Psycho-Babble Psychology Thread 442588

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Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics

Posted by badhaircut on January 17, 2005, at 13:40:12

In reply to Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics, posted by TF on January 17, 2005, at 7:37:58

TF–

Does the smoker you live with think you have an odor? Of course, smokers often lose some of their powers of smell, but what does he say?

Also, if the cause were something in the home (midewy carpet or sulphurous laundry water, etc), he would probably also carry an odor. Does anyone have "disgust" reactions to him?

 

Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics » badhaircut

Posted by TF on January 17, 2005, at 14:01:14

In reply to Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics, posted by badhaircut on January 17, 2005, at 13:40:12

I don't notice a strong or unusual odor coming from him, aside from the smell of cigarettes. But he masks that with cologne. I've noticed disgust reactions from him toward me, but when I ask point blank, he just denies noticing any odor.

I haven't noticed anyone reacting that way to him, but I'm too focused on my own situation to really care.

 

Re: Body Odor » TF

Posted by badhaircut on January 17, 2005, at 15:10:27

In reply to Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics » badhaircut, posted by TF on January 17, 2005, at 14:01:14

This is a very interesting topic. It's uniquely hard to talk about face-to-face, for the reasons you mention. If someone denies smelling anything on me AND I believe they'd be too shy / polite / whatever to say anything, it would be hard to know.

It sounds like this is taking a cost in the quality of your life. I feel for you. I wish I had something to offer. I am wondering out loud here: What would be different if the odor were confirmed by someone? If they said, "YOU STINK!" What then?

Little kids can often be straightforward about stuff like this. Are there any little tykes, up to about 4 years old, in your family or social circles that you could ask, in a casual, friendly, lighthearted way? ("Hey sweetie, do you smell something stinky around here?") If a child says no-odor, it's probably no-odor. Of course, the kiddie might say, "You smell icky." That would be painful. Would it also be a kind of relief? It would be something different.

 

Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics

Posted by TF on January 17, 2005, at 15:55:53

In reply to Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics » TF, posted by alexandra_k on January 15, 2005, at 23:20:12

I wouldn't mind, really. I'm 99% sure that there's an odor, and I've imagined worse things being said behind my back by adults.

The only thing that bothers me right now is that I'm not sure how to handle this if it's true. I've thought about maybe getting a colonic or two, and then getting strict with myself about what I eat so it doesn't get clogged up again (IF that's the problem).

I probably should've mentioned this earlier, but I have a tendancy to forget that other people don't know the little details of my situation. While in the psyche ward, a lot of things were confirmed for me, regarding my odor.

On my last day there, I was under the blankets in my room when a couple of nurses (Or patients, I'm not sure) peeked in. One said, 'He's asleep.' Then I heard someone else say, 'He'd be cute if he got rid of that (stench).' Not 100% on what the second person said. I think it began with s, but for all I know she could've been referring to my spare tire (middle fat). Whatever.

The night before, there was an incident where something happened with the laundry washer, and they had to call environmental to clean things up with some sort of wet/dry vac. I clearly heard one nurse say, 'I'd like to use this thing on Todd (me).'

Not to mention the endless hints dropped by other patients, who, though they were really nasty at times (Which is understandable. Who wouldn't be a little cranky too if someone was making them physically ill? Some kind of saint.). During one group, we were going over the rules, and someone mentioned one regarding hygiene. One of the patients said "Yeah, some people here don't take care of their hygiene (Or something along those lines. It's not complete verbatim.)".

Another time, in the kitchen, an older lady was drinking some water by the faucet, and said, "I like water. Flushes your system." And then looked halfway in my direction.

Other comments were made that are probably too graphic to mention here. But they did leave me with the impression that my odor is feculent (is that the right word?).

As you can probably see from these examples, the signals aren't as ambiguous as I might've led you folks to believe. The only thing ambiguous in this situation is the state of my mind and ears, both of which, according to what my family and medical providers tell me, I can no longer trust. Then again, I've never told anyone about these specific situations. Maybe if I did tell my therapists and doctors about these examples, they'd be more forthcoming. It's just hard for me to concentrate enough, when I'm speaking, to form coherent sentences. I should prolly take snippets of these posts and give them to the therapist or GP.

