Toxic Mold Syndrome: “It Was Like I Lost My Personality”
Brain fog, depression, confusion, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, irritability, and trouble sleeping—these are all symptoms that can prompt you to seek help. In many cases, standard treatments can be very helpful. If treatment for mental health problems isn’t working, however, it could be due to a hidden underlying issue—mold toxicity.
If treatment for mental health issues isn’t working, it could be due to a hidden underlying issue—toxic mold. Consider the case of a woman who spent years suffering from debilitating symptoms before finding the root cause.CAST STUDY: MOLD TOXICITY
Kimberlyn, a 46-year-old married mother living in Arizona, had a master’s degree in pattern analysis and was highly detailed, analytical, and logical. Out of nowhere, Kimberlyn went from being a highly effective, busy, working mother to being a disorganized, uninvolved, confused individual. She could no longer focus long enough to put together cohesive, coherent thoughts. She was no longer able to make decisions for herself and struggled with everyday tasks. She even had trouble getting dressed in the morning. Along with the confusion she was experiencing, Kimberlyn also developed insomnia, anxiety, and a loss of appetite. “It was like I lost my personality,” she says. In a matter of months, she also lost 25 pounds, was forced to abandon her practice, and withdrew from activities outside the home. She didn’t know it at the time, but these are all warning signs of mold toxicity. When Kimberlyn got sick, she applied many of the skills from her work life to try to uncover what was adversely affecting her. Even so, getting an accurate diagnosis wasn’t easy.DIAGNOSING MOLD TOXICITY
For most people, getting a mold illness diagnosis is a lengthy process. Because mold that is toxic can cause such a wide variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional issues, it is often misdiagnosed. Mold allergies and other consequences of exposure are often not considered. This was the case for Kimberlyn. At first, her doctor, family, and friends told her that they thought she had depression or even bipolar disorder. Even in her confused and debilitated state, Kimberlyn resisted these possible diagnoses. She insisted on further testing, believing that something was terribly wrong. After a series of blood tests, Kimberlyn’s general practitioner diagnosed her with heavy metal poisoning and recommended she undergo chelation therapy. After undergoing this treatment, she felt better, but not for long. Within five months, her mysterious symptoms returned. During her second cycle of illness, Kimberlyn sought out another doctor who took additional blood samples from her and performed a more extensive series of tests. This is when Kimberlyn learned she may be suffering from black mold toxicity. This was the first time black mold had been suggested as a possible cause for Kimberlyn’s symptoms. She was surprised because she lived in an arid climate in Arizona. Typically, mold growth thrives in damp areas. However, minor water damage due to a water leak from a sink, window, or roof can trigger the growth of mold in walls, on hard surfaces, ceiling tiles, exhaust fans, and other areas where there is indoor humidity. Moldy surfaces anywhere indoors can wreak havoc on human health. Even an air conditioner can be among the risk factors. A musty smell might be a clue that mold spores could be silently wreaking havoc on your health. Kimberlyn decided to have her home tested for indoor mold. The inspectors discovered 3 different mold species, including Stachybotrys chartarum, also known as black mold, one of the more threatening types of mold.COMMON SYMPTOMS OF MOLD TOXICITY ON HUMAN HEALTH
Primarily, black mold can trigger an inflammatory response, such as allergic reactions that mimic seasonal allergies, such as a allergic rhinitis (stuffy nose). Respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, watery eyes, and skin irritation are the predominant symptoms. Black mold exposure can cause chronic inflammation, trigger asthma symptoms, and affect the immune system. This may lead to potentially life-threatening primary and secondary infections in some people as well as chronic illness. People who have a weakened immune system may be even more vulnerable to health problems. Mold exposure has also been linked to more serious, long-term effects. Some of the common toxic effects leading to mental and cognitive symptoms from mold injury include:- Memory loss
- Trouble with focus and concentration
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Mood swings
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Chronic fatigue
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability
HOW BLACK MOLD AFFECTS THE BRAIN
A mold injury can elicit an immune response and have negative impacts on the brain. For example, a 2020 study found that black mold inhalation can cause:- Inflammation in the hippocampus (an important memory center)
- Reduced neurogenesis (the growth of new brain cells)
TREATING MOLD TOXICITY
After Kimberlyn was diagnosed with toxic exposure to mold by her doctor in Arizona, she took steps to remove mold from her home and began treatment protocols to help reduce her symptoms, but she still felt it wasn’t enough. She continued to research mold illness and finally found a blog about a patient who was treated at Amen Clinics.“It was the first time I had read anyone’s experience that matched my own,” says Kimberlyn. “I read and read and read and made an appointment that day.”As part of a comprehensive evaluation at Amen Clinics, Kimberlyn underwent brain SPECT imaging.
“Just to really see exactly what was happening to my brain in the SPECT scans and that I do have a toxic injury due to mold was amazing,” says Kimberlyn. “When my brain swelled from the mold exposure, I was getting almost no blood flow to my prefrontal cortex.”Based on her SPECT scans, neuropsychiatric testing results, and personal history, Kimberlyn was also diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as attention-deficit disorder (ADD), and a previous traumatic brain injury. These issues were exacerbating the effects of the mold toxicity. Co-occurring conditions that can increase the effects of an injury or illness on the brain are common, although they are often overlooked. Kimberlyn was shocked to hear that the head injury she had suffered in high school was impacting her life today and even more surprised that she had ADHD.
“The medication for ADHD has made a huge difference in my productivity and ability to focus. That was like the bonus prize that I wasn’t even expecting,” she says.With a comprehensive treatment protocol, Kimberlyn began seeing positive results quickly. In addition to the medication prescribed for ADHD, Kimberlyn completely changed her diet and started a supplement regimen to support brain health. Other recommendations for her treatment included hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to promote brain healing.
“To see the scans and to know that you are not bipolar, you are not depressed…to see what I knew in my own gut backed up on the scans…it’s so validating and powerful,” says Kimberlyn. “The idea that there is a way to address what’s happening and that you can get better, it’s just so wonderful.”Unresolved cognitive and mental health symptoms that may be related to mold toxins can’t wait. At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, clinical evaluations, and therapy for adults, teens, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
