Message of Hope for Tinnitus Sufferers — It Does Get Better, Life Is Good

Hello everyone,

Before my long post I'm letting you know that English is not my first language and I'll do my best to not make any mistakes.

I would like to thank everyone for posting so many positive stories and for giving me hope.

My tinnitus started 5 months ago out of nowhere in the middle of the night. I woke up and my ears were blasting high pitch noises and I thought I was going insane.

You know, the usual story. I started to have a lot of anxiety, panic attacks and I kept thinking there's no way I will be able to live like that. I wanted to just to sleep and never wake up. The first 2 months were extremely hard.

I went to a couple of ENTs and Audiologists. They were pretty much useless. I don't know how exactly I got tinnitus but I'm guessing it's from stress and TMJ. I went to a TMJ specialist who gave me a night guard. Lots of shitty things happened to me a couple of weeks before I got tinnitus (engagement shattered, losing my best friend, lost my job and failed my Master's degree).

My God I tried everything to get rid of the tinnitus. From supplements to a chiropractor, from a dentist to an acupuncturist. Wasted a lot of money and nothing really did anything.

I know it doesn't sound like a message of hope but stay with me

5 months with tinnitus and things are definitely better than 3 months ago. The tinnitus is still loud but honestly most of the time I don't listen to it or pay attention to it. However, when I do, because of course I can still hear it, I don't react to it the way I used to. I am much more calm now, and slowly I'm starting to the do things I love. I had a great month and I feel good now. I still have spikes here and there but I noticed that it doesn't bother me to a point that I want to blow my brains out.

What I have to say to all of you suffering with tinnitus is that it definitely gets better! Your brain will get used to it. Give time to yourself and remain calm. What really helped me was to reach out to people (family, friends) and talk to them. I know that no one really understands what is like to have tinnitus but reaching out is much better that lying in your bed and wishing that you never got tinnitus.

What really helped me and still does.

1. Stay away from negative posts about tinnitus.

2. Read positive stories. There are thousands of positive stories and you can definitely be one of those stories.

3. Stay busy. Do the things you love even when you're feeling that you can't be bothered.

4. Sound therapy. There are many sounds on YouTube and Spotify to help you get your mind off tinnitus. Especially at nighttime. Lately I started noticing that I don't need any masking sound to help me with my tinnitus. For example the last couple of days I noticed that I can sleep just fine without any sounds or white noise etc. I just feel that it doesn't bother me that much anymore.

It does get better. Life is good people.

Take care x

 

Must be nice having moderate stable tinnitus.

 

I have moderate tinnitus, that is for the most part, stable. I would not describe my experience as "nice".

Edit: It's been rough few days. I'm sorry you are struggling.

 

I wouldn’t say my tinnitus is moderate. It is quite intrusive and really high pitched, but I don’t let it control me. However, from what I’ve seen on heree people have it way worst than mine. I’ve seen people saying that they can hear it over concerts and pretty much everything and that sound therapy doesn’t help at all. I’m guessing I’m lucky that my tinnitus is not that severe.

I’m really sorry that you’re struggling. Wish you the best.