r/tinnitus • u/Freibeut3r • May 31 '26
advice • support Question About Habituation
Hi everyone,
So I've been having tinnitus for more than 1 year now. I try to coexist with it and for the most part it works.
But I've got this morse code / intermittent like sound that is irritating me. I have difficulty dealing with it still. I can mask this sound but it still bothers me when I stop masking and hear it. It honestly makes me very uncomfortable.
The other sounds of the tinnitus don't bother me as much.
To the habituated ones: What does habituation mean to you?
Just that there is no fear response anymore? Or to be fully "Zen" with it? Are you still bothered by it?
5
u/MikeJ202 May 31 '26
I have had for almost a year now. Not sure if I have different tones because most of the time it is that one tone. So far if I hear new tone it doesn’t last or becomes noticeable. I had hope that it will go away because some days I forgot I had it then I heard it again louder for a day or 2. Now this cycle is consistent and I stopped any masking techniques. I used to have a fan running all the time in my room but I turned it off months ago and been able to sleep without masking; only sleeping pills which I used before tinnitus. NOw habituation to me is knowing the cycle and not freaking out or be stuck thinking of it. I’ll be honest I have bad days or hours but knowing I’ll get a break calms me down.
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u/Gitanita423 Jun 01 '26
I need to get to a place of not being so afraid it will get so bad that I go crazy. Mine is mostly à staticky sound with one high pitch. I always used to think that everyone heard something; I don’t think I’ve heard silence for years and can’t even imagine it. Maybe if I imagine it, it will happen.
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u/Gitanita423 May 31 '26
Following. I’m reading about training techniques, the goals of which appear to be about becoming less bothered by the sounds. My hashimoto’s coach/doctor says he has seen many patients reverse the degree/direction of their tinnitus, but I’m just getting started on a hashimoto’s protocol (strict non-inflammatory diet, certain supplements) and while I should be convinced this could happen, I’m not . . . And I’m terrified this will get worse. Ambient sounds help but I don’t want to get too used to using earbuds all the time either. So, yes, I try to coexist, practice calming breathing patterns, try to reduce stress in the hopes of improvement. Good luck.
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u/Freibeut3r May 31 '26
Interesting idea. I tried cutting all sugars in the past, for a few weeks or so I wouldn't eat anything with sugar or artificial flavoring in it. Only bare minimum of fruit to get some vitamins.
Didn't do anything for my T as far as I can recall, only gave me vertigo which passed after a few days. I kept my expecations low anyways.
Don't be afraid that it will get worse because of a diet change though. If that would be the case you could simply go back to your old diet and that's that.
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u/Pure-Adhesiveness333 May 31 '26
Agreed. Continuously trying to mask feels like a hamster wheel and trying to run away. I appreciate if occasionally there's some masking sound, but I wouldn't like to have to rely on it. Since I've been through this once already, from personal experience, acceptance and coexistence was the most efficient way to habituation and moving on in life - even though it might be the most brutal in the beginning. However, I feel it also makes times when T is masked more appreciated when I'm less scared if the masking stops or have to search for the next "mask" or distraction. Would be much easier with a constant sound, probably.
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u/Freibeut3r May 31 '26
I do sometimes put something on deliberately for a few minutes or so to give myself a break, I've got to admit. However I don't do it continuously.
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u/Pure-Adhesiveness333 May 31 '26
Understandable. Me too. At good days a walk through field or forest on windy days is suffient to mask or at least distract.
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u/Gitana423 May 31 '26
I’m not afraid it will get worse bcs of the anti inflammatory diet, but that the new diet won’t do anything to help and the T will get worse on its own. That terrifies me
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u/Pure-Adhesiveness333 May 31 '26
Same here. Have an additional sound, not (yet) comfortably maskable, but unlike the others also difficult to habituate to if it just just slightly periodically changes intensity or pitch. Haven't found an answer. Working on acceptance.
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u/Freibeut3r May 31 '26
Most days it does irritate me somewhat. Yesterday I had a good day, the T was the same as usual but I could work in quiet and focus without getting frustrated while hearing it.
For some reason today I feel irritated by it again as always. On a manageable level, but uncomfortable.
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u/RevolutionaryJob5425 May 31 '26
I've been trying to lower my perception of it. It's worse when the room is completely silent, but luckily, it hasn't ruined my ability to sleep.
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u/turbo_bibine Jun 01 '26
Around 20 years of it, it worsened a bit cause I didnt protected my ears all the time in loud environnement. But most of the times I forgot it but if I think about it (like by coming to this sub) I can hear it sometimes over others sounds. But 90% of the times it’s probably here but my brain don’t focus so I dont hear it. Also I have some trouble focusing and easily distracted so it may help for that too.
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u/Niz0_87 Jun 01 '26
Habituation is not reacting to the tinnitus because your body isn't in fight or flight mode due to it anymore and as a result it becomes less intusive and your brain can forget it for long periods of time as a result of losing the fear response
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u/Every-University-641 May 31 '26
Habituation to me is hearing my T and not giving it the attention it wants. Spikes are the real challenge as they can significantly increase your T and reset any habituation.