• Hey Guest,

    We wanted to share a quick update with the community.

    Our public expense ledger is now live, allowing anyone to see how donations are used to support the ongoing operation of the site.

    👉 View the ledger here

    Over the past year, increased regulatory pressure in multiple regions like UK OFCOM and Australia's eSafety has led to higher operational costs, including infrastructure, security, and the need to work with more specialized service providers to keep the site online and stable.

    If you value the community and would like to help support its continued operation, donations are greatly appreciated. If you wish to donate via Bank Transfer or other options, please open a ticket.

    Donate via cryptocurrency:

    Bitcoin (BTC):
    Ethereum (ETH):
    Monero (XMR):
100elephants

100elephants

Member
Mar 26, 2026
9
Hello ya'll. Does anyone know about organizations who will provide medically assisted euthanasia for people suffering from tinnitus? Will dignitas accept tinnitus patients? It seems pretty hard to convince a doctor that your suffering when tinnitus is typically ignored already. I would really like to end my life in a way that's peaceful and dignified, and not have to risk accidental brain death from a botched attempt. I'm based in the united states for reference.
 
  • Hugs
  • Aww..
  • Love
Reactions: ificouldlivewithout, Bikishii, GarGoil and 5 others
Echo

Echo

Hell is empty and all the devils are here
Dec 1, 2022
558
I know pegasos accepts people wanting assisted dying who have tinnitus. Seen a few discussions on here previously. I am not sure about dignitas though.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: ificouldlivewithout, Bikishii and GarGoil
100elephants

100elephants

Member
Mar 26, 2026
9
I know pegasos accepts people wanting assisted dying who have tinnitus. Seen a few discussions on here previously. I am not sure about dignitas though.
Thanks, I appreciate the information.
 
M

mustard tiger

Member
Mar 27, 2026
36
what is it like to have the tinnitus
 
I

itsgone2

-
Sep 21, 2025
1,659
You must have it bad. I have it but tolerable. I'm so sorry what this is doing to you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened, Bikishii and DeathSweetDeath
endboss

endboss

Member
Apr 8, 2026
47
Hello ya'll. Does anyone know about organizations who will provide medically assisted euthanasia for people suffering from tinnitus? Will dignitas accept tinnitus patients? It seems pretty hard to convince a doctor that your suffering when tinnitus is typically ignored already. I would really like to end my life in a way that's peaceful and dignified, and not have to risk accidental brain death from a botched attempt. I'm based in the united states for reference.
Did you make any headway on finding someone for assisted suicide? Did you start the process?
 
G

gardenhouse

Student
Mar 26, 2026
171
Hi, 👋🏻 we're on the same boat here..i have tinn as well

Athanasios is the new one, I've contacted them, they seem pretty easy to deal with. You don't need to be terminally ill.
what is it like to have the tinnitus
It's horrible, you hear this noise in your ear or head 24 hrs, and you can't stop it. You can close your eyes if you have a sun strike on your eyes but nothing you do will stop the noise from blaring, the only time you don't hear is when you sleep, if you can manage to sleep, i barely sleep because of the noise preventing me to sleep.
 
Last edited:
  • Hugs
  • Aww..
  • Like
Reactions: Bikishii, idfwlnh, GarGoil and 2 others
sinnrr-sistrr

sinnrr-sistrr

le canva à ma lame
Apr 13, 2026
65
Hi, 👋🏻 we're on the same boat here..i have tinn as well

Athanasios is the new one, I've contacted them, they seem pretty easy to deal with. You don't need to be terminally ill.

It's horrible, you hear this noise in your ear or head 24 hrs, and you can't stop it. You can close your eyes if you have a sun strike on your eyes but nothing you do will stop the noise from blaring, the only time you don't hear is when you sleep, if you can manage to sleep, i barely sleep because of the noise preventing me to sleep.
I think I have tinnitus, it started around last year, so at 18, although I've heard it's rare amongst young people. I "hear" a constant high pitch sound, a bit like an old CRT TV, but I don't really hear it either? It's more in my head. It got much worse in the past few days, I think because of a flu that's inflated my sinuses. Is this really how it starts? Will I have to live with this forever? I wasn't able to fall asleep without music yesterday, will that be for my entire life?
 