 

Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics

Posted by Fallen4MyT on January 17, 2005, at 16:13:59

In reply to Body Odor and therapist ethics, posted by TF on January 15, 2005, at 22:09:09

I don't know what to think of this but I think a T of all professionals would tell you so that you would be better of socially. No matter what I am so sorry cause I know I would feel badly if I thought that...Maybe after a shower....use lots of talc and use deodorant like two times a day..seems that would be a good preventative move. Maybe some people have like issues with a cologne you use or some product?

 

Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics » TF

Posted by Shortelise on January 17, 2005, at 16:22:22

In reply to Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics, posted by TF on January 17, 2005, at 15:55:53

TF,

There are a couple of things I think about as I read your posts.

First of all, it sounds like there is no one in your life you feel you can trust. I mean, if I thought I smelled bad, there are people in my life I know would tell me the truth, people I trust. My therapist is one of them.

Secondly, I do want to tell you that drinking lots of water is very important. I don't know what it could do for your scent, but for physical and mental health, it's essential. If you are constipated, deal with that, talk with your docs about it, and deal with it. More water and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables would probably solve that.

Last, if I were you, I would gently ask myself what it means to me to smell like feces. I would ask myself what the point would be of people lying, and what that means to me.

If you were my friend, and you asked me to be honest, I promise you I would be. I think it's a very good idea to print your posts and take them to your therapist or doctor. You sound as if you really really need to get a straight answer about this.

Take care, TF.

ShortE

 

Re: Body Odor » TF

Posted by badhaircut on January 17, 2005, at 16:34:16

In reply to Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics, posted by TF on January 17, 2005, at 15:55:53

Todd, thanks for the additional info. (I hope it's OK to call you Todd.)

> It's just hard for me to concentrate enough, when I'm speaking, to form coherent sentences

Yeah, speaking is really on-the-spot! There's so much going on in a live conversation. But you are articulate & coherent in writing here.

> I should prolly take snippets of these posts and give them to the therapist

I think a lot of Babblers do that. After you see your T, I hope you post an update. Good luck!!

 

Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics/another idea

Posted by Fallen4MyT on January 17, 2005, at 16:38:49

In reply to Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics, posted by TF on January 17, 2005, at 15:55:53

You said "On my last day there, I was under the blankets in my room when a couple of nurses (Or patients, I'm not sure) peeked in. One said, 'He's asleep.' Then I heard someone else say, 'He'd be cute if he got rid of that (stench).' Not 100% on what the second person said. I think it began with s, but for all I know she could've been referring to my spare tire (middle fat). Whatever." If you are overweight maybe use some GoldBond body powder under your as you call it spare tire to help with any sweat that may cause odor?

 

Re: Body Odor

Posted by Dr. Bob on January 17, 2005, at 19:53:51

In reply to Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics/another idea, posted by Fallen4MyT on January 17, 2005, at 16:38:49

> If you are overweight maybe use some GoldBond body powder under your as you call it spare tire to help with any sweat that may cause odor?

I don't think this has come up, so I thought I'd just mention body dysmorphic disorder as another possible consideration in situations like this, see, for example:

http://understanding_ocd.tripod.com/ocd_relateddisorders_bdd.html

Bob

 

Re: Body Odor » Dr. Bob

Posted by Fallen4MyT on January 17, 2005, at 22:47:59

In reply to Re: Body Odor, posted by Dr. Bob on January 17, 2005, at 19:53:51

Dr Bob glad you posted this I had heard of this but forgot the exact name..considered posting about it and then backed down it may be very helpful.

