Bromidrophobia

Bromidrophobia, or fear of body odors, is relatively common in modern society. Today’s emphasis on cleanliness has led to the belief that bodily scents are dirty or taboo. This can lead to an unhealthy obsession with ensuring that our regular odors are removed or masked. Bromidrophobia can also refer to a fear of others' body odors.

Causes of Bromidrophobia

Good hygiene has been proven to reduce risks of disease transmission and infection. Regular removal of dirt and grime, along with sterilizing procedures when appropriate (operating rooms, piercing equipment, etc.), is important for good health. However, like mysophobia, or fear of germs, bromidrophobia takes cleanliness too far.

Human beings, like animals, emit natural scents from our bodies. In a healthy person with reasonable hygiene, these odors are not offensive. In fact, these odors contain pheromones, which act as chemical communicators. Insects and other animals rely largely on pheromones to stimulate a wide range of behaviors. In humans, these chemicals are believed to play a role in sexual attraction, although some research has disputed this effect.

Today, advertising and social conditioning has taught us that it is best to smell like soap, shampoo and deodorant. While all of these products are certainly necessary in maintaining good hygiene, it is easy to develop the belief that any natural bodily scent is “bad” or “dirty” and should be masked. In reality, it is impossible and unhealthy to remove or mask every single whiff of natural odor that might emit from the human body. Therefore, bromidrophobia may result from this conflict between the “ideal” and reality.

Bromidrophobia may be linked with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD. In OCD, however, the compulsion is the washing itself. In bromidrophobia, the focus is on removing perceived odors. The difference is subtle, but important, and is best diagnosed by a trained clinician.

Symptoms of Bromidrophobia

Most people perform certain rituals before going out in public. Showering, washing hair, applying deodorant, shaving, brushing teeth and using a favorite perfume or cologne are all normal and healthy behaviors. If you suffer from bromidrophobia, however, this is not enough.

You may develop extensive hygiene rituals that you obsessively follow before leaving the house. Your showers may gradually become longer and longer as you worry that you are not clean enough. Some people who suffer from bromidrophobia shower three or more times per day. Others damage their skin through excessive scrubbing and the drying effects of hygiene products.

Your fear might expand past hygiene rituals. Some people with this phobia are unable to use public restrooms due to fears of emitting odors. Women may develop a fear of being around others during their menstrual cycles. Many people of both genders carry large bags wherever they go, full of emergency supplies designed to mask any odors that might develop.

Complications of Bromidrophobia

Like many phobias, bromidrophobia tends to worsen over time. Eventually, you might find yourself restricting your activities. You may become reluctant to exercise or perform any tasks that might cause sweating. You might refuse to go anywhere without pleasant restroom facilities where you can perform emergency odor control. Eventually, you might develop social phobia or even agoraphobia, out of the fear that you might be in a situation where you cannot immediately attend to any possible odors.

Treating Bromidrophobia

Because of the impact that it can have on your daily life, it is very important to discuss your bromidrophobia with a qualified mental health professional. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is generally the treatment of choice. In this therapy, you will learn healthier ways of thinking about your own body and the scents that it emits. You will learn relaxation techniques to manage your anxiety. You will also learn to tolerate your own scent through a series of exercises known as systematic desensitization.

Overcoming your phobia is never easy, but with proper treatment you can be a success. See “Finding a Therapist” for tips on choosing the right therapist for you.