What Do You Still Enjoy in Spite of Tinnitus?

[Star64]

Star, please accept my apology about our interlude of misunderstanding. It got out of hand and probably my fault.

Are you a car girl? I have been fortunate to own and build a lot of cool cars.
I am not a lover of Italian cars because of their poor reliability but honestly, they all can be a PITA if you own them out of warranty because of the complexity.
The Italians have such a flare for design including their motorcycles like Ducati and Aprilia.

I live in America and if you want to see what a modern and even affordable American car can do on a European track,
here is a peek that will wet your appetite. The driving talent of this guy is off the chain. I worked at the facility that designed the Camaro.

Yes I love cars, I really had no choice in that matter, living in an all male household lol...

John, I know you love us Aussies, you like our fighting spirit, and I love the Shark too, so yes we both did tread a trouble track, our odds where stacked, but deep down I always knew my path to recovery was not going to be lonely, because you will be coming along for the ride with me mate

 

[John Mahan]

Yes I love cars, I really had no choice in that matter, living in an all male household lol...

John, I know you love us Aussies, you like our fighting spirit, and I love the Shark too, so yes we both did tread a trouble track, our odds where stacked, but deep down I always knew my path to recovery was not going to be lonely, because you will be coming along for the ride with me mate

You rock Star. The indomitable Aussie spirit. Great people. Land of sport and sunshine and love of life.

 

[MBH]

Always my family, but also trying to stay active and do everyday stuff, and not feel like an outerbody experience. Just enjoy life as much as possible.

 

[PeteJ]

Aw Pete keeping you (and all the others) in my prayers.

Thanks. Same wishes to you and the others as well.

I can't enjoy life when the tinnitus tones/noises are so loud, so intrusive and high pitched.

Distraction is a struggle and a challenge all the time. I also feel that I can't ever distract myself 100% at any time. Then there is the difficulty with trying to sleep when you want to.

 

[MattS]

What makes you feel better, even if it's just a little bit or for a little while?

Baths.

More reliably than anything else, taking a bath, putting my head under the warm water, can bring my tinnitus down several notches.

 

[Star64]

There was this time where I had bad episodes of depression before I had tinnitus, and on a good day I made a list I called 'Things that are good (that will still be good when you're feeling bad)'

It had things like my favorite foods and movies, the sound of rain, reading, writing, the sea, hot air balloons, dogs, sitting on a train, art, seasons changing, music, meeting friends, cafes, singing in the shower, someone whistling (like, a tune, not catcalling ), babies, nice clothes, swimming, taking a good picture - I could go on but I'm guessing you catch my drift.

Anyways, it really helped me get through some bad days.

The problem is that since I got this screaming in my head I'm finding it quite hard to find solace in them anymore. My tinnitus and anxiety around it seem to overshadow everything.

My question is: what are some things you still enjoy in spite of tinnitus? What makes you feel better, even if it's just a little bit or for a little while? What are things that are still good and don't have a negative (tinnitus-related) association?

It would mean a lot if I you could perhaps help me find some inspiration for a new list.

Thanks in advance!

Lynny with your positive attitude to deal with the bad days, I am sure you will still live an enriched life even with tinnitus, and I know you will certainly enlighten those who cross your path. You are the winner, thanks for starting such a nice thread.

 

[Star64]

I live in America and if you want to see what a modern and even affordable American car can do on a European track,
here is a peek that will wet your appetite. The driving talent of this guy is off the chain. I worked at the facility that designed the Camaro.

Wow, he does have some driving talent, I would be in the bushes on the first turn LOL....I do love the Camaro, they are a really nice looking car. My husband wanted to buy one years ago, but of course it was left hand drive and it would of cost heaps to change it.... Sounds like an interesting job you had.

 

[John Mahan]

Wow, he does have some driving talent, I would be in the bushes on the first turn LOL....I do love the Camaro, they are a really nice looking car. My husband wanted to buy one years ago, but of course it was left hand drive and it would of cost heaps to change it.... Sounds like an interesting job you had.

Hi Star,
Developing this stuff has difficult timelines, a lot of scrutiny for cost and weight, making 1000 perfect isn't enough...have make all 50,000 perfect. Lots of pressure which couldn't have helped my brain chemistry and predisposition for tinnitus.
But really what I was born to do.