> > If you are overweight maybe use some GoldBond body powder under your as you call it spare tire to help with any sweat that may cause odor?
>
> I don't think this has come up, so I thought I'd just mention body dysmorphic disorder as another possible consideration in situations like this, see, for example:
>
> http://understanding_ocd.tripod.com/ocd_relateddisorders_bdd.html
>
> Bob

 

Re: Body Odor

Posted by Susan47 on January 17, 2005, at 23:47:51

In reply to Re: Body Odor, posted by Dr. Bob on January 17, 2005, at 19:53:51

Thank you SO much for bringing that up, I wanted to but was afraid it would be taken badly, AND i didn't know the word for it AND I wouldn't have known how to bring it up properly.
Which is why you're the pro, and I'm not. Thanks again, sometimes I think you're lovely.

 

Re: Body Odor

Posted by TF on January 19, 2005, at 19:09:29

In reply to Re: Body Odor, posted by Susan47 on January 17, 2005, at 23:47:51

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I actually do drink alot of water, and there weren't any hints that the other patients dropped that were really insightful, or that I wasn't already aware of.

I'll definitely bring something in writing into the therapist. When I went for the first time last night, I was somewhat tongue tied. The appointment was only to establish the presenting problem though, so no real loss. I don't think it'd be appropriate or wise for him to give me a verbal prompt regarding my odor until he knows more about me. Hopefully he'll be honest. I did get definite signals from him.

And thanks for the input, Dr. Bob. I actually did consider the possibility of that condition a long while ago... I found out about it because it's sometimes associated with another, physical condition that I happen to have.

In the past, it has been my tendancy to focus on my flaws. Although, more recently, the odor thing has kind of overshadowed everything, to the point where the other 'flaws' mean almost nothing to me. The doctor who treated me in the psyche ward tried to convince me that I invented this problem to help deal with criticism (He diagnosed me with avoidant personality disorder. People with APD tend to be super-sensitive to criticism.). It's a clever explanation, but I don't buy it.

 

Re: Body Odor and therapist ethics » TF

Posted by rainbowbrite on January 19, 2005, at 20:54:25

In reply to Body Odor and therapist ethics, posted by TF on January 15, 2005, at 22:09:09

Hi TF

I just saw this post and I am so sorry you are going through this. I think Dr Bob may have something with the BDD. It is worth a thought. I new a girl (not well) but evrey time, I mean every time she saw someone she felt hte need to apoligize for her smell and how awful it was. Thing was she didn't smell. But the way she acted was sort of strange, like she thought she smelled so her body lagnuage was a little differnet. (so people act alittle different to her) She also carried deoderant with her everywhrere. and applied it constantly through the day. it had to always be on her. I would say that she had BDD. I felt so terrible for her becasue she was beautiful and did not smell at all (well good actually!) She was so concerned about it. Reading this thread reminded me so much of her. I woul dsuggest going to your medical doctor and asking if there is anything wrong with your bowels because you often hear comments that you smell. Tell them it it affecting you emotionally or something (that may force them to take it more seriously). And hopefully if this is a medical condition which is just as possible it will be taken care of soon. I hope this all works out.
Take care
Rain

 

Re: Body Odor » TF

Posted by alexandra_k on January 19, 2005, at 22:28:33

In reply to Re: Body Odor, posted by TF on January 19, 2005, at 19:09:29

> Hopefully he'll be honest. I did get definite signals from him.

What if he does say 'yup, you smell'. Then what? By the sounds of it you are doing pretty much everything in your power not to smell, so if he does tell you this then there isn't really anything you can do about it.

> The doctor who treated me in the psyche ward tried to convince me that I invented this problem to help deal with criticism (He diagnosed me with avoidant personality disorder. People with APD tend to be super-sensitive to criticism.). It's a clever explanation, but I don't buy it.

Maybe that isn't the right reason. But what about the body dysmorphic idea. It would seem to me that it explains BOTH the fact that you really really do believe that you smell and other peoples constant saying that you don't.

Also it would mean that you don't smell.
But then you would have to figure out why you came to believe that you do, and the role of interpretation in your taking others to be giving you signals that you do.

Do you think that it might be possible that that is what is going on?

