Rose, UK
Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) 36.4% > 8.8% (category 3: moderate problem > category 1: not a problem)
Completed 16 weeks after enrolment
Final review
Q: Do you recommend others to use the Tinnitus E-Programme and if so, please say why:
A: "I strongly recommend the programme. The breathing and relaxing exercises made a real difference to my life and have made me calmer. The reframing exercises have been invaluable in so many life situations, not just tinnitus, and Debbie is a very encouraging and supportive guide."
"The Tinnitus E-Programme has been incredible for managing my tinnitus. I wasn’t sure if it would be right for me, as my tinnitus distress at the beginning was moderate, not severe. Having done the programme, I think anyone can benefit from it, however severe their distress is. I barely think about tinnitus now and when I do notice it, I have a very neutral response, no longer laden with negative emotions. I also no longer avoid situations which I think might aggravate the tinnitus as I know I can manage it."
Review written at Stage 6 (of 12) 12 weeks after enrolment
Q: Do you recommend others to use the CBT for Tinnitus E-Programme?
A: "Yes I would recommend the course. Doing the daily logs and weekly SITREPs helps you stick to the work and get results. It would be much harder trying to manage it alone and the temptation to give up is greater if you haven’t this daily/weekly responsibility to log and check in. The breathing and relaxation exercises can be fitted into even a busy life and regular practice of them makes a huge difference. Using the meaning adjuster is really helpful in reframing negative and unhelpful thinking patterns."
Q: What benefit have you experienced using the relaxation element of the course so far?
A: "I wasn’t new to relaxation/meditation - I had done it at the end of yoga over many years, but just for very short periods of time and as a bit of an add-on. What I have learned on this course has been much more in depth and effective, particularly because of doing it daily."
Q: How has the neuroscience-based learning about the amygdala, autonomic ladder and brain plasticity helped you to relate to your experience of tinnitus, anxiety and stress?
A: "The science has been the least familiar part of the course and probably the most difficult, as I’m not used to reading lots of science but it has helped me understand more about the links between anxiety and tinnitus."
Q: What have you learned from the Costs & Benefits Transaction work (used from Stage 3)? Estimate how much you have already adjusted from having a PROBLEM-ORIENTED perspective towards a RECOVERY-ORIENTED perspective (e.g. 2/10 > 7/10 indicates an improvement of 5 so far)
A: "The costs/benefit transaction work was very helpful and has helped me adjust to using recovery orientated perspectives on a range of issues, not just tinnitus. I estimate that my improvement has been from 3/10 to 8/10."
Q: You are likely to have had your first 1-1 by now. Did you benefit from your 1-1 and if so, how?
A: "It was good to meet Debbie finally and I enjoyed talking about my progress so far and found her very encouraging and friendly. It was very relaxed and I was inspired by Debbie to believe that I can at some point stop the course and carry on what I’ve learned by myself."
Q: What is your own impression of your progress to date?
A: "I feel a lot better than when I started in November. I was moderately affected by tinnitus then but am only mildly affected by it now so I feel I’ve made a lot of progress."