  • Hugs
  • Like
Reactions: DeathSweetDeath, GarGoil, TooMuchHasHappened and 1 other person
G

gardenhouse

Student
Mar 26, 2026
171
Are you still able to sleep?

I never used music or etc to sleep before tinnitus, my neighborhood in nz is so silent so i love to sleep in silence snd my body has adjusted to that for many years. That's why i really really struggle.

Is tinnitus the reason you are here as well?
 
sinnrr-sistrr

sinnrr-sistrr

le canva à ma lame
Apr 13, 2026
65
Are you still able to sleep?

I never used music or etc to sleep before tinnitus, my neighborhood in nz is so silent so i love to sleep in silence snd my body has adjusted to that for many years. That's why i really really struggle.

Is tinnitus the reason you are here as well?
Only yesterday was it so bad I needed music to sleep. I love silence so much it's very very hard living without it.

I'm not here because of tinnitus. To be honest, it only started happening around a week ago, at the same time I created this account. I just realized a few minutes ago that this coincided with my sertraline dosage being increased, so I'm going to be lowering my dose starting tomorrow and seeing the results.

I hope it helps, I've seen a study online claiming that tinnitus is a rare but possible side-effect of sertraline, so I'm really hoping that's the cause.

I'm really hoping that's the cause.

I'm really hoping that's the cause...

P.S. I've always wanted to live in NZ, you're lucky!
 
  • Like
  • Hugs
Reactions: Bikishii and TooMuchHasHappened
A

AlertCarrot

Member
Jul 27, 2025
7
I feel you, struggling with onset tinnitus for the past few years (I think it got alot worse after COVID), as well as routine infant genital mutilation (circumcision). Both of these ailments appear to me to be permanent and don't make my life worth living either.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: Bikishii and TooMuchHasHappened
G

gardenhouse

Student
Mar 26, 2026
171
Only yesterday was it so bad I needed music to sleep. I love silence so much it's very very hard living without it.

I'm not here because of tinnitus. To be honest, it only started happening around a week ago, at the same time I created this account. I just realized a few minutes ago that this coincided with my sertraline dosage being increased, so I'm going to be lowering my dose starting tomorrow and seeing the results.

I hope it helps, I've seen a study online claiming that tinnitus is a rare but possible side-effect of sertraline, so I'm really hoping that's the cause.

I'm really hoping that's the cause.

I'm really hoping that's the cause...

P.S. I've always wanted to live in NZ, you're lucky!
Yeah i know how it feels. I love silence as well…

I was on setraline, prescribed by GP because i was depressed 😔 because of tinn, it didn't make tin worse but i got really bad side effects like gastric acid in my stomach, i had to stop it.

Yeah nz is beautiful but the custom is so strict and we don't share land border with other countries, only way to get SN or other drugs to CTB is through air transport but I haven't had much luck 😞
Hello ya'll. Does anyone know about organizations who will provide medically assisted euthanasia for people suffering from tinnitus? Will dignitas accept tinnitus patients? It seems pretty hard to convince a doctor that your suffering when tinnitus is typically ignored already. I would really like to end my life in a way that's peaceful and dignified, and not have to risk accidental brain death from a botched attempt. I'm based in the united states for reference.
Another new organization is phoenix care switzerland
 
Last edited:
  • Hugs
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened
T

thehorizons

Student
Mar 25, 2026
112
I know pegasos accepts people wanting assisted dying who have tinnitus. Seen a few discussions on here previously. I am not sure about dignitas though.
Was this recently? There's been changes with the medical guidelines that the doctors associated with Pegasos abide by. I feel like they're stricter now. Also, you need to provide medical proof of your suffering as well. I have post-acute withdrawal syndrome. I'm suffering and I don't even know how I would be able to provide medical proof. I also have oral cancer (that one would be feasible), but it's early stage or I think it's early stage, so I don't think it meets their 'suffering' quota.
I know pegasos accepts people wanting assisted dying who have tinnitus. Seen a few discussions on here previously. I am not sure about dignitas though.
Based on my research, Dignitas is the hardest one to get approved for. I read that someone with ALS even got rejected. It seems like a crapshot to be honest.
 
