Can you really train your brain to ignore tinnitus?

Can you really train the brain to ignore tinnitus?

When I fist was diagnosed with tinnitus the idea that I could somehow train my brain to ignore tinnitus seemed absurd and perhaps a little too simple to be true. So like many tinnitus sufferers I ran the gauntlet of symptoms ranging from sleeplessness, despair, agitation and depression and like most tinnitus sufferers I’d explored the small group of conventional medicine available to tinnitus sufferers with little success before hobbling over to the alternative heath arena and riding that rollercoaster.

I had just about given up on my quest for relief when I stumbled upon a little know and somewhat novel concept.

That you can train your brain to ignore tinnitus. Sounds ideal right? But in reality can you really train your brain to ignore tinnitus?

Well, tinnitus retraining therapy is all about doing just that.

But let me take you back a little. You see I was desperate to find that peace which I once took for granted. From acupuncture, to vitamin therapy, to laser light therapy to chiropractic nothing seemed to work for me. I was told to try masking, which I did and of course it helps to drown out the noise, allowing one to get a good night sleep. However if you have a partner who happens to be a light sleeper they soon get tired of waterfalls and crashing waves all night long. Plus it can get tiring explaining to none tinnitus sufferers why you are constantly followed by white noise.

But no matter how much of your life you try to mask, the bottom line is you’re simply sweeping the problem under the carpet.

Ultimately what I really wanted was to no longer be bothered by my tinnitus no matter where I was or what time of the day it was.

A chance encounter changed my life

It was by chance that I met a retired South African doctor at a yoga convention of all places. This man with one simple analogy changed my life with tinnitus for good!

During our casual conversation he happened to mention that he had severe hearing loss and subsequent tinnitus, all due to a shooting range accident 30 years prior. Of course I immediately brought up my own battle with tinnitus as a means of continuing the topic of conversation.

He went on to tell me that his hearing loss was off the chart and in the early days his tinnitus was severely debilitating. But that he no longer considers himself a tinnitus sufferer.

“He no longer considered himself a sufferer of tinnitus”

Ok, now this caught my attention! I was all ears (excuse the pun) “How is it your tinnitus no longer bother you?” I asked.

He told me that over the years as a doctor, he had met with, treated and witnessed many tinnitus sufferers and had seen first hand what tinnitus can do to someone’s life.

My ENT Gave Me Helpful  Tinnitus Advice

He told me his advice to all tinnitus sufferers is now as follows.

“You can have tinnitus retraining therapy at the local hospital or university, you can Google the next miracle vitamin, herb, potion, alternative medicine or practice that promises to cure you of your tinnitus. But honestly in my opinion save your money, there’s nothing that tinnitus retraining therapy or any other alternative therapy can do for you that you cannot do for yourself!”

“Ask yourself, why is it some people who have tinnitus are simply not bothered by it? Whilst others are burdened to no end? Research shows that it has nothing to do with the volume, pitch, tone or type of your tinnitus. But rather everything to do with the way an individual’s nervous system responds to the stimuli. As a doctor people who have persistently troubling tinnitus are often prescribed anti depressants, which seem to reduce the patients tinnitus. But in reality it does nothing for your tinnitus, the tinnitus is still there. All it has done is simply altered your perception.

So there in lies your answer, change your perception and you’ll change your reaction. Or alternatively change your reaction and you’ll change your perception.”

When asking if you Can you really train your brain to ignore tinnitus, you need to thoroughly explore what tinnitus (suffering) really is. 

Why has no doctor ever explained this principle to me in such a logical way? This was exactly what I needed to hear at exactly the right time. You see tinnitus seems to have the ability to insulate us and force us to become myopic and disheartened. I was for the first time in years inspired me to think outside of the box.

The doctor pointed me in the right direction regarding helpful literature and self help practices, mostly in the area of controlled exposure and acceptance techniques. Over time with a lot of personal research I had enough information gathered from many different sources to start practicing a combination of unique habituation techniques.

These techniques and methods primarily followed the principles of CBT, emotional feedback techniques as well as a tinnitus modified mindful awareness and acceptance technique.

Some of these techniques work to override the irritating emotional side effects of tinnitus, whilst others focus on acceptance and awareness. Over time I honed my practice to incorporate a physical aspect, which I firmly believe relieves the tension brought on by tinnitus or the tension that can cause or worsen tinnitus.

For many (myself included) tinnitus can be worsened by anatomical changes such as constriction and inflammation, physiological changes and environmental changes such as seasonal changes. So I addressed these aspects with subtle but powerful movement based practices to my daily tinnitus routine, which seem to add a more rounded aspect to my tinnitus routine.

Learn To Listen Beyond Tinnitus Via TRT Self Habituation

TRT Training Gave My Life Back

Now, I’m not claiming that I coined the concept that one can train their brain to ignore tinnitus, as all the methods are already out there, and have already worked for many. I’ve simply just gathered, combined and modified a unique combination that works for myself and many others.

In closing you too can train your brain to ignore tinnitus you just have to do your research, open your mind and find the help you need. These treatments, methods and techniques absolutely (in my opinion) work better than any method I’ve ever tried, I’m not claiming that they will “Cure” you of your tinnitus nothing will. But they will turn you from a former tinnitus sufferer into someone who just has tinnitus. You’ll not require equipment, drugs, vitamins or expensive specialists. All you nee is a little patience, focus with a dab of dedication.

I for one no longer need masking devices, I no longer seek out any specialists, I take no drugs, I take no vitamins and I no longer spend anytime looking for tinnitus advice online.

If you’re are curious as to whether YOU can you really train your brain to ignore tinnitus

visit www.tinnitusretrain.com