Flashbacks And Smells

[BlackbirdSinging]

Can you have a flashback where you feel dissociated foggy dazed anxious and all that's coming to you is a smell? Because that's me right now. All I can smell is cigarettes. Everywhere. And no one in the house smokes. I don't smell just smoke it's specifically cigarette smoke. And I had a very messed up nightmare that woke me up this morning about my ex who emotionally abused me for 9 of the 11 year relationship. And he smoked.

My question is is it possible that I'm having some kind of flashback? Does anyone else experience anything like this?

 

[PureDogs]

Yes

I have those kind flashbacks not just smell.

It varies from wording, action, feeling, observation, and few to list.

 

[Jane.l]

Yes cigarette smoke and engine oil - I do sometimes have a visual flashback with it - but the smell is still there for ages afterwards

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

Thank you for responding so quickly. I feel very flashback like. But wasn't sure. My head feels really heavy foggy dazed and fuzzy. I'm a little shaky and I just feel like crying all of a sudden. And I'm not one who cries easily. I need to ground myself or something. I feel very lost.

 

[Jane.l]

We are here - sometimes writing things out helps . I know what you mean about crying - I don 't do crying either don't handle it well when it happens makes me feel very edgy and dark.

Are you on your own ? Take care of yourself

 

[Still waiting]

Yes yes and YES! I can drive down the road and all of a sudden...poof! Smells, sounds, a sight, a familiar sound etc...

 

[digger]

Yes. It's horrible and I really struggle to get my head round how I can smell something that isn't there! Sorry you're having this experience. I hope it's passed a bit for you now. I'd say crying might help release and re-ground you, but I'm rubbish at letting myself cry. :hug:

 

[PureDogs]

Jane.I - Numb feelings - Yes.. I do have that often and sometimes I have faced by few saying I should be crying. Some reacts differently.

Still Waiting - I can relate to that while I was driving. One day, I was driving and end up hit the curb (of course, nobody got injured) I was alert but my mind wandered. My psych said it is common in PTSD whatever trigger or stressor that got my mind wander without realizing it. Scary isn't it?

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

Are you on your own ?

I'm with you on not liking crying. It makes me feel vulnerable and I don't like feeling vulnerable. I'm not alone. I live with my parents. They didn't know what was going on because I was in my room with the door closed. It took me a little over a half hour to be fully back in the present. Now I feel worn out.

struggle to get my head round how I can smell something that isn't there! Sorry you're having this experience. I hope it's passed a bit for you now. I'd say crying might help release and re-ground you, but I'm rubbish at letting myself cry. :hug:

That's kind of how it started. I kept smelling cigarettes and I couldn't understand why. None of us in the house smoke. I had already decided to get dressed and I was looking for a certain shirt. I literally tore my closet apart getting more and more anxious trying to find my shirt.

My head was feeling more and more heavy and dazed and I was feeling anxious and a little shaky. It was reminding me of how I feel during flashbacks. That's when I came here and posted.

When it was subsiding I realized I don't even own the shirt I was searching for. I was picturing the one I have on but with long sleeves. And I don't own one like that.

I did cry a little bit but not anything more than a few tears. I've never had a flashback like that before and it really hit me.

 

[franciemarnie]

OMG, I get totally triggered with smells. For me, it is cooking meat that's the worst.

I am also highly sensitive to all kinds of smells - ironically not cigarette smoke. I have the opposite reaction to yours because I connect it to the comfort I knew before the trauma began.

And at the risk of sounding insane, I can also smell spirits. I clear them out by burning sage.

Our senses trigger out limbic brain into pushing the fight or flight or dissociation buttons for sure.

 

[BlackbirdSinging]

OMG, I get totally triggered with smells. For me, it is cooking meat that's the worst.

The only difference is that there was no cigarette smoke. I didn't smell someone's cigarette and get triggered. I was smelling something that wasn't there. It really confused me. Especially the reaction I was having to it. I'm glad it's over now.

 

[Marf]

I have had that also with wisky.