What resources are there for people with Olfactory Reference Syndrome?

March 4, 2013 10:40 AM

A friend's life is being ruled by something resembling ORS, a psychological condition in which you believe you smell like a trash can, move to another city and hide from society. She insists that it's an odor issue, and when everyone tells her she's OK, she writes it off as white lies to make her feel better.

What can we to do help? Are there resources for this here in the Bay Area? And what is the best way to talk about this with her when she says, "You see that guy over there? I think he walked out of the room because I smell." Any help much appreciated.

posted by steinsaltz to Human Relations (6 answers total)

I would think a psychologist experienced with dealing with obsessive thoughts would be a place to start (perhaps someone who works with OCD patients even though doesn't seem to be exactly OCD) -- I don't know enough about the condition to know whether this will work, but if she's hesitant to go perhaps you can try the angle of even if she's right that she smells bad, obsessively thinking about it is doing her harm by itself and could be addressed with a psychologist.
posted by brainmouse at 10:51 AM on March 4, 2013

Maybe just showing your friend the article and say, "I'm really concerned about you. I see your behavior in this article. You don't have body odor and the fact that you believe that you do, and the extent to which you believe it, is upsetting. Please, for the love of all that is holy, GET HELP!"

It's a form of OCD, so any therapist who specializes in that area can probably help.

Treat it like an intervention.

"I see that your life has changed for the worse in the following ways, you are self-conscious to the point of introversion, where you once used to be fun, you're now a total drag..." You know, whatever it is.

If you can get more people to participate, the better it will be.

One person assuring her that she smells fine won't do anything. A few people telling her that she's not processing information correctly...that will get her attention.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:52 AM on March 4, 2013

I have a friend with a developmentally disabled (but high functioning) sibling who is convinced she literally smells like shit....every time she is due for a change to her medication routine. So I would find a tactful, sensitive way of saying, "I think this is something that can be treated medically as a misfiring of the brain."
posted by availablelight at 11:22 AM on March 4, 2013 [1 favorite]

This seems serious - I don't want to say more serious than OCD, because that is certainly serious enough. But your friend needs a psychiatrist right away.
posted by mumimor at 11:27 AM on March 4, 2013

What can we to do help?

You can help by getting her evaluated by a clinical social worker, psychologist, or psychiatrist. The types of delusions you are describing are not ameliorated by assurances from friends or family.
posted by OmieWise at 11:28 AM on March 4, 2013 [9 favorites]

I have a mild version of this and I also have OCD. I've always thought the two were directly related.

My own issues have a clear start, though: my mother. She always told me "You have your own personal stink." She wasn't trying to be mean, but it made me self-conscious and let to me showering multiple times each day to make sure I didn't smell bad. I still sometimes think "Yuck. Is it me that smells like butt right now?" and if I'm alone in my office, I assume I smell bad, even though I showered this morning and am wearing clean clothes.

I've never heard anyone else complain that I stink, so I just acknowledge that it's in my own head and try to ignore it. But I can see how hard it must be for your friend if she has a worse case.
posted by tacodave at 3:53 PM on March 4, 2013 [2 favorites]