 

Re: Body Odor » alexandra_k

Posted by TF on January 20, 2005, at 9:43:49

In reply to Re: Body Odor » TF, posted by alexandra_k on January 19, 2005, at 22:28:33

It's possible. I'd only be 100% sure that I smelled if I could smell it myself. As it is, I'm very sure, but still open to other possibilities.

Well, if someone that's completely unbiased actually admits that I smell, clearly and without the use of double-talk, I can start looking for the cause in earnest (I've found out about a few conditions that could cause this sort of problem and tests to check for them.). As it is, I'm kind of apprehensive about doing that, since I'm not completely sure that there is an odor. One thing I'm sure of, is that I don't want to make people uncomfortable or angry, which is their usual reaction to me. This odor seems to border on driving people to violence, and if it really exists, it'd probably be in my best interests just to stay out of their way if and until it gets fixed.

One thing that kind of irks me, is that ever since weaning off the respirdahl (A previous psychiatrist put me on it), I've noticed more and more signals from people, which are starting to include members of my family (I've never noticed anything signals from them before, with the exception of my father.). I don't know if that's because the respirdahl numbed my mind to the point of incoherence, or if all of this is springing completely from paranoia. So who knows?

 

Re: Body Odor » TF

Posted by Pfinstegg on January 20, 2005, at 16:11:45

In reply to Re: Body Odor » alexandra_k, posted by TF on January 20, 2005, at 9:43:49

Hi. I wanted to say how much I admire you for bringing up this topic so honestly. From what you say, you are just beginning to establish a relationship with a therapist. That does take time, but he (or she) will be someone you can talk to honestly about this. And you can take all the time you need to develop trust in him, and discuss it fully. I don't think you need to rush into having a lot of tests until you've taken plenty of time to talk it over with a really understanding person.

Are you planning on going off the Risperdal all together? It might be that it is a good medication for you (perhaps at a lower dose than you took initially). It's possible that it has been helping you think more realistically- it does do that for lots of people. Be sure to keep us informed about how things go.

 

Re: Body Odor » TF

Posted by alexandra_k on January 20, 2005, at 16:11:49

In reply to Re: Body Odor » alexandra_k, posted by TF on January 20, 2005, at 9:43:49

Hey there. Thanks for thinking about this.

> If someone that's completely unbiased actually admits that I smell, clearly and without the use of double-talk, I can start looking for the cause in earnest.

Ok. Yes, I hear you. There could be conditions or whatever that a doctor could help you with.

On the other hand, I worry a bit that the only people you may be willing to consider 'completely unbiased' may be those who confirm that you do smell.

I mean what would it take for you to consider them unbiased? A random survey? What if you asked several people off the street? People with no reason to lie, would they be unbiased - or only if they confirmed that you do smell?

> One thing I'm sure of, is that I don't want to make people uncomfortable or angry, which is their usual reaction to me. This odor seems to border on driving people to violence, and if it really exists, it'd probably be in my best interests just to stay out of their way if and until it gets fixed.

Ok, so you feel like people respond to you with discomfort and anger. Lately, since stopping taking the resperidal you think people may be inclined to act in a violent manner towards you? It must be really hard to believe that people are responding to you in that way. I wouldn't like it at all. I would feel like the world was a really unsafe place :-(

I wonder though, whether you are trying to work out why it is that you perceive people to be responding to you with discomfort and anger. That the hypothesis that you smell is something that would explain the way you really do take them to be reacting to you. Maybe when you perceive them to be reacting to you in this way then this is the sort of evidence that you take to confirm your belief that you smell.

Just a thought...

I wonder whether there may be something else going on (other than your odour) that may explain why it is that you take people to be responding to you in that way.

I have been on respiridal before. I have this kind of rapid cycling mood problem. As part of that sometimes I find that I think that everyone thinks I am just wonderful (as do I), whereas at other times I really believe that people must loathe and despise me. The Respiridal helped me with my mood which meant that I didn't interpret people as responding to me in that way any longer.

