Why should Tinnitus or Misophonia patients (and families) seek therapy (with a CBT or DBT therapist who understands these conditions)?
- Therapy can validate the reality of your experience:
- No, you are NOT crazy or mentally ill
- No, it is not “all in your head” (well, it IS, but not just in your imagination)
- Therapy can help you learn stress reduction techniques
- Family therapy can help your family cope with the stress of these conditions
- OTHER THERAPY ISSUES WITH TINNITUS AND MISOPHONIA
- Issues tend to compound
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Leads to reliance on medications
- Why me?
- Family disbelief
- Family upset
- School/Work/Home problems
- Feel like you are “going crazy”
- Becoming isolated
- Possible self-injury
- Suicidal Thoughts
What are common psychological problems with Tinnitus and Misophonia?
- Tinnitus and Misophonia lead to stress, worry and anxiety
- Tinnitus and Misophonia become WORSE when stressed, worried, or anxious
- Tinnitus and Misophonia affect sleep
- Tinnitus and Misophonia damage relationships
- Tinnitus and Misophonia create tension, depression, irritability, and/or anger/rage
- Tinnitus and Misophonia can lead to feelings of Panic Disorder
- Tinnitus and Misophonia lead often to avoidance & isolation
How can CBT/DBT help people with Tinnitus or Misophonia?
- CBT/DBT can help you learn to ignore or decrease your awareness of irritating sounds
- CBT/DBT can help you learn to manage your emotional reactions
- CBT/DBT can help you learn to calm your arousal system
- CBT/DBT can help you develop better emotional self-regulation skills
- CBT/DBT can help you create “space” to respond vs react to irritating sounds
CREATING A SPACE (Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning, 1946)
- Between stimulus and response there is a space.
- In that space is our power to choose our response.
- In our response lies our growth and our freedom.