New Member Intro

Brief intro...

I've probably had T in varying degrees of severity for a few years, but in the last few months it has escalated to a constant high pitch ring/whine, day and night. No trigger event/condition that I can really attribute it to either. My sleep and attitude are really starting to suffer, so I have started looking into solutions, which led me here (after looking for real reviews of the T "terminator" program my wife and father in law pointed me too).

Possibly related, I do take a stimulant for my ADHD and one of the side effects they ask about is "do you hear sounds others do not?". I always assumed they were talking "voices" ... now I'm wondering if this ringing is really what they mean? Anyone else taking stimulant ADHD meds also get T after a few years?

I'm open to any/all suggestions, especially ones that can help me to sleep at night when it's otherwise quiet except for the RINNNNNNNGINNNNNNNG in my ears... my ADHD means I tend to hyperfocus on the noise and my brain won't shut off so I can sleep }:^(

Cheers!

 

Welcome to the forum, Mirage. Sorry I don't have ADHD so I can comment on the stimulant. But it is often said that some drugs are ototoxic, and can cause T as a side effect. Anyway, it is more important to look forward and move on to finding things to help yourself. Here are some suggestions that I have posted to help out with anxiety and sleep if you have not tried these:

Masking to help with anxiety and sleep:

When T is new or hitting a new level and the ringing is causing much anxiety and panic, it is advisable to get some form of masking ASAP so you won’t be so anxious and fearful. Stress and anxiety are toxic to T. So try masking if you haven’t done so. Bed time masking is best done with a sound machine or sound pillow. I also used to mask even on-the-go with an ipad. If you have PC speakers you can try these:

Here is TT's own masking sounds:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/audioplayer/

If you need more masking sounds, here is free ‘aire freshener’:
http://www.peterhirschberg.com/mysoftware.html

Rain sounds are soothing indeed. You can make your own rain sounds with this rain generator:
http://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/rainNoiseGenerator.php

And if you need DIY notched Acoustic Coordinated Reset Neuromodulation (ACRN):
(please be careful and research the pro and con on ACRN before proceeding with caution)
http://www.tinnitus.org.uk/acoustic-cr-neuromodulation
http://www.generalfuzz.net/acrn/

Supplements, diet and Natural alternative products for sleep:

Members here often recommend some good supplements, such as NAC, Magnesium, Zinc, B12, D3, etc., and reduce intake of salt, sugar, MSG, caffeine, alcohol etc. You may also want to help yourself to get more sleep. Sleep deprivation is one sure way to fire up T. Get some bed time masking such as a sound machine or a sound pillow etc., so you can fall asleep better. Instead of sleep meds from the doctor, you can try natural alternatives such as Camomile tea, Hops, Valerian tablets, Melatonin etc. Check out this site on using natural herbs for sleep problem:
http://www.christopherhobbs.com/lib...alth/herbs-and-natural-remedies-for-insomnia/

There is a sleep thread also on TT with members giving their experiences:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/sleep-thread-—-hygiene-supplements-medication-etc.4509/

Read Success Stories:

Try to read as many success stories as you can. They can help lift your spirit and reduce your anxiety. They also contain insights and wisdom from those who have gotten better. I was in a mess a few years back afflicted with ultra high pitched dog whistle T and severe hyperacusis which turned all normal sounds unbearably loud and piercingly hurtful. I also had relentless anxiety and panic attacks. I never thought I could recover and have a good life again. But here I am living a normal and absolutely enjoyable life. I list some pointers which have helped me greatly. If you wish to read it, here is the link:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads...w-i-recovered-from-tinnitus-hyperacusis.3148/

You may want also to read the most read success story ‘Back to Silence’ with a simple effective strategy by IWLM:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/back-to-silence.7172/

There are a lot of things you can learn from TT to help you get better. Try not to be too anxious and stressed out. There is a high probability that you will be just fine and that this spike may settle down. Relax & stay positive. Just believe that you will get better over time. Take good care & God bless.

 

Thanks for all the links/resources @billie48