smells and sounds as anxiety triggers Posted: 01-15-08 14:07pm
Can smells and sounds cause anxiety or a
panic attack?
I have a coworker who wears heavy perfume
and lotions, and everytime I smell the
scents, I feel like Im having a panic
attack or allergic reaction. Ive also
noticed that when I hear a loud car stereo
(bass booming), I get the same "trigger"
kind of feel....
So can smells and sounds be anxiety
triggers? If so, how do I break the
cycle or desensitize myself so this
doesn't happen? (And no, I don't want
meds to be an answer...)
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Galaxy
Supporter
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 512 Location: U.K,
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Posted: 01-23-08 18:29pm
Yes, they certainly can, just as they can
be sexual or appetite stimulants. There
might be an element of Pavlov's Dog in
there (ie a learned association) or ir may
be that your olefactory system genuinely
feels distressed by certain chemicals.
Perhaps the reaction to the car stereo s
also an association of eg petrol/gas fumes
on a garage forecourt.
I sympathise, incidentally - I don't know
if you remember the perfume called 'Chloe'
but I always thought it smelt like cats'
wee and when a co-worker started wearing
it at the same time as i was going through
early pregnancy morning sickness, I found
that not only did I have to throw up, but
I developed a raging headache. From there
it developed into a panic attack every
time I smelt that perfume, even years
later.
Our senses contol our feelings more than
we may realise!
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Seraph
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 276 Location: , South Africa
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Posted: 01-24-08 02:56am
Absolutely!
Sometimes I would get a sensation, not
necissarily smell, that would trigger a
memory of school/kindergarten/workplace
that would actually trigger a recollection
of a smell/sound/taste.
