Episodios

  • Episode 150 - The Hobby Tinnitus took from me (And how I claimed it back)

    Episode 150 - The Hobby Tinnitus took from me (And how I claimed it back)
    Apr 3 2026
    Hey Tinnitus Friends and Family, Cycling was everything to me. And then tinnitus started. Suddenly, the one thing that used to give me peace became unbearable. Why I stopped cycling: First: I was exhausted. All my energy was going into coping with tinnitus. Googling constantly. Trying supplements. Obsessing over whether it was louder or quieter. I had nothing left for cycling. It felt like too much. Second—and this was harder: When I did try to ride after a couple of months, all I could hear was the tinnitus. I'd be cycling through a forest. Beautiful landscape. Birdsong. Wind. And all I could focus on was the ringing. It ruined the whole experience. So I stopped. I told myself: "Just until things settle." Weeks became months. Months became almost a year. I was waiting for the tinnitus to get quieter so I could enjoy cycling again. But it never got quieter. What losing it cost: Losing cycling didn't just mean missing the rides. It meant losing my reset button. No way to clear my head. No way to feel like myself. Life got smaller. ACT principle: When we abandon our values to manage our discomfort, the discomfort doesn't decrease—but the life does. I thought I was protecting myself by avoiding the thing that hurt. But I was actually making my world smaller. And the smaller my world got, the bigger the tinnitus felt. Because there was nothing else competing for my brain's attention. Just me and the ringing. The shift - what changed: The tinnitus didn't get quieter. It's still loud. I can hear it right now. What changed was my relationship with needing it to be quiet. I realized: I was waiting for the tinnitus to not be there before I could enjoy cycling again. So I made a decision: What if I went cycling with the tinnitus? Not waiting for it to go away. Not fighting it. Not needing it to be quiet. Just going anyway. So I got on my bike. And I rode. The tinnitus was still there. Loud and clear. But here's what shifted: I stopped making the ride about the tinnitus. I stopped needing it to NOT be there. I let it be there—like my heartbeat, like my breath when I'm cycling. And for the first time in months, I felt like I could enjoy this again. I could hear the tinnitus and feel the wind. The tinnitus and the movement. The tinnitus and the joy of cycling. What this is really about: This is what values-based living means. This is what Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches: You don't wait for the discomfort to pass before you start living. You do what matters while the discomfort is present. And when you do that, your brain gets evidence: "I can do this. The sound is there, but I'm still me. I'm still living." That's when habituation happens. These days: I cycle all the time. Through forests. Along rivers. In complete nature. My tinnitus is there. Always. I can hear it. Loud and clear. But I don't pay attention to it. Not because I'm forcing myself to ignore it. Because I'm paying attention to something else. What's the thing you're putting on hold? Not a big question. A specific one. One thing you used to do that mattered to you. Cycling? Going to concerts? Reading in silence? Ready to understand where you are in your habituation journey? Take the free habituation quiz: www.habituate.online It takes 2 minutes and will help you: After the quiz, you'll get our free 4-day email course on ACT-based tinnitus habituation. Let me know in the comments: What's the one thing you put on hold? What would it take to try it again? I read every comment. New videos every Friday. — Frieder
    Más Menos
    10 m
  • Episode 149 - Everything I Wish ENTs Knew About Tinnitus