Last edited:
  • Informative
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened
unluckysadness

unluckysadness

Enlightened
Jul 9, 2025
1,161
I'm sorry for your situation. Tinnitus is pure hell. Probably one of the worst condition on earth but nobody talks about it (and it's an invisible disability).
I remember some years ago, a woman on TV asking for euthanasia because of tinnitus. But I don't remember if she was eligible. If I find the video, I'll share it with you. I hope you'll find peace.

UPDATE : here are some articles talking about it. Not sure if the clinic does it anymore after huge criticism


Hi, 👋🏻 we're on the same boat here..i have tinn as well

Athanasios is the new one, I've contacted them, they seem pretty easy to deal with. You don't need to be terminally ill.

It's horrible, you hear this noise in your ear or head 24 hrs, and you can't stop it. You can close your eyes if you have a sun strike on your eyes but nothing you do will stop the noise from blaring, the only time you don't hear is when you sleep, if you can manage to sleep, i barely sleep because of the noise preventing me to sleep.
I asked Athanasios too for myself, and they seem more open than other organizations.
 
Last edited:
  • Hugs
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened and endboss
T

TooMuchHasHappened

I tried my best
Apr 6, 2026
62
Hi, 👋🏻 we're on the same boat here..i have tinn as well

Athanasios is the new one, I've contacted them, they seem pretty easy to deal with. You don't need to be terminally ill.

It's horrible, you hear this noise in your ear or head 24 hrs, and you can't stop it. You can close your eyes if you have a sun strike on your eyes but nothing you do will stop the noise from blaring, the only time you don't hear is when you sleep, if you can manage to sleep, i barely sleep because of the noise preventing me to sleep.
Sorry to hear (no pun intended lol) that you're suffering with that, the only thing that I've ever had that could be anything close to that was from coming out of a nightclub (when I was much younger) and having ringing in my ears. That would drive me nuts having something like that all day, I feel for you.

I've not got tinnitus, but I created a thread today about that company you mentioned. I looked at the other companies that have been mentioned here also, but for some reason that company stood out to me. To be honest, I was put off from the other companies because they required you to buy an annual membership, i mean that sounds ridiculous to me, why would anyone need an annual membership when they're hoping to go there to die asap lol, I just thought that was so stupid that I looked at elsewhere and found Athanasios (there's is just an application fee; much more sensibly named).

Personally, I've had lots of accidents, injuries and surgeries which have left me unable to work, exercise, or even walk properly anymore because of pain and dysfunction (my pelvis doesn't move properly; it's stuck on one side). I've only got one limb that's not been injured and had surgery on. I spend most of my day in bed now and only go out for a medical appointment or haircut. I can still move round the house and go out if I really need to but try not too because of pain. I've been in chronic pain for 9 years after a surgical error (I've actually had 15 surgeries) and have both musculoskeletal pain (from many of the surgeries and my injuries) as well as whole body nerve pain (a permanent burning all over my body), it can get so bad that I literally feel like I've been set on fire, it's hell. All of these problems (and more) have completely ruined my life. I also got diagnosed with a neurological condition last year called functional dystonia. There are other things too due to the "knock on effect" but they're the main ones. My neurologist said that because of all the physical trauma I've been through that my nervous system is shot to pieces so I have non-motor neurological symptoms too. Oh and needless to say I struggle with sleep, most nights I just toss and turn and my sleep is very broken, I can't stay in the same position for too long as it's so uncomfortable; drives me insane. But apart from all that I'm doing great 🤣.

I was hoping all that might make me eligible for VAD, however I was put off applying as someone commented on my post and said that my family would have to sign off on it. Do you know if this is true? I'm single with no kids and in my 40's and found it strange that I'd have to ask my mum and dad lol. Obviously I wouldn't want to have to ask my parents for something like this, have you heard if this is the case?
 
Last edited:
  • Aww..
Reactions: Lostandlooking
G

gardenhouse

Student
Mar 26, 2026
171
Sorry to hear (no pun intended lol) that you're suffering with that, the only thing that I've ever had that could be anything close to that was from coming out of a nightclub (when I was much younger) and having ringing in my ears. That would drive me nuts having something like that all day, I feel for you.

I've not got tinnitus, but I created a thread today about that company you mentioned. I looked at the other companies that have been mentioned here also, but for some reason that company stood out to me. To be honest, I was put off from the other companies because they required you to buy an annual membership, i mean that sounds ridiculous to me, why would anyone need an annual membership when they're hoping to go there to die asap lol, I just thought that was so stupid that I looked at elsewhere and found Athanasios (there's is just an application fee; much more sensibly named).

