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Comment by tikkun | Hacker News Reader

Yes, mine is not solved in theory but is solved in practice. The ringing is still there if I listen for it, but it’s effectively unnoticeable and I’m now unbothered by it.

The solution that worked for my was basically “acceptance and commitment therapy” - I think I learned it from a book written by a Dr Russell or something like that.

Would recommend, am very glad I did it. It seems kind of kooky though, it’s almost like you pretend the tinnitus is a part of you and you have a conversation with it and welcome it and all that kinda stuff over time, and then eventually it just kinda stops being bothersome. Doesn’t really make sense, but worked well.

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I think this is the only way as of moment. Just desensitize yourself to the sound until there's no effect on you.

One thing I tried as I was still anxious about the matter that I had damaged my hearing permanently, was sitting in a pressurized chamber with a lot of oxygen. Ridiculously expensive and did basically nothing. Possibly if you go immediately after it happens it might help but I'm doubtful of its benefits (the company was making a buck though as single-person business).

I just remember this lady who had hit a garbage can's lid too hard which had made her ears ring. How unlucky. She was quite stressed about it as well.

Dr Russ Harris: https://www.actmindfully.com.au/free-stuff/

It's not too kooky nowadays, it's a relatively widely practiced approach used by clinical psychologists.

I've had it for as long as I can remember soI don't know what life is without.

I've had some curiousity from time to time, but that's the extent of it.

I truly believe acceptance is the best cure when no cure exists in this case, but it's also the most difficult method in all aspects of life.

I know stress is an aggrevator of tinnitus for me, clenched jaw and tight neck muscles etc.

So in a practical sense, worrying about it literally made it worse by triggering those stress reactions which worsened the tinnitus.

It's that mechanism that acceptance helps me with.

I am not always accepting, but if I can calm myself down and just deal with it, it lessens drastically.

I’ve had it since I was a kid too. Only notice it in small closed rooms. If I’m outside I don’t hear it.

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