    Episode 149 - Everything I Wish ENTs Knew About Tinnitus
    Mar 20 2026
    Hey Tinnitus Friends & Family, After working with 700+ people with tinnitus, they all told me the same story: "My ENT said there's nothing we can do. Go home, relax, don't worry about it." And then they were sent home—alone, terrified, with no support. In this episode, I break down: What ENTs get RIGHT: There's no medical cure for most tinnitus (true) They rule out serious medical causes (important) They can help with underlying causes (earwax, TMJ, infections) Here's what I wish ENTs would explain: 1. Tinnitus is a nervous system condition, not just an ear problem The biggest suffering doesn't come from the sound itself—it comes from your nervous system's response. When your nervous system is in fight-or-flight, tinnitus becomes a threat. Your brain amplifies it, monitors it constantly, won't let it fade. ENTs treat ears. They don't treat nervous systems. And we can't hold that against them—but you need to know there ARE tools for this. 2. Loudness ≠ suffering I've seen people with very loud tinnitus who aren't bothered at all. And people with mild tinnitus who are suffering intensely. The difference? Not the decibel level. The nervous system's response. ENTs often give the wrong prognosis based on loudness alone. They assume louder = worse suffering. That's not true. 3. Isolation makes it worse When an ENT says "nothing we can do" and sends you home, you're left alone with a condition your brain perceives as a threat. That isolation activates your nervous system even more. Your brain thinks: "I'm alone with danger. This must be serious." ENTs don't mention that community and co-regulation are part of the treatment. 4. Habituation is possible—and it's teachable ENTs say: "You'll have to learn to live with it." But they don't tell you how. They don't mention: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — the most evidence-based psychological approach for tinnitus Nervous system work — teaching your brain that tinnitus is safe Community support — co-regulation with people who understand They leave you to figure it out alone. My tinnitus is 0% of a problem. Why? Because I didn't wait for it to get quieter. I lived my life despite it. What I wish ENTs would say: Instead of: "There's nothing we can do. Good luck." I wish they'd say: "There's nothing medical we can do to eliminate the sound. But you CAN habituate through nervous system work, ACT, and community support. Here are resources." Where to start: Take the free habituation quiz: www.habituate.online It takes 2 minutes and helps you Let me know in the comments: What did your ENT tell you when you first got tinnitus? — Frieder
    Más Menos
    12 m
  • Episode 148 - Why I Built My Tinnitus Club (And What Makes It Different From All Other Tinnitus Apps)

    Episode 148 - Why I Built My Tinnitus Club (And What Makes It Different From All Other Tinnitus Apps)
    Mar 13 2026
    At 19 years old, I developed severe tinnitus. I was terrified. Desperate. Completely alone. The ENT told me: "There's nothing we can do. You'll have to learn to live with it." And then sent me home. That experience is why I built My Tinnitus Club. I built what I needed when I was 19—and what I wish had existed back then. In this video, I'm sharing: Why apps, courses, and forums aren't enough What makes My Tinnitus Club different How community changes everything for tinnitus habituation Here's the problem with tinnitus apps: They treat tinnitus like a solo problem you solve alone. You download the app. Watch pre-recorded videos. Do exercises by yourself. Track progress on a chart. But when you're struggling at 2am—when your tinnitus is screaming and you think you'll never get better—the app isn't there. The algorithm doesn't know you're suffering. The pre-recorded videos can't respond to your specific situation. And that isolation? That's exactly what makes tinnitus worse. Here's what I've learned after working with 700+ people: Your nervous system doesn't learn safety from an algorithm. It learns safety from other humans. That's not motivational talk. That's neuroscience. We're wired for co-regulation—being around other people who've been through what we're going through. Apps can't give you that. But community can. Why I built My Tinnitus Club: When I was 19, I was born deaf in my left ear—so I only had one functioning ear. At 19, I damaged it at a concert. Severe, high-pitched tinnitus. I was terrified. I went to the ENT desperate for help. He said: "There's nothing we can do. Protect your hearing in the future. Good luck." No support. No resources. No follow-up. Just: "Figure it out on your own." So I did what most people do: Googled endlessly Read horror stories on forums Tried every supplement, sound therapy, supposed cure And I felt completely alone. Years later, when I became a tinnitus coach, I thought: "What if I had this at 19? What if I didn't have to spend years figuring this out alone?" So I built it. A safe space where people can: Learn the most effective tools for habituation (12-week ACT-based program) Be supported daily by real people who understand Never feel alone with tinnitus again I built what I needed when I was 19.
    Más Menos
    12 m
  • Episode 147 - 5 Things That Actually Work for Tinnitus Relief (From 700+ Coaching Sessions)

