Not everyone with tinnitus struggles on a daily basis, but some do, and if that’s you, you might feel like you can't tell anyone.

Sometimes people around you might feel they can’t help you, but other times you can feel like you've told people that your tinnitus is terrible on so many occasions that you feel they aren’t really listening any more.

If you are really struggling, speak to your GP. They are often the first point of contact with health services, and this includes mental wellbeing services as well as physical wellbeing. Your GP will know when you need additional professional support, for example from the Community Mental Health Team, or you might need a referral to a specialist at the hospital.

Make sure you explain clearly to the GP what your problem is: if it’s that you’re not sleeping, or that you’re anxious, or that you’re sad all the time, or having the feeling that you can’t cope, or that your tinnitus has suddenly changed.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (called NICE) published Guidance for health professionals like GPs recently. This tells GPs how they should manage your case, and who they should refer you to if you are struggling.

The British Tinnitus Association has a leaflet about Tinnitus especially written for GPs, that you can download and take to your appointment if you think that might be useful.

If you already wear NHS hearing aids, speak to your Audiologist. There’s likely to be someone in the Audiology Department who has had additional training in working with people with tinnitus, and they could help. There may be a Hearing Therapist in the team who has specific training to support people with tinnitus, so it’s always worth asking.

The Audiology Team will also refer you for psychological support or counselling or to other departments, after consultation with your GP, if they think that would be helpful for you.

If you wear hearing aids you have bought privately, your Audiologist will probably know a Tinnitus Specialist who can help, so speak to them about onward referral for extra support. However, the Audiologist is also very likely to recommend that you go back to your GP as a best practice.

Your Audiologist could be a Tinnitus Specialist , or an Audiologist who is part of our Audiology Partner programme, so always ask for help.

There are over 100 British Tinnitus Association local Support Groups in the UK. Talking to other people with tinnitus can be really important. You can learn tips and techniques from each other, and the Groups provide the safe nonprejudicial listening space we all need.

Sometimes they have guest speakers from various disciplines such as Osteopaths and Relaxation Teachers, who might be able to help you too.

The BTA has a telephone helpline which is provided by volunteers, some of whom will have personal experience of tinnitus, and they too can listen to you.

There are no medicines anywhere in the world that have been proven to cure tinnitus. We would not recommend that you invest in any medicinal cures or herbal remedies you might see advertised online or in a magazine.

There are some traditional herbal remedies which have been taken for many years, like lavender for example, which might be used to help you relax and fall asleep, we would not recommend taking anything without consulting your GP first.

There are some proprietary medicines which have been shown to provide some help to get to sleep, or to relieve anxiety or distress, and in the UK these are only available through your GP.

Most importantly, please remember that there is help, if not a cure, and you will feel better. It might just take time to learn how. There is no quick fix with tinnitus: it takes time and consistent practice to learn to manage, and it’s hard work.

But the first step is to ask for help, you can get through it, and you don’t have to manage on your own: there are people who will listen and help.

Please reach out on via our messaging system in the app if you have a specific question which concerns you.

Keep going, work through the therapy steadily and regularly. With time, you will feel better.