Shawn, USA
Shawn joined CBT4T by monthly subscription excluding appointments
Review written at the end of Stage 6, 8 weeks after enrolment by subscription: Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) 51.6% > 18.8% at Stage 6
Shawn's feedback at the end of Stage 6 (of 8 Stages):
Q: Would you recommend others with severe tinnitus distress to use the course, and if so, what would you say to them?
A: "Absolutely, if you are suffering, you don't have to. This course will help other things as well as the tinnitus."
Q: What benefit have you experienced using the relaxation element of the course so far?
A: "I have benefited from the relaxation in many ways. I am calmer and the drama of having tinnitus is almost gone. I feel healthier and have implemented meditation to my every day practice. I have used meditation when going through a long issue with piriformis syndrome. It was very helpful then. I'm not sure why I quit using this technique in the past."
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: "Yes, it is helpful to know the science behind what's going on with this tinnitus. I can see the over reacting to the noise and how it's affected me."
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: "I have learned to look at the behavior instead of just reacting like I've always done. Whenever an issue comes up I look to see the recovery side instead of dwelling in the problem. At this point it's 8 or 9 out of 10 times."
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: "I didn't think it was needed."
Q: What is your own impression of your progress to date?
A: "It has been very dramatic. I've come a long way not only with suffering with tinnitus but also have had great progress with pain issues."
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add regarding any part of the course so far?
A: "I appreciate everything I've learned."