What Was the Catalyst for Healing?

I have read some posts on here where people have courageously shared that their Tinnitus volume is both loud and continuous.
It is unmaskable, and they have not habituated.
Yet they have found a way to move forward with their lives.
I would dearly love to know,
‘How they did it....what was the catalyst.?’

 

I was at the bottom, so the only way was up.

Really, I thought to myself "I'm already F*ckd, so I'll get back to life and see what happens."

I don't put a date on habituation. It is a strange process. For me it was "getting back to life" and then "feeling better" than the other way around.

Best,
Zug

 

I like this, but i am always wondering what does this might mean for each one with severe tinnitus? How do you do that with reactive tinnitus for example? For me returning to life would be to resume my art/profession and do some long-term planning for my life, but each time i am about to move on, i read one of the @Bill Bauer's - like stories of people who paid the price and i get back to my depressive/inactive phase, so i am postponing it. I can't ignore the risks. After all my condition haven't remained stable. I still hope. I am better then the beginning but i think it's superficial.

 

By asking this question, I sound like the guy who phoned the VD clinic to ask for advice:

“It’s not for me - I’m asking for a friend.”

 

@vermillion, in Tinnitustalk you will find examples of real people with first hand experience on dealing with Tinnitus and getting back to life. Hoarding worst case scenarios is not a good idea.

What is the problem about getting back to your profession?

 

“I was once treated for premature ejaculation.

For a while there it was ‘touch and go!’ “


(Oops - hope that’s not too risqué.....?)

 

Mostly the music. I am not sure about the high impact moves.
I totally agree with what you are saying about the horror stories. In spite of me believing and realizing that every case is different, it still gets me many times.

 

If you work with loud music you can get musicians earplugs or other adequate protection. A lot of musicians do.

Just go back to your life. It's easier if you make it a gradual process, so plan to spend a little bit of time doing whatever it is that you used to do, than a little more and so on.

If you're in doubt about sound levels in your work environment, you can download a good decibel meter.

Trust me, you'll be Ok. and thankful you didn't quit.

Best,
Zug

 

Time.

 

Thank you Zug. I appreciate your response. Really.
All the best.

 

@vermillion, @Zug,

Most of us on this site with severe Tinnitus started off with very light Tinnitus.
We went on “doing what we do” and our condition got very much worse.
Why was that?
It’s pretty obvious.
Our damaged cochleas were now much more prone to further damage, even at reduced ambient volume levels.
Our hearing deficit increased, as did our Tinnitus volume.
Horror stories are genuine stories!

@Bill Bauer - is so right to preach greater caution, to try to avoid the cumulative affect of further damage and further distress.
I am still a working jazz musician, now 75, and have worked in bands since the age of 10y.
Ten years in brass bands playing cornet, then 55 years in jazz, playing trombone.
I try to be so careful, use ear plugs all the time, complain like mad if volume levels are not kept ‘reasonable, and get the hell off the stage if an egocentric drummer decides to play one of his
“show-case-history-making’ drum solos.
(Noisy bastards !!)
I am trying to maintain my career/passion as cautiously as possible.
My advice - listen to Bill.

 

I have not habituated but I do think over time you start to be able to cope. I , myself, have been doing a mix of medication , DBT and CBT to help me through the hard times. At first you don't think you can make it from minute to minute then it turns to more hour by hour. I have some days were I am OK and some hours where I feel horrible. It's NOT ideal or fun but it does becomes somewhat manageable.

 

I an absolutely with you Dayma xx