Strategies for Shifting Attention Away from Tinnitus

I know that it’s hard for many people to shift focus on things outside of tinnitus, especially at the start, when Tinnitus decides to stay with you. There are tons of things that become seemingly more difficult if not impossible to master when you suffer from Tinnitus.

Whether you used to read in silence, do sports, or watch TV in quiet. Now you probably do not enjoy that activity anymore, as you constantly focus and look for your Tinnitus. This creates a very unfavorable response, making it hard to still enjoy the activity you once loved.

I understand, and most people with Tinnitus have been there. Intending to shift your attention away from something so intrusive such as Tinnitus can seem like an iceberg of a task. In my work with my patients, I tell them that Tinnitus should not stop us from doing what we love and from accomplishing the daily tasks we set for ourselves. What we like to do, because precisely the things that we deeply care about, tend to help us the most in shifting our attention away from Tinnitus. In this way, we can create little islands of not giving the tinnitus space, small moments in which we do not think about the Tinnitus. These spaces can grow there more often we practice them and lead to mind- and gratefulness.

Here is a hands-on principle: do whatever is necessary in order to be able to continue doing the things you love despite your tinnitus. If you want to read, go read somewhere where you have some background noise that masks your tinnitus. If you can’t stand your T in a situation, look for a way to mask or tune it out and slowly you will feel how your T gets less and less attention. This moment will accumulate, and while no one says that you always have to sit in silence waiting to get used to your Tinnitus, it is a gradual process that takes time and practice.

It’s a long walk to freedom, but it’s definitely worth it.

I’m here for you all,

Frieder

If you want to talk to me about a coaching session, please contact me at frieder@outringtinntius.com.