43 Years with Tinnitus: How I've Learned to Live with the Constant Companion

My tinnitus officially began in 1980, I remember the day: I was shopping in JCPenney's with my mom and began to hear this high-pitched whine. It was very faint sine wave tone, approximately 8000 Hz. It came and went over the years due to various stresses.

In 2017, depression due to my tinnitus and other life events required me to go on Lexapro to manage my symptoms. One month later, my tinnitus exploded and has yet to decrease in amplitude. It's remained 8000 Hz for 43 years.

I've tried mindfulness meditation, CBT, sound therapy, EVEN passing microcurrents through my sensory cortex to try and knock loose whatever is causing the sound.

I stopped self-treatment in 2020 and just live with it now. Sometimes it lessens, sometimes it gets louder. All I can do now is continue to do my self work and learn to love myself... even the annoyance of my brain.

 

Did you immediately get off Lexapro (escitalopram) when the tinnitus exploded a month into using it? It usually takes longer than that to be effective against depression.

 

Your story is truly inspiring. Despite the challenges of tinnitus, you have persevered and shown that even in the darkest times, there is hope. Your strength and resilience are a shining example to others who may be going through similar struggles.

 

Seems like you are yet another victim of Lexapro, but it's not a problem for you... Sorry to hear that this has happened to you, but glad to see you are coping.

 

Fun Fact:

The first JCPenney was in Kemmerer, Wyoming in 1902.

 

I often say what gets me through the bad days is the hope for a better day tomorrow.

 

I'll save these words for my bad days to check and keep faith.