Heidi, I know that roller coaster ride of emotions--I think all of us have been on it. It's kind of a grieving process of having to deal with all this, and having our lives changed by it.

Do you know any relaxation techniques? Once when I was having a bad day like this--really feeling down, T very bad (I hadn't yet had any masking noise other than music, fan, TV, etc.), a college friend of my daughter's came over and taught me some things she had learned from having panic attacks to help herself relax. She turned the lights down a little, gave me a piece of sugarless candy to suck on to "distract" me from my T, lit a scented candle, put on a soothing CD, soaked my hands in a tub of warm water while I breathed really DEEP and SLOWLY holding each inhale for a count of 3, rubbed scented lotion on my legs, heated a neck wrap in the micro, and brushed my hair. It really DID make me feel less down, and distracted me from my bad T. She also said when the bad thoughts come into my head, instantly think of something good to replace them, like "I can't assume this is always going to be like this," or "Many people live with this, I can too" or whatever comforts me, even "I have a great family who loves me." (She said you can write these things down instead of just think them.) Finally she asked if there was something I'd like to look at to distract me as she brushed my hair like a photo album or something. I chose an art book on my coffee table.

She does some of these relaxation techniques every day (and keeps a piece of sugarless candy and a favorite-scented hand cream in her purse, and she pulls those out if she feels a panic attack coming on in public) and she says this has stopped her anxiety attacks and reduced her stress/lifted her mood greatly so that she no longer has such big emotional hills and valleys.

This isn't a cure-all for the emotions we deal with when we get bad T, but they can help smooth out a bad T day a little. : )

Please know we all feel for you and have SO been there! *hugs*

I know you can't do all of these yourself, but some you can, and they may help you feel less hopeless.

McMurdo,
I do use some relaxation techiques, such as taking a hot bath with candles burning around the edges of the tub. I also try to chew sugerless gum to help me focus on what it is I need to get done for the day. I also go and get a swedish message once a month. It is very hard for me to relax or find time for myself because as soon as I do that is when my three boys need or want something from me.

I try to stay positive and I realize that other people in the world are suffering just like I am with tinnitus. It is just so frustrating for me because this afflication has changed my entire personality. I used to be extremely easy going, up beat, and cheerful almost all the time. I am not like that anymore simpley because I have to worry about the environment that I am in all the time now and how it is going to affect my "T". Even on a good day my mom has said she detects a little sadness in my voice and she misses the person I used to be. I miss that person too.

Thanks for the advice.

I had the same kind of day HR. Mc Murdo thanks for all those relaxation tips, I'm going to try a few right now. HR, I do think it takes time to get used to our "new normal" and we are changed but that doesn't always have to be a bad thing. I know from having RA I am much more empathetic than I used to be. Dealing with T, I have a whole new respect for people that deal with any kind of mental issue as I feel I am teetering on the edge. I'm not happy go lucky anymore either but what can we do? It is what it is. suera

You sound so much like me. I go through the same things. It's amazing all the things I have missed out on because of my T. I hate saying that but it's the truth. Some days are better than others but it has totally changed my life.