Is it true that if you smell YOURSELF stinking, then that means you REALLY stink?

Question

My friend's boyfriend told me that other people usually smell you stinking before you smell yourself. & if you smell yourself, or by the time you smell yourself, that means you REALLY smell funky.

This is embarrassing for me to admit. But I suffer EXTREME depression, & I don't even have the energy to get out of bed most days. But EVERY day, I promise myself a shower, but it's even hard for me to get out of bed just to turn on the light, when it's right in the ceiling RIGHT over me. This depression makes me feel immobile & mentally cripple. & people think I'm just nasty, filthy, trifling, & that I use my depression as an excuse for laziness. But these people who say this, really need to trade brain chemicals with me for a day.

I wish for a bath EVERY day. It's very hard to push myself. I take Wellbutrin during the day, & I'm still sluggish & tired. No energy at all.

Answer 1

The Wellbutrin isn't working or the dose isn't high enough.  I know that you said that your counselor is out for 3 weeks but I also told you that you needed to go and DEMAND to speak to someone else.  

You can get better.  They are not working hard enough to get you to the proper place.  It is simply a chemical imbalance and it can be corrected.  It is not laziness, and depression can be crippling and leave you feeling immobile.  

You are going to have to rely on your friend to push you to get to the place you get your medication and tell them you need help.  You also need to PUSH yourself just one small baby step a day harder.  One small step a day is all it takes.  Then repeat that baby step the next day until you can do it everyday.  You can do it but you need to get your medication corrected. Unfortunately it is true that others will smell you before you do because you are used to your own body odors.  You are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace & Love  :)

Answer 2

Your friend is right and here’s why.  We all get used to things on our bodies, from the way your teeth feel in your mouth to the angle your feet hit the ground at.  It only makes sense.  We’re adaptable creatures and we experience these things daily and get used to them.  Same thing with smell, which, by the way, comes from the waste product put out by symbiotic bacteria that live on your body, in your underarms, mouth and so on.  

So, if you get to a point where you smell yourself, that means 1) those bacteria have become so plentiful (since there’s so much oil and sweat to munch on) that the level of smell is something your are NOT used to, or 2) the amount of oil/sweat/dead-skin has been sitting and has started to chemically change (oxidation from the air, usually, like an apple that’s been cut) while sitting and different TYPES of bacteria are starting to increase in number, and they smell differently than what you are used to.  

Either way, I’m going to say a serious prayer for your depression.  Just don’t let this turn you into a hypochondriac, ok?

Peace.

Answer 3

Your friend is right.

Answer 4

Completely true lol. Everyone is already used to their own body odor so they cannot recognize their own smell while others do. If you can smell yourself it means you've gotten to the point where your body odor is EXTREME and beyond smelly haha =]

Sorry that you have depression but it's disgusting to not shower. At least promise that you'll put on some deodorant and body spray? Or get some conselling.

Answer 5

Yes your nose gets used to everyday smells so it's hard to smell your own body odor until it gets really bad. But it sound like body odor is just a symptom of your depression and I really advise you to get some help from a psychiatrist.

Answer 6

Yes, it is true that you really reek by the time you can smell yourself.  That, however, is not your real issue here.  The Wellbutrin is not working for you.  Please, please let your prescriber know.  If he or she is not helpful, go to someone else.  Please do not live like this any longer.  You deserve better!

Answer 7

yeh. soz. just try and get outa bed and go for a walk esp. if its sunny! i luv doing dat =D

Answer 8

True. Most people are use to their own smell.

So they won't feel that it stink until the scent become stronger.

I know how you feel because I have mild depression myself. I just wish to lay down and not do anything. But usually I do it after a shower.

One way I discovered to get rid of depression is to exercise more often.

When you exercise, your brain release a hormone that make you feel better.

I hope that you will get well soon.

♥best wishes♥

Answer 9

Hey, I've been there.  Try another SSRI.  Let your people know the Wellbutrin isn't cutting the mustard.  Those antidepressants take time to kick in (4-6 weeks).  Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't (50/50).  Some work for a while then fizzle out.  Sometimes you have to combine 2 for them to work.  It's all a matter of trial and error.

Try something else.  Tell them your side effects, and hopefully they'll give you a newer or a better one to take.

It's worth it to keep trying.

Good luck.