Personally, I've had lots of accidents, injuries and surgeries which have left me unable to work, exercise, or even walk properly anymore because of pain and dysfunction (my pelvis doesn't move properly; it's stuck on one side). I've only got one limb that's not been injured and had surgery on. I spend most of my day in bed now and only go out for a medical appointment or haircut. I can still move round the house and go out if I really need to but try not too because of pain. I've been in chronic pain for 9 years after a surgical error (I've actually had 15 surgeries) and have both musculoskeletal pain (from many of the surgeries and my injuries) as well as whole body nerve pain (a permanent burning all over my body), it can get so bad that I literally feel like I've been set on fire, it's hell. All of these problems (and more) have completely ruined my life. I also got diagnosed with a neurological condition last year called functional dystonia. There are other things too due to the "knock on effect" but they're the main ones. My neurologist said that because of all the physical trauma I've been through that my nervous system is shot to pieces so I have non-motor neurological symptoms too. Oh and needless to say I struggle with sleep, most nights I just toss and turn and my sleep is very broken, I can't stay in the same position for too long as it's so uncomfortable; drives me insane. But apart from all that I'm doing great 🤣.

I was hoping all that might make me eligible for VAD, however I was put off applying as someone commented on my post and said that my family would have to sign off on it. Do you know if this is true? I'm single with no kids and in my 40's and found it strange that I'd have to ask my mum and dad lol. Obviously I wouldn't want to have to ask my parents for something like this, have you heard if this is the case?
Sorry to hear what you've been through.

Athasios doesnt need family approval or consent. Pegasus didn't need in the past but i think they got into trouble for aiding people to die and didn't want their family to know, so they put it into their requirement now, i mean who knows how suffering feels like more than the sufferer themselves.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened
100elephants

100elephants

Member
Mar 26, 2026
9
Did you make any headway on finding someone for assisted suicide? Did you start the process?
Right now it seems like the biggest issue is that most of these organizations cost around 12k USD on average. Man 12k is such a large amount of money when SN can do the same thing more or less for 200. At least the 12k gives you a guarantee and saves you some pain. But for 12k I could also go on vacation for like four months, and maybe I'd want to live again after that haha : P

I've been telling family members and therapists that i was thinking about VAD and they just don't understand. It feels like I'm being kept alive for other peoples benefit at this point.
 
  • Hugs
  • Like
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened and endboss
endboss

endboss

Member
Apr 8, 2026
47
Right now it seems like the biggest issue is that most of these organizations cost around 12k USD on average. Man 12k is such a large amount of money when SN can do the same thing more or less for 200. At least the 12k gives you a guarantee and saves you some pain. But for 12k I could also go on vacation for like four months, and maybe I'd want to live again after that haha : P

I've been telling family members and therapists that i was thinking about VAD and they just don't understand. It feels like I'm being kept alive for other peoples benefit at this point.
I was thinking about talking to my family about vad. I am kind of hoping this could be easier for them, to have me die with such an organization, than dangle on a rope in the forest. It would be clean and controlled and they could say their good byes. But I am afraid thats just a fantasy. the moment I am going to introduce the topic they'll just get angry or worry even more about me. Plus we don't have that sort of money anyway.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened
G

gardenhouse

Student
Mar 26, 2026
171
I was thinking about talking to my family about vad. I am kind of hoping this could be easier for them, to have me die with such an organization, than dangle on a rope in the forest. It would be clean and controlled and they could say their good byes. But I am afraid thats just a fantasy. the moment I am going to introduce the topic they'll just get angry or worry even more about me. Plus we don't have that sort of money anyway.
It seems There is always something preventing us from doing it peacefully ay. In my case, i have the money but how would i get a consent from my spouse if it's required in the approval procedure omg 😆 lol, I couldn't sleep again last night even after taking medical canabis, the tinnitus sound was so loud when i lay down and prevented me falling asleep.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: endboss and TooMuchHasHappened
Black Sheep One

Black Sheep One

Student
Mar 4, 2023
106
Having Tinnitus is not bad. I can ignore it. It is when it is mentioned that it become a problem. It is about focus.
 
