I've had tinnitus for over 6 years in my left ear. In September, it got considerably worse. I got depressed about it for awhile, breaking down crying a time or two. But I got over that. What helps most is distraction.

I find that, if my mind is absorbed in doing something, I lose awareness of the "tone" in my ear. Even in a quiet room reading, I can lose awareness of it, if I get interested in what I'm reading.

The worst time is when I first wake up in the morning. That's when it seems very loud and impossible to ignore. I'm not tempted to try any of the OTC remedies because I suspect they're probably bogus.