Who Is Your Main Source of Support with Tinnitus?

[bobvann]

I have a friend who has mild Tinnitus so sometimes we discuss it but not really in depth. When I was seeing the audiologist even though she cannot help much it was just nice to discuss in in detail. I think it is very important to not just write about it but also to discuss it.

Sadly 3 audiologists have not been able to help me. I did not care about the 1st two. I can tell they were just in it to suck every dollar they can out of you. This last one really did try. It is not her fault I cannot handle WNG's or long periods of sound enrichment at this point.

 

[jeas]

My dad. He has tinnitus, too and it's been extremely helpful to have someone to talk to that 'gets it'... although his tinnitus is on a whole other level than mine. There isn't anything that he can't hear his over, and how he stays so positive is beyond me. I'm thankful for him, and he's my best friend.

 

[Orions Pain]

My dad. He has tinnitus, too and it's been extremely helpful to have someone to talk to that 'gets it'... although his tinnitus is on a whole other level than mine. There isn't anything that he can't hear his over, and how he stays so positive is beyond me. I'm thankful for him, and he's my best friend.

I'm assuming your dad is a lot older yeah? Some people's strength amazes me, it makes me feel incredibly guilty for feeling so upset over this but I've always been a sensitive emotional person, never a fighter.

 

[Jack V]

It's been really rough. My husband left me soon after my ear issues and my mother is far away and doesn't really get it. She says things like "at least you can walk!" when I try to express my grief. Though I think it might be starting to sink in more but it's not something she wants to truly deal with. I do have a good friend that has sent me--conservatively--about 40 cards and packages. She is literally a saint despite having her own trying life circumstance issues. She lives very far from me, unfortunately, though.

In my case, support came from the oddest of places. I met a stranger from a time zone away (on reddit of all places) and through sharing of our own struggles (he has quite a few health issues of his own unrelated to what I deal with), we became close friends quickly.

I had been dealing with everything almost completely alone until he offered to "get in the trenches" with me and help when he realized how broken I was/am. And he meant it and actually did. Eventually, he moved here to start a business with me that we can manage together with our different physical short comings. We couldn't possibly be more different in every single way but we have great empathy for each other. I told him recently he saved my life and I know he did.

This would make a great movie.

 

[FGG]

This would make a great movie.

It's actually way too depressing with only a glimmer of humanity.

 

[Jack V]

It's actually way too depressing with only a glimmer of humanity.

Fixed:

*Academy Award winning movie.

 

[Tybs]

I'm assuming your dad is a lot older yeah? Some people's strength amazes me, it makes me feel incredibly guilty for feeling so upset over this but I've always been a sensitive emotional person, never a fighter.

Don't feel bad for it. Everyone has different experiences in life, and no one starts out strong. Negative experiences, especially chronic ones like T, can strengthen people immensely on the long term: it's something they learned from the experience.

Definitely not saying T in itself is a positive thing, but it does give this opportunity, whether we want to or not...

 

[jeas]

I'm assuming your dad is a lot older yeah? Some people's strength amazes me, it makes me feel incredibly guilty for feeling so upset over this but I've always been a sensitive emotional person, never a fighter.

He's 58, but he has had tinnitus for almost 30 years, I guess. I'm with you, much more sensitive. I will say even though my dad lives his life normally and doesn't change anything, he says he will be the first in line if there's ever a successful cure.

 

[RishRamsey]

My girlfriend and my parents. A couple of friends, but I am getting distant from them with time, and they don't really understand this hyperacusis pain. Alone in this battle, I am afraid. *Sighs*

 

[SugarMagnolia]

My shrink who I talk to once a week. And you guys.

 

[OnceUponaTime]

A while back someone on Tinnitus Talk made a post about finding a "Tinnitus Buddy" in real life. I couldn't agree more. Having someone to talk to face-to-face who actually understands tinnitus because they have it is such a profoundly different conversation to that with a person who doesn't have tinnitus - even if that person is a loved one.

This.

 

[MBH]

if you explain tinnitus to people they look at you with five eyes.

 

[Shera]

In real life my mom has had it since I was in middle school. When she first got it she'd scream and rage at me. Since then she has wished I had it. So once i got T she was very unsympathetic. We'll talk about it, and she tells me she got over it so I should. But she still doctors for it, tells everyone about it, and constantly talks about how it keeps her up. My grandfather has it bad, but he's over it. I find people in "real life' around me have it so mild they can't understand it getting louder, or they're over their T and give me this look like "just get over it!"

When I first came on TT I clicked with someone and we've pretty much emailed everyday since we decided to become tinnitus buddies. It's been the biggest help. We're honest with each other about our ups and down, and we chat about everything.

I also find TT has gotten a lot of great people on it if you pick the right threads.