Smells!

momto3 · Post by **momto3** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:09 am

Does anyone have problems with certain smells like exhaust from cars or the smell of gasoline that triggers them to go into a panic attack. It is like I am sooooo sensitive to smells. When something hits my nose that does not smell right like strong chemical smell my anxiety increases ten fold and I am ready to flight right out of the situation. Someone please help!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 2:28 am

Hi, momto3,

It sound to me as though you just might have MCS (multiple chemical sensitivities), or be developing it. I'm not sure I get panic attacks from smelling things (tobacco smoke, "body oils", perfumes, colognes, etc. as well as chlorine bleach, gasoline fumes, laundry detergent, etc.), but I do want to get away in a hurry. The fumes make my sinus ache, and burn, and often my taste buds sting and swell in addition to the sinus reaction.

I used to think that MCS meant going into life-threatening reactions at the slightest hint of a chemical, but I've done enough reading of the subject to know that such cases are extreme. I went to an environmental medicine clinic about two months ago. After testing I was given some antigens to use. I'm also on a program to detoxify my body from its chemical load.

I hope this helps.

purpmartin

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:20 am

I don't have this, but have you considered that it might be a fear of being poisoned or contaminated by whatever smells bad to you? Bad smells are often associated with dangerous things (like toxic fumes or disease), so it seems possible that that could trigger your anxiety.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:58 am

I'm right there with you with the smell problem. I dread filling up my car as many times the smell from the gasoline makes me feel like I'm going to pass out. It is ironic because I grew up around gas stations as my father owned several when I was a child. In fact, my hometown was a very smelly place due to the fact that our main industry was oil refineries!

That is not the only smell that causes a problem these days, though. Strong smells of any kind trigger the same reaction these days whether it is a chemical smell, someone's perfume, etc.

I hate it and would love to hear from others who have suggestions on how to deal with it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:45 pm

My problem with smells is that when I'm around one that I don't like, or know isn't good for me, I find I hold my breath or breathe really shallow, this is what triggers my dizziness, and then panic, and so on. Thats what I've learned about me. I work in a hospital and can't stand to walk past the Nuclear Med unit because it has such a strong smell, and I know it can't be a good thing, and thats when it hit me, I was trying to not breathe it for like 50 ft....and then got very dizzy, I thought it was the smell, but I was hypoventilating!!!! Hope it helps.