And now, if your mind wasn't blown by the incredible 650hp ZL1 Camaro which even the average person can buy...a true supercar which btw was driven my a professional race car driver because you or I would have crashed at one half that speed.

Now see it played out on 2 wheels. Did you see how much the Camaro was drifting on 4 wheels well over 100 mph? Drifting on 2 wheels is even harder.

Watch this. The level of this rider's talent is hard to describe. If you have ever been on a superbike or even a motorcycle with 100 rear wheel hp. This guy's riding is superhuman. One mistake and he is gone. He did a lap of famed Nürburgring that his hard to comprehend....7 seconds faster than the Camaro!

 

[John Mahan]

Lynny with your positive attitude to deal with the bad days, I am sure you will still live an enriched life even with tinnitus, and I know you will certainly enlighten those who cross your path. You are the winner, thanks for starting such a nice thread.

Agree, Lynny is a bright young lady and she will get through the tough early days so many (me) struggled with.
But really good news for her is because she is so young, medical help will come and she will be helped. This awful noise so many have lived with for too long, will be vanished on some level because there are so many different ways the medical community is looking at curing tinnitus.

 

[John Mahan]

Thanks. Same wishes to you and the others as well.

I can't enjoy life when the tinnitus tones/noises are so loud, so intrusive and high pitched.

Distraction is a struggle and a challenge all the time. I also feel that I can't ever distract myself 100% at any time. Then there is the difficulty with trying to sleep when you want to.

Pete,
The early days are the hardest. You got this about 6 months ago. For many it can take over a year or even two to figure out how to manage it...live your life and even adjust sleep habits.
Once you 'believe'...you aren't there yet, but once you believe you will survive this, your mental health will fall more in line and for many their tinnitus actually goes down There is big synergy between mental health and tinnitus loudness.

As I see it, there is momentum in both directions...to the bad and to the good. You need to turn your train around and you can't by shear strength of will. Nobody has that strength of will.
You ever golf or ski? You do worse when you try harder. You have to let it happen. You have to trust what the mind knows subconsciously. Right now you don't believe you can live with this. But there will come a day when you do believe it and once you have that confidence, you will let go and accept tinnitus....the noisy neighbor you couldn't stand, you will accept it on some level and will be much less of a presence in your life.

You have to let go which right now is impossible but one day it will be and you will feel better. Once you get the confidence that you can live with tinnitus and this day eventually comes for just about all of us, then your life will be restored, your mental health will be better and likely your tinnitus will soften. Fighting tinnitus makes it louder and we all go through it.

 

[PeteJ]

You don't know what you are talking about. I wake up with ear pain.

"MANAGING IT?" I CAN'T FUNCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There can never be enough exclamation marks. The tinnitus is too loud. It is just a matter of time until I off myself.

 

[DaveFromChicago]

To John Mahan:
Thanks ever so much for posting that video.
That is the most fascinating, instructive presentation I have ever seen regarding high speed racing.
I will probably watch it several times. It is more exciting than the Steve McQueen chase scene in BULLIT.
The new Camaro is a very hot, popular car around here (perhaps the last muscle car of my Era).
Who was that driver? His incredible millisecond sense of timing and shifting lets me know why
this is regarded as a bona fide sport.

 

[jay777]

I nearly have the enjoyment of a wrongly convicted death row inmate.

 

[John Mahan]

To John Mahan:
Thanks ever so much for posting that video.
That is the most fascinating, instructive presentation I have ever seen regarding high speed racing.
I will probably watch it several times. It is more exciting than the Steve McQueen chase scene in BULLIT.
The new Camaro is a very hot, popular car around here (perhaps the last muscle car of my Era).
Who was that driver? His incredible millisecond sense of timing and shifting lets me know why
this is regarded as a bona fide sport.

Hi Dave,

Sounds like you are a real car guy. I grew up building muscle cars and have owned a lot of different foreign and domestic cars I have modified and worked in the industry as mentioned. I grew up around it. My father was an engineer for Chevy and brought home all the fastest cars of the day they used for development and we used to take them out and open them up. I basically inherited the speed gene from my dad. I shouldn't be here but somehow have survived. Motorcycles are even a bigger rush as you saw in that R1 video. Power to weight ratio of a superbike is really violently fast.

