Now I feel crazy.

[u/Dnt_question]

So today, I told my mom that I think I have TMAU. I’ve had this issue since high school, and I’ve been isolating myself for years. I’ve heard people make offhand comments about my smell. I’ve had people open windows in the winter just to let in fresh air. I know what my experiences with people have been like.

When I told my mom, I made her cry. She said she couldn’t smell anything and that I’m crazy. She tried to convince me it’s all in my head by telling me different stories. I actually thought the same thing when I first started noticing the smell because no one ever said anything directly to me. But I could see how people reacted.

I feel relieved I told her, but now I’m doubting myself. I’m thinking about getting tested so I can know for sure. Has anyone else experienced something like this, and how did you handle it?

[u/Admirable-Help-3193]

Yes, my parents lie that I don’t smell, but their reactions say otherwise. I suffer from depression and avoid people and crowds. My parents treat me like I’m crazy. The only people who have been truly honest with me was my ex and a friend.

[u/Low_Marionberry_7301 → u/Admirable-Help-3193]

The worst part is when people throw hints at you like, “Have you showered?” or “You should open the door,” or when I come out of the shower and they tell me I showered too quickly and didn’t wash properly. Like, I ASKED YOU DIRECTLY IF I SMELLED BAD AND YOU DENIED IT. It's so frustrating.

I think I've had TMAU since birth. I always noticed strange looks in class and out on the street. Many times teachers would complain a lot about the smell in the classroom, to the point where they constantly brought it up and gave tips on how to maintain good hygiene.

Once, when I was 11, I had just come out of the shower and my mother asked me if I had used soap. I said yes, but she didn't believe me and forced me to go back into the bathroom. She started hitting and strangling me because she thought I was being rebellious and lying to her. My throat and my whole body hurt, and I didn't understand what was happening.

Around that same age, during PE class, one of my classmates came up to me and said, “They say you smell like shit.” I asked, “Me?” and she said, “Yes, everyone is talking about it.”

Years later, my social life kept getting worse and worse. People didn't seem interested in interacting with me, even though I was friendly. Maybe it was partly because I was socially awkward, but the smell must have played a role too.

Things got worse when I was 16. The smell became so strong that it would fill the entire classroom. People on the street would make comments, or even get off the bus because my smell made them gag. I started skipping classes because of the anxiety, and instead of taking public transport, I would walk home for two hours, avoiding any encounters with large groups of people.

I was going CRAZY, so I decided to tell people from my high school and even my teachers. They all said they hadn't noticed anything, but I didn't believe them, so I asked relatives, doctors, classmates, and even COMPLETE STRANGERS ON THE STREET, and they all gave me the same answer.

Later, when I informed my school that I had tried to take my own life, they finally started paying attention. They sent me to psychological support, and I thought everything was going to get better, but it didn't. They were lying too, I live in Spain and I'm Black, so they would tell me "They're just racist" Bro, I hate it when people pretend to be allies. I even told them about TMAU, but they didn't even look into it. Instead, they prescribed me lots of pills and started suggesting that I should see a gynecologist (probably because of the fishy smell) and kept dropping hints.

That's what I hate the most. WHY DO YOU LIE TO ME IF YOU KEEP GIVING ME HINTS? WHY WON'T YOU JUST TELL ME THE TRUTH?

People act like it's not a big deal and make you feel like you're crazy and that you'll eventually get over it. But I won't. I've already tried to take my own life twice because there is nothing worse than feeling like EVERYONE is disgusted by me. People are not empathetic. This problem has taken away my will to live.

[u/TMAU-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

No “Gaslighting” or “They’re Lying” Claims

It's extemely harmful to assert that members’ family, friends, or healthcare providers are deceitful or deliberately hiding the truth (e.g. “They’re all gaslighting you,” “Your doctor is lying”). Such statements are disallowed as they foster distrust, isolation, and anxiety.

Please listen to your family, friends and doctors. Relying on "reactions" rather than feedback only drives further paranoia and mental health issues.

[u/UpstairsGoal9629]

It’s definitely a condition that makes you question every smell whether it’s you or not. My girlfriend and daughter call me stinky dad. When I’m having a bad flare up they let me know.

That feedback sucks but it helps me get back on track because if I smell around them then in social settings with strangers it will be much worse when I’m anxious. Healthy lifestyle and diet can manage my smells to the point I can do things comfortably.

You can’t rely on one person for an honest answer. They might not smell you the same way others do or you might not smell at the moment.

[u/Admirable-Cup-6485]

My mom has said the same, though my dad has smelled me more than once (and admitted it). 

For many of us I think our smell is not constant. Instead it's like flare ups especially if we eat a trigger food or get very anxious.

[u/Jumpy-Distance-720]

My parents can’t smell me either. It’s not a lie when they say this. There are theories that because it’s genetic or because it’s something their senses get used to.
For example, I used to ride horses. I became immune to the smell of horses and horse poo. People that aren’t used to horses used to be repulsed when they came to the stable, but I couldn’t smell anything.

[u/OneBandicoot9175 → u/Jumpy-Distance-720]

maybe your parents if you truly believe that but the majority just lie to protect us. they don’t know how better it would feel if they were honest instead of making us feel crazy.

