Carli’s quest for tinnitus relief

Carli’s quest for tinnitus relief

A woman from Formby has hailed the transformational effect mindfulness has had on her battle with a debilitating hearing condition.

Carli Parry (37), who has lived with tinnitus for over 20 years, has finally got it under control thanks to her daily meditation and yoga practice.

She is now keen to share her experience with others in the hope it can help them and, as part of this, is an active member of Aintree Tinnitus Support Group – one of 100 groups supported by the British Tinnitus Association (BTA) across the UK.

Carli, who lives with her husband and is now a yoga teacher, said: “My tinnitus started when I was 17 and I will never really know why as it came out of the blue. At this time, there was absolutely no awareness about tinnitus in younger people and despite having lots of tests for various things I was left to my own devices with no support or reassurance at all.

“This was an incredibly anxious period of my life as the tinnitus was so bad and I was convinced I would be deaf by the age of 20. I hear a high pitched ringing noise that at the beginning really was overwhelming and I wondered how I would cope with it for the rest of my life.

“However, for the past 10 years I have been a yoga and meditation teacher and the affect this regular practice has had on my tinnitus has been life changing and is now at a point where on a day-to-day basis I feel no anxiety about having it.

“Mindfulness is all about living in the present moment, whether that be during really blissful times or difficult challenges. It’s about cultivating a mind-set of acceptance and not going into battle which inevitably causes more anxiety and stress and, in the case of tinnitus, makes it worse.

“The other change in my life has been attending the Aintree Tinnitus Support Group which we are so lucky to have in our area. I have learnt so much from everyone who attends including them sharing their experiences and tips for how they manage their condition. I have also been able to go and give some meditation sessions which I hope the other members have found helpful.

“I have seen how tinnitus can take people to the depths of despair and I really feel the impact it can have is completely overlooked by many. Support groups give people the chance to talk to others who really understand which is a very special thing.”

The Aintree Tinnitus Support Group, which has just celebrated its 10^th anniversary, has around 30-40 people attend each monthly meeting which takes place at Aintree University Hospital. It is run by Tony Kay, Head of Audiology Services at Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and supported by the BTA.

Tony said: “Support groups can have a really positive impact giving people the chance to speak to others in a similar position, learn about management techniques and discuss their the impact of their tinnitus in a safe, welcoming place which can make a huge difference to their ability to manage. We would really encourage anyone out there with tinnitus who feels they are struggling to manage their condition to attend a tinnitus support group. We always welcome new members at Aintree.

“It is important to add that whilst support groups provide additional information and support to patients, and their significant others, living with tinnitus, it is not a substitute for an individual management plan and individual medical advice cannot be given at the meetings. If you have symptoms you should see your GP.”

Tinnitus, described as a sensation or awareness of sound that is not caused by an external sound source, affects approximately six million people in the UK – ten percent of the UK’s population. Approximately half of those patients find it moderately or severely distressing, with complaints of intrusiveness, emotional stress, insomnia, auditory perceptual problems and difficulties with concentration.

David Stockdale, chief executive of the BTA, said: “It’s lovely to hear Carli’s inspirational story. It’s clear she has been very proactive in finding out what works for her with regard to living with her tinnitus and a big part of that has been her yoga and meditation as well as joining the Aintree Tinnitus Support Group.

“We’re thrilled to have now reached 100 support groups across the country. It is an incredible milestone for us and one we are really celebrating as we know what a vital part the groups play in helping people, like Carli, to live full lives with tinnitus.”