Thank you. According to the doctors I've been to I don't actually have any hearing loss or damage, so I'm not sure if we have the same problems.
BUT I have spent most of the time trying to mask the sound - mostly by being outside among traffic most of the day, though it always comes back in the evenings / mornings. Then last night I decided to try to stop avoiding it, since without actually confronting it I'm not sure how my brain can get used to it. It was maddening, it does drive me crazy still, but somehow it's less exhausting than the constant fight against it. So I think your advice could still be valid in my case. We'll see. Thanks again for your response.
Yes I notice if I'm distracted it seems to go away. But unfortunately this only happens if I happen to be outside, surrounded by traffic. As soon as I'm indoors (esp. at home, in the evenings) it comes back & it's hard to think about anything else.
Thank you. Yes reading about it is so incredibly tempting and 99% of the time a terrible idea, not only because so many of the stories are the worst-case scenarios, but also because as you say it's better not to think of it. For me now sleep is the main problem...
But every word of encouragement that it is possible to adapt to it is super helpful. Thank you.