Fear of Tinnitus Getting Worse

I was told by many members here to stop lurking as coming here may cause some anxiety... but on the other hand the success stories really give me hope.

I just have this fear that my tinnitus is going to get worse and it is ruling my life.

Now I have a cold and it is terrifying me. I am in fear of everything now.

It broke my heart to tell my 5 year old daughter I can't take here to the movies right now. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Everyone looks at me like I'm crazy because I'm not doing anything anymore. The fear is taking my life over and I don't know how to handle it.

 

@Jason37,
Try not to worry about the "what if" thought as we could think that way about lots of reasons.
Just find what help you the most to get through tough times and build up things you like to do.
Spikes will come and go and im sure your daughter will enjoy time on the sofa and a film and popcorn etc just as much with you.
Try not worry and learn to relax more and off load stress

Love glynis

 

Hi @Jason37

Tinnitus forums can be good and also bad. If a person focuses on negativity and associates with like minded people then this will reinforce a negative mindset and habituation can prove difficult or not happen at all. Similarly, as you have found, the success stories have been beneficial. I believe anything that promotes positive thinking with tinnitus should be encouraged. Please click on the links below and read my posts that you might find helpful. Try and to read them in full and not skim through then. If you have a printer, then I suggest you print them and read the posts regularly. This will help to reinforce positive thinking.

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/from-darkness-into-light.22234/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/positivity-and-tinnitus.12060/

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/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-questions-answers.22937/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-mental-health.21978/

 

I suggest some CBT to manage those catastrophic thoughts.

 

Try these for the movies. They cut everything down, but still allow you to have normal conversations vs. the foam plugs.

https://www.amazon.com/EarDial-Ear-Plugs-Comfortable-High-Fidelity/dp/B00P2NTVPA

 

This forum is full of horror stories of people finding out the hard way that ear plugs will not always be enough to protect you.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/earplugs-muffs-give-very-little-protection.21737/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-much-worse-after-club-despite-wearing-solid-35-db-custom-earplugs-—-im-at-my-wits-end.15744/#post-186018

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/bad-spike-not-subsiding-after-loud-bar-—-despite-wearing-properly-inserted-earplugs.20675/#post-239000

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...t-an-acoustic-trauma-shock.18964/#post-219363

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...le-in-real-life-situations.19067/#post-220314

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/33-decibel-earplug-not-protecting-from-sound.22151/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/why-is-this-spike-not-going-away-1-5-hours-using-heat-gun-hair-dryer.25186/

 

It might get worse, it might not, but dwelling on that is about as productive as dwelling on "will I get cancer next week"?

I've been dealing with this a lot longer than you have, so my perspective is a lot different, but as I have a small child I have thought about the movie theater thing specifically, and basically I'm just going to grit my teeth, wear earplugs and take kiddo to the movies. I don't think theaters are, in general, loud enough to be too worried about, given earplugs.

Take it one day at a time; whatever happens with the tinnitus, the resulting emotional states can be dealt with to some degree. Figuring out what that degree is and what all the variables are, is a time consuming and personal journey.

 

I have had terrible thoughts that I never dreamed possible before...They keep creeping into my mind and I keep falling victim to the "I'll have this forever" mindset that just breaks me every once and awhile. I know 5 1/2 months is nothing with mild T. I just can't grasp a positive mindset right now...a lot of times i feel just as guilty complaining about it as I do for letting it happen. I have contacted a therapist in hopes I can get around this thing.

 

CBT can help you re foucus and help you move forward.
Love glynis

 

I've seen alot of sadness and worse things than tinnitus in my time of having tinnitus. Basically my point is this, life is precious and believe me live in the now!!! It's so important. Don't worry about the future. Whatever will be, will be ..

TC.

Also I have a daughter and want to see Star Wars too. (obviously!!) Lol. Not sure I can risk it.

What this girl really wants is a 55'inch 4k, amazing sound system, a new ps4 and watch it in my livingroom... so I figure by next year I'll be able to afford it, just have to be careful of spoilers lol

 

Possibly go speak to a therapist. It's understandable that you are scared, it's natural. Everyone that gets tinnitus at first can get scared, it takes time and patience to figure this out. Eventually you can cope and live your life. Fear in general is not a good thing, it can limit how we think and act. You are not alone, many have been in your shoes and have been able to live normal lives.

 

Hey I just wanted to let you know that I feel the same way. It has taken over my life. I am too scared to go outside and when I do I feel horrible cause shit happens like cars honking and it causes my tinnitus to worsen. I feel like shit every second.