G

gardenhouse

Student
Mar 26, 2026
171
Having Tinnitus is not bad. I can ignore it. It is when it is mentioned that it become a problem. It is about focus.
I think it depends on how chronic the noise is. Whether I focus on it or not, I hear it all the time : )
 
  • Like
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened
T

TooMuchHasHappened

I tried my best
Apr 6, 2026
62
Sorry to hear what you've been through.

Athasios doesnt need family approval or consent. Pegasus didn't need in the past but i think they got into trouble for aiding people to die and didn't want their family to know, so they put it into their requirement now, i mean who knows how suffering feels like more than the sufferer themselves.
Thanks pal, appreciate that.

I was on Athanasios' website yesterday but was put off looking any further into things because someone on my thread said that Athanasios now require family consent. I think I'll email them myself and ask for their current stance on this, any organisation can change their policies at any time so I'll speak to them about it. Hopefully (even if they have all implemented family consent) they are able to use their discretion in certain circumstances.

It really frustrating that any of these organisations require family consent, especially for those of us who are single and have no dependents. Those of us with chronic illnesses, chronic pain, and/or any other debilitating conditions, who will never be able to have any sort of a "normal" and/or meaningful life ever again, should have the right to die if we choose to. I think it's unfair to have to get consent from our families (for numerous reasons) to be able to access assisted suicide, because it is us having to suffer. I realise that for many of us (myself included) our families also suffer; I am acutely aware of that, but still, our families should respect our decision if we're suffering a lot and have a poor quality of life (and in that case it should actually provide some relief to them knowing that we're not suffering anymore).

I'm not certain about this, but it seems that requiring family consent (by some or all of these organisations) is more than likely a consequence of legal action having been taken by some of the families whose loved ones took it upon themselves to end their lives at one of these organisations, or because of complaints to the authorities by the families. So they have probably been ordered (or at least pressurised) to take this action by the authorities, as I doubt they'd have chosen to implement family consent themselves as it will obviously be losing them a lot of money. I'm aware they've also been heavily criticised, but in my experience criticism alone would not be enough to force an organisation to change their policies (especially when there's large sums of money involved), but legal action or pressure from the authorities definitely is (however I could be wrong). Either way, requiring family consent means that people like us (and many others all over the world) have got to either suffer for the rest of our lives, or take matters into our own hands (which is why most of us are on this site). I'd be interested in hearing what those families would have preferred, their loved ones dying peacefully and with dignity in a supported medical facility, or from SN poisoning or a self inflicted gun shot wound (for example) whilst alone in a hotel room, I'm sure I know what their answer would be.

Due to these organisations now requiring family consent, we now have an unfortunate situation where other families will be even more traumatised by the deaths of their loved ones due to more traumatic suicide methods. I realise that the families who have took legal action and/or complained to the authorities will be very upset about the death of their loved ones at one of these organisations, I get that, but taking legal action and/or complaining to the authorities is not going to bring their loved ones back, what their actions have done is force these organisations to implement family consent, which (like I've already described) is going to cause more suffering for other people and other families.

If all these organisations require family consent (I hope there's a way around it somehow, or that Athanasios doesn't require it) then that is forcing more people to have to use more undesirable methods, myself included. I'm obviously biased because I'd rather not have to use SN in a hotel room (or something similar), but if all these companies require family consent then I'll have no choice, and it'll be because of other people complaining that I'll have to do that. If family consent was not required then I am certain that I'd choose to end my life with the help of one of these organisations.

Ultimately, no one wins here, those families who've took legal action (and/or complained to the authorities) have still lost a loved one, the families of those who've had to take more drastic measures now have to mourn an even more traumatic loss of their loved ones, those of us not willing to continue suffering for much longer have no other option but to use a less desirable method, and those who could not end their life another way (due to fear or whatever) now have to suffer for the rest of their lives. So, unless I'm missing something, there are no winners. I hope these organisations asked the families who took legal action against them (and/or complained to the authorities) what kind of a death they'd have preferred for their loved one, would they have preferred them to die alone in a hotel room from SN poisoning (for example, and show them what that looks like) or in a private clinic in a peaceful and dignified way (I'm sure we know the answer to that), or would they have preferred them to suffer for the rest of their life instead. I'd like to think that being frank with them like that would change their perspectives, and help them to realise that their loved ones actually took the best path possible for themselves, as well as highlighting the fact that the consequences of their actions will only cause more suffering to others.

