Relax, and breathe away your tinnitus stress

As our range of features on tinnitus and industrial deafness illustrate, it is one of those wily health problems that, as of yet, has been unwilling to yield to a specific form of treatment. Research is being undertaken around the world, but at present many sufferers are forced to rely on anecdotal evidence of treatments that do not have proven medical efficacy.

Eileen Hewitson, from the Birmingham Tinnitus Support Group, has produced a guide to relaxation for tinnitus patients that, whilst not advocating itself as a cure, aims to provide some relief from the excruciating symptoms that can blight the life of a sufferer.

Eileen advises that "relaxation" is something you have to make a conscious choice to do - it cannot be done to you. The patient has to be willing to participate fully and make time to practise relaxation.

Relaxation causes certain beneficial reactions to take place within the body; the heart beat and breathing slows, blood pressure drops and brain activity decreases. These physiological changes are the reason we feel refreshed in body and mind after relaxing.

In order to relax fully, the patient needs to feel good, and to have the time and environment in which to be relaxed.

Breathing exercises are the foundation of good relaxation, and the beauty of them is they can be carried out anywhere: walking, lying down, standing or sitting, even whilst riding on a bus or train. Advanced breathing exercises can be extended to control abdominal muscles and at times of stress or extreme tinnitus a breathing exercise can help restore levels of calmness.

To reach a heightened state of relaxation will take more time and will need to be thought about more carefully; a suitable environment and period of time will be required. Ideally, a relaxation regime should be included in to the sufferer's weekly life, much as you would plan gym or jogging sessions.

Eileen suggests that over time, continued practice of relaxation techniques can bring distinct alleviation of the stress resulting from tinnitus. She says that no expensive equipment or treatment therapy is needed to become relaxed, just recognition of your inner ability to look after yourself, and become a calm, strong person dealing with your tinnitus in a positive way.

More about Eileen's relaxation suggestions can be found at the British Tinnitus Association website. We would also like to add that information in this article should not be taken as medical advice. YouClaim advises anybody worried about their hearing to visit a doctor.

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