Habituation or Healing?

[Bleep]

Tinnitus doesn't bother me anymore. I don't have pulsatile tinnitus anymore, that's for sure...I don't know if it's because I habituated or if it's because I am healing. I don't care either way to be honest. I can nap, live, study, read and be happy! 6 weeks ago was when I have developed tinnitus btw.

 

[Engineer]

If it's habituation, you can still hear it when you *try* to listen for it. If it's healing, and I struggle with using that word because it implies a lot of different things to a lot of people. then I would say you cannot hear it when trying to listen for it. It's gone.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Tinnitus doesn't bother me anymore. I don't have pulsatile tinnitus anymore, that's for sure...I don't know if it's because I habituated or if it's because I am healing. I don't care either way to be honest. I can nap, live, study, read and be happy! 6 weeks ago was when I have developed tinnitus btw.

If you can't hear your T anymore, could you please describe the behaviour of T volume over the past 6 weeks? If we were to plot volume vs time, would it look like a downward trending stock price chart? did you go through a period of only being able to hear it in quiet rooms?

 

[Bleep]

If you can't hear your T anymore, could you please describe the behaviour of T volume over the past 6 weeks? If we were to plot volume vs time, would it look like a downward trending stock price chart? did you go through a period of only being able to hear it in quiet rooms?

I woke up one day with the volume being very low. Then in the span of a few days I wouldn't hear it unless I'm in quiet rooms. Sometimes, like now, a spike comes back but never as hard as it was before when I complained. So yes, like a downward trending stock price chart.

I shouldn't have been too quick to say my pulsatile tinnitus is gone, Yesterday I heard a small beat but not as bad as it was in the beginning.

 

[Bleep]

If it's habituation, you can still hear it when you *try* to listen for it. If it's healing, and I struggle with using that word because it implies a lot of different things to a lot of people. then I would say you cannot hear it when trying to listen for it. It's gone.

The volume is a lot softer though. So what do you think?

I got to the point where I don't need white noise anymore, but truth to be told white noise never helped since the T was so loud.

 

[Engineer]

It's hard to say. Be thankful in any case . With habituation T does tend to sound softer and quieter "in general". I've encountered similar times where my T was unmaskable, but then upon habituation background noise was not needed. I don't think we have all the answers, and would be grateful for your currrent acceptable state of affairs,
I mean this is in the best possible way.

 

[Faizaan A.]

6 weeks ago was when I have developed tinnitus btw

Hi Bleep, I'm really happy to hear that it's gotten much better; that you have habituated/healed. I, personally, believe that you're habituating and I hope you continue to do so.

But, although your profile says that your cause was unknown, are you able to recall what could have possibly caused it in the first place?

 

[Bleep]

Hi Bleep, I'm really happy to hear that it's gotten much better; that you have habituated/healed. I, personally, believe that you're habituating and I hope you continue to do so.

But, although your profile says that your cause was unknown, are you able to recall what could have possibly caused it in the first place?

i really don't know. The next day I just woke up with tinnitus. My eardrums are still retracted and they hurt, I walk weird and I have a severe fatigue, perhaps this is the root?

 

[Bleep]

It's hard to say. Be thankful in any case . With habituation T does tend to sound softer and quieter "in general". I've encountered similar times where my T was unmaskable, but then upon habituation background noise was not needed. I don't think we have all the answers, and would be grateful for your currrent acceptable state of affairs,
I mean this is in the best possible way.

You're right, yesterday I had a spike. I think it's weird that I habituated in just a few weeks. Is this possible? How long did it took you?

 

[Faizaan A.]

i really don't know. The next day I just woke up with tinnitus. My eardrums are still retracted and they hurt, I walk weird and I have a severe fatigue, perhaps this is the root?

I honestly don't know, myself. My ringing started a little less than a month ago after an ambulance passed me by on a city street (where the echoes from the surrounding buildings intensified the siren). The next week, I had my final exams and that didn't help make the situation any better. After then, I have been actively trying to bring down my stress levels and my ringing started to fluctuate up and down as well as switch ears (sometimes). It's honestly hard to predict for me what days would be good/bad.

