Getting Used to Tinnitus and Not Finding It Troubling Anymore

My T started in Nov 2016. I woke up in the middle of the night and heard a chirping noise. I thought that there was a bird trapped in the room and when finding there was nothing there, realized the sound was coming from within my head!

The noise in my left ear didn't go away over the next few days so panic set in. My stress levels went through the roof and weeks later when it was still there, well, I felt my life was over. I had gone to concerts since I was very young and listened to loud music for years so this had to be the cause, right? I visited my doctor and was prescribed sleeping tablets. At least this way I could escape the sound for a few short hours at night. Months passed and the sound changed to a high pitched frequency.

People kept telling me to try and de-stress as the stress wasn't helping but I was in a vicious circle and there was no escape. Eventually my mind started to adjust and in Feb 2017 I decided to go back to my favorite past time - mountain climbing. I climbed the mountain with a friend whom I had briefly told about the T but we didn't discuss it much as by talking about it made me dwell on it more. At this point I was verging on complete depression but this day was a test and I had to achieve this. On the way up the mountain we walked by a stream and the sound took my mind off the ringing in my ear.

We climbed the mountain, even with my limited energy, and on the way down we got some great shots of the sunlight shining through thick clouds. This day was the first day of my recovery. I accepted that I had a sound in my ear that no one else could hear but I had to accept that it was there and going nowhere.

I gradually took hold and after about 8 months I realized that the sound was starting to be more in the background. Now I still have T and it cranks up in different situations, such as when I have a cold or if there's a fan heater in the background and on those occasions it is a bit loud but never overpowering.

From that first noise until now has not been easy but I got through it.

My life wasn't over.

 

Welcome to the forum, John. Thanks for posting a positive story to help out other struggling members. Perhaps put a copy of it in the Success Stories forum. It then will stay there for all future sufferers to read. Yes, our perception of T can change over time and for many it can change for the better. I used to cave in panic attacks the moment I woke up with loud T and had to instantly took my drugs to help. But nowadays I can hear my high pitch dog whistle and just let it be there without any negative emotions. That is totally amazing as I never thought I could stand the mad scream of the dog whistle T. Never say never. We need to give it time.

 

Thanks for that Billie, will do.

Just like with your story, which is great, I wanted to share my positivity as I remembered visiting this site when my T initially started.

Best of luck for the future.

John

 

Thanks John and Billy, for giving me some positivity feeling so low today, was really thinking of ending it, only 3 months since my T went from mild 1 to intrusive level 10, everyday is full of pain at the moment I hate it.

 

Hi Bazan, hang in there.

When I was told that the brain adjusts I didn't believe it possible, but the mind is a powerful tool and it can happen but it takes time. I wish that I could say it will b ok soon but obviously I can't. Just try and stay strong meantime until things settle down.