FOCUS

TINNITUS

Tinnitus (pronounced /tɪˈnaɪtəs/ or /ˈtɪnɪtəs/, from the Latin word for "ringing") is the perception of sound in the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound(s).

Tinnitus can be perceived in one or both ears or in the head. It is usually described as a ringing noise, but in some patients it takes the form of a high pitched whining, buzzing, hissing, humming, or whistling sound, or as ticking, clicking, roaring, "crickets" or "locusts", tunes, songs, or beeping.It has also been described as a "whooshing" sound, as of wind or waves.

Tinnitus is not itself a disease but a symptom resulting from a range of underlying causes, including ear infections, foreign objects or wax in the ear, and injury from loud noises. Tinnitus is also a side-effect of some oral medications, such as aspirin, and may also result from an abnormally low level of serotonin activity.

The sound perceived may range from a quiet background noise to one that can be heard even over loud external sounds. The term "tinnitus" usually refers to more severe cases. Heller and Bergman (1953) conducted a study of 80 tinnitus-free university students placed in an anechoic chamber found that 93% reported hearing a buzzing, pulsing or whistling sound. Cohort studies have demonstrated that damage to hearing (among other health effects) from unnatural levels of noise exposure is very widespread in industrialized countries.

Because tinnitus is often defined as a subjective phenomenon, it is difficult to measure using objective tests, such as by comparison to noise of known frequency and intensity, as in an audiometric test. The condition is often rated clinically on a simple scale from "slight" to "catastrophic" according to the practical difficulties it imposes, such as interference with sleep, quiet activities, or normal daily activities. For research purposes, the more elaborate Tinnitus Handicap Inventory is often used.

I have severe tinnitus. Sometimes catastrophic. It has affected every intricate detail of my life.

There is no cure. I have tried many remedies, machines, concoctions... A total waste of time and money.

I have been to numerous specialists. They have been unable to give me any relief.

Here is the Clay Way of dealing with this affliction...

(WARNING: Colorful language is used)

FOCUS :

How I Deal With Tinnitus

by Clay Tritsch

Imagine you are doing yard work on a sunny day. Suddenly, you miss a step, trip and fall. Your head hits a rock and you are knocked unconscious. When you come to, you are very groggy and can not move. As you lie there in the grass, trying to wake up, you notice a large pile of dog shit, just inches away from your face. The freshly laden poop smells like death, itself. It is a hideous sight. You can feel yourself beginning to gag. You are still without control from the head blow and are unable to get up. All you can see is a big, smelly heap of shit with flies buzzing around it. It is so bad and you can do absolutely nothing about it. Nothing. Nothing. You are essentially paralyzed. Suddenly, you notice a small flower that is about 10 feet away. You shift your focus to the flower. It is so colorful. So very beautiful. You begin to imagine that it smells heavenly. You can't help but be amazed at its beauty. Of course, that horrible shit pile is right there. Right near your face. Stinking. You just can not ignore it.

So now you have a choice to make.

Seems simple...

CHOOSE TO:

Concentrate or focus on that pile of shit

Employ your mind powers to focus upon that little flower in the distance

You are immobile. There is no one else around. You must decide what to focus upon... The gross feces smell is right there. The flies are buzzing.

The flower is in the distance, but beautiful.

Your obvious choice is to focus on the only positive thing that your eyes can see...

That wonderful little flower.

It is all about focus - what we focus on. Cliché? Obviously, but if you focus on the negative things in life, then that is all you will see. It is absolutely simple.

~FOCUS~

If you wake up in the morning and say to yourself, "Oh, my aching knee. My damned knee hurts so bad. OH, my knee!", you are placing all of your attention, energy and focus on that problem. Your knee will probably hurt all day long. Try concentrating on the fact that you have legs at all and be focused on the reality that you are even able to get around. It is a choice we make - what we focus on. We can take something that our naked eyes can not see, place it under a microscope and it becomes as big as a mountain. This is because we focus on it.

~FOCUS~

Focus on the POSITIVE... NOT the Negative!!!!

My tinnitus is debilitating. I could easily curl up into a fetal position and give up. I could focus on the insane noises in my head... The ringing, buzzing, clicking and hissing... it is like a jet engine that roars inside of my soul. All day long. All night long. It never, ever, ever, ever stops. Sharp, sudden or loud noises (dogs barking, sirens, etc...) all have an intense effect on me. If I focus on all of that, then I am surely doomed. If I focus on other things, I might stand a chance. If I focus on the fact that I can hear my family laugh then the tinnitus does not win. I can hear the birds sing. I am able to listen to music, sweet music. My daughter's voice.

I am blessed to be able to hear at all.

If I focus on the fact that my job sucks and my boss is a prick, then I will be working in an unhappy and negative place. If I concentrate on the fact that I am happy to be employed, then I have beat the negativity.

Focus. It's all about focus.

This curse called Tinnitus has actually become a blessing to me. I have learned to face the worst possible situations with the best possible frame of mind. I have learned to properly focus.

And though that smelly turd is always right there, in my face,

it will not stop me from concentrating on the precious little flower in the distance.

~FOCUS~

For me, this is a way of life. My choices are limited.

We must all choose to live with our afflictions, not die from them!

I hope that this can help someone else who suffers from Tinnitus.

Perhaps it can assist someone with depression or a negative outlook.

No matter how bad things are right now, it really could be worse!

"Focus...

Focus on the good, not the bad.

Focus on the positive, not the negative.

Focus on the beauty, not the imperfection."