To think there's no way on earth you can 'ignore' tinnitus?

[ILikeToBeBesideTheSea]

Had sudden tinnitus start 3 months ago, cause not found. Various different noises in each ear/head. Seems to change volume throughout the day and pitch also fluctuates. I've been told over time you can get used to it and tune it out, how can I do this when it's changing so much all the time? Feeling low and so down that this will be with me for life now. I just can't believe something so random exists!

I felt very similar when I first got tinnitus and can totally relate to what you're going through. I honestly thought I'd go mad. I have learnt to ignore it though, not absolutely all of the time but the vast majority of the time and it no longer seriously impacts on my life on a daily basis like it did.

Wearing hearing aids stops mine, although obviously it comes back when I take them out, I don't know if that's worth looking into? Have you got any hearing loss as well or just tinnitus?

I felt the same when I first got it but honestly you do get used to it and you no longer hear it. I can sometimes if I'm stressed/tired and it's quiet but it's rare

I’ve had it all my life (as far back as I can remember at least) and I do ignore it most of the time.

Only really bothers me when I wake at night.

I sympathise OP. But, yes, you do get used to it / tune it out to some degree, unless I get a sudden pitch change or there's a high pitched noise on TV which will set it off.

At night I put sleep sounds like ocean waves, rain or thunderstorms on Alexa and it cancels it out enough for me to get to sleep.

FWIW I once came across the web-site of someone who treats it, and he made the point that ignoring it is central to making it go away. He said various noises exist in peoples ears all the time, but the nearest nerve cells are wired to filter them out. If any noise does get through, it's very important not to have any emotional reactions (such as getting upset) because an emotional reaction tells your brain the noise is important, and it rewires itself to be more sensitive to it. Conversely, the more able you are to emotionally ignore the noise, the more likely your brain is to rewire itself to filter it out.

No hearing loss. How long did it take you all to ignore it? Did you do anything specific?

I have it on and off I find avoiding loud noises (eg cinema) and listening to an audio book helps. I’d actually completely forgotten about it for the last few months. Hope you get some improvement soon.

I've had it for years and I only notice it now if I think about it. I think it just takes time, but maybe some sort of CBT would help?

I've had it as long as I can remember and 90% of the time I do ignore it. Its harder to ignore when its very quiet (eg at night) but during the day is ok.

Me also can mostly ignore it. But it went up recently - if you find yourself listening to it then distract yourself with another sound. Ie singing or talking out loud. If your pitch is changing maybe it’s muscle related for you ie tight jaw.

I have had it for about a year. I went to the GP, had my ears cleaned, went for a hearing test and it's still there.

It can be bad but I would say that I can ignore it very well. Except if I think about it.

I haven't done anything special to try to ignore it. But I do know how hard it can be.

I'm working on hearing it but not reacting to it at the moment, I think that's that's the way forward but I'm having a bad day today. It's getting me so down.

I barely notice mine anymore. I know that isn't much comfort at the moment, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I didn't do anything specific; it just happens. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it happens soon for you!

You do tune it out after a while until it changes sound, then it gets irritating.

My worst used to be waking up at night with sound so loud that I honestly thought someone was in our roof with a sledgehammer. I thought DH absolutely mad when he initially said he couldn’t hear anything and made him come with me outside to check the roof. After the first few times I accepted it was my tinnitus. Then when it happened I would just go back to sleep long with the roof/sledgehammer noise. Havnt had that one for a few years now thank goodness.

White noise helped me enormously. At times when I would notice the tinnitus most, like in bed at night, I always played rain sounds or equivalent. It stopped me lying there stewing on the tinnitus and gave me a sense of control over the situation.

That was a few years ago now. Honestly I barely notice it now although it gets worse when I'm tired/ill/rundown. But I see it as a useful warning sign that I need to slow down and rest when that happens. Never thought at the beginning I would ever view tinnitus in a positive light!

It generally seems quieter over night/first thing. It's during the day that I struggle. Obviously need to keep myself busier!

My DC2 has tinnitus. They had a referral from GP to Audiology department at hospital after having a hearing test (Specsavers) where they identified a problem. The Audiology department have been very helpful with advice. DC2 has ASD so lacks the filter to deal with it. Hospitals vary but ours is very kind and helpful. Hope that helps OP.

I tried rain noise a couple of times at night but found it more distracting than the tinnitus and ended up turning it off. I usually just have the bedroom window open for some light background noise but I live it a pretty quiet area so not a lot of use.

DH has had tinnitus since his teens and it hardly affects him normally. He says over time you do habituate. You can still hear it, but your brain tunes it out.
In the first lockdown it seemed to get worse and he was told by the audiologist that a lot of people were having the same problem. If you’re stressed, you notice it more, and when you notice it more, you get more stressed, so it’s a vicious cycle.
He did a course with the British Tinnitus Association, which helped him understand the condition better and explained the link with stress, etc. He really recommends getting in touch with them.
When it was especially bothering him, he used an app called MyNoise, which lets you create your own “white noise” mix, or listened to podcasts.
He finds that exercising and keeping busy help - reduces stress, and if he’s tired and can fall asleep straight away, it stops him lying there listening to it at night.
Hope things get better for you soon.

Did you have Covid at that time OP? I hear that more people are getting tinnitus this year. It will be interesting to see the year on year stats. You have my sympathies and I hope you can tune it out.

@DianaT1969 No, haven't had covid yet thankfully. Hopefully will stay that way but who knows!

@ILikeToBeBesideTheSea

No hearing loss. How long did it take you all to ignore it? Did you do anything specific?

Sadly its just one of those waiting for the biology to work.

Your brain will start to ignore it over time, but consciously nothing you do changes things.

Sucks

I found that my tinnitus comes on when I eat too much dairy or alcohol, it took me a while to work this out but after thinking about it I realised these were a major cause. If I cut both these things from my diet my tinnitus stops. Also stress can cause it but also many unknown things. I too find white noise helps.

I’ve had tinnitus since I was a kid. In fact, I had tinnitus before I knew it was A Thing, so it came as quite a surprise to learn not everyone has it. And yes, you do learn to tune it out, there is hope.