I used to get smell memories in my dreams/nightmares. When we landed in Vietnam, and stepped off the plane, the first thing I noticed was the humidity that seemed to hang on you. The second thing was the smell. I can't describe it, I haven't noticed a different smell to any other country I've visited except for Vietnam. When I had nightmares of being back there, the smell was there too, just as real as the visual parts. At some point, while in the Veterans inpatient PTSD program, my nightmares stopped and were replaced by dreams that didn't wake me, startled, but instead left me feeling like going back to sleep so that I could try to start the dream again. The dream, when I have it is basicly always the same. This time I'm going back to finish it, only I have full knowledge of what to expect and how to deal with it, and I'm in charge of a small group of green soldiers, and in the dream, at least, I have the ability to calm their fears of the unexpected, because of my experience. But, the smell is still there, that's how I know for sure it's about Vietnam. Sounds like a pretty whacked out dream, I know, but somewhere in there I think I sense closure of at least one of my triggers. I haven't had a nightmare in at least ten years now, and for that I'm grateful.
WarHippy

I have a strong smell memory connected to a trauma at 7. I can't describe the smell, I've never smelt it since, all I know is that I smelt it and it was so bad that I couldn't sleep. When I went home I even told my mum about the smell. She could only suggest that it was where the washing had been left out too long, but I know it wasn't that. I can remember the smell vividly, and I know if I ever smelt it again, I would remember it. I can even almost smell it when I think about it.

Very strange!

yes. . . i too have issues with particular smells. my heart begins to pound. my mouth goes dry. this also occures when i am eating. a taste will stimulate an unexpected memory.

I also haave olfactory hallucinations. Mostly outside scents, sometimes pleasant, sometimes a strong, horrible metallic scent to the point of taste. That one's bad.

Yes on the smell thing, only I know what mine are and some make me very sick, like burning baby flesh, nausating even to write it down.
I think even normal people associate smells with good and bad, like someone remembering a grandparents smell or grandmothers perfume.
Through smell you may be able to remember, its your brain giving you hints.
Jot down smells and what feelings they bring, and maybe you can peice your puzzle together.

I can't get rid of it... it's all over me... this mad ackrid, chemical smell... he has to work tomorrow and would only freak out if I woke him up. He can't heelp. what can help? it just won't go away. iy's like all the pills I take are permiating through my skin, the way garlic does if one eats a heavy diet of it.
I am trying so hard not to lose it, I've been up all night and I see my psychiatrist today. he called a cop and hauled me away in a police car once from his office in front of just evryone, thank God I cut in a place he can't see. My dad in his coffin smelled of stale smoke. It's not going away......

You need to let him know you cut to help you. And what on earth happened for him to have you escorted by the police?

The smells do ease in time with healing but you will not heal if not open and honest.

I cut up both my arms with scissors during a rapid cycling episode that was finished days before I saw him. I was the one to make the appointment in the first place to have him re-evaluate my meds. I hadn't been sleeping or showering, just quitly sitting, watching tv. Although the cuts were nowhere near anything resembling a suicide attempt, and I told him that was not my goal(he should know the difference between the two), I guess he didn't trust me or my husband who came with me to go to a hospital. It would have been far less traumatic if we'd have gone on our own. I had never been in a police car before, and, as is my past experience with law enforcement, he belttled and berated me by asking about my "crazy" condition and asking rhetoricals like why can't you control yourself and stop annoying people.
I wound up waking him at 6 because I can't go in the bathroom by myself, and I had to take a shower. He was a jerk at first, poor guy, I startled him out of sleep, I'd be a jerk, too. He quickly snapped to in a way he never had before, he was able to tell me all the rational things that fell out of my head, making me aware af why the hallucinations were happening(around 5 they got audible in my head, not in a Berkowitz kill kind of way, rather my mother's voice calling out for me- she's still way with us), the smell, tremors, he really talked me the ledge of crazy, and I was able to get 3 hours of sleep, and my visit went well today.
Hugs,
Tiana

I have smell memories. Whenever I smell a certain type of cologne it makes me remember/relive the time with my ex-boyfriend who was abusive. It's a fight or flight reaction when I smell it and there's nothing I can really do but breath calmly and tell myself that he isn't there...

You're not alone in this.

Yes I know the "trigger smell" oh to well! When my dad died, he had Drakkar cologne on, if someone near me has it on...I get anxiety! :(