You do say that you have been feeling that peoples reactions to you have been worse since coming off that medication. I wonder whether your feeling that others are responding to you with anger may have gotten worse. It is so absolutely amazing to me that taking little pills can have such an effect on peoples mood, and on the beliefs that people come to in order to explain how they are feeling. Nobody knows how they work in terribly much detail. I am not sure that they 'numb' the mind - though I agree that it can feel like that at times! What I wonder is whether they may mute or tone down emotional responses a bit. Maybe you don't have such strong feelings that others are responding to you in a negative way when you are on the meds. Maybe they just seem to 'mute' emotions in comparison to how our emotions are before taking the meds. Maybe we are more 'normal' in our responses afterwards (maybe that is just what it is like to be healthy!)

Why did you stop taking the medication? Were the side effects pretty bad or something?

I would say that instead of looking for 'unbiased' people you may be better to take the medication for a bit. You may find that after a period of taking it you don't think people are responding to you with repulsion and anger. Or maybe the feeling will lessen. If that happens, then it would seem to me that that would count as evidence that you don't smell.
No unbiased observer required :-)

I would be interested to know what you think of this...



 

Re: Body Odor

Posted by pretty_paints on January 21, 2005, at 7:30:43

In reply to Re: Body Odor » TF, posted by alexandra_k on January 20, 2005, at 16:11:49

Hi Todd,

I hope I don't offend you but I just thought I'd write what I think.

With all due respect, I do think this is more a psychological problem than a physical one. The mind can play crazy tricks on you. I take Seroquel for psychosis, and while I am not saying this is what you have - I don't - I do think that the mind can very easily turn things around to seem a particular way to you. My problem was people ignoring me. I always thought people were ignoring me, or I would sense that they were angry or disgusted with me through their facial expressions. I was forever saying "I know what you're thinking, you're annoyed with me...".

While I think it is possible that you could smell, I do think that an "anal" type odor is more unlikely than typical BO. Even if you're constipated a lot (do you find that you are?) I don't reckon this would cause a smell. The main thing is flatulence, do you find yourself breaking wind a lot? If not, then it is not hugely likely that others can smell an anal type odor from inside your body.

Also, I think you should be able to smell something you know. I remember a couple of days when it was really hot or when I was running a race in school I felt really sticky and smelly, but I would smell my top and realise I was getting a bit smelly, so go and have a shower.

To me, it's not so much the question of whether you smell, more so your preoccupation with it. Again, I don't mean that in an offensive way, I am just being observant. Most people would think "Okay, it seems like I smell, from people's reactions. That's not good. I'll use a bit more deodrant and go to see the doctor". But for you, it is taking over your life, this obsession with whether or not you smell. I have not been diagnosed with OCD, but am prone to very obsessive thinking. At the moment, it's my diagnosis. I spend every waking hour obsessing about whether I have one or the other of two different psychiatric disorders. I read read read all day long about it, search the internet, constantly monitor my symptoms, ask people what they think, etc etc. And to be honest, the way you are handling this "do I smell?" issue seems very similar. You feel that if you could JUST work out whether or not you smell, then things would get better.

So I do kinda think it may be BDD. What do you think? Maybe people are giving you disgusted looks, maybe not. Maybe if they are, they are disgusted by something you've said or done - but rather than face the prospect that your *personality* has in some way disgusted someone, it is easier to think that *you smell*. You may have subconsiously created this problem, as your doctor said, to take the "disgusted looks" away from you and onto something abstract, like a smell.

I think you should talk to your doc and also, as you get to know your new therapist, you can begin to open up to him/her. If these feelings have increased as you have decreased your Risperidone dose, I would stick with the drug, for now. Or alternatively, if you find that you notice more and more comments as the dose is lowered still, maybe this is the evidence you need that this stuff might well be in your head. That sounds rude, I don't mean it rudely. I just have found that when I thought people were ignoring me, I could even come up with things people said to PROVE that I was thinking the truth. I would half hear something someone said, and twist it to mean what I wanted it to mean. My therapist said that sometimes you can come up with some theary or thought, and then subconciously twist other people's comments to support that which you believe to be true.

