Going Back to Work...

... after 4 months off from the T starting and resulting anxiety/depression.
I know full masking is not recommended for habituation (and isn't always even possible with mine) but need to cope with the initial return to a pretty full-on job.
Anyone who has been through similar, advice would be much appreciated.
Thx

 

It's a VERY good idea to return back to work. I know it can be hard, but it can do miracles for your T, because it can pull your mind away from T and back to the normal life, which starts the habituation process. My T started 4 months ago and I was away from work about a month. I am still annoyed about my T, but I'm learning to live with it better. All the best!

 

Many thanks, I'm sure you are right, just a bit nervous about going back into the 'jungle'!

 

If you have to mask, do it on a low level so that you can hear the tinnitus over it. In this way your brain will know that the tinnitus exists but will concentrate on the musisc.

 

You will be fine. I've worked since the onset of my t. There are plenty of environmental sounds and tinnitus sound therapy videos on youtube if you need partial masking. I also always have my ipod with me because I work in a quiet office environment.

Good Luck!

 

Thanks Stina, thanks Kathi, I have always relished having my own office for peace and quiet but now I have to share it with the pesky T! I will explore the online sounds - at least we have that option nowadays and we have forums to share, tinnitus 10 years ago must have been a lonely problem as I'm sure some on this forum know only too well...

 

Going back to work saved me you know what they say busy hands are happy hands or in my case a happy mindset. Wishing you well London girl.

 

LondonGirl
Sorry your T is so loud; mine was loud too when it came on (last year). I understand what you are saying about not completely masking the T (for the sake of habituation); however, my audiologist told me to 'mask the snot' out of it at the beginning, even though, like yours I couldn't completely mask mine at the beginning either (just too loud!). The reason he told me to do this was to get my anxiety down and to establish a sense of control over it. It worked.

I am NOT an audiologist (or GP or ENT, or anything like that) so please don't disregard what your Doc is telling you; I'm just relaying my experience to maybe help you out or give you a different perspective.

I hope you are coming along...

Mark

 

Thanks Mark, I think that is the best strategy initially. Do you think your T volume actually reduced in time or was it that your anxiety dropped so you paid it less attention? Either sounds good to me!
Jewellanne I'm sure you are right, thank you, I just need to manage stress levels, will be good to have to focus on something else.

 

@LondonGirl what I coincidence. I'm going back to work this week after 3 months . If you want you can message me and we can share our experience .

 

Hi Rog
Yes let's do that - we will 'fake it till we make it'!
Will message you

 

I think you'll do fine now that you've had 4 months under your belt to adjust to t.

It first hit me that I had t at work and I nearly had a panic attack. I barely got through the day and then I went to my urgent care which really did little to make me fel better. It was a hell-ish 3 week after that. If I could've taken time off, I would have.

 

Work will make you busy and distract you from T.

 

Just throw yourself into it and you'll be amazed how the T will fade into the background. I recently had a big job interview with a foghorn blaring in my ear when I walked in, forgot all about it till I walked out. Good luck