    Episode 147 - 5 Things That Actually Work for Tinnitus Relief (From 700+ Coaching Sessions)
    Mar 6 2026
    Hey Tinnitus Friends & Family, After working with over 700 people with tinnitus through personal coaching and MyTinnitus.Club, I've seen what actually works for tinnitus relief—not just theories from studies, but real-world results from real people. This video covers the 5 most effective strategies I've consistently seen help people move toward habituation: Nervous System Regulation – Why tinnitus is more than an ear problem and how creating "islands of relaxation" reduces reactivity Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – How to make space for difficult thoughts without being consumed by them (not forced positivity) Community & Co-Regulation – Why isolation keeps you stuck and how connection rewires your brain's threat response Sleep (Done Right) – Stop fighting wakefulness and learn to allow sleep instead of achieving it Values-Based Living – Why waiting for habituation to live your life actually blocks habituation ⚠️ Important: This is NOT about promising silence, herbal cures, or expensive hearing aids. Real tinnitus relief is about retraining your brain's reaction to tinnitus—not eliminating the sound. Real examples from MyTinnitus.Club members included ✅ 📌 RESOURCES: Take the Habituation Quiz: habituate.online Join the 12-Week Program: mytinnitus.club Free 4-Day Course: [link] 🎯 WHO THIS IS FOR: People with chronic tinnitus who are tired of fighting the sound and ready to learn how to live well despite it. 🚫 WHO THIS ISN'T FOR: Anyone looking for miracle cures, quick fixes, or promises of silence. 💬 What's worked for YOU? Drop your experiences in the comments—let's help each other build that habituation muscle. 👍 Like, share, and subscribe if you found this helpful! #Tinnitus #TinnitusRelief #Habituation #ACT #TinnitusCoach Hear you soon! Frieder
    Más Menos
    14 m
  • Episode 146 - Tinnitus Sound Therapy: The Truth I Tell My Clients

    Episode 146 - Tinnitus Sound Therapy: The Truth I Tell My Clients
    Feb 27 2026
    Hey Tinnitus Friends and Family, 120,000 people search for "tinnitus sound therapy" every month. And most of what they find is incomplete—or just wrong. I'm Tinnitus Coach Frieder. I'm ACT-trained, I've worked with over 700 people, and I'm the founder of My Tinnitus Club. Here's what I actually tell my clients about sound therapy—the truth you need to hear. In this video, I break down: The 3 types of sound therapy: 1. **Masking** – covering up tinnitus with external sound (white noise, fans, music) 2. **Sound enrichment** – background sound quieter than your tinnitus 3. **Notched sound therapy** – filtering out your tinnitus frequency to retrain your auditory system What sound therapy CAN do (short-term benefits): - Reduces contrast between silence and loud tinnitus - Provides temporary relief - Helps with sleep and difficult moments in early stages The 3 major limitations no one talks about: 1. It doesn't retrain your nervous system - Sound therapy distracts you, but doesn't teach your brain that tinnitus is safe - If you're using white noise 24/7, your nervous system is still in fight-or-flight - You're covering up the alarm bell—not turning it off 2. You can't use it everywhere - Business meetings, social situations, when battery dies - What happens when it stops? You're back to square one - You're stuck on a crutch instead of retraining your brain 3. It creates dependency - I've worked with people who panic when masking stops - The opposite of habituation - Teaches your brain you can ONLY be okay when you can't hear it Here's the truth: Sound therapy is a tool. It's not the solution. The solution is teaching your nervous system that tinnitus is safe to experience—**even in silence.** I can meditate with my tinnitus blaring. I can hear it over a four-lane street. But I have zero reaction to it. Why? Because my nervous system learned safety. What actually creates lasting tinnitus habituation (from 700+ cases): 1. Nervous system work Your brain learns through lived experience (not just understanding) that tinnitus is safe. 2. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - Accept difficult thoughts and feelings - Defuse from catastrophic thinking - Live by your values despite tinnitus 3. Community and co-regulation Your nervous system learns safety from being around other humans who've been through this. That's not motivational talk—that's neuroscience. 4. Tools for your triggers Sleep work, anxiety regulation, spike management—personalized to YOUR nervous system. This is why My Tinnitus Club exists. It's not just an app. It's not just pre-recorded videos. It's a community where you work through ACT tools together, with: - Weekly live group coaching with me - People who understand what you're going through - Personalized support for your journey Sound therapy can be part of your toolkit—especially at the start. But the foundation of real habituation? Nervous system work, ACT, and community. Ready to start? Take the free habituation quiz: www.habituate.online It takes 2 minutes and will help you: - Identify where you are in your habituation journey - Understand what's keeping you stuck - Get personalized next steps After the quiz, you'll get access to our free 4-day guide on tinnitus habituation. Want to go deeper? Check out My Tinnitus Club at www.mytinnitus.club for our 12-week ACT-based program with live coaching and community support. Hear you in the next one! Your Tinnitus Coach Frieder
    Más Menos
    11 m
  • Episode 145 - What causes Tinnitus (And why it's always individual)

