I'm Fine — Tinnitus Is Basically Not a Thing Anymore

[Tom Cnyc]

Hey all,

I haven't posted a success story here in many years, even though I've been doing well for a long time. Not sure why, but I want to share something positive now.

My tinnitus is gone most of the time. And it used to be awful. Louder than a teenager blasting terrible music just to annoy his parents. Now, when it's there, it's just a mild hiss. It took about three years to improve, and I've been fine for the last six.

I also had hyperacusis. That's 100 percent gone.

Now, the part everyone wants to know: how? Honestly, in my experience, tinnitus fades like a mythological god that only grants your wish once you no longer desire it. You have to stop caring about it, and eventually your brain will calm down. The same goes for hyperacusis.

Now for the part I really want to talk about. Tinnitus is a nervous system hyperarousal issue. You get stuck in fight-or-flight mode. And while it's helpful to connect with others and share experiences, be careful how much time you spend thinking about it. Visit places like this, Reddit, or Facebook groups when you need information, but don't live there. I promise it makes things worse.

I'm posting this now because I recently went through a serious concussion and had long-lasting dizziness. I'm still not back to one hundred percent, but I'm mostly there. During the worst of it, I was living in Reddit forums, constantly triggering my sympathetic nervous system, and making everything worse. It wasn't until I stopped re-traumatizing myself that the psychosocial aspects of my symptoms began to fade. This was the same pattern I experienced when I had tinnitus.

Seriously, I can't say this enough... get out of the house. Feel the sun. Wear earplugs when necessary, but don't fear sound. If you constantly live in fear, your brain will stay on high alert and keep the volume turned up on your tinnitus. And even if the volume doesn't go down, how much you notice it definitely will.

This is the message from everyone who has overcome it — Julian Cowan Hill, Dr. Nagler, and many others. You need to calm your nervous system, and peace will follow.

Look into bodywork.

Look into somatic tracking (this one is big).

Read The Way Out by Alan Gordon.

Listen to music every day, and slowly turn the volume up over time.

And most importantly, stop traumatizing yourself by reading horror stories. It does not help. Forums are often filled with the most miserable cases, and your brain will start to believe you are one of them. Neural circuit pain is real. Do not nocebo yourself out of healing.

You are going to be fine. I promise. And absolutely anyone who is suffering can reach out to me for support.

 

[Joeseph Stope]

Congratulations! Wishing you a long and happy life.

Just one small point that I think is important to mention:

If every one of us, man or woman, were to follow your advice and simply ignore the intrusive sound within and the pain inducing noise of the environment, let us suppose for a moment and suspend disbelief, then what would happen?

The collective of ENTs, audiologists, research grant committees, lobbyists, charities for the deaf and hearing impaired, and politicians pushing for better healthcare might all assume that because no one is speaking up about their suffering, there is no problem, or at least not a serious one.

I still remember the first time I heard the word "tinnitus." It was in the early nineties while I was in the hospital. A relative of mine, who worked in the medical field and was also an early internet enthusiast, had done some research and told me that back in either 1970 or 1980, I do not recall the exact date, there had been a major breakthrough in academic hearing research. That was when the field formally acknowledged "ringing in the ears" as a legitimate ailment and disability, and began using the term "tinnitus." From then on, it was officially recognized and given serious attention by researchers.

Why was I in the hospital?

Well, I will let you guess.