Sniff Away Your Stress

Did someone reheat Indian food in the office microwave…two floors down? Your amped-up smelling ability doesn’t mean you’re turning into a superhero—it could be stress. According to a new study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, people with anxiety can experience a heightened sense of smell, and are able to sniff out things that calmer folks might miss.
It turns out that when we feel anxious, our body naturally goes into survival mode, heightening our ability to identify threats—and the nose often takes the lead. As anxiety levels rise, so does our ability to correctly sniff out a strong or unusual stench. In other words, if you think you smell smoke coming from the kitchen or are convinced Patches the poodle left an accident somewhere in the house, it could be a sign you're more stressed than usual.