What Healthy Lifestyle Changes Have You Made?

[Purple Parrot]

From reading about tinnitus, I understand that it can be more noticeable at times when we are tired and stressed. It's important therefore for tinnitus sufferers to try and employ strategies which are good for one's mental health!

More and more, I'm coming to realise how important it is to nourish one's body and treat one's body well, in order to promote mental well-being. It's also important to make sure your lifestyle isn't too stressful, that you have the right outlook/internal dialogue to cope with the inevitable difficulties that life will throw at you.

I recently bought myself a NutriBullet (my Christmas present to myself) and have started making green smoothies. I've also starting doing yoga most days, as I find it relaxing. I am reading a book about mindfulness and hoping to employ some strategies from it (it's called "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn, if anyone's curious).

What healthy lifestyle strategies and positive psychology strategies have you adopted since you started to experience tinnitus symptoms?

 

[Bobby B]

Drinking more wine helps

Also, I force myself to sleep at least 8 hours per night ... Like you wrote feeling tired and tinnitus don't go well together

 

[daniel1111]

Tinnitus showed me how much a lack of sleep negatively affects my mood and day to day life, which in turn makes tinnitus worse!

I've made changes with the aim of getting more and better sleep, such as filtering out blue light in the evening, a general reduction in caffeine intake (and none at all after a certain time), exercising every day and trying not to stay up too late.


Another thing is that I'm getting back into my hobbies, trying to learn piano, painting and even being able to read books again. I knew anyway that I was wasting too much time on mindless activities like watching TV shows all night that were not even that entertaining, but with tinnitus and depression I started to feel so strange and lonely just watching TV and it allowed my thoughts to run off to dark places too often.

Even when I'd been out for the previous 3 nights in a row with my friends and certainly not lonely, by around lunchtime I felt like my entire life was just sitting at home and watching TV. That's how depression changes your perspective, and really showed me how unfulfilling sitting in front of the TV really is. So I count that as a healthy lifestyle choice in terms of mental health and happiness.

 

[MichelleWFl]

Stress is my life, mostly from one health issue after another. 3 years ago I lost 50 pounds and with a little backsliding here and there have kept it off. Things changed greatly for me in doing so..... no more bp-diabetes medications. This past week with T and dizziness it's brought my activities to a halt. My goal this year is to see the positive in everything, keep pushing ahead no matter what. It has not improved my health issues but, my mind is happier. In the long run this should help everything else too, just takes time.

 

[noisebox]

When I first got my T in 2012 I made no changes except to noise I exposed myself to as my T was not changed by stress or diet at all.
This year I had a massive relapse caused by medical error, vitamin D overdose and this stress and anxiety and then depression mostly due to T getting worse.
I increased my antidepressants, started using magnesium, added in zinc, B12. I added in blueberries everyday and then also increased the nuts and seeds I eat. I started adult colouring though not everyday and use candles to relax at night. I use a lavender spray too. Oh and eating more fish, celery, cucumber and all veg. I too have a nutri bullet now, but boy is it loud.
I am now am off beta blockers, I sleep without sound except a clock, I do still use a tiny bit of melatonin, my T has improved as has my H which was bad, still there but hey I only started in September with my regime which also includes getting out everyday in the car and going into shops to be around noise.
I am talking to myself now, trying Iwholovemusic thing yet again.
But mindfullness I'm not good at, cant imagine doing yoga actually either as I still need to keep busy to stop me hearing the damn noise again.
Before my relapse I mostly never heard it, so the relapse was a big shock to me.

 

[Purple Parrot]

Thanks guys.

Yeah, the Nutri-Bullet is loud alright! I guess just because it has such a powerful motor. I've used earplugs with it a couple of times because I was worried it would inflame the tinnitus.

 

[Zorro!]

Whenever I use my blender I get out my headphones that are made for use at a firing range. I also use them when I vacuum the house.

 

[Natalie Roberts]

From reading about tinnitus, I understand that it can be more noticeable at times when we are tired and stressed. It's important therefore for tinnitus sufferers to try and employ strategies which are good for one's mental health!

More and more, I'm coming to realise how important it is to nourish one's body and treat one's body well, in order to promote mental well-being. It's also important to make sure your lifestyle isn't too stressful, that you have the right outlook/internal dialogue to cope with the inevitable difficulties that life will throw at you.

I recently bought myself a NutriBullet (my Christmas present to myself) and have started making green smoothies. I've also starting doing yoga most days, as I find it relaxing. I am reading a book about mindfulness and hoping to employ some strategies from it (it's called "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn, if anyone's curious).

What healthy lifestyle strategies and positive psychology strategies have you adopted since you started to experience tinnitus symptoms?

I also have the book you mentioned, however I have yet to dive into it. I practice mindful meditation everyday and meet with a meditation teacher who is also a psychotherapist for twice weekly sessions (private and in a group) for guided meditation and counseling. I watch what I eat - rarely have excess sugar, cookies, cake, ice cream (etc), I monitor sodium content in foods as well. No soda, tea or caffeine at all, I basically just drink water. I try to make sure I am getting a good nights sleep if possible. Bi-weekly massages to decrease stress and overall just being mindful of my everyday attitude and reactions to stress. I also do not take any medications at al right now..

 

[Purple Parrot]

Whenever I use my blender I get out my headphones that are made for use at a firing range. I also use them when I vacuum the house.

I've been thinking of getting some of those ear muffs, as it's a real nuisance putting in ear plugs every time. Far easier to just put the over-ear muffs on for short spaces of time and when you're in the house!

 

[Zorro!]

I've been thinking of getting some of those ear muffs, as it's a real nuisance putting in ear plugs every time. Far easier to just put the over-ear muffs on for short spaces of time and when you're in the house!

I keep the ear muff/headphones in the small hall closet. They're easy to grab for use in the kitchen or if I'm doing something loud elsewhere in the house. As it is I've got ear plugs all over the place, including my pockets, but I get tired of always shoving them in when I'm doing a quick task.