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I am putting myself out here again, and of course people are fully entitled to have different opinions, and many will. But in my view, and from my personal experience, there is no danger in letting it react. In fact, at some point you need to expose yourself to things like wind and rain simply...

What do you mean by “quiet environment”? Do you mean sitting in complete silence? I don’t agree with that. I’ve had reactive tinnitus for about six years now, and I am in a much better place. I’ve had counseling on and off since 2020, more than 25 sessions in total, though very rarely now. My...

Sure. This sounds a lot like how I was for a long time. I can still have bad periods where this may show up in some form, even six years down the road, but most of the time I’m good. Even in those periods, when I get those “Morse code” sounds or whatever you may call them on top of other...

There is a distinct difference between chronic and permanent. “Chronic” refers to a condition with long-lasting duration, while “permanent” implies it will last forever or cannot be reversed. Who used the term permanent? As I told you earlier, there are numerous success stories, both here and...

Exactly my point, many of us adapt and habituate. That is the nature of neuroplasticity, creating new neural pathways. I hope you get silence, as you wish for. Do not get me wrong. But being a perfectionist with tinnitus is not necessarily a good thing. It may lead to disappointments and make...

Sorry to hear you are having a difficult day with it. Healing is not linear, and there will always be harder days along the way. That is normal and human. After more than 20 years with tinnitus, I have been through countless ups and downs. I am not sure how much of my writing you have come...

I understand you, but I believe you might be doing yourself a big favor that could actually interfere with healing in the long run. Acceptance is the first step in recovery. Something like this was bound to happen at some point anyway. These things are part of living a normal life in the...

Unfortunately, this is the nature of tinnitus, and yes, I have experienced many such accidents. Usually, a spike after an incident like this can last anywhere from a few days to two or three weeks. You have to remind yourself that these things happen and are often unavoidable. Stopping life is...

Who said your ears were done? If the tinnitus is only just noticeable, you really shouldn’t be worrying about it in my opinion. That shows how differently we are set up as individuals. To me, this sounds like a level of tinnitus that shouldn’t be bothersome where you are now, but for you it...

Great news! Fading through habituation is real. If you are at a level of 1–2 out of 10 by now, that is very mild tinnitus, and it should become non-bothersome soon as it fades into the background. The way you described it earlier seemed quite a bit more intrusive. Mild tinnitus usually makes...

Stay off those boards, or wherever you’re reading those stories, whether it’s here or somewhere else. You said it yourself: your mood doesn’t improve when you read them. I’d say it actually has the opposite effect. Make sure you’re getting enough auditory input during the day and not staying in...

Given your current mental state, judging from what you write, that is definitely the correct decision for now. My advice would be to seek professional help sooner rather than later. Are there any counselors in your area who specialize in tinnitus, hyperacusis, CBT, or similar approaches?

My guess is that this is temporary, as we are talking about a high dose for one day rather than over time. Time will tell. Give it another two to six weeks, and try not to think the worst. I believe there is a good chance it will calm down to baseline again.

100%. I totally agree with most of what you write here, but I am confused about what you mean by healing. Most people who develop bothersome tinnitus, and go beyond the six-month mark or more, usually will not become completely tinnitus free. The majority will still have tinnitus, and they will...

That is correct. Only you will know. When I said tinnitus is complex, as there are many components that come into play, I was talking about individuality. No two people are the same, and we handle and cope with things differently as well. I was not referring to complexity in terms of how your...

My guess is that the most likely explanation would be number three: spasms of the middle ear muscles, typically aggravated by high levels of stress and anxiety. I’ve had bouts of this several times, lasting up to six months at the worst. It has always resolved with time, along with reducing...

Well, no. That is not what I am saying. There is no magic bullet you might be hoping for to stop it. After the six-month mark, the chances of it disappearing altogether are very slim, in my opinion. However, if you habituate, you are not bothered by it most of the time. That is a win...

Yes, I do think time matters with this. Time, but definitely also mindset, in terms of how you react to the reactivity. The longer you try to fight it, the longer it will stay with you, with many negative emotions attached to it.

Tinnitus is considered chronic, by most, after the six-month mark. But that does not mean you cannot overcome this. You ask many questions here that not even experts in the field can answer, especially all the “why” questions. Why me? Tinnitus is complex, and many individual factors come into...

Let me rephrase that a bit. Improvement by habituation is the most likely outcome, meaning your tinnitus will become pretty much non-bothersome again. That may very well happen down the road. The perceived volume can be turned down by your brain as it processes it. All the “whys and what ifs”...

Sorry to hear about this. I know the place. It’s not easy to get back, but it is doable. Another good example is @Sonia554, related to what I mentioned before. Even though your hearing test is coming back fine, the auditory system is compromised in one way or another. So even if you improve a...

I don’t know what the initial cause was back in 2004, but most likely it was an accumulation over time that was finally triggered by stress or something else happening during that period. There was no particular incident. The worsening in late 2019 was due to high sound exposure. It has...

The thing is, it does feel lonely at times, but if you start opening up to people about it, you’ll discover how common it really is—especially after the kind of situation you mentioned. I think it’s important to understand that it’s usually not just one single thing that caused it. What you...

My best advice to you, if you want to focus only on the “getting better part,” is to stay clear of the stories you seem to come across most often. The more you read the “worst off” stories, the more you will suffer, in my opinion. You can ask any counselor or therapist who works with this, and...

Hope you’re doing well, mate! It seems like you’re in a better place these days 👍 You’re absolutely right that small things, like adding perspective and not giving this condition so much space in our lives, can make a big difference. @Paulie87, it takes a lot of practice and inner strength to...

