Can Lyme Steal Your Mind?

can lyme steal your mind

Adrianna was normal until the age of 16 when she went on a mountain vacation with her family. When they arrived at the cabin near Yosemite they were surrounded by 6 deer. It was a beautiful moment.

Ten days later Adrianna became agitated and started having auditory hallucinations. Her family brought her to a psychiatrist who diagnosed her as psychotic and prescribed medications, which didn’t help. The next 3 months were a torturous road of different doctors, multiple medications, and a cost near $100,000. Adrianna had become a shadow of her former self.

Desperate, her parents brought her to Amen Clinics for a scan. Her scan showed areas of unusually decreased activity. It caused our physician to look deeper at the potential causes of Adrianna’s symptoms, such as an infection or toxicity. It turned out she had Lyme Disease. After antibiotics, she got her life back.

Lyme Disease is on the Rise

The Lyme disease (LD) infection rate is increasing. It is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States.

Public health officials report between 30,000 and 36,000 cases of the disease a year. According to the Center for Disease Control, LD is now present in nearly half of U.S. counties in 43 states, a leap of nearly 45% since 1998.

What is Lyme Disease?

According to the CDC, “Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black legged ticks.” These ticks are mostly found in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, the northern Midwest and the West Coast, and are often found on white-footed mice and white-tailed deer living in woods and high grass areas. Interestingly enough, Lyme disease was named after Lyme, Connecticut in 1975, the town where it was first identified.

Lyme disease can be effectively treated and cured

Doctors faced with treating the disease in early stages can successfully cure it with the use of antibiotics. Unfortunately, LD can be misdiagnosed because some doctors are not familiar with it. For those who feel they may have the disease, it is best to be diagnosed and treated by a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor that may likely to be a member of ILADS, the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society.

Symptoms may start with flu-like feelings such as fever, chills, sweats, possibly muscle aches, fatigue, nausea or joint pain. Physical symptoms often begin with what may look like a bull’s eye rash and in some cases even Bell’s Palsy (facial drooping). An even bigger problem, there may be no indication of a bite at all, which is a reason why Lyme disease may not be suspected.

Lyme disease is hard to detect

The disease has a way of manipulating the brain into thinking you’re not sick, as it slowly starts to work on neurological functions. LD is known as the great imitator because it can mimic various disorders such as Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, ALS, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s disease, just to name a few.

Even in later stages of the illness, LD can be treated. However, some may have symptoms that can linger for months or even years following treatment. In some instances, people experience memory loss, depression, anxiety, trouble focusing, emotional tantrums, or personality changes. Many find themselves suffering, not understanding why they can’t seem to get better until they are finally properly diagnosed and get the treatment needed to become healthy.

How to protect yourself from Lyme disease

Protect yourself, children and pets against LD by avoiding areas where deer tick live, such as wooded bushy areas with long grass. You can also decrease your chances of getting LD by covering up, using insect repellant, clear brush or tick enticing areas, and remove ticks immediately with tweezers. The ticks are most active in May, June, and early July.

Parents may have concerns because children are affected with the disease more often than adults, but neurological symptoms of late-stage Lyme disease are found to be rare in children.

The first step in any healing process is an accurate diagnosis. If you or someone you know may be experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease, call us today at (888) 288-9834 or visit our website to schedule a visit and find out more about how we can help.

17 Comments »

  1. This is scary because lyme is so mis – understood. I am glad there are places like the Amen Center that can help shed light on these issues.

    Comment by Darien Chiropractor Brian McKa — March 15, 2017 @ 4:19 AM

  2. It’s actually a lot higher than the CDC reports. Some consider it at pandemic levels. It’s in every state but AK and HI and in every continent but Antarctica. Most countries refuse to recognize chronic Lyme and will harass doctors who try to treat Lyme effectively, even taking away their medical license. It takes more than just a 2 month round of antibiotics, especially if the person has had it for some time. Testing is horrible and inaccurate, yet doctors continue to rely only on them instead of clinical diagnosis. Oh, and most doctors treat you as if you are nuts.

    It can be acquired by various insects, not just ticks. Plus passed by sexual contact and by birth.

    I suffered from undiagnosed Lyme disease for over 30 years before I was finally correctly diagnosed. Still could not find a doctor to help me since most who are Lyme literate do not accept insurance. It will cost upwards of $1000+ just to walk into the doors of most LLMD. And treatment takes years. Most do not have the funds since Lyme has destroyed their lives before it was even diagnosed.