When the reasons to die far outweigh the reasons to live, the person who is suffering should be able to decide if and when they want to die, period! It really pisses me off when I think of people like poor @fightclub17 😢 and the situation she was in, so sad, and I'm sure many of us on here are in similar situations (or worse). I'm sure she would have preferred dying at one of these organisations, and many of us would too.
 
Last edited:
B

BrokenByTheSystem

Member
Mar 23, 2026
90
Having Tinnitus is not bad. I can ignore it. It is when it is mentioned that it become a problem. It is about focus.
I second this. I've tinnitus for 10 years now and when it first started it was the hell on earth.

I could hear it in the middle of a laud crowd, in the first year I learned to ignore it. Today I barely notice it, it's there all the time of course 24/7, but I don't notice if I don't remember I have tinnitus.

Of course I'm noy saying it's everybody's case, but learning how to ignore it can definitely improve tinnitus. I'd say it reduced like 60% of the noise to me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened
G

gardenhouse

Student
Mar 26, 2026
171
I second this. I've tinnitus for 10 years now and when it first started it was the hell on earth.

I could hear it in the middle of a laud crowd, in the first year I learned to ignore it. Today I barely notice it, it's there all the time of course 24/7, but I don't notice if I don't remember I have tinnitus.

Of course I'm noy saying it's everybody's case, but learning how to ignore it can definitely improve tinnitus. I'd say it reduced like 60% of the noise to me.
How do you unlearn your brain to not remember that you have tinnitus? Do you mind sharing? I'm just baffled, I can hear it 24/7 loud even when I'm outside, and i just have no idea how to ignore it and not notice it to the point that I don't remember about it anymore.

and also, Before Tin, I was someone who loved silence! : D haha
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened
B

BrokenByTheSystem

Member
Mar 23, 2026
90
How do you unlearn your brain to not remember that you have tinnitus? Do you mind sharing? I'm just baffled, I can hear it 24/7 loud even when I'm outside, and i just have no idea how to ignore it and not notice it to the point that I don't remember about it anymore.

and also, Before Tin, I was someone who loved silence! : D haha
Let me tell you a short story of how I learned to live with this:

When it first began, I had to sleep with a fan on everynight, no matter the temperature, it could be 0°C and I was still using a fan, but pointed to other side (not me). I did this because I couldn't handle the tinnitus, it was way much lauder at the night because everything else was silent, so I could hear it way lauder. I used a fan because the fan noise helped me to stop focusing on the tinnitus, with a fan on I could focus on the fan noise and it helped me reduce my perception of the noise. I couldn't sleep without a fan because the tinnitus was way too laud. Once I got a cold and it was like -1°C and I was really bad, but I couldn't live without the fan, so that day I had fever and I was feeling way too bad to turn a fan on in a cold night. Then I just decided to try to sleep anyway and realized I could sleep just fine without a fan AND with the tinnitus laud as fuck. I had to sleep with the noise screaming on my head at full volume for the first time. Then I realized it only affects my body psychologically.

It was an extreme slow process, at the first year I just couldn't stop hearing this thing, it took me a while to learn to ignore the noise. After I got used to ignore it, it seems it got way more silent automatically.

When I say ignore I mean it, you should stop caring about the noise, just do your stuff as you usually do daily and let the noise there alone screaming, it's just a noise and physically it can't hurt you, accept that it's living with you and ignore it. It's not a real sound, it's not the same thing as listening a big and laud speaker, so it won't hurt you physically in any way.

I'm hearing my tinnitus just right now as I write this because once I remember it exists I start hearing it again. Idk how to explain it very well sorry, but I had my problems with tinnitus, today it doesn't bother me anymore.

I don't want to sound pretentious with movie phrases but Buddhism teaches people to accept their pain and live with it, do not try to escape, the pain is part of you, you can't escape yourself. I think I unintentionally did this, learned how to live with my pain, but back in the time I didn't even know about Buddhism. Meditation is scientific not a religion, you can indeed stop caring about tinnitus even tho it's always there 24/7, which is my case.

The more you let it bother you the lauder it sounds, at least to me it was exactly like that.

