The Tinnitus Room with Dr Gladys Sanda

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Jennifer Gans, licensed psychologist and founder of mindfultinnitusrelief.com. She shares a very different way of understanding tinnitus, and explains why many people feel stuck with it for years.Most people are told tinnitus is something they have to live with, manage, or hope will go away. Dr. Gans explains why, in many cases, tinnitus is better understood as a brain error, a false alarm that the system keeps repeating.We explore how the brain’s prediction system can get it wrong, especially in states of stress and high vigilance, and how this can keep tinnitus feeling intrusive and distressing.We cover:Why tinnitus can become a “stuck” pattern rather than an ongoing problem in the earsHow accurate education can reduce fear and distressThe role of mindfulness in creating space between sound and reactionHow attention and anxiety keep tinnitus activePractical ways to change your response without relying on devices or quick fixesWhy learning to respond, rather than react, is key to moving forwardDr. Gans shares a clear approach that uses mindfulness to help you reduce suffering from tinnitus and regain a sense of control.This is not about finding a cure or eliminating tinnitus. It is about understanding what is happening in your brain, and using that knowledge to change your experience of it.An honest and practical conversation about shifting tinnitus from something that dominates your life, to something your brain no longer needs to prioritise.This episode kicks off a series of conversations with healthcare professionals dedicated to helping people with tinnitus reclaim their lives.Follow me on Instagram @tinnituswithgladys for practical tinnitus strategies.Resources:Free tinnitus masterclass:www.drgladys.co.uk/learn

In this episode, I speak with Emma about her journey with tinnitus after noise exposure, and how she moved from despair to living a full life again.We cover:​Telling people about her tinnitus, without it defining you or your self worth​Finding new passions and building a meaningful life alongside it​What she would avoid doing if she developed tinnitus for the first time​Tinnitus spikes and how she responds to them​Turning the pain of tinnitus into purpose and advocating for others​How she navigated tinnitus during her weddingThis is not a story about tinnitus disappearing. Emma still has tinnitus. It no longer defines her life or limits what she does.An honest conversation about identity, purpose, and living well with tinnitus.Follow me on Instagram @tinnituswithgladys for practical tinnitus strategies.Resources:www.drgladys.co.uk/learn

In this episode, I speak with Nick about his journey with tinnitus, and why he was convinced he was the one person who would never habituate.We cover:Believing he was the worst tinnitus case and could never recoverThe fear of never living a normal life againNavigating grief alongside the onset of tinnitusIntrusive thoughts and the obsession to constantly fix the soundHow OCD patterns and reassurance seeking maintained distressShifting from control and resistance to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy principlesAddressing wider psychological factors, not just tinnitus itselfReclaiming his life while still living with tinnitusThis is not a story about tinnitus disappearing. Nick still hears tinnitus...though he talks about a period where he did not notice tinnitus for 3 weeks!The difference is that it no longer dictates his choices, attention, or future.An honest conversation about grief, intrusive thoughts, acceptance, and rebuilding life after believing you were the exception.Follow me on Instagram @tinnituswithgladys for practical tinnitus strategies.Resources:Free tinnitus masterclass⁠⁠⁠:⁠www.drgladys.co.uk/learn

In this episode, I speak with Mike about his journey with tinnitus which spans over more than three decades, and what changed when it suddenly became impossible to ignore.We cover:Living with tinnitus for 30 yearsWhy longstanding tinnitus can become distressing later in lifeHow his journey with tinnitus is comparable to his journey in diabetesMoving from cynicism to being ready to embrace tinnitus coachingHow understanding tinnitus changed his relationship with the soundPractical coaching strategies that reduced fear and restored controlBehaviour change and consistent practice in habituationTools that supported progress, including sound strategies and technologyThe value of community, shared experience, and feeling understoodWhat he would say to people who believe they are a lost causeHe began the journey sceptical about tinnitus coaching, unsure it could help after decades of living with the condition. Through the process, that cynicism shifted, and he learned skills that allowed tinnitus to take up far less space in his life. An honest conversation about moving from doubt to openness, long-term habituation, and learning to live well alongside tinnitus.This episode was recorded in 2024.Follow me on Instagram @tinnituswithgladys for practical tinnitus strategies.Resources:Free tinnitus masterclass⁠:www.drgladys.co.uk/learn

