Help please?

Several years ago, I experienced a terrifying near death experience - I was physically restrained and attacked for several hours. While my attackers were in my face they were smoking cigarettes.

Flash forward to today. Every time I smell cigarette smoke, I am thrust back into the fear of dying - and a panic attack ensues. It's like my brain now associates the smell of cigarette smoke with terror.

As strange as it sounds, I have a phobia of cigarette smoke.

For years now, I have avoided places were people smoke. However, my phobia has now gotten to the point that if I even smell smoke on someone (they don't have to be actively smoking) I am thrust right into an attack.

One time I was in a gas station paying for gas and a person standing in line behind me breathed on me and it smelled like cigarette smoke, that set it off and I haven't been back in the station since.

I had to resign from my job because I couldn't stand to be around coworkers who had just come back from break. I could never take the elevator because it always smelled like smoke.

When I drive, I cannot ever drive with the windows down for fear that I may smell it.

My neighbors smoke, and when they do, they go outside. I have a hell of a time mowing next to their house because I am too focused on watching for them to come outside so that I can escape back inside before they light up.

I realize this fear is extremely irrational but I can't seem to control the reaction that this smell causes me.

I have sought the help of a P-doc who gave me a script for Lexapro. That only made me worse.

I have seen several therapists but all they want to do is talk about the attack. I have not been able to find a therapist who will describe for me in detail and give me directions on what I need to do to overcome this fear. Do therapists like this exist?

I am going to post this in the PTSD section also. Thanks for reading.

Hi there. I do went thru a very unfourtunate event... and understand the fear... that can become so overwhelming that it will disrubt (sp) your normal lifestyle I am talking to everyone who will listen about my incident, see a great dr, finally feel like I have my med's on check... but still have uncontrollable anxiety about being alone I am on this network to help me spill my guts out to see if it makes a difference. So far it has, mave made lots of friends who truly understand where I am coming from. PSTD will be a good place for you and well as this site Glad you came over... and can't smell me... trying to quit

Have you asked your P Doc to change or adjust your meds?

Yeah, I agree with jerry...you might do better on a different med.

Talking about the event can help sometimes, but what you'd probably need is exposure therapy. You'd start small, and work your way up until seeing smoke from cigarettes doesn't bother you anymore. It isn't easy, I know.

I haven't tried a different medication because the Lexapro scared me a little. I was quite surprised by how powerful it was and how long it lasted. I agree that facing the fear through exposure is the only way I am going to beat it but I have yet to find a therapist who will entertain the idea. All of the therapists I have seen just want to talk. I would like to find someone who will say; "OK, here is what we are going to do to get you over this fear".

I think you have to deal with the attack and the "irrational" fear of the smoke rather than just the smoke alone since they're connected. The more you try to avoid it the stronger it becomes. Sounds like you're afraid of being afraid (as my T put it). You have to deal with the attack which is over and not likely to happen again, all your feelings and fears and pain that happened with that and/or be around smoke and de-couple it from the reality of the moment since "smoking" and "being attacked" are not really related.

I'm so sorry you have this complicated, painful problem!

I have a similar problem as you. My pdoc and past therapists have all just talked and prescribed medication. You might try doing a search on Google for therapists who specialize in behavioral therapy in your area. Or ask your pdoc. On TV, they always show psychiatrists as doing this kind of therapy, but none of mine ever have.

you are not alone my friend. I have a nasty aversion to it, when people are lighting up and inhaling and exhaling. My wife used to smoke and quit 2 years ago, this was before we got together. She has been using this e cigarette off and on and it drives me nuts. I get anxious when she uses it, she doesnt do it in front of me, but goes in the bathroom and does it. She says its the only way she can lose weight and i have to disagree with that. It may be less harmful than cigarettes, but i dont know if theres a name or if its a phobia for my hatred towards anything like that. Im goind for a diagnosis in a month to see if I have Borderline Personality Disorder and get the proper medication. Also i fly off the handle for little reasons, severe trust issues, anxiety, depression, i can be happy one minute and the next very sensitive and cry