"Ever find anything that helps?"
Yes, this is my story (I'll try to make it short):
About three year ago, I suddenly noticed a tinnitus. As for a lot of people, it got a devastating effect on me. Furthermore I knew the consequences it can have on one's life after a beloved one got struck some years ago. I even managed to count 3 different tinnitus (1Khz on right ear, one high pitch in both, and one pulsative high pitched white noise)!
Note that I live in a country (The Netherlands) where the medical community does not believe in chemical treatment for tinnitus. Therefore they might give you the corticosteroid shock if it's not too late to stop any eventual inflammation, but that's it. If you want more, go to Germany or France (where I originate from actually).
After doing all checks at the ENT (nothing really noticeable - good audiogram for my age and nothing on MRI), I followed a cursus at a company specialized in hearing and speech retraining on advice of the ENT. In my case a hearing aid device would not be of any help...
The cursus first explained what is tinnitus, its probable causes (not only hearing loss but also mechanical) and the effect it has on people with the negative loop of feelings (you hear it, it gives negative feelings and reaction, therefore you focus on it, therefore it triggers even more negativity etc.)
It sounded like a Kluber-Ross change curve had to be followed here...
My first step, with the help of the specialists, was therefore to understand the negative impact that these noises create on me. It didn't take me long to understand that this was fear and anger. Fear as I knew the devastating impact on people's life and fear not to be able to play anymore in a band or go to shows or anything noise related. It was also anger, as I knew the risks, I always protected myself in noisy environments, and still I somehow fucked up. Not talking about the fact that it took ages for getting an appointment at the ENT.
The second step was to break the negative spiral. I managed to get over my anger by focusing on the good job and attention that the specialists gave at my case. Fear was a bit more difficult to battle. But the ENT and the specialists told me that as long as I protect my ears and avoid the 90dB limit (etc.), it would be ok (keeping in mind though that you can't stop aging and its potential consequences -hearing loss, therefore tinnitus, etc-).
The third step was therefore starting experimenting: Playing very low volume at home, going to parties with full blocking ear plugs, rehearsing with ear plugs + over ear protection (!), even going to shows more protected than usual as well. It was possible. Of course afterwards the ringing can be somewhat harder than usual for a few hours. Well, I was told by the specialists that this is a normal reaction of the brain, as well as hearing them more when waking up (what a symphony in my head in the morning indeed!). But here is the difference: I started associating the tinnitus with having a good time (it's a consequence of having great fun). The brain likes these type of associations and this is another retraining method actually (I did not want to use white noise generators yet).
So did the ringing go away? No, actually some of it is worse than 3 years ago. Does it have a negative effect on me? Not anymore. Can I sleep despite the ringing? Like a baby.
This is my experience and I am proud that I went from a very dark place in my head (the railway was not far from my house) to enjoying life fully again.
Good luck!
Helps to have a name for it, thanks!