I've noticed that the days the tinnitus is more bearable, I want to take advantage of the situation and try to get more work done (I'm 26 and applying for jobs right now after completing a program at a university). But, in the process, I stress myself out which means I don't sleep well the night after and have higher tinnitus the next day. Alternatively, if I have sinus problems, my tinnitus increases.

So, in the past month, I would not say that I have habituated, but I hope that I can keep it minimized until I do habituate to (at least) the baseline eeeeeeeee that I always have.

 

[Faizaan A.]

Have you tried the Valsalva maneuver to depressurize your middle ear? Your eardrums might be retracted because of that. As for the fatigue, I am not sure about that, but to sleep better, I take melatonin.

I would also highly recommend seeing your GP. Walking weird might be a sign of vertigo. That coupled with hearing loss could indicate Meniere's disease.

 

[Bleep]

Have you tried the Valsalva maneuver to depressurize your middle ear? Your eardrums might be retracted because of that. As for the fatigue, I am not sure about that, but to sleep better, I take melatonin.

I would also highly recommend seeing your GP. Walking weird might be a sign of vertigo. That coupled with hearing loss could indicate Meniere's disease.

Actually i have never done that until my doctor told me to. I know to stop now, thanks. I take abilify for my depression and it doesnt really affect my tinnitus level itself but definitely my stress levels which is good to lower the sound.
If all the fluids are gone personally I think the tinnitus is gone, but even if it isn't gone I don't care. Don't let tinnitus be your god. I just can't stand spikes to be honest.

But the thing I'm "scared" about is that I'm healing, if its healing getting over it is easier. I dont want to give false hope to those who want to habituate ASAP.

But you're right, I might be habituating. If you want I could give you some tips how I personally did it.

And I'm seeing a GP but thanks
He claims if my eardrums get back to normal the ringing should stop. Don't know how true that is.

 

[Faizaan A.]

If you want I could give you some tips how I personally did it.

Yes, I would love to know! Any advice would be totally appreciated!

 

[Bleep]

Yes, I would love to know! Any advice would be totally appreciated!

I mean take this with a grain of salt, this could be healing. And I'm not a doctor, T veteran or someone who can habituate easily but the one thing I did what I think might have helped was to listen to my T! White noise never helped to mask the T out, I just listen to it because it relaxes my sore ears and headaches.

 

[Engineer]

You're right, yesterday I had a spike. I think it's weird that I habituated in just a few weeks. Is this possible? How long did it took you?

First 60 days were hell. I did TRT counseling and wore noise generators for 3-4 months solid, then less. That took the anxiety away, helped me sleep, and turned things around. From there I would say I was habituated in 6 months. Lots of ups and downs, and still have ups and downs. To me being habituated means 1) It simply doesn't bother me at all, 2) I can still hear it easily in quiet environments all the time, 3) I can hear it in non-quiet environments if I listen for it but otherwise my thoughts and actions are more important, 4) I can rapidly dismiss it whenever it comes to my attention, and continue with whatever I was doing before I heard it and forget about it again for a long time (perhaps hours). I've had several relapses, maybe 4, duration 1 week to 4 weeks.

 

[Faizaan A.]

to listen to my T!

that's interesting. I have read in several places that one of the first steps towards habituation is to stop considering this sound "threatening". It seems like you never thought of it that way. I remember that the first couple of panic attacks I had were because I would focus in on it, and it tended to scare me. Now, I'm trying to actively tell myself that it will not harm me...

Thank you for that! At least now I know that it works and I can continue to work towards that goal.

@Engineer , when you mean "relapses", are those spikes? Or does the T get louder and stay louder than it previously was?

 

[Bleep]

that's interesting. I have read in several places that one of the first steps towards habituation is to stop considering this sound "threatening". It seems like you never thought of it that way. I remember that the first couple of panic attacks I had were because I would focus in on it, and it tended to scare me. Now, I'm trying to actively tell myself that it will not harm me...

Thank you for that! At least now I know that it works and I can continue to work towards that goal.

@Engineer , when you mean "relapses", are those spikes? Or does the T get louder and stay louder than it previously was?

Oh my heart pounded and pounded. So i definitely saw it as a threat. But I stopped seeing it as a threat because that son of a b**** is not gonna ruin my life.