In this episode, I speak with Philip about his journey with tinnitus and sudden hearing loss.We cover:How his sudden hearing loss first developedHabituating to tinnitus for over a decadeWhat it was like when tinnitus returnedThe practical mindfulness tools he uses day to dayHow he regulates his nervous system and reduces fearHow these experiences led him to support others with tinnitusThis is not a story about tinnitus disappearing. Philip still lives with tinnitus. It no longer dictates his life.An honest conversation about long term habituation, recurrence, and living well alongside tinnitus.Find Philip on Instagram at @tuneouttinnitus.Follow me on Instagram @tinnituswithgladys for practical tinnitus strategies.Resources:Free tinnitus masterclasswww.drgladys.co.uk/learn

In this episode, I speak with Amit about his journey with tinnitus over the past 3 years.We talk about how tinnitus first developed, how his early consultations with ENT shaped his understanding, and what shifted when he began to look at tinnitus through a different lens.Amit shares how mindfulness and Qigong supported his nervous system, why working with a coach mattered, and how he navigated the stigma he felt around medication.Medication is not for everyone, and it is never the whole solution when it comes to tinnitus. But for some people, at the right time, it can be a helpful bridge. Removing the judgment around this can be powerful in the tinnitus healing journey.This is not a story about tinnitus disappearing. Amit is still navigating it. The difference is that it no longer dictates his life.We discuss how fear reduced, how his perspective changed, and how he reconnected with comedy and joy along the way.An honest conversation about living fully, even while tinnitus is present.Amit also references @hanshappinessproject, which played a meaningful role in his journey.Follow me on Instagram @tinnituswithgladys to learn practical strategies for managing tinnitus.Resources:Free tinnitus masterclass⁠www.drgladys.co.uk/learn

Denise first developed tinnitus in her teens. Over time, she habituated and learned to live with it, believing she understood what tinnitus was and how it worked. For many years, it stayed in the background.Later in life, her tinnitus changed. That shift prompted her to look at it again, this time more deeply. In doing so, she realised that what she thought tinnitus was earlier in life was only part of the picture.In this episode, Denise speaks openly about how addressing past trauma, reconnecting with joy and seeking meaningful connection helps her cope with this change. She reflects on how allowing herself to feel normal again, rather than monitoring or fighting the sound, plays a key role in steadying her system.She shares:What tinnitus was like beforeHow she habituated and moved onWhat changed later and why it felt unsettlingHow working through past experiences helpsThe role of joy, connection and feeling normal againHow her relationship with tinnitus has evolvedThis is a vulnerable and honest conversation about long-term tinnitus, change, and how healing often happens beyond the sound itself.Follow me on Instagram @tinnituswithgladys to learn practical strategies for managing tinnitus.Resources:Free tinnitus masterclasswww.drgladys.co.uk/learn

When Kenneth first developed tinnitus, it felt overwhelming and intrusive. Tinnitus affected his sleep, focus and confidence in daily life. Like many people, he spent a long time trying to understand why it was happening and how to make it stop.In this episode, we talk about how Kenneth’s relationship with tinnitus has changed over time and what helped him regain a sense of steadiness and control. His story highlights how stress, pressure and fear can amplify symptoms, and how things can shift when the nervous system begins to settle.He shares:​What tinnitus felt like at the start​How stress affected his symptoms​The patterns he began to notice​What helped him stop fighting the sound​How life feels now compared to the early daysThis episode offers a real and honest account of living with tinnitus and finding a way forward. It will help you understand your own reactions and feel less alone in the process.Follow me on Instagram @tinnituswithgladys to learn practical strategies for managing tinnitus.Resources:Free tinnitus masterclasswww.drgladys.co.uk/learn

Daphne, is a 34 year old journalist and podcast producer, who developed tinnitus in her mid-20s. She struggled a lot in those early years. She felt alone, worried about what her future would look like. With time she reached habituation.Motherhood brought a setback. In this episode we talk about how she is now navigating tinnitus, as the mother of young children. She shares:what her early struggle looked likehow she reached habituation in her twentieswhy motherhood changed thingsthe spike she faced after having two childrenhow she is staying steady while parentingPost-recording, Daphne said "I want to make it clear, the good days as a mum are now better than the bad days, and I wouldn't change a thing!"This episode gives you a real story and practical steps to help you understand your own reactions and feel less alone.Follow me on Instagram @tinnituswithgladys to develop more strategies to help you manage tinnitus.Resources:Free tinnitus masterclassdrgladys.co.uk/learn