    Episode 145 - What causes Tinnitus (And why it's always individual)
    Feb 20 2026
    Hey Tinnitus Friends and Family, Today we deal with the questions of : "What caused my tinnitus?" This is one of the most common questions I get as a tinnitus coach. And after working with over 700 people in coaching sessions and at My Tinnitus Club, I've seen every possible cause of tinnitus. But here's the truth most people don't understand: your story is individual. And that matters more than you think. In this video, I break down: The 3 main causes of tinnitus: Hearing loss or damage to the auditory system Age-related hearing loss Noise-induced hearing loss (concerts, headphones, loud environments) Acoustic trauma Ear infections or earwax buildup Ototoxic medications Stress, anxiety, and nervous system activation Tinnitus isn't just an ear problem — it's a nervous system condition Chronic stress puts your nervous system in fight-or-flight mode I've seen people develop tinnitus during burnout, divorce, grief, panic attacks Their ears were fine, but their nervous system was screaming Physical issues: neck, jaw, or circulatory problems TMJ (teeth grinding) Neck tension or cervical spine issues High blood pressure or vascular problems (pulsatile tinnitus) But here's what most people miss: Two people can have the exact same cause of tinnitus — but completely different experiences. Example: Person A habituates in 6 months. Back to living life, barely notices it. Person B is still struggling 2 years later. The sound hasn't changed, but the reaction has. Why? Because habituation isn't just about what caused your tinnitus. It's about: Your nervous system's current state Your history with anxiety or trauma Your support system (are you doing this alone?) Your relationship with uncertainty and control Whether you've learned tools like ACT to regulate your response Here's the truth: Most tinnitus doesn't have a reversible cause. You can't undo hearing loss. You can't go back and avoid that concert. You can't erase the stress that triggered your nervous system. What you CAN do is teach your nervous system that tinnitus is safe to experience. And that process? It's individual. Why I'm telling you this: I see people waste months or years trying to find the "one thing" that caused their tinnitus. They think: "If I can just figure out the cause, I can fix it." But obsessing over the cause? That's what keeps you stuck. Because habituation isn't about fixing the cause. It's about changing your nervous system's response to the sound. And you don't have to figure that out alone. At My Tinnitus Club, we don't treat tinnitus like a formula. We don't say: "Do these 5 steps and you'll be cured." We say: "Let's figure out what YOU need. Together." Because habituation happens when: Your nervous system learns safety (through lived experience, not just understanding) You have tools for YOUR triggers (ACT, nervous system regulation, sleep work) You're not doing this alone (community, coaching, people who get it) Your nervous system learns safety from co-regulation — being around other humans who've been through this and come out the other side. What to do next: If you're new to tinnitus and searching for answers, start with my free 4-day email course on tinnitus habituation: www.habituate.online If you've been struggling for a while and want deeper support, check out My Tinnitus Club at www.mytinnitus.club — our ACT-based community with weekly group coaching, buddy system, and forum where people share wins, setbacks, and progress. Enjoy! Frieder
    Más Menos
    16 m
  • Episode 144 - You Are Never Alone with Tinnitus