I dare to say nobody loves silence more than me, I have autism and high sensibility for noises, it drives me crazy and make me pretty nervous. But today I can be in a full silent room just me and my tinnitus and I'd rather that than anything else. I feel like we became "friends", I kind of reprogrammed my brain to feel ok hearing it instead of freaking out.
 
Last edited:
  • Love
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened
Bikishii

Bikishii

yeah yeah whatever
Mar 12, 2026
61
It's disgusting how much tinnitus is ignored in the medical and casual fields. I don't know what will be the best outcome for you, but as an off-and-on sufferer of tinnitus, I wish you nothing but relief and peace
 
  • Like
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened
B

BrokenByTheSystem

Member
Mar 23, 2026
90
Only yesterday was it so bad I needed music to sleep. I love silence so much it's very very hard living without it.

I'm not here because of tinnitus. To be honest, it only started happening around a week ago, at the same time I created this account. I just realized a few minutes ago that this coincided with my sertraline dosage being increased, so I'm going to be lowering my dose starting tomorrow and seeing the results.

I hope it helps, I've seen a study online claiming that tinnitus is a rare but possible side-effect of sertraline, so I'm really hoping that's the cause.

I'm really hoping that's the cause.

I'm really hoping that's the cause...

P.S. I've always wanted to live in NZ, you're lucky!
OMG I can't believe that, my tinnitus started exactly on the same week I started taking sertraline, I took only 3-4 pills at max and stopped. A few days later it started out of sudden.

But that was 10 years ago, it never stopped. I said that to a doctor he said it has no relation with sertralina.

My theory was that sertraline made some permanent damage on me.


Even tho I don't care too much anymore because I got used to it.
 
G

gardenhouse

Student
Mar 26, 2026
171
Let me tell you a short story of how I learned to live with this:

When it first began, I had to sleep with a fan on everynight, no matter the temperature, it could be 0°C and I was still using a fan, but pointed to other side (not me). I did this because I couldn't handle the tinnitus, it was way much lauder at the night because everything else was silent, so I could hear it way lauder. I used a fan because the fan noise helped me to stop focusing on the tinnitus, with a fan on I could focus on the fan noise and it helped me reduce my perception of the noise. I couldn't sleep without a fan because the tinnitus was way too laud. Once I got a cold and it was like -1°C and I was really bad, but I couldn't live without the fan, so that day I had fever and I was feeling way too bad to turn a fan on in a cold night. Then I just decided to try to sleep anyway and realized I could sleep just fine without a fan AND with the tinnitus laud as fuck. I had to sleep with the noise screaming on my head at full volume for the first time. Then I realized it only affects my body psychologically.

It was an extreme slow process, at the first year I just couldn't stop hearing this thing, it took me a while to learn to ignore the noise. After I got used to ignore it, it seems it got way more silent automatically.

When I say ignore I mean it, you should stop caring about the noise, just do your stuff as you usually do daily and let the noise there alone screaming, it's just a noise and physically it can't hurt you, accept that it's living with you and ignore it. It's not a real sound, it's not the same thing as listening a big and laud speaker, so it won't hurt you physically in any way.

I'm hearing my tinnitus just right now as I write this because once I remember it exists I start hearing it again. Idk how to explain it very well sorry, but I had my problems with tinnitus, today it doesn't bother me anymore.

I don't want to sound pretentious with movie phrases but Buddhism teaches people to accept their pain and live with it, do not try to escape, the pain is part of you, you can't escape yourself. I think I unintentionally did this, learned how to live with my pain, but back in the time I didn't even know about Buddhism. Meditation is scientific not a religion, you can indeed stop caring about tinnitus even tho it's always there 24/7, which is my case.

The more you let it bother you the lauder it sounds, at least to me it was exactly like that.

I dare to say nobody loves silence more than me, I have autism and high sensibility for noises, it drives me crazy and make me pretty nervous. But today I can be in a full silent room just me and my tinnitus and I'd rather that than anything else. I feel like we became "friends", I kind of reprogrammed my brain to feel ok hearing it instead of freaking out.
Thanks for the long explanation, i think it's also you got it at very young age and the neuroplasticity of your brain was really high still to adapt and habituate it. I think for people who get at an older age it gets more challenging, 😂, i have sound sensitivity/hyperacusis as well and my tinnitus gets louder when i yawn or open my mouth really wide or yawn. Anyway i really wish i would be able to do how you have successfully habituated your tinnitus.

