Tinnitus Spike?

Hello,

I am a guitarist in a Hard Rock Band, my T started last September after not using ear plugs. For the first 3 months I suffered from depression and anxiety which started to clear after using anti-depressants, I also noticed that the T volume became less and I could start getting on with my life. I bought some Musician's ear plugs and kept on playing in the band.

Few weeks ago I have noticed after playing in the band that my T has increased in volume and has become very loud again, even though I have been using ear protection. Also my depression and anxiety has come back as well!

I hope that the volume and depression/anxiety will decrease over time like it did before, but at the moment my T is very loud and I am finding it hard going.

Mark

 

Hello Mark.

Same here. I went through depression in the first 3 months of my tinnitus. Altough my tinnitus is a severe one, I'm not depressed anymore. Remember, your negative thoughts about your tinnitus, but not the tinnitus itself, is making you feel depressed.

American psychologist Rollo Reece May said that "depression is the inability to construct a future".
How true! We feel depressed because of our negative thoughts about living with the tinnitus in our future lives.

Rollo Reece May also wrote that "depression occurs more in the dimension of time than in space, and the depressed individual fails to look ahead in time properly. Thus the "focusing upon some point in time outside the depression gives the patient a perspective, a view on high so to speak; and this may well break the chains of the depression"

So, what we need is "HOPE". Think that a cure is going to be found in the near future. Think about this positive thought as much as possible, and you will feel much better. (That is what I am doing)

It's so important that, I have to repeat the statement once more: YOUR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUR TINNITUS, BUT NOT THE TINNITUS ITSELF, IS MAKING YOU FEEL DEPRESSED.

And please remember we all have tinnitus and we are with you.
Don't feel lonely out there.

 

What a brilliant reply. I've had T for three months and perhaps I'm lucky, but i don't let it get me down. We are currently on holiday in Wales and have just purchased a motorhome. I'm so looking forward to touring in it next year. Live life as you did before. You may make a few changes, but make the changes positive and enjoyable. The only thing that can beat you, is you yourself.

Take care,

Darren

 

Thank you very much for your comments. And I liked your statement: " Live life as you did before."
I solved the depression issue, but I'm still trying to live life as I did before. I want to reach that mental level.
As my tinnitus is severe, currently it is hard for me. But I'm hoping to achieve that level soon.

 

Hello Mark,

I think Darren and Ozzy gave some good advice.

I'm at the moment in the same situation as you. I have had tinnitus already several years and was quite used to it. I'm not playing music myself, but I do enjoy going to gigs once in a while. Then a couple of months ago I was at a gig wearing my earplugs all the time and it feels my T has clearly increased since then

I am too feeling the anxiety and depression again. During the day I feel already somewhat better, but I'm still quite anxious about. When I first lay down to sleep, I feel like this: . Then after a while a miraculously fall asleep.

I guess when the T is loud, it will take a little longer to get used to the sound. And to get rid of the anxiety/depression. On the way there will be better and worse days. I guess we can't expect the habituation to happen over night.

 

Thank you for the replies

Riikka I normally don't have a problem at night falling to sleep, but I wake up early and then my anxiety kicks in, and then I have problems most of the day.

Evening are normally ok if I watch TV to take my mind of the Tinnitus . I am also taking 20 mg fluoxetine a day which I have just started ,so I am waiting for them to kick in.

Mark

 

Mark,

My T started 2 months ago and I too went through some anxiety and depression. I started citalopram three weeks ago and it has helped. My appetite has returned (I had previously lost about 10 pounds due to loss of appetite) and my outlook on life is better. The meds can help your mood but it will probably take a few weeks to kick in. Hang in there.

Bill

 

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the reply.

I have had some history with anxiety and depression and most of my close family suffer as well. So when I got Tinnitus I got flooded with anxiety and depression.

Mark