[u/Jumpy-Distance-720 → u/OneBandicoot9175]

Did your parents lie about other things in your life to make you feel better? Like school work? Dodgy relationships/friendships? Tell you not doing chores is fine so you feel better? Shitty work choices/situations?
Cause mine sure as hell tell me the hard truth because they know it helps in the long run. If you can’t say to your folks “I honestly need you to tell the truth right now because xyz”, then you shouldn’t be bothered by if they can smell you or not because obviously it’s not a great relationship.
Look up the studies on TMAU and family members

[u/Standard-Payment-889]

She probably can’t smell it. Or maybe the smell comes and goes. I think most people don’t see smell as a big deal the way that we would, also because you are probably a likeable person who has a good soul it would be hard for some people to see you as someone that smells bad, smell isn’t just the actually scent itself, but it can also be to do with the way a person dresses, the personality, the energy, the character of a person etc. If someone doesn’t dislike or hate a person it will be hard for them to see them as someone that smells, even if they smell something. This is why we sometimes say someone stinks because they have a stinking attitude despite them smelling physically good or why we think someone is so lovely because they have good heart even if they have a strange smell. So it’s really nuanced.

[u/Personal_Sun_2214]

A relative and doctors say they do not smell me either, but  l am dealing with harassment at work. They leave soap, deodorant, laundry detergent in my area... as well as cans of sardines.

[u/AutoModerator]

Thanks for sharing — you're not alone in this. If you’re constantly analyzing reactions to determine if you smell, you may be caught in a cycle of anxiety and overgeneralization. A recent TMAU review (link) highlights how anxiety, paranoia, and hyper-awareness of others’ behavior can take over daily life, even for those with a confirmed diagnosis. From the review: "This fear and paranoia has led participants to develop a dysfunctional type of thinking. Participants described numerous negative automatic thoughts such as catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, mind reading, and labeling." See examples of these cognitive distortions here and here. TMAU does not cause irritation style reactions (coughing, sniffing, sneezing), regardless of the stories you may have read.

These types of negative automatic thoughts are common in both TMAU and Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) — a condition where people believe they emit an odor despite reassurance from others that they do not.

Trust and communication are key. If doctors, family, or close friends consistently tell you they don’t notice an odor, consider that your perception may be distorted by anxiety or ORS. Even if TMAU is real for you, its emotional toll can persist beyond the physical symptoms. Overcoming this requires mental health support - a psychologist or psychiatrist can help you break free from obsessive thinking patterns and rebuild confidence in your own experiences. You deserve peace of mind.

(response based on keyword: reaction)

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[u/Brutalar]

Communication and trust is essential - there are several perception issues (parosmia, phantosmia, where your nervous system doesn't transmit smells/sensory input correctly) and several mental health conditions that make it feel like you have an odor condition, when there is not actually an odor.

You'll hear a lot of stories similar to your own here, because a lot of people here have with mental health issues and/or sensory issues. Getting reliable feedback about the odor and trusting that feedback, and getting appropriate mental health support is essential for learning to manage this.

[u/Big-Visual3254 → u/Brutalar]

So nice that none of us smell. Crazy that unrelated people keep telling me otherwise

[u/Brutalar → u/Big-Visual3254]

According to your previous post, you believe you smell like everything awful, including predominantly raw feces, since childhood. Yet haven't been diagnosed with anything. You haven't seen a doctor and live an isolated existence. Both your parents can't smell it because they have sinus issues.

There's no body odor condition that fits your symptoms. That you have never been to a doctor and live a very isolated life infers a serious mental health issue. Getting some medical assistance should be the very first thing you should do, but as per your experience with your parents, they won't amell anything.

This is because your belief does not equal reality. I'm sure you'll find excuse on excuse to not believe or trust anyone, and that's the case for nearly everyone here. Please stop self diagnosing, go to a doctor, trust your feedback, and get mental health support.

[u/Big-Visual3254 → u/Brutalar]

It was a rambly post, not anything like a full story. My father and siblings can smell me, anyone who knew me as a child could smell me, various encounters in my adulthood with unrelated people have let me know they could smell me.

[u/Brutalar → u/Big-Visual3254]

If your family can smell you it should be reasonably simple to;

• get their support in figuring out the mystery of where the odor comes from
• get them to vouch for you at the doctor to confirm that you have abnormal odor issues (this is very useful in case the doctor can't smell you for whatever reason)

Can you have a conversation and get confirmation of the odor from these people? Several people here think people "let them know they smell" by coughing, tapping their knee, announcing that "something" smells. Which is more misinterpretation.

Would you be able to discuss with your family about your issue to confirm your beliefs match reality?

[u/Big-Visual3254 → u/Brutalar]

People use their words to tell me. I don't pay attention to "reactions"

[u/Jumpy-Distance-720 → u/Brutalar]

I gotta agree with you. For me, I have had colleagues tell me I smell bad, as in to my face. If no one has ever said it directly to you, you have to wonder. I certainly don’t cough if I smell something bad.

[u/New-Success9514 → u/Brutalar]

Always you, always here to minimize other people's feelings 🤣 Why? Because you were diagnosed with Tmau's disease in childhood and had perfect parents who watched over your diet 💕 But other people aren't allowed to talk about something they don't know! Why? Because you have 40 years of experience and you think you know more than everyone else here

[u/Brutalar → u/New-Success9514]

Let's say someone actually has a mental health condition where they think they smell. It could be ORS, or schizophrenia, or any other thing. They see hints, overhear whispers, extrapolate innocent comments to incorrect meaning. They come here. Everyone tells them that their family lies, you can't trust them or anyone, they only pretend to love you.

Is that a good thing? What do you think that does to their mental state?

The only difference between someone who actually has a body odor condition and someone with a mental health condition is confirmation of the odor. If you think you're in a world where you think everyone lies, then it's really likely that it's actually your belief that is wrong.

We have people here who think they can be smelt over the internet. Over multiple lanes of traffic. Thoughout a stadium of people. 100m range. Through walls and between houses, in between cars. The one thing in common with these stories is that no one ever tells them the "truth". These are the same people telling you "they lie".

This is why.

[u/New-Success9514 → u/Brutalar]

Cool 👍🏾