What Makes You Keep Going? How Do You Cope with Tinnitus?

I'm having a very bad today, my ears are practically yelling at me, after being somewhat quiet last night (still no sleep). False hope again, I guess. I know, that my recent tinnitus is nothing compared to tinnitus veterans', and I have been wallowing in self pity for weeks, but I just can't get to the adjust and accept phase. I'm so frustrated, scared, sleep deprived and isolated. I don't want to die, but I don't know how to live like this.

What keeps you going?

 

For me it's because hope dies last.

 

HI @Kriszti

It reads on your Avatar tinnitus: 2016/2017/2019 It also reads cause of tinnitus unknown.

Did you first get tinnitus in 2016? If yes, please supply some more information as it would help although I realize you are not feeling your best at the moment. I would like to know if you have had any treatment for your tinnitus, by seeing a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist?

Something usually causes the onset of tinnitus and the most common is exposure to loud noise. When you first got tinnitus were you a regular user of headphones or went to places were loud music was played: clubs, concerts?
Do you now use headphones regularly even if the volume is low?

If you have had tinnitus since 2016 and it hasn't improved it's important to know what caused it. Whether it is an underlying medical problem within your auditory system or it was noise induced tinnitus? If you have had tests done at ENT and no underlying medical problem is causing the tinnitus, including TMJ or stress, then it's most likely caused by noise/sound.

If you can, please supply me with a little more information then I will be able to advise you the best way forward, that I think will be of help to you.

All the best
Michael

 

@Michael Leigh

My profile might be confusing. I had a low hum in 2016 for 2 weeks, than 2017 for 1 week, and again from 14th October this year. It actually went away all of the times. My guess, that was probably stress induced and only in my left ear. Which distinguishes this time from the previous ones, is now for 2 weeks I was literally unable to sleep more than 1,5 hours. So I got panicked, went to doctors, got an audiogram, audiologist said its normal, ENTs prescribed me Nootropil (piracetam) and betahistine. The low hum is not audible now, thanks God. But 2 weeks in, I noticed a very high pitched sound. That's not a constant tone, varies between sizzle, hissle, whistle, tonal, screaching sounds and is bilateral. In the meantime I used a topical ointment containing neomicin for exzema like twice. This high frequency sound seems to be staying. It's actually "better" than the law hum, easier to mask, but still drives me crazy and messes with my mental help quite severely. My health anxiety and obsession about it probably don't help either.
MRI is OK, I don't know about TMJ problems. My neck is cracking, but it has been for years. I stopped all the meds, because I suspected that they may contribute to my insomnia. I'm using sound enrichment.

It can be noise induced, because I was unaware (and quite frankly stupid) about risk of headphone use. I stopped immidiately after finding this forum.

I know that you are a firm believer in TRT, but in my country I haven't found therapists who work with them, but I will ask about it in the local group again. Audiologists were no help, both times I went, they practically told me there is nothing to do, only advice was to get used to it.

And also, sorry, everyone for venting about it on TinnitusTalk all the time.

 

HI @Kriszti

As I was writing the post below I saw your PM Alert and have read your post above. I will leave the one below for you to read.

I have read your first post to this forum, which you mention having problems with your eustachian tubes and stress, that may have caused the onset of your tinnitus. You have said that your tinnitus isn't caused by noise trauma? If this is correct, then I think you should be seen by an ENT doctor who may be able check your eustachian tubes and auditory system to make sure everything is functioning correctly. If your stress levels have increased something that tinnitus does cause.

____________________________________

Yes I am a believer in TRT but as you say it's not available to you. However, I have some suggestions: Speak to your family doctor, as medication might be prescribed to help manage any stress and if it's possible, try and get a referral to see a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist, that specialises in tinnitus treatment. Please don't be put-off thinking they cannot help because often they can. Some Hearing Therapists /Audiologists that specialises in tinnitus treatment and management, have tinnitus. They were either born with it or acquired it at some time in their life. Therefore, they will usually have a better understanding and be able to give good quality counselling to a patient with tinnitus.

If you are unable to get a referral to a someone that specialises in tinnitus counselling, try to see a counsellor or therapist for talk therapy. It can help to talk to someone about what's going on in your life.

Tinnitus can affect a person's mental and emotional wellbeing considerably. With the help of medication, counselling with a tinnitus specialist not necessarily TRT, can go a long way in helping you to feel better about yourself and not feel so isolated with the tinnitus. In addition to this using sound enrichment as you have been doing, is a good idea. Just make sure you are not Masking your tinnitus so that it can't be heard. Set the sound enrichment slightly below the tinnitus. Use sound enrichment at night and during the day.

To answer your question: What keeps you going? The first thing I advise, is to try the suggestions that I have mentioned above. By speaking to your doctor who may prescribe medication, not necessarily strong just something to help ease some of your stress, and talking to someone. These are the first steps in helping your mental and emotional wellbeing. You haven't said if you work or doing studies? If you are at home and not working or studying, then try to go out for a walk each day even if it's for a little while. This help to bring positivity into your life. Try to engage in things that you like to do. Anything that help distract you from the tinnitus even if it's for a little.

Have low level music playing in the background during the day if you're at home. Try not to use music for sound enrichment at night. Nature sounds should be used for sound enrichment at night by the beside played at low level.

Please click on the links below and read my posts. They give more suggestions on how to acquire a more positive mental attitude. Take your time and read through them. If you have a printer then I suggest you print them and read them often. This will help to reinforce postive thinking over time. They are a form of counselling.

This doesn't happen overnight, it is a process but with patience and time things do begin to happen and you'll start to feel better about yourself and life. If you have friends try to go out and engage with them even if it's for a little while. Anything to help take your focus away from the tinnitus for even a short while.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/positivity-and-tinnitus.12060/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/staying-positive-with-tinnitus.12069/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-art-of-tinnitus.12066/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/standing-tall.12070/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-way-forward.12233/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/life-is-problematic.12317/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/try-and-help-yourself.12355/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/what-should-i-aim-for.12617/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/inspiration.22894/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/

 

Thank you, Michael, will do so.

 

What keeps me going? I'm trying to find the answer to that. Unfortunately I seem to have other ear problems on top of the distortion to sounds, hearing loss, tinnitus. I'm fighting a bulging eardrum right now. Fear my ossicles are damaged since I can't find anyone really relating to my symptoms.

If I'm honest perhaps the promise of a better tomorrow keeps me going. At first I told myself "Wait 3 months", then "Wait 6 months", now I'm telling myself to wait a year.The line keeps moving... How long can I keep this up...

 

The people I love. Also stuff like upcoming movies, series etc. I try to think of something that I love and then cling desperately to it as much as I can. What really bugs me is for how long is that going to work. I just hope it's enough until some kind of effective treatment comes out. x

 

Success stories of people that have made it through. Also, knowing that most people eventually habituate. This might help as well; I’ve found that if people have an underlying depressive or OCD issue then it makes things worse as it relates to getting over fixating on tinnitus. More than likely, you’ll get over this hump!

 

What keeps me going:

My family & friends
My faith
My stubbornness
Mindfulness
The possibilities of still grabbing a little fun along the way

 

the biggest thing that keeps me going is the fear of failure. in the matter of the next few years, I could buy my own flat and cure or diminish my Tinnitus.

if i don't keep going, i can very easily end up on the streets, in the next 12 months. i don't think that being broke and having mild tinnitus is worse than having a job and severe tinnitus. but, i wouldn't want to become homeless, and then find out that Dr Shore's device has just come out, and it diminishes 90% of Tinnitus, in majority of people..

i cope with tinnitus, by working as little as i can, and by playing video games. my current work is bad for tinnitus.