Many people with tinnitus complain that the ringing they hear is often worse first thing in the morning than at any other time in the day. Why is that and what can you do about it?
Conventional wisdom holds that when you lie down for extended periods of time there is more blood flow to the brain. Since the brain is responsible for the sound you hear, the ringing noise is heightened because of the extra blood flow.
It also seems louder in the morning because there is much less ambient noise then at any other time during the day. Therefore, because of these 2 occurrences, your tinnitus appears to be louder.
However, conventional wisdom will only take you so far. In other words, just knowing the cause does not necessarily equate into a workable solution. In fact, it’s just the opposite. More often than not, knowing that your tinnitus will be louder in the morning will actually cause you to immediately focus your mind on it as soon as you wake up.
The mind wants to feel bad. It’s the way you’ve been conditioned. The mind is addicted to negativity. Therefore, as soon as you regain so-called consciousness in the morning, your mind automatically gravitates to what’s wrong. Then it seeks out situations to prove that it’s right. It says, “see, I told you tinnitus is a bad thing.” Then when you try to do something about it the mind says, “not now, I’m busy. Can’t you see I’m focused on tinnitus? I’ll wait till later to feel better.”
So, just knowing that you brain does that, seeks out negativity, how does that help you? That’s what most people struggle with. Even if they know that’s what the mind does, it’s often too difficult to fix. Why? Because, most people don’t have a clue how to stop it.
You have always been a victim of your past, as the mind sees it. Past experiences get stored in your sub-conscious. As soon as you’ve experienced anything, your mind makes a file called “past experience #890765” and, when that situation comes up your mind seeks out that very computer file and uses it to strengthen itself. The mind says, “ah, another morning with tinnitus, great! Another excuse to feel bad.”
So, what can you do? Here’s what I did and still do; get up, get moving and get focused on anything that you can do that you love to do. For example; if you love to takes walks, take one first thing in the morning. If you love to play the piano, sit down and play the piano. Whatever it takes to get your mind off the tinnitus, do that. The worst thing you can do is to lie in bed and focus on your tinnitus until it makes you into its permanent victim.
Sure, your mind wants to focus on your tinnitus. I know that from experience. But, it’s up to you to stop it. Taking a different kind of action will help. But, that action must be performed from only 1 of 3 positive energy modalities; acceptance, enjoyment or enthusiasm.
Because everything is energy; thought, feeling, doing, living, breathing, wind, rain, sun, fire, ice, water, sleep etc., you must realize that only positive energy will cancel out negative energy. Your thinking about tinnitus is negative energy. Therefore only 1 of the 3 energy modalities I suggested will get you out of your negative mind and into happiness.
The least level of energy that you can use is acceptance. Complete 100% acceptance that your tinnitus is here to stay is the first step. But, you must accept it without resistance. As I’ve said before, resistance stops the positive flow of energy. What you resist will continue to persist.
Acceptance, on the level of energy, causes real consciousness to occur. Real consciousness on the level beyond form (what you can see, hear, taste, touch and smell) is that all-knowing universal wisdom that oversees everything that you do. Your personal growth and happiness depends on this consciousness to take hold and witness your life from the level of the “formless”.
You are the director in the play. That is consciousness. There person, who you think you are, is the actor in the play. Therefore, you can direct the actor, from the level above form which is the level of the formless. That is the level which, as a human race, we must reach if we are to survive.
Knowing that you must accept tinnitus is fine but, you must go beyond that and direct your form self to behave differently. Direct the actor to do something which will get you what you want. Allowing the actor (your doubting mind) to improvise is just plain wrong. Your mind will improvise you to death. Don’t allow it to do that.
Give universal direction. Give direction from the level of formless consciousness that resides deep within you. I know that you know it’s there. You must tap into that creative magnetic energy and make it work for you.
If you continue to wake up every morning and allow your mind to improvise and gravitate toward negativity, you will be doomed for the rest of your life. Nothing will change.
On the other hand, if you choose to alter your behaviour and direct the actor from a position of positive power you will change the direction of your life. You may not see results instantly, because you’ve not yet trained yourself to get the full effect. But, you will see results, only up until your mind goes back in the other direction and starts whining and complaining that you don’t yet see any results.
Simply let go, and let it happen. I’ll be there to help keep you on track as much as I can. Fell free to write me and let me know how it’s working for you.
Paul Tobey is a professional motivational speaker who has performed many seminars for tinnitus sufferers and is author of Tinnitus Free Living a which helps people reduce their tinnitus volume.
