pulsatile tinnitus for a year, and im helpless

That's pretty much how mine started over a year ago, with my sinus problems. The worst part was the initial realization, when it comes to your attention the brain begins to identify the condition as a threat and the body responds accordingly with all sorts of physiological responses, of which ,some of the more problematic ones are anxiety and the heightened state of awareness that accompanies it. At first I was groping for fixes, and came across all sorts of suggestions--- changing diets, TRT (tinnitus retraining therapy), counselling...ect, all of which though helpful and somewhat effective, have not completely cured my condition. The best advice I could offer you or anyone with this condition is to retrain the way you perceive the condition, accept it and try to maintain an overall positive mindset. The quicker you adapt the more you'll start to not notice your symptoms and for a time outside of flares it will be non-existent to you. After the first month, and properly coping, I had month's where I forgot I had it, until I started to flare again; but this time I had the tools to remind myself that I could find peace again. So don't worry, there are millions of people like us, who suffer and understand the pain and moments of despair, but keep your head high, you'll get through this and hopefully have a chance to give back to someone else who is where you are now in the future!

My apologies, I should have given you a bit of information on the condition itself. Many mistakenly confuse tinnitus as a condition of the ears, given the fact that it's has to do with what we are hearing. It has more to do with the part of your brain that interprets signals sent to it. Because of this there are many ways one can get Tinnitus--- through damaged cilia in the ear, through imbalance of pressure between the inner and middle ear, through jaw (TMJ) and upper cervical issues that pinch or constrict the (auditory) nerve going to the brain.. and the list goes on. The reason I suggested the approach I did, is because there currently is no clinical cure since it has to do primarily with the way the brain interprets signals. Retrain the way your mind/brain interprets the signals (threat to non-threat) and you change the game altogether in the long run, while we pray and hope for a cure.

Hi Allie. Here are my recommendations:

1. make an appointment with an Ear/Nose/Throat (ENT) doctor. This is the specialist who can help you identify what is causing the tinnitus. You could have allergies, a Eustachian tube problem, an infection, or any number of possible things can cause pulsatile tinnitus. The ENT will also likely administer a hearing test to determine if you have lost hearing in the affected ear.
2. ask the ENT to prescribe Ativan (Lorazapan) which is a sedative that will help calm the inner/middle ear as well as calm your anxiety. Ativan at a low dosage of 0.5mg is used extensively to calm tinnitus and is fairly effective. Good luck and let us know how you are doing.