Yes, I will. Also worth noting I have had almost zero side effects at 80 mg. The goal is to start weaning off next February. Most recently, I started ADHD medication and have only gotten better.
To answer a few questions and give an update:
I'm continuing to improve. Recently, I went almost 30 days with zero pain. I had one rough day, but I "got back on the horse," and within 12 hours the pain was gone again.
Yes—I'll share updates when I begin tapering off Prozac. For what it's worth, I've had virtually no side effects at 80 mg, which I'm incredibly thankful for. The plan is to begin slowly weaning off in February 2026.
I also recently started ADHD medication, and it has only helped me feel better. My mind has never felt clearer. Honestly, I guess this is what "normal" feels like. I even broke down and cried after my first dose of Adderall, because my entire life my mind has been like a constant song on repeat—that's the best way I can describe it. OCD and ADHD really are anxiety cousins.
Regarding my reactive tinnitus:
At its worst, it reacted to anything. One of the hardest moments was trying to hunt with my son—a terrible idea given the state I was in, even with a crossbow. But I was desperate to be present with my boys. A gunshot went off miles away, and even that faint sound made my tinnitus spike. It would also get louder anytime I tried to mask it. If I turned up brown noise, the tinnitus volume just rose with it.
All of that changed about six weeks after starting Prozac. Now it's a steady ringing that I usually forget about because I've habituated to it. I only notice it in quiet rooms or if I focus on it. It's still fairly loud, but I genuinely don't care anymore. Breaking the fear cycle was crucial, and Prozac helped me do that. Antidepressants support neuroplasticity—that's why they shouldn't be taken for just a short period. They need time to help the brain rewire.
What helped me the most:
- Addressing past and present trauma. Science shows emotional trauma can slow or prevent healing.
- Letting go of control and practicing forgiveness. Trauma often keeps pain "stuck" in the body.
- For me, prayer was a huge part of my healing. I brought everything to Jesus daily. I visualized putting all past trauma into a box and throwing it into a fire with Him. It may sound strange, but it was deeply healing.
- Stopping negative language. Words affect us more than we realize—music alone can change our emotions. I shifted from saying something "feels terrible" to "this is uncomfortable." "Comfort" is a positive word, and that reframing mattered.
- Daily mindfulness: focusing on sensation without fear, judgment, or emotional reaction.
- Gradual exposure: starting with soft classical music on my laptop for short periods, then slowly increasing.
- Re-entering everyday life in small steps—like driving and quick trips inside gas stations.
One breakthrough moment happened while helping my son change the oil in his four-wheeler. Out of nowhere, all the pain and hyperacusis disappeared—like someone flipped a switch. It came back when I started thinking about it, but the moment itself showed me I was on the right path.
I also think my background as a state-qualifying wrestler helped me stay disciplined and mentally strong. This work is insanely difficult, but I had a lot to live for. I'm convinced that without therapy and psychiatry, I would still be stuck. I only got worse when I hid from sound and did nothing.
If something like Xanax reduces your hyperacusis, there's a good chance you're dealing with an overactive nervous system, in my non-professional opinion. Some people call this Mind-Body Syndrome or TMS. The goal is to slowly calm the nervous system and address hidden or buried trauma. That helps break the fear cycle, because our bodies get trapped in fight-or-flight. Trauma is trauma—whether from sound or life—and it can lock the system in the same state.
Of all the stories I've read, nobody healed by hiding, masking, or isolating. Those approaches usually made people worse or kept them stuck. The ones who improved treated it as a brain and nervous system issue.
I pray for all of you. I don't take lightly what any of you are going through. This is a horrible condition, and I genuinely care.
