes completely, mostly it is like a TV has been left on either side of my ears and occasionally it is a bit loud.
So if your T has started very recently then don't panic - most T will die down over time or go away completely. Don't take my word for it, the British tinnitus association have many polls in this and people here will also tell you the same.
Anyway, I think the topic of anxiety needs to be discussed more with newbies and having anxiety helps to talk about it!
So if you are reading this and you have just got here then don't worry - there is hope and you will find a lot of support here.
See what you will come to realise eventually is that, that annoying noise you hear is not really a problem. The anxiety and panic is the main problem. I can never emphasise enough that these are the two things you need to learn to deal with because once you do the noise drastically reduces in your brains threat meter - and stops paying much attention to it. Thus you hear it less.
Perfect example - I go to work in a quiet office and for hours I won't hear the clock which ticks loudly - mainly because I don't see it as a threat and also because I'm busy and not focused on it. Then when my attention is brought to it - it is so loud! We have all done that. Your T is no different as you will soon find out!
Go to the doctor, take some vallium, take some sleeping pills, take CBT, whatever..., but get your anxiety under control and your life will be MUCH easier. Trust me on this and everyone else will tell you the same. I find worrying about the future of my T getting worse a lot harder to deal with than the T.... The mind is strange!?
Also - make sure you stay active and keep with your social life - this is probably the most important thing you can do while sorting your anxiety - again, ask anyone here they will back me up on this!
Another thing I found was to not mask it too much - I found that letting myself hear it and get used to it worked for me. I appreciate this will not suit everyone depending on how they feel. Suffice to say I sleep in total silence with it buzzing away - not one fuck given. You will also be like that, give it time folks!!!
Remember - Rome wasn't built in a day. We all have crap days with T.... Even people who are completely habituated. However if it wasnt the T annoying you it would be something else. Never lose sight of the big
Picture!
Keep your chins up everyone, it for sure gets better, live life to the full and bollocks to the T!
Keep fighting the good fight!
Feel free to message me if anyone needs to have a rant!
Chris
P.s pardon the expletives but I'm Scottish and it's kinda of my national identity. It is also good the soul. Ha!
)
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