Stress and body odor

Feel free to discuss any topic of general interest, so long as nothing you post here is likely to be interpreted as insulting, and/or inflammatory, nor clearly designed to provoke any individual or group. Please be considerate of others feelings, and they will be considerate of yours.

Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh

Post Reply
Deb
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 1657
Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:01 pm
Location: Previously MN now GA

Stress and body odor

Post by Deb »

I have noticed when I am particularly stressed that I emit a different body odor. I usually don't need/use deodorant. A few years back I listened to a woman speak who could see auras. One thing she was recently noticing was a gray aura around many people's lower arms. She speculated it might be from the aluminum and she wasn't sure it was a good thing. She was pretty interesting and had seen auras since she was a young child. She picked a couple of people out of the audience. One, she saw sparkly feet and wondered if she was a dancer. It turns out the woman had just walked from California to Oregon. On another she commented on the color of her intestinal area. The woman had just completed a colonoscopy. Anyways, I've been doing fine without deodorant.
Last year, I learned that a dear friend was dying from breast, etc. cancer which I believe was the stressor that sprung my MC into action. I noticed an odor that day...in fact when I was strapping my granddaughter (4) into her car seat she asked me if I forgot to take a shower. :oops: Unfortunately my friend just passed away last week and I am again noticing a fairly strong odor and deodorant doesn't seem to make much difference. I have not yet flared from this and am hopeful I won't but am wondering if anyone else has noticed this?
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35349
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

I've noticed some differences, but never really paid any attention, or tried to make any connections. I always use a deodorant, but I've noticed that sometimes it doesn't seem to work very well.

At any rate, I have no doubt that the effect is real, even though I've never tried to analyze it.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
User avatar
sarkin
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 2313
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:44 pm
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Post by sarkin »

Deb,

I notice odor changes, for sure. I think they are connected to GI health for me, more directly - maybe in a low-key way for you as well, even though you aren't in a flare (and I hope it stays that way). Other things that could make a difference are fluctuating hormones, and some other health issue that varies on a different schedule (seasonal allergies, maybe?). I think you're pretty savvy to figure out the stress connection.

I use a non-antiperspirant deodorant, and I notice it doesn't 'last' the whole day when I'm flaring or otherwise having a health issue. I'm going to think about the stress component next time I notice! Being less 'fragrant' was one of the side benefits of fixing my diet, so I'm sure there's a larger picture here, which may vary from person to person, even if there are certain themes in common.

I'm sorry for the loss of your friend, and wishing you comfort and healing,

Sara
Deb
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 1657
Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:01 pm
Location: Previously MN now GA

Post by Deb »

Thanks Tex and Sara.
Sara, I really hadn't thought of this issue until reading your previous posts. I guess I paid more attention after my granddaughter's comments and when I noticed it again I paid even more attention. I'm not noticing it now
so maybe? my stress level is better.
User avatar
sarkin
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 2313
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2011 8:44 pm
Location: Brooklyn, NY

Post by sarkin »

Deb,

Yet another thing crossed my mind - I think our sense of smell also fluctuates. My husband has a very acute sense of smell right before an episode of insomnia (this is almost like auras and migraines, but he doesn't have auras and migraines in any traditional sense). I would guess that stress affects not only our actual fragrance, but our sensitivity to it as well (along with a dozen other factors).

Glad you're recovering your equilibrium (which I realize takes time, and can involve ups and downs).
harma
Rockhopper Penguin
Rockhopper Penguin
Posts: 984
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:02 am
Location: amman

Post by harma »

normally I don't smell at all or only a little, but sometimes I have a horrible odor. Sometimes is comes with my period and sometimes when I had a couple of nights of bad sleep. Bad sleep always comes with being stressed out. My stress hormones levels are high or too high so I can't sleep and this also seems to affect my body odor, especially under my armpit.

So in my case, too high stress hormone levels or hormone levels due to my cycles/period seem to have an influence on my body smell.
"As the sense of identity shifts from the imaginary person to your real being as presence awareness, the life of suffering dissolves like mist before the rising sun"
User avatar
tex
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 35349
Joined: Tue May 24, 2005 9:00 am
Location: Central Texas

Post by tex »

Here's an explanation for that. It's due to sweat produced by apocrine glands:

http://www.34-menopause-symptoms.com/body-odor.htm

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Post Reply

Return to “Main Message Board”