Anyway this post has got waay too long so I'll leave things here.

Keep in touch and let us know how things go.

Kate xx

 

Re: Body Odor » TF

Posted by rainbowbrite on January 21, 2005, at 10:27:55

In reply to Re: Body Odor, posted by TF on January 19, 2005, at 19:09:29

Hi TF

I just thought of something. Why don't you go to a doctor you have never been to (if you can) and do not tell them you have suffered from mentalk health issues. Tell the docotr that some of your friends told you that you had an unpleasant odor and suggested you go to a doctor about the problem. Don't tell him that you don;t smell. Maybe tell him you do. Ask specificlaly if tehre is a condition that casues this problem.

 

Re: Body Odor

Posted by TF on January 22, 2005, at 13:34:25

In reply to Re: Body Odor » TF, posted by rainbowbrite on January 21, 2005, at 10:27:55

Pfinstegg:

I have to apologize if I didn't make it clear earlier... although I'm pretty sure that I mentioned I've already weaned myself off of the the respirdahl. This was early in September.

I'm not entirely sure whether going off of the meds is what precipitated my breakdown, or if I simply never had the opportunity to put it to the test(I was unemployed and a shut in for most of the time that I was on the Respirdahl, so never really put it to the test.). I wasn't taking a very high dosage either (just 2 mg nightly), but it still made me groggy, apathetic, and sluggish. Not to mention the additional weight gain. I feel much more sanguine now that I'm off of it, and everyone has observed that I'm displaying alot more personality. Also, while on the respirdahl, the signals that I would get from people that I smell were still very much there, I just didn't have the mental resources to care or react.

All of this considered, I don't think respirdahl is the right medication for me. I don't feel that my preoccupation with odor is psychotic or completely irrational, whether it's real or not. It's all in my interpretation of body language and innuendo. So, if I don't smell, that's what I have to work on, and I don't think that respirdahl will help enough to justify the side-effects.

Alexandra K:

There's more that goes into my reasoning when I consider whether or not someone is telling me the truth. It's not a yes = truth/ no = lie thing. I don't feel like I have any stubbornly held preconceptions about my smell (I might if I noticed it myself), although I've received very strong indications that it exists. When someone is telling me something, I try to question their motives. If they have something to gain by my believing in them, if they're trying to be nasty (in cases where they imply that I do smell), if they're simply being polite, etc.... I'm not smart enough to reason out exactly what that person's reasons are, but I usually have a keen sense of whether or not someone is being malevolent.

Someone gave me a helpful hint earlier in this thread, suggesting that I ask a very young child whether or not I smell. I may just try that sometime. A young child is the sort of person that I'd consider to be unbiased and honest.

That the smell is an interpretation of their reaction to something else about me, my attitude for instance, is a suggestion I've heard a few times before. But the signals I'm getting seem a bit too odor specific for that to be the case... Example: When I came into the house, I walked down the hall as my brother-in-law was coming up it. When he noticed me, he stopped short, backed off a bit, and kind of stuck out a hand, making a face like he couldn't breathe. I don't know of a stimulus other than a really bad odor that would elicit that kind of response. What other reason could he have for taking a breath and suck in his cheeks, as though trying to conserve air? There are a few other explanations I could think of, off the top of my head. Maybe it was a coincidence, and he had gas. Or I could say that my brother-in-law was trying to get on my nerves by purposely registering signs of disgust (he's the sort of person that likes to push buttons.), but that would seem more paranoid and unreasonable to me than the belief that I smell. There are plenty of rationalizations I could use to challenge the belief that someone is reacting to my odor, but it seems like an unreasonable thing to do wholesale, when so many other signals concide with that belief. For me, it's not a case of taking one event/comment/signal and blowing it up to gigantic proportions... It's gathering all of these little details, considering them altogether, and eventually forming a correlation that makes sense to me.

