Over time you will want to control your reaction to the tinnitus. Your ultimate goal should be to simple stop caring about it. If you don't care about it your fear will go away and spikes become irrelevant. It sounds impossible but I believe it is possible. Many people have achieved this. I'm not there yet but that is what I'm working towards. You can't control your environment but you can control your reaction to tinnitus.

Now having said that I also carry some benzos in my pocket. If something really bad happens like a tire blow out I take one and I stop caring about most everything. Knowing that they are there gives me a sense of control over my situation which in turn allows me to continue on without them. If I need one I just tell myself to wait a few minutes, get distracted by something, and then I forget all about it. I haven't taken one in months.

There will be a cure in 20 years. Absolutely. That study with the rats is already helping 50% of human test subjects and there are medicines being designed to treat tinnitus. I bet we will see something good in 5 - 6 years.

I think the anxiety of anticipating unforeseen noise only adds to the problems of tinnitus. I do try to avoid loud situations and always carry ear plugs, but also have to live my life.
I do believe a cure is in the pipeline :)

I use musicians ear plugs, they come with three filters which can help you with such things as loud firecrackers, when you know you may have that problem. You can purchase them where hearing aids are sold, and they are not expensive.

I sing in a choir, and volunteer at an animal shelter, I change the filters to go along with the noise levels. They are very helpful.

Hugs,
Kasandra

For me I use cotton in my left ear. It helps to filter out some of the noise coming in because of my reactive tinnitus. If I wear nothing then everyday sounds are too much for my ears. I try to control my reaction to the tinnitus and ignore it. Some days I do that very well, others not so well. Im a work in progress. I try to look at it as just a noise. But my problem with it is that my tinnitus at its loudest also affects my head and sometimes it even is shrill enough it hurts my head, those days are toughest. Then there are the quieter days which I enjoy. I have been taking Klonopin, Im trying not to use any meds but sometimes its tough not to. I just switched my sleep aid from Amitriptyline to a product believe it or not that only costs $1.00 at Dollar Tree. It is called Relax & sleep. It has melatonin, Valerian root, and chamomile. I need only take 1 of the recommended 1-2 tablets of this because it will put you to sleep. Its natural as well. Works. I am glad you have hope. We have to keep hope alive. One day there will be a cure. I keep hoping. Hope that I will have a better day tomorrow usually doesnt disappoint me because better days usually come. Thanks for sharing.

BobsDream you sound reassuring bro,
god bless the people who are working on a cure.
we need it