    Comment by maryruth — April 18, 2017 @ 10:28 AM

  3. I got Lyme when I was 13, was diagnosed with JRA, after years of surgery removing healthy organs, being told that I just didn’t know how to cope with life, it was all in my head, at 47 I was properly diagnosed with Lyme and apparently had Rheumatic Fever for at least 2 to 3 years by the numbers I showed. I was treated with IV, shots, and oral antibiotics yet still had movement tics (Sydenham’s Chorea) light and sound sensitivity. I was introduced to EHT and within a month the light and sound sensitivity was 99% gone. I still have crossed wiring somewhere, my reflexes are off and I can’t handle strobe lights ( I black out) My dream is to make enough money so I can go to AMEN clinics and see where my brain is not working right and if it can be fixed. I am really tired of hearing “Ive never seen anyone with your situation and jerking before, I don’t know what to do”

    Comment by Cyndi Zinszer Cudworth — May 22, 2017 @ 12:15 PM

  4. I still wonder if this is what happened to my mother. She was diagnosed with Lyme before, several years ago. In 2014, she had a sudden “break” and had hallucinations and dementia-like symptoms. We thought it related to her meds at first, but meds didn’t make her any better. Perhaps the Lyme came back. I couldn’t get a doctor to take me seriously. They instead tested for everything else —and came up with nothing. She died before they could figure it out. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad they ruled out other things…but why could they not take Lyme seriously? Perhaps she would have gotten better and could have gone home if they had figured it all out, since testing showed it was none of the things they thought it looked like. I wish they had taken me seriously and considered Lyme alongside the other things they were considering.

    Comment by Bri E. — May 22, 2017 @ 12:28 PM

  5. My husband has late stage Lyme disease, having contracted it roughly 30 years ago. My understanding from our research is that antibiotics cannot cure Lyme disease, since they do not cross the blood/brain barrier, which the borrelia in biofilm form does to hide itself when antibiotics are introduced. We have heard of people being cured or helped by many different treatments, but so far there is not one remedy that works for everyone. We have tried a homeopathic treatment by a specialist in energy medicine on the east coast. After some initial positive results, there was a downward plunge again. We tried Advanced Cell Training (ACT) and that helped a while but ultimately not. The latest is called LDI – Low Dose Immunotherapy by Dr. Ty Vincent. After, again, initial great results, looks like it may not be working anymore. Am not sure of Amen Clinic’s protocol as they use antibiotics. Have heard some good things about Sierra Integrative Medical Center in Reno Nevada, but that is upwards of $20,000. We absolutely don’t know what to do.
    My husband is a creative artistic genius and this disease has taken his energy and creativity away. The medical community should be ashamed of itself for its callousness and lack of concern for individuals suffering…

    Comment by Sherry Devika Gordon — May 22, 2017 @ 1:10 PM

  6. i had lyme for 12 years with all kinds of traveling symptoms. (I’ve been cured for 17 years now!) I had a severe depression for 7 months during the end of those 12 years. Then I got pneumonia after a sinus infection and they gave me 3 weeks of antibiotics. I felt fabulous in 2 weeks, but not completely well…… so 4 more years of antibiotics.
    And that was when I realized I had lyme disease. I went to a lyme doctor and he told me I had bartonella, another lyme disease.
    I stayed on one year of doxycycline, then 3 years of 875 mil of amoxicillian, (6 tablets in the morning) and 6 at night.
    I took acidolphilus mid day. In 3 years I was cured. I had every symptom on the lyme check list. Zero now.
    The longest I have heard anyone being treated is 5 years of antibiotics (I live in CT). You must also build your immune system
    exercise daily, eat healthy, sleep well, forget drugs, alcohol or smoking…. you become a health freak, and you see an immunologist!!! Who can give you immuno-therapy drops you take under your tongue weekly for your allergies.
    Yes you will be 100% well. Don’t believe that you can’t be cured. The long term antibiotics work!! One in 4 people here in CT get lyme, so listen to us. The longest I have ever heard the treatment go is 5 years straight of antibiotics. Only a lyme doctor understands this. You must fly to get a doctor that can help you if not one in your state. Don’t give up!

