Or like really difficult and hard to talk about/embarrassing life circumstances. I grew up in a hoarder household with many many many cats, and it was a situation that as a minor I was both clueless of how to cope with and scared of how embarrassing the situation was as well as if I was somehow accountable for it (taught to fear authority investigating family issues like CPS/animal control).

I was told a lot during school and stuff that I smelt and it was beyond mortifying to hear when ppl would say it. I became super self conscious and hated being hugged. I would try forever to get the smell away or subdued but it’s impossible in a household like that full of people who themselves are mentally ill.

For someone like me, I personally never call someone out for their stench or at least do it in a way that isn’t recognizable as such. I feel immense sympathy in those situations because they might not be able to address the situation fully and it’s embarrassing. It’s not that they don’t care they might just not have the means to change it or are in some twisted situation like mine where they don’t want to open it up and they sort of just have to cry internally when ppl mention it and act a bit unphased irl because you don’t know how to respond it’s the worst.

I’m still coping with it and my situation was probably more severe than most ig but point is it can really mess with someone’s psyche and I understand he smells but I hope you approach this carefully because there are a lot of factors at play.

Being out of this situation now, and with one of my kitties who also experienced the same trauma I try to be as compassionate and mitigate the awkwardness as much as possible. My mentality is that even though they are emitting the smell I’m the one who has an issue with it and I’m privileged enough TO have an issue with it and I don’t want anyone to experience anything remote to what I felt. It’s so dehumanizing. Anyways :) Much love.