The McQueen Bullit movie...no doubt you know about the remake of the Bullit in McQueen's honor though I would prefer a Shelby GT350R in memory of the legendary Carol Shelby...simply a masterpiece of an automobile.

But the ZL1 is really the pinnacle of supercars for its overall performance and can be modified to 1000 hp pretty easily.

You are in for a treat if you watch the following video on the ZL1. I grew up driving all the Camaros from the early days including 427 COPO cars but the ZL1 has few peers. There are cars that cost $200K but nothing will touch one for the $$ really. New mid engine Corvette should be a special car in a couple of years after they sort it and bump the hp up.

This reviewer is a car guy that understands cars better than most on the web. If you are a car guy, this is a feast.

Enjoy:

 

[John Mahan]

You don't know what you are talking about. I wake up with ear pain.

"MANAGING IT?" I CAN'T FUNCTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There can never be enough exclamation marks. The tinnitus is too loud. It is just a matter of time until I off myself.

We all get it Pete. You want and need to escape from the torment. But what you are considering is permanent.
Consider having yourself admitted to the hospital. Hopefully they can knock you out and give you some relief from your misery. Don't take this on yourself. Defer to others to try and help you get to a better place.

 

[Star64]

Hi Star,
Developing this stuff has difficult timelines, a lot of scrutiny for cost and weight, making 1000 perfect isn't enough...have make all 50,000 perfect. Lots of pressure which couldn't have helped my brain chemistry and predisposition for tinnitus.
But really what I was born to do.

And now, if your mind wasn't blown by the incredible 650hp ZL1 Camaro which even the average person can buy...a true supercar which btw was driven my a professional race car driver because you or I would have crashed at one half that speed.

Now see it played out on 2 wheels. Did you see how much the Camaro was drifting on 4 wheels well over 100 mph? Drifting on 2 wheels is even harder.

Watch this. The level of this rider's talent is hard to describe. If you have ever been on a superbike or even a motorcycle with 100 rear wheel hp. This guy's riding is superhuman. One mistake and he is gone. He did a lap of famed Nürburgring that his hard to comprehend....7 seconds faster than the Camaro!

Geez, I was getting dizzy watching this guy on the track, it really was a case of one mistake can be the difference between life and death.

 

[John Mahan]

Geez, I was getting dizzy watching this guy on the track, it really was a case of one mistake can be the difference between life and death.

Hi Star,
Just remarkable. If you think about this rider and I know a bit about the sport of motorcycle racing, what this guy did, is really difficult to put into words on many levels and even has some remote relevance to us I believe and what we have become with our tinnitus...or moved away from.

Almost nobody on the planet even if they had the skill of this rider would attempt what we saw in the video. True of the Camaro driver but most certainly true of the R1 rider. Every second, his life hangs in the balance at that speed.
Very few people on the planet can control a motorcycle like this person. He is akin to the greatest among ordinary concert pianists to draw a parallel if you like classic music and marvel at the nuance, complexity and timing. He is 'sliding' around that that track at times at 150 mph around curves. One mental or physical mistake and he is dead. Countless have died trying to do the same thing that don't have his nerve or talent. A machine failure at those speeds and he is dead...like a blown tire. Hitting an oil slick on the track from another car who engine lets go during his pass and he is dead.

Why something this extraordinary has relevance to us is...because how far most of us have moved from living life on the edge with tinnitus. We have retreated. We have lost this confidence that we can do anything. Tinnitus in many ways has robbed us emotionally from living our lives to the fullest.

I believe the lesson here as we always strive for a higher level in life...part of the joy of life to see where we can go and accomplish, the lesson is, try to turn the train around and start heading back in the direction of normalcy and living life to its fullest in spite of the handicap of tinnitus. Focusing on tinnitus defining us makes it front and center and being more goal directed to do the things we love in life, relegates tinnitus to its deserving back burner status and makes it minuscule by comparison. I believe I have made some progress in this regard and no it isn't easy. But having fun, like riding motorcycles fast and being outside in the sun and playing has always been who I am and if I move away from this, I did. Just like the motorcycle rider who has skill the average person can't conceive of.

 

[John Mahan]

Star,
This just happened recently in the US. A world famous lady....a TV celebrity and a woman admired for her brains, incredible beauty and charismatic...her larger than life infectious spirit... who became famous on a TV show in America called Ghost Busters....just tragically lost her life doing what she loved...racing....try to set the woman's land speed record. These types are cars are basically jet airplanes with down force to keep them on the ground and not fly. Word is, without explanation, she could not stop by the end of her path in the dessert and met a violent end not unlike a jet airplane accident.