 

[Bleep]

First 60 days were hell. I did TRT counseling and wore noise generators for 3-4 months solid, then less. That took the anxiety away, helped me sleep, and turned things around. From there I would say I was habituated in 6 months. Lots of ups and downs, and still have ups and downs. To me being habituated means 1) It simply doesn't bother me at all, 2) I can still hear it easily in quiet environments all the time, 3) I can hear it in non-quiet environments if I listen for it but otherwise my thoughts and actions are more important, 4) I can rapidly dismiss it whenever it comes to my attention, and continue with whatever I was doing before I heard it and forget about it again for a long time (perhaps hours). I've had several relapses, maybe 4, duration 1 week to 4 weeks.

Reading your post it sounds like I AM healing.
Well, I will let you guys know about my T in a few weeks.

 

[Applejuice]

Seeing that it is 6 weeks I'd say your healing. Real habituation is difficult if your T is more than mild.

 

[Abs]

Hi bleep! Im in the exact same boat, and i think its us healing! Even the amount of time is similar! My T used to be full on old TV static but in the span of the first 4 weeks it was more of a mild, low static/ hissing. Mine was caused by impacted wax and i just got it out yesterday which really did give me huge relief. I feel like mine is now plain hissing with a little bit of static mixed in. I think your definitely recovering since your T has changed. I hope our recovery keeps goings swell and that we can eventually find silence again!

 

[Bleep]

Hi bleep! Im in the exact same boat, and i think its us healing! Even the amount of time is similar! My T used to be full on old TV static but in the span of the first 4 weeks it was more of a mild, low static/ hissing. Mine was caused by impacted wax and i just got it out yesterday which really did give me huge relief. I feel like mine is now plain hissing with a little bit of static mixed in. I think your definitely recovering since your T has changed. I hope our recovery keeps goings swell and that we can eventually find silence again!

I'm so glad for you! Does your T come along with fatigue?

 

[Abs]

Does your T come along with fatigue?

I do feel fatigued allot but i think its linked to my already pre-existing depression ive been dealing with But its interesting to see how allot of people with T do feel that degree of exhaustion in their daily lives. T is a debilitating disease in terms of it affecting your lifestyle

 

[kariakoo]

Abs, did your T improve? I am 6 weeks out from earwax related T that went down from intrusive hissing to low hissing ..but it is still there and it spiked once when I put olive oil in my ear.
I thought I had some leftover wax to be removed but my ENT checked again and ear canal is clean..So I am going to wait out few more weeks and hope T to go down a notch.

 

[jer]

Please be super careful from now on with loud noises and everything. Mine went away once. I was careless with the gift that i was given, and a few years later it came back after a night out and never went away. You are TRULY blessed.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Mine went away once.

How long did it take for it to completely go away?

 

[jer]

The first time i got full on Tinnitus, it was there for about two weeks before it slowly subsided.

 

[Bleep]

Exactly today it's been 2 months since I have tinnitus, I had a spike today but it was much lower than usual. I think I can safely say that I'm slowly healing. Will keep you guys updated.

 

[CaRd]

My first T is like that. It is verry quiet and it has spikes, mostly at night. I do the same thing - listen to it. In a complete silent room i just lay down and listen to it. It is helping. If i knew all that i know now, i would not have done all those rushed decisions last few months, and my T would have been much better. And yeah, keep your distance from loud places. I got much worse from going to one of those. Still can't figure my new T though. If i am relaxed and slept well, it's like hsssss sound from either one or both my ears. But as the day goes and i stand infront of the PC(my job), i stop hearing it in my ears and it comes in my head as a scream. Just like when you have been to a disco and you are exhausted. So now that is my main problem, because the other i learnt how to control and how to push back to non-exsistance(listening to it). Be careful not to undo your healing process!

 

[Bleep]

Since yesterday the sound of my T has changed: I hear no more a buzzing sound in my right ear. The ringing is still there though, the ringing in my left ear has softened a little bit.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Since yesterday the sound of my T has changed: I hear no more a buzzing sound in my right ear. The ringing is still there though, the ringing in my left ear has softened a little bit.

Any improvement during these first few months is very encouraging. Hopefully it is indicative of more improvement to come during the coming months.