Sharon, UK
Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI): 70.0% (cat 4: 54-72% big problem) > Stage 6 (of 8): 39.6% (cat 3: 32-53% moderate problem)
Sharon's feedback at the end of Stage 6:
Q: Do you recommend others with severe tinnitus distress to use the CBT4T programme?
A: "I would definitely recommend the course. It is affordable and you can go at your own pace. Before I started the course I felt like I couldn’t cope with it anymore and was starting to feel quite depressed. The course has helped me understand tinnitus and how the brain works. I now have times when the tinnitus goes into the background and I don’t think about it, I am hoping these times will increase as I continue with the course."
Q: What benefit have you experienced using the relaxation element of the course so far?
A: "I have found the breathing and relaxation element of the course has really helped me feel less anxious and more relaxed. I have never done this sort of exercise before and was quite sceptical to start with but within a couple of weeks I started to notice a difference."
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 neuroscience based learning has really helped me to understand how anxiety and stress really makes a difference to the loudness and intrusiveness of the 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: "It helped me realise that I was constantly looking at things in a problem oriented way and only saw the negatives. I can now see things in a recovery oriented perspective . I think I have changed from a 1/10 to a 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 lovely to meet up with Debbie. She was very friendly and easy to talk too. We talked about the course and she gave me the confidence that I am on track with everything and doing well. It also helped that she also has tinnitus so can understand how you are feeling from personal experience."
Q: What is your own impression of your progress to date?
A: "I feel like I am making progress and my mid-term measures have proved this. I am less anxious and upset than I was before starting the course. Sleep has improved and I feel like I can get on with my life despite having tinnitus."
Q: The weekly SITREP was introduced in August 2023. Have you found it useful to report in weekly and if so, why?
A: "The weekly SITREP is a really good way to keep you engaged and to help you keep a track of your progress from week to week."
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add regarding any part of the course so far?
A: "It’s a great course and has helped me realise that I can and do have a good life despite having tinnitus."