There's Hope: Gradually I Started to Care Less and Less About My Tinnitus — Now It Doesn't Bother Me

Hi Tinnitus Talk Friends!

It's certainly been a while and I hope you are all doing well.

I'm about to go to bed and suddenly felt compelled to give an update on how I'm going.

What prompted this is I actually have a sinus infection which has made my tinnitus considerably worse. I can say with complete honesty this spike doesn't bother me, I feel completely indifferent to the increase and will fall asleep once I've posted this.

I'm amazed how far I've come..

3 years ago a spike like the one I have now would have sent me into a complete spiral, you only need to read through my history to see how distraught I was. That time was so awful for me I actually can't read old posts as it's way too triggering, I genuinely thought my life was over and it got very dark for a while there. My tinnitus completely consumed me and it was all I thought about, I never EVER thought I could learn to live with it.

My tinnitus never went away and after a year or so I think I finally accepted it was here to stay. I don't really have any advice as I didn't do anything special. I just got on with my life and after a while I started to not notice it as much. Gradually over time I started to care less and less. These days it doesn't bother me at all. I've had lots of spikes etc along the way and for the most part they always went back to baseline, I think a few didn't but I don't monitor it obsessively like I used to so it's hard to say.

Before I posted this I felt some reluctance as I don't want to minimize what anyone is going through by saying "oh just get on with your life and you will be fine like me." Please know if you are struggling right now I deeply understand how you feel and I'm so sorry. I know the desperation... However, I promise it does get better with time (in my case it took a few years).

I'm still VERY careful about noise and wear ear plugs when vacuuming, making smoothies and at loud events. I also don't use headphones at all.

Considering how far I've come I consider myself a success story even though my tinnitus hasn't gone away.

Sending so much love,
Holly

 

That's a fantastic story Holly, thank you so much for sharing, exactly what I needed to hear today.

I'm now just over 1 year in, and I have also accepted that it's here to stay. I see that many people take years before getting better. It gives me hope.

Holly, in terms of your general quality of life before tinnitus and after habituation, how would you describe it?

Thanks.

 

Thank you for sharing your wonderful story of hope.

 

Hey Johan

My quality of life is really good these days and I would say it's now the same as before tinnitus although I have had to make some changes such as no concerts or listening to music with headphones which really sucks as those were things I really enjoyed before tinnitus. I also avoid loud restaurants/pubs which has affected socialising somewhat. I wouldn't say these things have lowered my quality of life but I do occasionally miss them.

It's taken me around 3 years to get to were I am now.

All the best

 

Holly, thank you so much for telling your story, I'm really happy for you and your story has been so good to read today.

Could I ask what you do about dental treatment? Have you needed to visit the dentist for a filling during that time? Most of your story echoes mine, and I've been doing really well recently, happy and getting on with life, coming up on 2 years now, but last week had to go for a filling and that has caused a spike.

I am fed up about that but I'm not freaking out or crying down the phone to my mum or phoning the Samaritans, all things I was doing 18 months ago, which shows how far I have also come. Hopefully this will settle again soon. I'm also very careful about noise, as I know I am reactive to it, just need to figure out how to handle dental treatment from now on.

 

Hi Holly,

I remember you from when I first joined, and wondered how you were doing only the other day!

I'm so glad to hear that all is well for you. You are definitely a success story

Thanks for coming back and keeping us updated.

 

Hey

I have had my teeth cleaned but other that that haven't needed any dental treatments (touch wood!)

I'm sorry you are experiencing a spike, it's always sooo frustrating when you are doing really well and then a spike happens. I know it's soo hard but try not to monitor the spike as I've found the more attention you give it the worse it gets (so much easier said than done!)

You are doing so well xx

I hope your spike settles down very soon.

 

Thank you Holly! You're so right, it is really frustrating, but do you know what, I had a happy day today regardless of it. My daughter and partner came to visit and we sat in the garden all afternoon and had a lovely time.

Now it's evening and I'm alone in the quiet house and of course I'm aware of it squealing away. I'm doing my best to take no notice, with varying degrees of success. Shortly I shall go and watch my favourite gardening programme on TV and that will help too.

Thank you for your words of encouragement and I hope all keeps getting better and better for you too. xx

 

Thank you so much xx

 

Happy you found peace. Did your hearing stabilize?