What Helped Me Habituate — Earplugs, Sleeping Habits, Avoiding Reading About Tinnitus

Hi, my tinnitus arrived 6 years ago and habituated with these 3 things:

1 - Earplugs in quiet rooms... the sound level increases, but it sounds like it’s external, so it’s much easier to block out.

2 - I go to bed when I’m really sleepy.

3 - Avoid these forums or anything that reminds you of the noise.

Last week the sound of my tinnitus increased, so I’m back to habituating. BTW I’m wearing ear plugs as I research several things on the net. Hope this helps.

 

I'm already beginning to habituate, or maybe just getting used to it. (same thing?) Anyway, I notice too that when I wear a NC headset it makes the T sound like it's coming thru the headset, thus a help to ignore it...(lousy headphones! All that static and chirping coming thru these things!!) ;-) Unlike you though, I find that getting involved with this forum has been a confidence booster and has helped me to feel not so lost. I guess I have found more positive nurturing in here than negative.

 

Great to hear !

After I first habituated, I found any T discussion would focus me back on the noise. The forums are positive, I just to avoid the reminders.

 

@Sudbury Are you actively avoiding noisy places too?

 

I am, as much as possible. I cannot handle places like restaurants or coffee shops unless I can sit outside. Being outside helps quite a bit. Something about being inside with the sound waves bouncing off the walls in a noisy atmosphere that causes my T to shoot way up. If I can't avoid those places, I will simply use an ear plug to plug up my good ear.

 

@Flamingo. I don’t avoid noisy places, but I use 3M ear plugs, which I buy from a safety supply store.

 

I am glad you have habituated! I can agree with points 2 and 3, but the first one is what I would do. If your environment is not loud, why use earplugs? Using earplugs can possibly increase the obsession with the noise that a tinnitus sufferer hears. Also, it can possibly lead to hyperacusis and fear of sounds. Over-protection is not what I would do. I am glad you are doing well.......

 

Point 1 is interesting. I just used this occasionaly f.e. when i vacuum the basement. During the breaks its silent and with the earplugs in it doesnt feel that threatening because of what you wrote. Maybe i should try this more often or maybe while sleeping?

however, hope you have habituated again.

 

These forums offer people support and good information. How about taking your own advice and pack you bags?

 

@Sudbury

You are a person with some experience with tinnitus and it's something that the likes of @JohnAdams and his cohorts promoting negativity in this forum do not understand. I agree with your comment about Avoiding tinnitus forums up to a point. Whilst they can be good and informative, unfortunately they can be bad too.

Take care
Michael

 

Promoting negativity. Like what? That microsuction can damage your hearing?

 

@JohnAdams he has a point. If you spend too much time on tinnitus forums, you might come away with the silly notion that microsuction is safe, or that headphones present unique magical risks which other sounds of equal volume do not

 

You are not a serious contributor on this forum and know nothing about tinnitus, so I won't even bother explaining....

 

This is a textbook way of avoiding confrontation when you know you don't have a leg to stand on.

Michael, I notice that your posts generally contain one or more logical fallacies. I think having a better understanding of that concept, and seeking to avoid it, will enable you to have more constructive and useful dialogs in the future. For instance, the specific logical fallacy here is "ad hominem", where you're attacking the character of the person (generally baselessly) without actually refuting the substance of their statement.

I will be happy to note any logical fallacies I see in your posts moving forward and cheerfully bring them to your attention, because I think this will help us have the most harmonious interactions possible. Don't you agree?

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_...logic_in_argumentative_writing/fallacies.html

Cheerfully and lovingly yours, from now to the end of time,
LinearB

 

I only saw your post by chance. Since

@linearb

I have no interest engaging with people that do not want to discuss tinnitus seriously. However, occasionally I will take a slight detour and whet their appetites and play along. I have a little free time on my hands and the idle banter has made me chuckle a few times but alas, that's all I can spare. Now it's back to the serious business of helping people.

Good day.
Michael

 

I am glad you've given us this great illustration of yet another logical fallacy.

https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/tools/lp/Bo/LogicalFallacies/61/Avoiding-the-Issue

You are "person 2" in this statement, except the audience is less prone to falling to your misdirection than you might hope.

Good day, indeed! <3