Advice please: How to deal with Olfactory hallucinations?

roiben · 05-08-2011, 08:51 PM

How do people deal with Olfactory hallucinations? I get these as one of my psychosis symptoms and never know how to deal with them.

Earlier, I could smell rotting and sewage and cr&p and it didn't matter if I moved away from where I was (which is how I know it is olfactory "hallucination" despite smelling real and making me gag, as I use a similar test for the auditory things).

I am a bit at a loss, as I know things like rotting are common for me to smell when my symptoms are heightened and it is never pleasant. Today was bad enough to make me feel really sick for quite a while.

Does anyone have anything similar - or any advice?

Roiben x

startingagain · 05-08-2011, 11:36 PM

The only thing I could think of was something that you probably already do and is have something strong, but pleasant to hand to smell instead. I don't know if that would work though.
The other thing is have you ever tried hypnotherapy? My CP does that and maybe if you can train yourself to go to a safe place in your mind it might ground you?
Sorry if that is no use.

Steel Maiden · 06-08-2011, 10:43 AM

I have occasional olfactory hallucinations, similar smells to yours. I find going outside and inhaling the outside (hopefully clean) air really deeply helps a little, but not completely.

Cedrus · 06-08-2011, 03:43 PM

I get oflactory haullicinations coupled with tactile ones where i feel like i have had an accident and i can smell poo too which really makes me panic. Like starting again has said, i find it helpful to have a piece of tissue with me that has drops of lavender oil or something similar to smell instead. If you're at home, can you burn some oils?

roiben · 06-08-2011, 10:07 PM

I was outside at the time... I may have to try having a tissue with scent on it. Thank you for the suggestion.

I can not use oils inside though as they give me migraines, so I have to be careful with them...

Roiben x

Ami · 07-08-2011, 09:58 PM

I get these. I smell poison. It was the weirded smell, ever.

RiverSong · 07-08-2011, 10:02 PM

What if you carried a scented candle? cause when they're not lit they still smell wonderful, so if that could over power what you were/are initially smelling?

MissAnonymous · 08-08-2011, 02:00 PM

I have a scented candle that I used to somewhat hug when I was having 'strange experiences' and it was a strong spiced berry smell that I found particularly comforting..

Is there any smell that you could replace the unpleasant one with that you have always associated with nice things, comfort, or a happy experience? I love the smell of coffee and tea and lavender.

makedamnsure · 08-08-2011, 09:57 PM

Try tasting something as well if you can. Like a strong mint or something. Smell and taste are very much linked and the taste of the mint might help get rid of the smell.

If you struggle to use essential oils perhaps have a bottle of perfume handy and spray that?

MissSisyphus · 08-08-2011, 10:50 PM

I experienced "phantom" smells and a host of other unpleasant sense-sensations while in post acute withdrawal from xanax (alprazolam). Thankfully, it was short-lived (off and on for about 2 weeks).

At the time, I was ignorant about such troubling symptoms of withdrawal, but spent some time researching and found that simply knowing it was a symptom shared by others in the same predicament was very comforting.

After I shared these experiences with trusted friends (also in recovery), I was a lot less freaked out about it, and now go out of my way to seek out those who are recovering from that specific drug and its aftermath.

What worked for me:
Talking about it (a problem shared is a problem cut in half. . .etc.) I was getting "body odor" smells, and when it happened I would ask those around me if I smelled funny.

Seeking out the "real" smell if possible, and getting a good whiff of it. I'm not sure why this helped lessen the symptom, but it did. If I thought I smelled dirty kitty litter (for example) I would try to expose myself to that particular odor. It sort of "reset" my brain, I think.

The earlier suggestion of using your taste buds to fight a hallucinated odor was good advice. It worked about 80% of the time for me. The withdrawal symptoms also included a feeling that my throat was closing, so having some strong cough drops or candy nearby was a big help.

I hope some of these tactics are useful to you!

beautiful_seclusion · 11-08-2011, 05:33 AM

Wow I thought I was the only one who got these. I get a variety of olfactory hallucinations and have since I was 3, though no one can figure out what they are. Mine are sometimes pleasant in a weird way and sometimes not. In the past I have used a strong body oil to deal with it, just simply smelling it real close would make the smell go away for a while. Also I have found that some of them are related to things I eat, so I avoid those if possible. (Caffeine makes me smell blood and certain crackers give me a strange smell I can't explain, but I also get unprovoked ones.) I'd say talking to someone about it, at least for me, being alone enhances them.