I Really Feel Stuck!

Dear All,

I am going to try to explain it the best for you to understand...

I have always been anxious and felt not very well long time before the T and H came into my life... But I could live even if it was not very good, but I could work, see my family and friends, and sometimes do some activities like big parties and other things...

Right now, at this point of my life, I feel VERY depressed and anxious ! So I had to take a break from work because I couldn't wake up and face the entire day with colleagues, stress and all the noises anymore...

I am in a Psychiatric Unit from the Hospital since January 2017, but I go there only few times a week to see different people to talk about my issues...

The thing is, I have started some Medicine : an Anti-Depressant and a Neuro (second one I will stop soon)

I feel I need those treatments because I had a lot of suicidal thoughts at the end of 2016 and couldn't cope with my life anymore without some help !

But on the other side, I read quite a few posts where people say that this kind of Medicine could increase the T... So I really feel stuck because if I stop the treatments I will go down again. And if I continue them, my T could increase... I am so worried and scared about that !

I really don't know what to do... I don't want to die but I couldn't cope with my T getting stronger !

 

U could try ginkgo biloba. Ask ur GP. For me it gives me some help to reduce of loudness.

 

Thank you for your advice, yes I could try that...

But my T is not from noise induced so I don't know if it can work...

 

has the meds made it worse or u just worried that it'll be worse?

 

U could try as it's nt harmful. Nobody know which will work for whom. I think we need more support around us which we don't hv.

 

@Christophe_85
I am sorry to hear of your struggles with your mental health.
In my opinion, you've done the right thing seeking help and starting medications.
I'm not sure which medications you are on, yes, ototoxicity is listed as a side effect of most AD's, however many people won't get tinnitus.
You should monitor your tinnitus to see if it is changing, and definitely talk with your doctor if you feel it is getting worse.

 

I don't know if this is because of the meds or because I really feel bad those days, hard to tell...

And yes I am very worried that the meds could get my T worse...

 

but the meds are not making u feel better mentally either? I have similar dilemma. i feel the tinnitus gives me a lot of anxiety but afraid the meds are going to make it worsr. but can meds really help the anxiety due to t if t is still there? Its tough. How about some talking therapy?

 

Thank you for your message...

How can I monitor my T ?

 

The effects are not plenty yet, it takes time... Definitely my T got worse but I don't know if it is because of all the anxiety, depression and stress... Or not healthy food or something else like noise...

I feel this is a no-solution situation...

From your side you didn't take any meds ?

 

I am so scared, I don't want to die but I couldn't live with living everyday with the fear of the T getting worse and worse...

I am living a permanent nightmare and nothing can help me without any damages !

Sorry for the negativity of my posts...

 

I did try remeron for 2 months. My ears felt a little worse and I wasn't feeling better on the meds so I stopped. Like you said i don't know it's the med or it's just getting worse by itself. I got off the meds but still think the tinnitus is getting a little worse though I did have one good night where it was silent in one ear and very low in the other. I don't know what to do either as one psychiatrist i saw recently admitted that she had a musician with tinnitus and was so difficult to treat as nobody knows how the meds affect each persons tinnitus . SHe didn't think she can help me.
I keep hoping the tinnitus would just stabilize so i can tough it out but every time i feel like it's worsened i feel panic. I don't know when this is going to stop.

 

How do you live with that everyday ? The not knowing situation if it gets worse or not... And from what...

 

@Christophe_85
@Samantha R has given you very good advice and I strongly advise you not to come off your AD mediciation. Some people do notice an increase in their tinnitus but this is is usually temporary, the majority of people don't. AD acts as a safety net and will prevent you from getting too down.
If you are able to get counselling with a Hearing Therapist then I advise you to do so.
Good luck
Michael

 

Dear Michael,

Thank you very much for your message...

I try to relax but this is very difficult...

All the Best,

Christophe

 

@Christophe_85
When I say monitor, I mean just listen to how loud your tinnitus is. If you feel it is getting louder, then you should consult your doctor immediately.

 

i am just trying to take one day at a time. i have three kids to take care of and work. i probably will need meds too . appointments are hard to come by

 

You can try to avoid hyperventilating. You'll still have anxiety but not those full blown panic attacks. Going off benzos can cause tinnitus as well. I would talk to a specialist who knows a lot about tinnitus.

 

Hi Chris,

I understand what you're going through. I've been living something very difficult too since last year.

I had to face several worsening of my T. I'm currently having a bad spike. I can't go back in time, so I have to think about how I will overcome it.

I don't think about future worsening, it does not do me any good. And I can say that a worsening always has a chance to calm down later, sometimes way later.

Have you tried methods like Back in Silence ? I'm starting it. I feel like there is something special to it but it's not so easy to do.

 

@Christophe_85

Hi Christophe,

I believe staying on your antidepressant medication is the right thing to do. The fact that you are also having counselling should help with your anxiety and hopefully, make you feel more relaxed in time. If you are able to be referred to a Hearing Therapist I think this would help a lot. You could also enquire through your Dr about joining a relaxation class? I have mentioned this in my document: Tinnitus, A Personal View: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/ Whilst I’m on this subject I would like to mention a few things.

The positivity articles in my document I suggest you PRINT and refer to them often. They are a form of counselling. Over time, the positivity message will gradually take affect on your mind. Reading them on a computer screen is okay, but for the message to sink in and take effect they have to be read often.

