i have this problem 3 month's ago.. i'm a freshman in college.. yeah its must be excting , and enjoyable but there's a ground breaking happen.. first month of school i did'nt feel anything about this problem.. but when midterm is approaching , i observe something on my seatmates. every morning in the classroom (psychology class) i observe that my seatmate is always touching their nose.. and my sitting position is in row 1.. at first i did not think that it was my bo.. then a couple of days i observe that from row 2 they sneeze.. making weird faces!! i was very nervous of that. a weeks passed by i did not entertained that.. i observe to different places that i've been in school not only in classroom to verify my suspition. i found out that when i'm standing outside the campus waiting for a car.. i see people far away from me toucing their nose, sneeze and disgusted faces.. that day i consult my bestfriend and she said she dont smell anything then i was rejoice.. there's a time that we need to enter to the speech lab.. it was airconditioned.. that time i was late. when i entered the room.. my classmates gone wild in the speech laboratory..they said("stinks!, hey bo revolution!, "what a smell") that day my life sink.. i was thinking i did'nt do anything.. i take bathe 2 times a day ,, when weekends 3 times.. until now i suffer from this bo.. i consult my mother.. and my mother checks my clothes.. she smell it most especially my underarm.. my mother said: " theres no bad smell.. she said to me i was so very paranoid on thinking that.. when i read your comments i understand now.. huhu the latest news from me is that i fail major subject.. my bestfriend did not talk to me at all :(( and i'm still living with fear in social interaction with people.. most especially in crowded people.. i tried a lot of deo-antiperspirant, natural remedies like lemon, vinegar, baking soda and etc.. none of them work,,. I'M STILL HOPING TO REGAIN MY NORMAL LIFE.....
i have this problem 3 month's ago.. i'm a freshman in college.. yeah its must be excting , and enjoyable but there's a ground breaking happen.. first month of school i did'nt feel anything about this problem.. but when midterm is approaching , i observe something on my seatmates. every morning in the classroom (psychology class) i observe that my seatmate is always touching their nose.. and my sitting position is in row 1.. at first i did not think that it was my bo.. then a couple of days i observe that from row 2 they sneeze.. making weird faces!! i was very nervous of that. a weeks passed by i did not entertained that.. i observe to different places that i've been in school not only in classroom to verify my suspition. i found out that when i'm standing outside the campus waiting for a car.. i see people far away from me toucing their nose, sneeze and disgusted faces.. that day i consult my bestfriend and she said she dont smell anything then i was rejoice.. there's a time that we need to enter to the speech lab.. it was airconditioned.. that time i was late. when i entered the room.. my classmates gone wild in the speech laboratory..they said("stinks!, hey bo revolution!, "what a smell") that day my life sink.. i was thinking i did'nt do anything.. i take bathe 2 times a day ,, when weekends 3 times.. until now i suffer from this bo.. i consult my mother.. and my mother checks my clothes.. she smell it most especially my underarm.. my mother said: " theres no bad smell.. she said to me i was so very paranoid on thinking that.. when i read your comments i understand now.. huhu the latest news from me is that i fail major subject.. my bestfriend did not talk to me at all :(( and i'm still living with fear in social interaction with people.. most especially in crowded people.. i tried a lot of deo-antiperspirant, natural remedies like lemon, vinegar, baking soda and etc.. none of them work,,. I'M STILL HOPING TO REGAIN MY NORMAL LIFE.....
We all are suffering from the same psychological disorder and I´m surprised that no one has mentioned the name so far. It´s called "Olfactory Reference Syndrome" and 'yes folks, it´s all in our mind'.
The solution is going to a psychologist and starting therapy (cognitive-behavioral or CBT) and definitely is not avoiding social situations.
Doing obsessive rituals (showering, applying deodorants, seeking reassurance...) takes your life away.
I´m still a sufferer to this day, but what I know is that my 'odor thoughts' are triggered in situations that give me anxiety and that´s what I´ve been addressing; the anxiety and not the body odor itself ofcourse maintaining normal hygiene. Now I have a normal social life thanks to professional help and my motivation to get my life back.
You can do it too. Once more, the problem is the anxiety and not the body odor.
Yea im 20 and im also going through this situation, its embarassing because the students inschool would rub there noses n whenever they sniffed in they would make the weirdest faces. I would always get negative comments like, "this kid stinks", "what's that smell", "dont get to close to him he smells like S***", and they would all laugh. Sometimes I would ask myself, why am i Still even living? But you know what im just tired of all of this, im going to start wit a new life. Just to let everybody know I take 2-4 showers a day, and put on deodarant, cologne or body spray, and I would still get the people rub there noses or make the weirdest faces. IM JUST TIRED OF IT, I WANA MEET PEOPLE AND BE SOCIAL!!!!! but I cant because i would just get a negative comment about me smelling the whole place up. :,(
P.S. To add insult to injury, it's always great when you're told one of your illnesses, a byproduct of anxiety, has been excluded from your insurance plan by your company. . .NICE.
Please don't trivialize matters which you know nothing about. I have had this problem for two years now. I've taken two tub baths a day for a year, to no avail. I've also switched to taking 3, sometimes 4 showers per day, which still didn't solve the problem. I believe North American Man has it right. I work with people who make me extremely uncomfortable (catty, petty, 'constantly in your personal space to see what they can detect' gossipy types). That perpetuates my anxiety. That nervous anxiety, maximized by warm skin (sometimes hot skin), causes serious problems for me. . .Problems a simple solution such as bathing more frequently can't /hasn't solved. So, on behsalf of those like myself who struggle with this embarassing, self-esteem deflating problem, please refrain from speaking on matters in which you know absolutely nothing about. I used to feel like a pitiful victim with this bizarre illness, but now I'm just angry. When I read comments and questions from people who need so much help, and they receive comments like yours, I have to stand up for them. Like many, resorting to online research for solutions is not our first stop. It's usually what we resort to after we've exhausted all other means of assistance. We decide to 'practice medicine' so to speak, and do our own research. I've been to countless Doctors, Specialists, Therapist, dietician, even tried an acupuncturist. . .to no avail. So, show some respect for the trials that others face even if you don't understand them. The next trial may be your own.