Bromidrosiphobia (fear Of Body Odor): Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
The aromas, odors or body fragrances that each and every person emits are usually something that the rest of the population usually feels an aversion to. Contexts such as locker rooms, gyms or fitting rooms can become really unpleasant places due to the effects of body fumes.
However, when this aversion turns into a real and exacerbated fear or fear, it is very possible that we find ourselves facing a case of bromidrosiphobia, a type of specific phobia which we will talk about throughout this article.
Bromidrosiphobia is classified as specific anxiety disorders or specific phobias. Like the rest of the pathological fears, bromidrosiphobia It has a specific element that causes this fear: body odors
Considering the etymological roots of the term, we can separate the concept into three words of Greek origin. The first of them “bromos” can be literally translated as stench or pestilence, “hydros” refers to the term sweat, while “phobos” is understood as an expression referring to fear or fear.
Like the rest of specific personality disorders, when people with bromidrosiphobia find themselves or think they are going to find themselves facing the feared stimulus, They will experience a series of emotions and physical manifestations typical of very high anxiety states
Although most people experience a certain degree of aversion or disgust toward foreign body odors, this is not sufficient reason to consider it a phobia.
The limits of phobia
In order to establish a difference between a feeling of habitual aversion and a phobia or pathological fear We must take into account what consequences or direct effects this phobia has on the person’s daily life.
In this way, if the person who feels this fear of body odors reaches the point of experiencing strong anxiety reactions to the perception of these and it prevents them from carrying out their daily tasks normally, it is highly recommended that they consult with a psychology professional. .
Furthermore, it must be taken into account a series of requirements or qualities typical of fear disorders , which define phobias and allow their diagnosis. These requirements are as follows.
1. It is a disproportionate fear
The first point that must be examined to differentiate between a rational fear and a habitual feeling of fear or aversion is that in bromidrosiphobia the fear must be absolutely disproportionate compared to the real threat that the phobic stimulus in this case body odor, represents.
2. It is irrational
People with bromidrosiphobia are completely incapable of finding a reasonable and justified explanation for their fear, to the point that, in many of these cases, the person is perfectly aware of how benign the phobic stimulus is, but still It is inevitable that the anxiety response will appear before him
3. It is uncontrollable
In addition to being irrational, the fear suffered by a person with bromidrosiphobia is absolutely uncontrollable for them. This means that the person is unable to prevent anxiety and fear reactions from appearing, just as he is unable to control them when he experiences them.
These symptoms arise automatically and suddenly and they only disappear when the person has managed to escape or avoid the phobic stimulus.
What symptoms does it present?
Since bromidrosiphobia is classified within the category of specific phobias, the clinical picture it presents is similar to that of other anxiety disorders of this type. These symptoms of an anxious nature appear whenever the person smells the aroma of one’s own or another’s body odor, even if this person is not clearly in sight.
Therefore, in bromidrosiphobia both physical, cognitive and behavioral symptoms will appear:
1. Physical symptoms
Some of the first symptoms that the patient experiences when perceiving a strong body odor They are due to the hyperactivity that this generates in the person’s nervous system This increase in functioning gives rise to all types of transformational changes in the body.
Throughout the anxiety episode, the person may experience a host of physical symptoms. These include:
2. Cognitive symptoms
Bromidrosiphobia is associated with a series of beliefs and speculations related to the fear or aversion to body odors and aromas.
These distorted thoughts drive the development of this phobia and they are distinguished because the person integrates a series of illogical beliefs about the possible dangers or effects of body odors.
3. Behavioral symptoms
Like the rest of phobias, bromidrosiphobia is also made up of a series of behavioral symptoms. This behavioral symptomatology manifested through avoidance behaviors and escape behaviors
The first type of behaviors refer to all those behaviors or acts that the person performs with the aim of avoiding encountering the phobic stimulus. Thanks to them, it is possible to avoid experiencing feelings of anguish and anxiety that the situation generates.
On the other hand, escape behaviors appear when the person has not been able to avoid facing the object of their phobia, in this case the perception of body aromas, so they will carry out all types of behaviors necessary to escape from the situation in which they are experiencing. the one that is involved.
Determining the origin of a phobia can be an extremely complex task, especially in those that, such as bromidrosiphobia, They do not have a component or characteristics that make them particularly dangerous
In any case, there are certain factors that can favor or enhance its development. For example, the existence of a genetic predisposition that aggravates the effects of anxiety, together with the experience or experience of a highly traumatic situation or one with a great deal of emotional content, will most likely trigger the appearance of this or any other phobia.
Is there a treatment?
In most cases, bromidrosiphobia does not become disabling since the number of situations in which a person is faced with the perception of strong body odors is usually relatively small (especially in certain countries, due to climate issues), therefore that psychological consultations for this type of pathology are usually reduced.
However, if the person does experience high levels of distress due to this excessive fear of body aromas, There are a series of psychological interventions or treatments that can help the person recover and overcome their phobic fear.
These interventions are based on three principles or psychological actions. The first of them consists of a cognitive restructuring that allows modifying all those distorted thoughts that the person has regarding body odors.
Next, in vivo exposure techniques or systematic desensitization can be carried out , through which the person is gradually exposed to the feared stimulus. Either directly or through exercises with mental images.
Finally, these techniques are accompanied by training in relaxation skills, which reduces the levels of excitation of the nervous system and helps the person face their fears in the best possible way.