Reactive tinnitus usually takes a lot of time and effort to improve, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be helpful. But you can absolutely get much better. I’m living proof of that, now six years down the road. You also have to remember that this process is not linear. It never will be. I’d...

I’ve had tinnitus for 20 years, and reactive tinnitus with sound sensitivity appeared about 5 or 6 years ago after a major incident. I live a happy, normal life with this today, as I’ve shared in other posts, although I don’t attend certain events anymore, such as live concerts. But I came to...

What you describe is reactive tinnitus, possibly in combination with dysacusis. In my opinion, reactive tinnitus is a subset of hyperacusis.

Sorry to hear about your recent spike. Incidents like the one you describe are, to a certain degree, pretty much unavoidable unless you move out of the city and go somewhere completely remote. Spikes and setbacks are part of this journey, unfortunately. The situation you describe has happened...

The more space you give your tinnitus, the more you’ll hyperfocus on it. The more the brain perceives it as a threat, the worse it will feel, and the longer you’ll feel worse. It becomes an endless loop. After 20 years with tinnitus, and the last 5 or so with sound sensitivity and reactivity...

This will pass. If you try to leave it alone and treat it for what it is, a temporary spike, the sooner it will fade and return to baseline. The level of sound you describe is not harmful, especially with earmuffs at around 80 dB. So we are really talking about exposure closer to 60 dB or so...

Yes, it can make a difference. Hearing aids can be adjusted to a certain degree, even with hyperacusis or sound sensitivity. I have hearing aids myself, and I’d say they helped me quite a lot in the beginning. I don’t use them much now, only once in a while when watching TV at home and similar...

@Jupiterman, my point here was to make it clear for the original poster that sound therapy is not dangerous if done correctly, with appropriate counseling. The picture is not entirely black and white, and sometimes we need to take a step back when necessary. It might not be the best approach...

You clearly do not know what sound therapy is about. But yes, I agree with @Rainer because he says it CAN make things worse, and it sure can. Traditional in-ear sound therapy should not be tried unless it is professionally guided and you can tolerate it. However, the auditory system needs...

I get you. I never opted for those myself, even at my lowest, when I was in a really dark place. “There is no cure, and you will have to learn to live with it” is a common saying among ENTs, unfortunately, and not a good way to meet people in despair. I completely agree. There is a lot that can...

Both false positives and, last but not least, false negatives are very common with Lyme, unfortunately. The standard tests that are usually run are not sensitive or precise enough.

A photo taken on one of my many photo trips over the last 3-4 years. "When the storm rips you to pieces, you get to decide how to put yourself back together again." — Bryant McGill

I completely understand where you are coming from. I am around your age as well, although I had stable tinnitus since 2004, which I was 100 percent habituated to. Things took a major turn about 15 years later. But here I am now, in a much better state than I was in 2019 and 2020. I am about...

Painful feelings are, by their very nature, temporary. They will weaken over time as long as we don't prolong or amplify them through resistance or avoidance. The only way to eventually free ourselves from debilitating pain, therefore, is to be with it as it is. The only way out is through. -...

If you have ten bad days a month, meaning two-thirds of your days each month are good or at least manageable, I believe you should focus on the positive side rather than on what you cannot control. You have something here to be happy about, and something to build on for the future. Down the...

Sorry, I did not see your reply until now. My reactive tinnitus started a long time ago, but I am much better today in that regard. I wrote a reply to you in your new thread about it. I was asking about Lyme because I also received antibiotics for it last year. There was no change in my...

Hello @Meinz89, I am sorry to hear about your struggles, especially since you are pregnant, which already takes a toll on you. Unfortunately, there is no set timeline for this. Healing cannot be rushed, and the more you stress about it, the longer it will stick around and the more intense it...

"Self-compassion doesn't mean throwing yourself a pity party" — M. Parks Whereas self-pity tends to say “poor me,” self-compassion recognizes that life is hard for everyone. It allows us to feel less isolated when we’re going through a hard time. ...and important and essential reminder imo.

I completely agree, it is very disrespectful. Sharing your story is important, whether you have had tinnitus for six months, one year, five years, or even longer. The duration does not matter. I would also add that, for most people, it does get much better. And it can remain better for a very...

Well, yes, you need therapy that specifically addresses your anxiety and tinnitus. Ideally, it should be with someone who has experience in the field of tinnitus. Therapy takes a lot of effort and time. It is not a quick fix, but it can serve a meaningful purpose if you connect with the right...

When you keep comparing your situation with others, @Kam75, it only makes things harder. You should also remember that even though many people seem to enjoy whatever they want, that does not mean they are free from struggles or burdens. Many people live with invisible conditions you cannot see...

You seem to give very black and white answers. One size does not fit everyone, and I disagree with a lot of what you are saying here. Reading between the lines, it comes across as if you believe you are pretty much doomed with reactive tinnitus. In any case… There is much more to tinnitus than...

Hello Meg, Sorry to hear about your struggles, especially while pregnant. What treatment did you receive for Lyme disease? Do you know if the treatment completely eliminated the bacteria?

Rock Steady on neuroplasticity and related topics is an awesome book. I can recommend it as well. It is an easy read, inspiring, and interesting.

Great write-up, @SafeMusicFan, and I agree with everything you wrote. 👏 @Kam75, you asked about the therapy part in a post I wrote. Yes, CBT is a major component of this therapy, along with being mindful, creating new neural pathways, and supporting neuroplasticity. The post from @SafeMusicFan...

Sorry to hear about your struggles, @Kam75. I can relate to your story in many ways. Remember that you are not alone in this. Many people around the world are struggling too. I have been through hell and back, but I made it through. My first step was to accept what had happened, eventually...