    Comment by Pam Roberts — May 22, 2017 @ 2:55 PM

  7. I was diagnosed with Lyme and Epstein Barr Virus after having Shingles about 18 months ago. I was shocked that after 2 weeks of herbal medicine (from my Herbalist Naturopath) the endless random stabbing pains (which I’ve had for over 20 years) just vanished, fatigue vanished, and memory started to improve. Memory continues to improve which astonishes me! I thought I had Alzheimers, but scans showed I didn’t. Now know it was Lyme. I stayed on the herbal medicine for about 3 month just to be sure, but tests show all now OK. People comment at the huge difference in my appearance!
    It has now been discovered the Lyme can be transmitted by any biting insects such as mosquitoes, flies, etc. It is not limited to ticks.

    Comment by Favourites — May 22, 2017 @ 3:34 PM

  8. Sherry,
    Has your husband tried any of the Lyme herbals? There are some herbs that can actually
    help reduce the Lyme symptoms. I have Lyme too, and had a bad case
    which became neurological, but also destroyed my gut. I had Babesia and Bartonella, and who knows what else. I have tried many things over the past six years, and made progress but it was initially very slow because my system was so badly destroyed. But antibiotics
    didn’t work for me, because I had a compromised gut, and I cannot tolerate them, as well – which made it even more difficult. I have heard from others that the antibiotics provided a temporary relief, but then the Lyme came back again, and it drives the Lyme deeper into the tissues, where it hides behind “biofilms.” Maybe for some people, if they get it in time, the antibiotics can work and can eliminate their symptoms, but I was not able to take them at all, because I previously had had my immune system destroyed by Tetracycline, so I was not going to take any. It affected my endocrine and nervous
    systems badly. But I have found help in using certain supplements, such as a liquid, liposomal
    glutahione supplement (from SeekingHealth.com), as well as taking the Meyer’s “cocktail” IV,
    which also has glutathione, B6, high-dose vitamin C and magnesium in it. Taking the IVs like once every couple of weeks helps a lot. Herbs
    that are helpful in fighting Lyme include: Stevia extract, which you can buy in a liquid form
    that you take in water, from Nutramedix. And others like Cats Claw, also known as Samento, and Artemisinin can help to combat Lyme, and help reduce Lyme symptoms. They provide relief, but not necessarily a
    cure to all of the symptoms, but definitely you can feel better on
    these things. Other things that I take are numerous vitamins to help
    build up my body’s defenses, including vitamin D3, and things like Methyl Protect, from Xymogen, and also protein and gut powders – with things in them like Curcumin. Another supplement I
    have just started taking is called Cytokine Suppress, which I purchased
    from Life Extension. This is a new supplement, designed to help
    modulate immune response to Cytokines, which are a big factor in Lyme
    inflammation. I would definitely try some of these things, if your husband has
    not already.

    Hope this is helpful for you. Good luck. I felt like my brain was zapped as well, and I was not able to read, or concentrate on much of anything for the first three-to-four years that I had it, and have also had chronic insomnia for several years, but it has improved the most last year and this year, after really being dilligent with all the supplements and attacking the problem every day. It is an awful disease, and I hate it too. The neurotransmitters can help with the insomnia problem. Hydroxytryptophan is something that has helped me. I believe that I am low in Serotonin, also.

    Comment by Jackie Apel — May 23, 2017 @ 2:54 PM

  9. You are lucky in a way that you are in Connecticut, because that state is very familiar with Lyme now, due to all the outbreaks, plus your Senator is very much aware of the problems with Lyme disease too – Senator Blumenthal. I heard him speak about it one time recently, or read that he had helped to pass some legislation. I live in Maryland, and had a very hard time finding a Lyme doctor, but finally did through ILADS. The Lyme doctor was good, but I did not take the antibiotics, due to having an immune system that was compromised when I was younger, and also because my gut was completely destroyed. Even intraveneous antibiotics do not necessarily work. I have taken the slow road, and do a ton of supplements, some of the Lyme herbals, as well as gut powders. I had it first in my head – Babesia which really took over and caused horrendous neurological symptoms that kept me awake for four years. It was total hell living through that, but I finally got beyond it, and have beaten it down, so only have minor flareups. It has been a long road to recovery, but after six years, I am finally getting there. Still have ups and downs, though, and am working on it. It is true, only Lyme doctors and naturopathics, and alternative doctors understand this. Dr. Amen is very good with brain problems, but I could not afford to go to him. He has some good supplements for neurotransmitters which I would like to try at some point.