    Episode 144 - You Are Never Alone with Tinnitus
    Feb 13 2026
    A different kind of video today. I'm filming this right after my therapy appointment. It's been a difficult couple of weeks for me — burnout recovery, workload, and some personal challenges I've been navigating. This video isn't polished. It's not heavily edited. It's just me, being human, and sharing something I think is important: You're not alone with tinnitus. And I'm not alone either. Why I'm sharing this: Tinnitus is incredibly isolating. Most people tell me they feel like they're the only one experiencing it — and that isolation is often worse than the sound itself. But here's the truth: 15-25% of people experience tinnitus. Millions of people around the world are going through exactly what you're going through. The feelings — anxiety, despair, anger, isolation — are not unique to you. They're part of the human experience of this condition. And when we feel alone, tinnitus gets worse. Loneliness and isolation do one thing: they make you focus more on the sound, perceive it more intensely, and get stuck in the same vicious cycle of thoughts and feelings. Habituation moves further away when you're alone. It comes closer when you're connected. Why I built My Tinnitus Club: I built this community because I know what it's like to feel completely alone with tinnitus. I was 19, deaf in one ear, and the ENT said "there's nothing we can do." I needed: People who understood A space where I didn't have to explain Support that wasn't just an app or pre-recorded videos So I created that space: My Tinnitus Club. It's not just a program. It's a community where: You meet people from around the world who share your experience You practice ACT tools together (not alone) You realize you're not the only one — and that changes everything Because your nervous system needs to hear: "I'm fine. Other people have been through this. I can do it too." That's how habituation happens. My message to you today: Whether you connect through YouTube comments, or join us at My Tinnitus Club, or find support somewhere else — please don't do this alone. I've had a difficult week. I'm going through my own challenges. And what I need most right now is connection — people who understand, who care, who remind me I'm not alone. You need that too. Not because it's nice to have. Because it's how your nervous system learns safety. And safety is what creates habituation. Coming soon: I'm working on a full webinar about how ACT and community work together at My Tinnitus Club. I'll let you know when it's ready. For now, if you want to explore the community or learn more about our 12-week program, visit www.habituate.online. Thank you for being here. Thank you for allowing me to do this work. And thank you for being part of this community — even if we've never met. I'm grateful for every single one of you. Let me know in the comments: How do you deal with isolation when tinnitus feels overwhelming? See you next week. — Frieder P.S. I'm human. I try my best. I stand for what I believe is right — connection, care, and community. That's what this channel is about. That's what My Tinnitus Club is about. And I hope it helps you feel a little less alone today.
    Más Menos
    11 m
  • Episode 143 - Agi and Her Tinnitus Success Story

    Episode 143 - Agi and Her Tinnitus Success Story
    Feb 6 2026
    Hey Tinnitus Friends and Family, From panic attacks and 24/7 masking to hiking in the mountains and sleeping in silence — this is Agi's tinnitus habituation story. Agi, a teacher from Austria, developed severe, intrusive tinnitus at 29 after already habituating once as a teenager. What followed was one of the hardest periods of her life: constant anxiety, weight loss, dependence on loud masking, and the feeling that her life was over. In this conversation, Agi shares how she moved from fear to acceptance — not by making her tinnitus quieter, but by changing her relationship with it. She talks about: • Realizing she had developed a phobia of her own tinnitus • Working with a therapist specializing in exposure therapy • The turning point when she stopped believing her catastrophic thoughts • How she learned to accept anxiety and annoyance — without needing them to disappear first • Why she now welcomes new tones instead of panicking about them • The difference between silence and peace (and why we confuse the two) This isn't a story about tinnitus going away. It's about someone who can now lie in bed in complete silence, hear her tinnitus clearly, and genuinely not care. If you're struggling right now, Agi's message is simple: believe that habituation is possible for you — even when your thoughts tell you otherwise. It takes time. It's not always fast. But it happens. If you want support on your habituation journey, visit **habituate.online** for free resources and my 4-day email introduction course. To join the same community Agi found helpful, check out **www.mytinnitus.club**. New episodes every Friday. See you next week. — Frieder
    Más Menos
    48 m