So do you sleep with a fan still? How many hours do you sleep every night? Do you have spikes with your tin? Why are you here then? Sorry i don't mean to be rude 🙂
OMG I can't believe that, my tinnitus started exactly on the same week I started taking sertraline, I took only 3-4 pills at max and stopped. A few days later it started out of sudden.

But that was 10 years ago, it never stopped. I said that to a doctor he said it has no relation with sertralina.

My theory was that sertraline made some permanent damage on me.


Even tho I don't care too much anymore because I got used to it.
Sorry to hear it. I took setraline after i got tin, it did nothing to my tinn, i didn't make it worse or better either….i believe it's different for everyone
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened
T

TooMuchHasHappened

I tried my best
Apr 6, 2026
62
Having Tinnitus is not bad. I can ignore it. It is when it is mentioned that it become a problem. It is about focus.
It's extremely inconsiderate to others with Tinnitus to say "having Tinnitus is not bad", people have killed themselves because of it. @unluckysadness posted a case of this, and also described it as "pure hell". It's great that it's not bad for you and you can ignore it, but it clearly is bad for others and they can't ignore it. The OP has created this thread about Right To Die organisations for Tinnitus, so I mean the fact that people are willing to kill (and have killed) themselves over it, tells me that for some people… it's pretty bad.

Chronic pain is similar, it's subjective, each of us will experience it differently. Tinnitus is obviously the same. One person may be able to cope with it just fine (with the help of some medication and/or other coping mechanisms), but for others it can be extremely debilitating and completely ruin their lives, having them suicidal. Sometimes my chronic pain is not too bad (it's up and down), but at other times it can feel like I've been in a martial arts fight (as an ex martial artist I can say that) and set on fire at the same time, not good.
Right now it seems like the biggest issue is that most of these organizations cost around 12k USD on average. Man 12k is such a large amount of money when SN can do the same thing more or less for 200. At least the 12k gives you a guarantee and saves you some pain. But for 12k I could also go on vacation for like four months, and maybe I'd want to live again after that haha : P

I've been telling family members and therapists that i was thinking about VAD and they just don't understand. It feels like I'm being kept alive for other peoples benefit at this point.
My plan would be to pay for it with my credit cards, so that could be an option for others too. In the U.K. personal debt is written off upon death (people actually commit suicide over debt alone) so the family of the deceased is not liable for it. With a guaranteed success rate, as well as cremation and URN shipping included, I know which way I'd rather go. It's like an all inclusive package holiday/vacation deal, except there's no return flight 🤣.

Sorry for your suffering btw, nobody else will ever truly understand how we feel about our chronic conditions.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Hugs
Reactions: endboss and unluckysadness
B

BrokenByTheSystem

Member
Mar 23, 2026
90
Thanks for the long explanation, i think it's also you got it at very young age and the neuroplasticity of your brain was really high still to adapt and habituate it. I think for people who get at an older age it gets more challenging, 😂, i have sound sensitivity/hyperacusis as well and my tinnitus gets louder when i yawn or open my mouth really wide or yawn. Anyway i really wish i would be able to do how you have successfully habituated your tinnitus.

So do you sleep with a fan still? How many hours do you sleep every night? Do you have spikes with your tin? Why are you here then? Sorry i don't mean to be rude 🙂

Sorry to hear it. I took setraline after i got tin, it did nothing to my tinn, i didn't make it worse or better either….i believe it's different for everyone
I don't need a fan or any other white noise anymore, I can sleep in a very silent environment and hear my tinnitus and don't bother at all. I just got used to it.

My tinnitus also change when I start opening and closing my mouth.

You may have jaw dysfunction and it can be pressing your internal ear which leads to tinnitus.

Since I got used to it I never bothered going after medical solution. I realized that if I start focusing on it again it'll just come back lauder as before, so I don't want to focus on it. I dont want to make a big case of this thing because then would be harder to forget the tinnitus. And I'm just better because I managed to forget about it.

I'm not here because of tinnitus, I'm just overall chronic depressed since before tinnitus.
 
  • Hugs
Reactions: TooMuchHasHappened