Positivity and Tinnitus

Michael Leigh

Member
Author
Benefactor
Feb 4, 2014
9,523
Brighton, UK
Tinnitus Since
04/1996
Cause of Tinnitus
Noise induced
Positivity And Tinnitus

For some people prolonged intrusive tinnitus can be very stressful and at times debilitating. This can sometimes lead to depression and a person may need to go on a course of antidepressants. I have often been asked in tinnitus forums and via email "It is great if you're able to be positive, but simply telling someone to be more positive about tinnitus isn't going to change anything". I want to clarify here and now, that isn't what I mean.

Thinking more positive about tinnitus and bringing positivity into your life takes time it isn't achieved overnight or by simply thinking to yourself "I must be positive about my life".

If a person wants to improve the quality of their life they have to be prepared to try and help themselves, because there is no wonder drug or operation that can cure tinnitus at this time. Unless a person faces these facts they will forever be trawling the Internet going from forum to forum complaining why there is no treatment for tinnitus when actually many of these people want a complete cure.

I once read a newspaper article that mentioned: nineteen out of twenty medical conditions cannot be cured. Someone once told me "I don't want to be positive about tinnitus, I hate it. Being positive wont make it go away". This is true, however, thinking more positive and bringing positivity into your life will reduce the perception on how you relate to tinnitus. CBT and TRT are based on having a positive attitude, without that these treatments aren't effective.

Long before CBT, TRT and the Internet came on the scene Doctors have been telling tinnitus patients, there's no cure you'll have to learn to live with it. Most of us know this is easier said than done.

So how does one start to think more positive about their tinnitus and to bring positivity into their life?

The fact that someone with tinnitus is reading this page suggests to me their tinnitus for today at least isn't so intrusive that they are unable to function, for that I'm pleased because this is something positive, instead of lying in bed on medication doing nothing. If you are able to work that's even better as your tinnitus isn't so severe you're incapacitated. I see this as something positive in a person's life. Being able to earn a living and support yourself. Therefore, you're able to do all the daily tasks one needs to survive in this world. You may have some difficulty granted, but you're still achieving and that's progress.

It is still better than someone that is visually impaired or severely disabled and unable to earn a living. Or, people with severe tinnitus that are depressed and on medication and unable to work. So by looking at our own circumstances and seeing what we're able to do and achieve we can think more positively about ourselves. There is nothing more satisfying than being independent and I suggest you hold onto those thoughts.

If you live by yourself consider getting a cat or a dog so your home environment won't feel so lonely. If you have a partner and family think about spending some quality time with them, as this can help reinforce your sense of belonging, and the love that binds you together, then your T won't make you feel so isolated. Sometimes opening up sharing your thoughts and how you feel can help immensely and keep negativity at bay.

I have just given a synopsis of what I believe can help a person's quality of life improve with positive thinking. It doesn't happen overnight but a lot can be achieved when one is prepared to try. By moving forwards and taking one day at a time you can occasionally look back and see how far you have come.

Michael
 
Michael I agree with you 100% your attitude can make you relatively happy or stew in your T condition and make your life a living hell. I too have noticed when doing projects, social activities and keeping my brain positively stimulated Im in a calm state and dont here myT at all. I really work at keeping my stress level to a minimum get much more exercise to reduce adreneline and have a new diet regime and feel much better although the T is there when im not busy. Im not going to let it ruin my life for we are much better off than some folks that have terminal disease and things much worse than T..
 
I don't know if I'm positive or negative, I'm just normal. I do my best to not let the exhaustion get to me, I push as hard through the day as I can.

When you are suffering with constant ear pain, H, dizziness, messed up hearing, and tinnitus that turns into massive headaches daily, the last thing you are doing is thinking or feeling, you are on auto pilot or survival mode almost all of the time, you are faking your way through the day. You put a smile on your face while being beaten down inside and try and move on.

Positive or negative, no it just is what it is for me, I do my best and that's it, thinking of sunshine, rainbows and lolly pops isn't going to change the day dealing with my ears.
 
Thank you for your kind words William, and it's good to see that you are adopting a positive attitude to tinnitus and not letting it impact too much on your life.
However, I would like to say to anyone reading my post that: tinnitus comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. Therefore, I am not trying to play down the severity of tinnitus and the impact in can have on someone; for when it is so it can be seriously debilitating.

To pickup on your point:
Im not going to let it ruin my life for we are much better off than some folks that have terminal disease and things much worse than T..
In my opinion, if tinnitus is severe enough it is as debilitating as any other acute or terminal medical condition, simply because of what it can do to a person's state of mind. One only has to search on Google and this will become abundantly clear. It is people that are affected in the way that Tellis is; when each day can be a battle that I'm referring too. As I said: Tinnnitus comes in many forms and intensities and no two people experience it the same. It can be: mild, moderate, severe and when coupled with hypercusis (sensitivity to sound) it can be very traumatic.

I was medically retired from my job because of my tinnitus and hyperacusis. Although my hypercausis is now completely cured but the T remains. It is variable from: silent, mild, moderate, severe and extremely severe. When necessary, I wear white noise generators and take clonazepam medication which helps. In my opinion, it's imperative that when tinnitus impacts upon a person's life in the way I've described, they need to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Michael.
 
Hi @Telis,
Have you ever been checked for Menieres ? Lots of love glynis
Hi Glynis. Ent here soon, long wait in Canada. I'm thinking perilymph fistula as mine was caused by barotrauma which would have similar symptoms to Menieres I guess. Who knows though.
 

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