MemberI work 40-46 hours a week, I cook, I clean, I attend family functions, I do my errands, pay my bills, etc. I still hear my tinnitus mostly all the time --even over the tv or my diesel truck-- but other than fleeting frustration sometimes, I don't have an emotional reaction. I have good days and bad days. I've had four days in a row of very low tinnitus but it comes back with a vengeance--when I haven't changed anything. I do notice that I get distracted and forget about my tinnitus for short periods of time but as soon as I stop being engrossed in what I'm doing--I hear it. It doesn't stop my sleep and my relationships are doing well. I don't allow it to change my plans but sometimes I grow tired of knowing that every morning it will be there and sometimes, it just wears me out. Am I habituated? Is this as good as it gets? Do my friends that have tinnitus but only hear it when they think about it have mild tinnitus or is this a place I might reach someday? I know, so many questions. I'm just thankful that I'm not a young person. My heart goes out to those who are young and suffer.
I really appreciate you telling me how it is for you. Like I said to valeri above, I don't want to have false expectations of someday reaching the place where my friends are--one only hears it when you mention it or she thinks about it and the other friend actually has to try to hear it. It only recently occured to me that they might have mild tinnitus even though one friend (the one who actually has to listen for T) did freak out during onset (like me). They've both had T for over 10 years and I thought maybe time would bring me to that place if habituation didn't--guess that doesn't hold true either as you've had it much longer. Thank you for answering.