Before going on the respirdahl, I went through rageaholic episodes on a routine basis, about every other week or month. Usually they were related to the perception that I was losing my intelligence, and paranoid assumptions associated with it (I thought my brother might be smoking cigarettes or pot in the house, and this might be causing my constant mental fogginess/confusion/numbness.). The respirdahl helped me to rein in those rages by making it so I didn't really care anymore. Eventually, I convinced myself (with the help of others) that nothing my brother was doing had anything to do with my burgeoning dumbness.

I kind of went into a hypochondriac kick then, trying to research diseases and other possible causes for loss of mental function. Eventually, I found out (through medical tests) that I had hypothyroidism, which is kind of remarkable, being a pretty rare disorder for a male of my age. Since then, I've decided to stop my research, and haev been trying to forget my perception of being vastly superior in intellect before to where I am now. My memory and processing speed probably aren't what they used to be, but I don't think I'm drastically worse off. I'm actually a bit more mature and well-adjusted after everything that's happened. More than likely, what I'm experiencing is probably a series of psychological blocks, where I'm being overly critical of everything I say, do, and think. To the point where I'm locked up.

Anyway, the respirdahl did help for awhile, so I can't condemn it completely. But I don't think I need it anymore. I told my new doctor that prozac worked well to sort of calm my reactions to signals, so he prescribed that, just to see how it works for me now. I've been on it for about a month, so there haven't been any noticeable changes yet.

Pretty paints:

Actually, I am a bit gassy, but never release it in public. I've heard of some conditions where the gas can be released in miniscule little air bubbles, so you wouldn't even notice it, but who knows? Right now I'm more concerned with confirming that there is an odor than finding out possible causes... Otherwise I could end up treating ten different conditions at once, which is not a situation that I have the resources to deal with. I'd like to see a good homeopath (Most medical doctors that I've seen are only aware of odor that is caused by poor hygiene or diabetes, niether of which I have. So I figure an alternative doctor is my next best bet.), but somehow I doubt that Medicaid covers them.

It's true that I'm a bit aloof and standoffish (I was diagnosed with avoidant perosnality disorder, which actually seems like a perfect fit for me, based on my research into the disorder.), and this kind of scares people off or turns them against me. However, I would expect redicule or coldness in response to my aloofness, more so than disgust or near-violent anger. Not that there wasn't any redicule involved... Just that the violence of some peoples' reactions really strike me.

I also have a tendancy to try and interpret what people are saying just within ear-shot, twisting syllables, words and sentences into a negative comment about me. For example: One time, when there were these people working on my basement, I overheard them talking to each other. One eventually said: "If you were retarded, would you just sit around feeling bad for yourself, or would you get out and work?" and immediately assumed that they were talking about me (I still do believe that they were, however.). In any case, it's somewhat ironic that they would be saying such a thing about anyone, considering the fact that, within the next two minutes, they accidentally busted our water pipe, flooding our basement. That's just the kind of senseless destruction and general ineptitude that I'm trying to avoid, by not imposing myself on society.

I think what I have could be mild BDD, in conjunction with an actual odor. I really have to say, though, that this odor must be insanely strong to have the effect that I perceive it as having... I've never witnessed a body-borne odor that could fill an entire floor and make people vomit. Usually it stays within a tighter radius of the source, unless it's the odor of a rotting corpse.

On a slightly off-topic note, I've heard somewhere that there's a correlation between getting strep throat as a child and developing OCD tendancies. I used to get strep throat every other year until middle school (and once more in high-school.). Just an interesting little tidbit I thought I'd share.

Rainbowbrite:

If I went to a doctor, It'd probably be better to see a specialist who knows more about IBS type conditions, and diseases or symptoms (such as odor) that are associated with bowel disfunction. I don't have much faith in GP's after having approached this topic with my own doctor. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

Re: Body Odor » TF

Posted by Mark H. on January 26, 2005, at 17:52:40

In reply to Re: Body Odor, posted by TF on January 22, 2005, at 13:34:25

Dear TF,

I'm fascinated not only by your belief that you emit a foul odor that you cannot smell, but also by your clearly superior intelligence and ability to articulate your concerns, including the possibility that the belief is unfounded. You may feel that your mental abilities have diminished somewhat, but there is no evidence of impairment in your excellent writing.