    Comment by Jackie Apel — May 23, 2017 @ 3:01 PM

  10. It’s more like 300,000 cases and “almost no doctors” rather than “some” (understand the disease).

    This article needs a lot of work.

    -20 year Lyme survivor

    Comment by Dude Dude — May 27, 2017 @ 7:44 AM

  11. And most ppl diagnosed with ALS, MS, fibro, CFS, RA and more, really have late-stage Lyme at its ROOT.
    Same with Michael J. Fox and that BS “early-onset Parkinson’s” dx he was given.

    Lyme gave me suicidaldepression, obsessions, horrible panic and anxiety. It frightens the hell out of me how many ppl are in psych wards being pumped full of toxic drugs when in fact they have an INFECTION.

    Comment by Dude Dude — May 27, 2017 @ 7:47 AM

  12. Would you be willing to share your protocol with me?

    Comment by Shay Scott — July 26, 2017 @ 10:36 AM

  13. My Herbalist/Naturopath made a herbal remedy which included Figwort/ PokeRoot/ Pommegranite/ Cordyceps. Just had to take 1 teaspoon 3 x daily. It was quite astonishing how quickly the symptoms vanished and so wonderful to have a significant improvement in memory. I do think you’d need a Herbalist/Naturopath to make the mixture in the correct proportions and what suits YOU best. I probably only needed to do one month, but did 3 months just to be certain because I’d had Lyme/EBV for so long.
    I understand that viruses have a biofilm which stops the immune system from recognising them as an invader. Once the biofilm is gone the immune system can deal with it.
    I should mention that I have Celiac Disease (inherited) so this weakened by immune system! Gluten intolerance is behind so many other diseases and gluten content/processing varies in different countries. Humans are not designed to digest gluten, but can take 20+ years for symptoms to show up.
    I’ve gone from endless visits to doctors to now just for annual blood tests/check up! I was amazed at how many problems vanished once Lyme was gone!
    General things I found VERY important to rebuild my health:
    Diaphragm breathing; correct posture; drinking good water; relaxation/no stress; food allergies/sensitivities (they cause mood changes/depression); no sugar (only unprocessed honey or maple syrup… must be UNPROCESSED as molecules from all processed sugars spin the wrong direction).
    I also cannot tolerate EMFs…. Wi-Fi sends my BP to heart attack territory and I’d collapse and have to call the ambulance… the ‘wired’ connections are OK. Some computers are worse than others. Cordless phones are the worst! Emissions have to be under 3 milli-gauss. My computer was over 100!
    Probably also helps to do heavy metal detox (strawberries, peanut butter are good but detox takes a long time) and general detox. Ensure that gut health is in top condition. Every cell in our body is built from the nutrients we eat – good or bad! Hope that is helpful? Happy to share!

    Comment by Favourites — July 26, 2017 @ 3:58 PM

  14. Something to consider…your husband may be suffering from a possible combination of things. For instance Mold Toxicity Poisoning, Candida or fungal poisoning. These may worth checking into considering you aren’t getting the results you should. A good Naturopathic doctor should be able to help you in the right direction.

    Comment by Sonja Wernke — July 28, 2017 @ 8:12 AM

  15. My husband was diagnosed with MS almost a year ago. he have had several attacks since then. we have seen two neurologists. One saying that his brain MRI was terrible; the worst he has seen in over 20 years. The second doctor I went to said that my husband brain MRI isn’t that bad. He sent him for a spinal MRI. News on the spinal was that he have barely any lesions there. he is severely frustrated. One, because he cannot get the answers he desire from either neurologist; and two, because he have trouble walking his right leg. during my research i found a patients preview on how Total Cure Herbal Foundation saved her from this similar condition,i order the natural products,my husband used the remedies for complete 15 weeks which reversed all the symptoms and give him a good health again,i cant thank God enough.
    cheers

    Comment by alvaro vande — June 18, 2018 @ 6:18 AM

  16. Who is your natropath and can i get ahild of them

    Comment by Theesa Geiger — October 31, 2018 @ 6:39 AM

  17. Sorry to hear, Cyndi.

    Comment by Andy — July 21, 2020 @ 7:55 AM

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