Long-Term Tinnitus/Hyperacusis Sufferers: Why Haven't You Given Up?

Hello everyone,

I've become a bit fatalistic after my last spike (time will tell if permanent again or temporary) so I've resigned myself to one day having severe tinnitus. Will probably happen sooner than later given my luck.

So I have a question that is probably meaningful to many in here. I would like to ask people with loud/severe tinnitus or hyperacusis: What is the reason you haven't thrown in the towel? Why haven't you given up when fate has taken so much from you? What is the value or meaning that life still provides you?

 

To me, the fear of death is still stronger than the torment. That's the only reason.

 

@Sevv

Tinnitus and hyperacusis can be very disruptive to a person's life when they are severe. Even more when there are additional problems in one's life whatever they may be. Each person's circumstances will be different so can only speak for myself. I have had my full share knowing how debilitating T&H can be. Even in my darkest hours I tried not to throw the towel in, to borrow your phrase but admit I came close to it. Sadly, some people are unable to endure the distress and turmoil any longer and will seek to cause their own demise. I have nothing but sympathy for them because a person can only take so much.

Michael

 

I think all the long term suffers on here with severe tinnitus and hyperacusis are truly amazing and epitomize the profound power of the human spirit!

God bless you all.

 

My five-year-old son. I tragically lost my mother as a child and it made me think of him. I was half a second from suicide with the weapon that caused my suffering. I've since sold all my firearms and try to focus on my family. It's very hard being young and educated and having to watch my wife struggle to pay our bills. I hate this shit so much and cannot believe how fucked my life has become.

 

As a long term sufferer, I still think there are spaces of freedom that one can enjoy, even with hyperacusis and tinnitus. I have had severe hyperacusis and I think now down the road, many years later, that the outcomes we anticipate are usually worse than reality. Even if one cannot carry on doing the same job, or going out as freely as before, or even if there are many activities we cannot do, there are still things that we can do and enjoy and we should concentrate on those, try to enjoy life as best as we can.

 

Juan, I tend to catastrophize and somewhere down the road I imagine myself in your shoes (severe hyperacusis), although I'm not sure if my tinnitus will reach your level. But you are also one of these people that manages to keep going, and I will take you as an example for my own journey. I am optimistic for those upcoming treatments, there should be a future for people like us if we manage to hold on. Let's stay positive.

 

Don't want to hurt my parents and siblings, plus fear of death.

Also, I have had a months-long tinnitus spike go away, and pulsatile tinnitus also came and then completely resolved. So it really gets better, not just through habituation, but through an actual decrease or even elimination of the noise.