People like her at this level are incredibly smart and courageous of course, know the risks but leave nothing to chance and yet I am sure even with meticulous planning because the stakes are so high...this tragedy still happened.

There are no words for how wonderful and admired this lady was. I believe she was 39 years old and I was a big fan and admirer. Her story:

 

[Star64]

Star,
This just happened recently in the US. A world famous lady....a TV celebrity and a woman admired for her brains, incredible beauty and charismatic...her larger than life infectious spirit... who became famous on a TV show in America called Ghost Busters....just tragically lost her life doing what she loved...racing....try to set the woman's land speed record. These types are cars are basically jet airplanes with down force to keep them on the ground and not fly. Word is, without explanation, she could not stop by the end of her path in the dessert and met a violent end not unlike a jet airplane accident.

People like her at this level are incredibly smart and courageous of course, know the risks but leave nothing to chance and yet I am sure even with meticulous planning because the stakes are so high...this tragedy still happened.

There are no words for how wonderful and admired this lady was. I believe she was 39 years old and I was a big fan and admirer. Her story:

I did see coverage of this on our news, devastating that is for sure, she certainly was a smart, courageous beautiful lady. It is mind boggling just how fast these machines move, I am sure the racing industry will sadly miss her.

 

[John Mahan]

I did see coverage of this on our news, devastating that is for sure, she certainly was a smart, courageous beautiful lady. It is mind boggling just how fast these machines move, I am sure the racing industry will sadly miss her.

Jessie was special. Her father was an engineer like my dad. She had a very keen mind and was relatively fearless. She wanted to be that lady....a ground breaker. I relate to her on some level but she was the extreme and ended much too early for her. She touched a lot of lives while she was here. She had insatiable intellectual curiosity about science and why she was on TV because she tested these boundaries and conventional wisdom. She was in car parlance, a real motorhead which made her kind of rare because she could weld and build race cars with the best of them...in a predominantly male profession. She understood the DNA of cars which few do...only industry insiders.
She had great light and depth in her eyes which you can see in pictures.

It's heartbreaking to see such a vibrant life quieted in the prime of her life.
A way of looking at it is, her spirit was too big for this world.

 

[fishbone]

I have attributed my success in life due to the gym, my faith. Those were in my life before I got tinnitus and they are with me today. From mild to severe Tinnitus, those two amazing forces will always be in my life!

 

[Agrajag364]

Beer

 

[Star64]

I have attributed my success in life due to the gym, my faith. Those were in my life before I got tinnitus and they are with me today. From mild to severe Tinnitus, those two amazing forces will always be in my life!

Not only are you a true Warrior fishbone, you are also a very humble one. I think your success probably extends to many things in life, including having a positive mindset and always being their for others.

 

[Striveon]

Movies. sometimes.

Music. Most definitely, but much less so now with tinnitus.

FOOD. Definitely.....

Taking a hot bath with relaxing music while being served food? BEST

Movie theatres?? With or without earplugs?

 

[PeteJ]

I want to commit suicide now. What else can I do? I would now but my dog would be left alone and I can't do that. :-(

 

[Joe P. Tamborra]

I have found that if I can focus intently on whatever I am involved in that
my tinnitus is much less afflictive to me; even during times of flare-up. It
may be easier said than done, but if you can zone out to another place in your
mind; you will find relief. Many times I have found solace in prayer, walks
by a busy road, a good movie, playing chess, good music, etc. Anything that
can put my mind on something more productive than assessing how loud my
tinnitus is. I hope this helps you some!

 

[RishRamsey]

I have attributed my success in life due to the gym, my faith. Those were in my life before I got tinnitus and they are with me today. From mild to severe Tinnitus, those two amazing forces will always be in my life!

For how long did you have mild tinnitus man?

 

[friend74]

Not too much really.

My little daughter, meeting friends for dinner, good TV series/movies and playing Battlefield.

I miss going to the cinema and listening to loud music. Reading could also become difficult.

 

[Tybs]

Games. I stopped using my headset and bought a studio microphone for communications. While gaming, I completely forget about my T 95% of the time.