Simple coping strategy...
It's a new reality but only a temporary one if you believe in something greater than all of this...
Practical things that help me if I knew this sound as a baby would it would hardly bother me at all?
If my dog George knows this sound it would make little difference to him.
It's not all about me and if no none can see me suffering then I can't see their pains either and we're not all that different to what we really know about each other (great lesson of t).
It all makes no sense and to make sense of it all is good humor and 'carry on'...and it makes good sense...

Relaxation breathing and relaxation CDs (or from YouTube) every day. Masking at night. Green tea. Being in noise in my home at all times (fans, TV, sound machine, etc.). Talking about my T with my hubby or people on DS.

Amtriptyline! Sounds pathetic but I've tried all non-drug related and none of those seem to do the trick.

At the first period you certainly need an antidepressent.
Masking is the only thing to make T less predictible

Its an evil loop. The more you worry about it the worse it gets. The worse it gets the more you worry. Anti-depressants can help break the cycle.

To date I have found nothing that masks my T.

Unless I'm having a blessed low t day, then I don't need masking.
Sue

I agree with those who say get on an antidepressant. I am on zoloft and neurontin which my psychiatrist put me on 10 years ago. Then my T got louder and so I am also on valium. I take small amounts but for me it is a life-saver. Some people don't want to take pills but I don't care if it helps me.

For me, still in the "dealing" with it stage I suppose, even though it has been since March that I have had more so steady annoying T., I will not say severe as yet.

When I have a bad day, or good days then a set back, I find receiving support from folks here helps for my mental state, as well as giving me suggestions to help calm down my T.

My own experience so far to try to lessen my T, which at times I think it might be working, but then with the setbacks, not sure, is eating less salt, being aware of what might trigger my T., mine is worse in the morning so taking a long shower, I try harder to relax, SHOPPING, for some reason when I am shopping, including food, clothes, or any type, I have little to no T., getting "costly" though!

I have tried masking my T., but the high ssssSSSSssssSSSS, is hard to mask.

I have little trouble falling asleep, which I think is fortunate for me, due to others here claim that night time is a problem for them.

I do think that if my T., came to a point where I truly could not cope, I would for sure try a medication to calm it down, so I could live a content life.

And most important....I Pray!!!!

Pattylyn

Tinnitus for almost 12 years now and can say without a doubt Amitriptyline and masking is my way to cope. Have been taking Amitriptyline for almost 12 years and the same with masking.

Don't like to push drugs but Amitriptyline has worked in making my tinnitus more tolerable and also helps me get a good nights sleep. I did the research on it and my doctor let me do a trial run and it simply worked.

In ear noise generators, assuming noises like those from simplynoise.com make your T lesser. I know it would speed things considerably for me, if the noise wouldn't "react" to it.

As for anti-depressants, they don't come without side effects. One of them might be tinnitus. There are people who developed or got the noise exacerbated by taking anti-d's.
The same deal with any "benzo" and similar drugs. I wouldn't use them long-term (more than a month), otherwise you risk developing tolerance (needing a higher dose) and "benzo withdrawal".

I'm keeping myself busy, even reading books and sleeping in silence. 9 months in, it still bothers me, but not to the same extent as during the first months. I think the sound enrichment and especially the mentioned in-ear maskers (or even TRT therapy) would speed things up greatly.

most of the time I cope without too much trouble.
I have a super sensitive body regarding drugs of any sort so they are out. Tend to use herbs which I take for anxiety. I listen to music to go to sleep which turns off after an hour, rest of the nights in silence.
Have used TRT which helped when the T was quieter, unfortunately not anymore.
Like you I try to keep busy & some days manage to read.
Going to look into blue/violet noise see if thats helpful

I know it seems really hard to do but keeping busy works for me unless it's a really bad day.

Between starting a new job, moving into a new home, following up with some new people of the opposite sex I met, and a few personal projects I almost forgot about T for a few days.

Usually it's the first thing I think about upon waking up. At least three days went by without a morning thought. Cool!