Date: Fri Jul 21, 2000 3:44 pm

Subject: Re: [benzo] I MUST BE OUT OF LUCK! STILL HAVE SEVERE TINNITUS.

Hi xxxxxx,

Firstly let me reassure you, yes at our Tranquilliser Project we have had many people who have had or are going through long term tinnitus, this is a most distressing and frustrating symptom and sadly it can go on for quite a long time. Time once again is the healer here and people do try to use some distraction methods such as using a walkman and listening to music when they can as this sometimes distracts from the ringing, buzzing or whooshing sounds.

As for the symptoms worsening this happens to most of us in withdrawal, in fact you can feel almost as though you just cold turkied even though you have been off quite a while. These episodes will lessen as time goes on and although they can make us feel as though we've made no progress and cannot possibly recover this is the time to be strong, remember how far you've come and keep telling yourself that withdrawal is full of peaks and troughs, nature doesn't heal in a straight line.

You deserve much praise for coming this far and all of us on this group do understand the frustrations when symptoms go on and on and ease up and return. Everyone here has my admiration and respect and I feel proud to be a part of this group of caring,special people.

Love Carol.