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Recent content by alwaysmasking

  1. alwaysmasking

    Me too. Good luck with your classes; hopefully they offer a decent distraction :)

    Me too. Good luck with your classes; hopefully they offer a decent distraction :)
  2. alwaysmasking

    It sucks so much that we just never know what will make us worse or not. And then there's the...

    It sucks so much that we just never know what will make us worse or not. And then there's the whole issue of stressing out whenever we do try something new - 'cause then we listen obsessively and more often than not convince ourselves it's worse. I hope you continue to enjoy a quiet day here and...
  3. alwaysmasking

    About four months into a nasty spike. It began with an increase in my right ear beep (one of the...

    About four months into a nasty spike. It began with an increase in my right ear beep (one of the first sounds I heard back in 2020). The usual masking noise didn't work, so I started adding crickets on top. More bad days than good, and the bad days are bad. Started a new job; usually T is less...
  4. alwaysmasking

    I May Be Counting My Chickens — Hopeful Progress in My Tinnitus Journey

    Wow, what an inspiring story! You have much more mental resilience than I do, that’s for sure. Keep at it, we’re all rooting for you. :)
  5. alwaysmasking

    Am I the Unluckiest Person on Earth When It Comes to Tinnitus? My 6-Year Tinnitus Nightmare: How One Festival Changed My Life

    Congratulations on your better sleep. Here’s to more improvement! These things take time, so please hang in there, mon ami.
  6. alwaysmasking

    The not knowing is the worst. Well, it got better before, so there's a good chance it'll get...

    The not knowing is the worst. Well, it got better before, so there's a good chance it'll get better again. Hope you are managing alright!!!
  7. alwaysmasking

    Back to Silence

    This thread has helped me a lot in learning how to live with this condition. No, it doesn’t magically cure it, but it definitely helps me manage my emotional response. I’ve had, and will continue to have, bad days, especially after I feel I’ve been exposed to risks. I’ll also keep masking when I...
  8. alwaysmasking

    Living with a Constant Tormentor in My Ears: Hoping for Peace at 84

    You might be able to rent a pair for a trial period from certain audiologists for a few hundred dollars, rather than spending thousands on something that may or may not work. I am not entirely sure, though, since it depends on where you are and what options you have access to.
  9. alwaysmasking

    Severe Two-Week Tinnitus Spike After Vacuuming Despite Wearing Earmuffs

    I have had spikes that lasted for nearly two years. Please hang in there. I know it is hard and can feel impossible, but you never know, things can change. Tinnitus is unpredictable, and improvement often happens very gradually. Remember, you are not alone, and we are all rooting for you.
  10. alwaysmasking

    15 Months of Tinnitus with No Improvement, Except for Occasional Good Days in a Row

    I am so sorry you have been going through all these months and years of a difficult spike. You never know, you may still see small improvements, and you may still habituate. With tinnitus, a lot of it is waiting, noticing gradual changes, and holding on to hope. I truly wish for things to...
  11. alwaysmasking

    From Rock Bottom to Renewal: My Three-Year Journey with Tinnitus and Faith

    I am so happy for your recovery! Your story is a testament to the resilience of the human mind and the power of habituation. May you continue to live unbothered and free from the weight of this condition moving forward.
  12. alwaysmasking

    Is It Safe to Go to Movie Theaters If You Have Noise-Induced Tinnitus?

    This is one of those things that differs from person to person. You will find all kinds of accounts. Some people say their tinnitus became worse, while others say they still go regularly and notice no difference. You never really know until you try, and in my view, it is playing with fire. There...
  13. alwaysmasking

    New University of Michigan Tinnitus Discovery — Signal Timing

    From what I understand, the DCN (dorsal cochlear nucleus, a region of the brainstem targeted by the University of Michigan device) acts as a relay. It receives information from the cochlea (hair cells and related structures) as well as somatosensory input from the trigeminal system (teeth, jaw)...
  14. alwaysmasking

    How a Furnace Gave Me Severe Tinnitus and What the Last 7 Months Have Been Like

    Excellent news! And please, don't be discouraged if you again have some bad days - progress is rarely linear, and often you need to look at long-term trends. As for my spikes, I don't think anything caused them. It's just the brain doing what the brain does and I'm merely a passenger.
  15. alwaysmasking

    Living with a Constant Tormentor in My Ears: Hoping for Peace at 84

    It's great that you have a spiritual connection to help anchor you, sir/ma'am. I hope it and some masking help you! Hearing aids may well be an option for you, especially if you have marked hearing loss, but I've never tried them myself. A recent thread here suggests some people have found...