From reading your thoughtful and detailed postings, I believe that you do *not* have objectionable body odor, and that your mind is playing tricks on you in that regard.

I realize that there is nothing I can say that will convince you of this; however, I simply want to support the part of you that already acknowledges this possibility.

Personally, I didn't care for Risperdal. I take a small amount of Zyprexa at night, and I find that it helps.

I encourage you not to give up on the possibility that what you are experiencing is a malfunctioning of the brain rather than the intestines.

With kind regards,

Mark H.

 

Re: Body Odor

Posted by pretty_paints on January 26, 2005, at 18:16:05

In reply to Re: Body Odor » TF, posted by Mark H. on January 26, 2005, at 17:52:40

Hear hear to Mark H!

 

Re: Body Odor

Posted by TF on April 7, 2005, at 21:42:08

In reply to Re: Body Odor » TF, posted by Mark H. on January 26, 2005, at 17:52:40

Well, this problem has been bothering me lately, so I figured I'd update. I realise that posting this thread in a psychological forum, and presenting two possibilities, the possibility of delusional disorder and of an actual odor.

I'm as sure as a person can be of anything, that I have an odor. I've been seeing a doctor as well as a therapist in the center I'm visiting, and niether has flat-out denied that I had any sort of smell. The doctor said that it may or may not be true, but technically I'm delusional because all of the evidence I have is circumstantial... As if my mind should be a court of law. What evidence isn't circumstantial by his reasoning? By his understanding of the phrase, if a thousand people had told me that I had an objectionable odor, and I couldn't smell it myself, it'd still be circumstantial. People have told me. People have dropped strong hints that anyone with half a brain and all of their senses intact would pick up on. Yet I can't be more than 99.9% sure that there is an odor. It's starting to go beyond the problem of having a terrible odor, and the social/emotional complications that spring from that, to a total distrust for everyone that tells me otherwise. I'm getting bitter, and starting to hate my family. They must think they're martyrs. Oh call the Vatican, I've found a host of saints in my very own home. Suffering as they try console me with their words... well their bodies tell the truth.

I'm not as selfless as I might make myself out to be at times. I couldn't care less if people are suffering from any sort of odor. I care more what they think of me as a result of it. Even so, I'm beginning to hate them too. Half an hour, an hour, or even two. That's it for them. Then they can deride and forget. Meanwhile I've sentenced myself to isolation just to make these selfish, arrogant mongrels comfortable.

I want to know where I can hear the truth, because it obviously isn't going to come from this therapist. The doctor deemed me technically delusional, although the odor may exist. Is there something wrong with trusting solely in my instincts, even if they happen to be right? A person might as well trust in their gut if they don't have much in the way of intellect.

The good doctor can screw logic in the eye-socket, that's all I have to say.

I guess I'll never know the truth.

 

Re: Body Odor

Posted by TF on April 7, 2005, at 21:44:26

In reply to Re: Body Odor, posted by TF on April 7, 2005, at 21:42:08

So sue me for not proof-reading.

The last sentence in the first paragraph should've been : I realise that posting this thread in a psychological forum, and presenting two possibilities, the possibility of delusional disorder and of an actual odor, it's more likely that the respondants would lean more heavily toward the former.

 

Re: Body Odor

Posted by sadmom on April 12, 2005, at 8:51:03

In reply to Re: Body Odor, posted by TF on April 7, 2005, at 21:44:26

My ex-husband smelled things that weren't there and was always opening windows saying we were being poisoned by the air. Yes it was a sensory delusion and he became paranoid about it. My daughter starts smelling things that aren't there when she is becoming unstable and needs a medication adjustment. She takes an anti-psychotic Abilify.


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