I suggest printing: Positivity and Tinnitus. Staying Positive with tinnitus. I would rather be happy than right. Tinnitus, a way forward. Life is Problematic. I also advise reading and printing some of the postivity articles written by other members at tinnitus talk. Go to the positivity thread on the main page.

Tinnitus is a complex condition that comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. I have had tinnitus for 20 years. When it increased to insurmountable levels in 2008, there were times I thought I would never recover. It took me 4 years to habituate for the second time but I did it. With help from my GP, ENT doctor and Hearing therapist, I never stopped believing that things would get better. I am an avid reader and was unable to read a book for two years. I look back and see those were testing times but I came through it. Life throws challenges at us but when we dig down deep it’s surprising what we are able to achieve.

You can improve too but you must believe in yourself that things will get better and keep on trying. Follow some of the helpful advice that people have been giving you.

All the best
Michael

 

@Christophe_85 Are you getting CBT...it is key in dealing with anxiety.

I have t and in the past suffered from anxiety, which went away after LOTS of CBT. Our journeys are a bit different, you had some anxiety and t made it worse, I had lots of anxiety yeas ago and dealt with it, t has not made it worse.

In theory after getting T I should be an anxious wreck due to my history, but I am not because I use CBT. I did breakdown when I got T but then got up again using my CBT skills. Left work too like you, then returned (best thing).

I am not fine, I have a bit of anxiety and am tired, frustrated and probably a bit depressed but the PANIC and horrible dark thoughts are not there because of therapy and I function.

Did I take meds when I had anxiety 6 years ago? Yes I've been on Citalopram for 6 years. My T could be the result of that but why 5 years later, seems improbable.

Psychiatrist believe in drugs, psychologist less, in my experience.

What I am saying is that nobody really knows definitively if certain drugs can make t worse, but you are not stuck between drugs or no drugs because there is therapy and is that is what I think alleviates anxiety in any case.

NB Please note if you are taking drugs and decide to come off them do it under supervision.

We're all here for you, we're in this together x

 

Yes I think this is the best thing to do, to take one day at a time... But sometimes it is very difficult...

What kind of meds are you thinking of ? AD ?

How old are your kids ?

 

Hello,

Actually I think I don't breathe enough, deeply and try to calm down, I also really need that...

I never took a lot of benzos and I don't want to start taking it like everyday, I already take enough meds IMO...

Trying to listen more the body as well...

 

Hi Foncky,

Thank you for your message, and thanks for the support...

How did you get those spikes ? Did you have anything special that happened ?

Yes I agree that thinking about future is not doing any good, especially if this is negative thinking...

Per example today I am trying to rest my ears, I could go to visit friends with a baby but I chose not to, I was affraid so I am staying at home...

What is this method "Back in Silence" ?

 

My spikes are always related to a noise and/or a stressful moment.

The last one seems permanent (following dental drilling) unfortunately. So I'll have to make more and more efforts to accept it and maybe help my body to calm it down.

My H is severe, I think I lost some more hearing this year.

Staying at home today is not a failure, sometimes we just need it. Your decisions are probably good if you take them. Just don't make important choices when you're stressed. Take your time.

I wanted to finish my dental appointments quickly so I made the wrong choice, I just went for it. I had other choices with less drilling involved but I didn't see them because I was under panick.

It's ok if you can't work or see less of your friends for now. Don't rush anything.

The method is here : https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/back-to-silence.7172/

It helps you to accept your T. I don't have the discipline to do it seriously for now but it seems great.

 

I am sorry for you about this dental drilling, but can we protect ourselves into the dentist ?

They also invited me to go eat outside later but still I answered that I will come another time...

What about you, can you work and see your friends and family ?

Best,

 

There's no way to really protect our ears at the dentist.. I tried to put earmuffs on but it was even worse.

That's a shame because this is the only very loud noise I had to endure... Otherwise I pretty well managed to avoid loud noise this last year.

This is really fucked up, I never had problems with my teeth before. It had to arrive right next after severe H onset !

I had to quit my job, which involved a lot of loud days and travels. I work from home now... But sometimes I just can't focus.

My friends are coming to see me, I only invite 2 of them at the same time.

Same for my family. My GF is still here but it's not always easy for us.

I lost an awful lot to T and H...

I had some good moments lately, before this spike.

It's just a very long way to go I guess, with ups and downs. Enjoy the good moments and prepare for the bad ones. At one point the good moments will make us stronger to face the rest.

You have to accept to see life differently. We face challenges that test our very limits...

 

It sucks man, there simply is no way to protect yourself at the dentist unless you ask them to drill on and off but even then it's a risk.

I was do quite well adjusting to this new life of severe H until that happened, I tried plugs, muffs and even swallowed doses of NAC, Magnesium and Vit B12 before going to the dentist all of it was in vein sadly, I still worsened regardless.

 

Sorry for you about this spike, I hope it will calm down with time...

I also need to go to the dentist, not for a big thing but still I am very affraid of going !

I really don't want my T and H to increase !

I was wondering, when your T increases, do you go to the Doctor or ENT every time to check or not ?

 

Hi Bill !

How are you feeling those days ?

And are you going to Thailand ?

All the Best