What is Mold PTSD?

Mold PTSD is a commonly used term to describe the traumatic response that develops due to the fear and trauma caused by the experience of navigating toxic mold exposure.

Imagine believing your home is a sanctuary, only to discover that it is housing a hidden toxin that is slowly killing you.

The discovery of toxic mold in a home results in a loss of a person's foundational need for safety & security -- on top of the loss of one's health. Anyone who has experienced chronic illness or witnessed it in a loved one understands the gravity and importance of good health.

Mold PTSD is specifically related to the fear-based reaction around water damage and mold following a mold event. Additionally, individuals who have mold illness or CIRS often experience trauma in other areas of life -- which compounds the already heightened response.

These are common scenarios and responses in those with Mold PTSD:

• A person finds a moldy blueberry, mildew in the bathroom, or a water-damage stain under the sink, resulting in a major anxiety attack.

• An image of mold online results in discomfort, anxiety, or fear.

• Hypervigilance, obsession, and compulsions regarding keeping their home dust-free, tidy, and low-humidity.

• Rigidity surrounding home maintenance, diet, lifestyle, and "wellness" -- even resulting in the control of others.

• Anger or reactivity due to the perception of others not understanding the condition and environmental considerations.

All these responses are understandable for a person who lost the most important physical needs.

Traumas that are common following a toxic mold exposure include:

1. Medical - gaslighting from doctors, medical injuries, & incompetency

2. Biological - nervous system dysregulation & pain

3. Social - Grief and loss of quality of life, relationships

4. Remediation - legal issues, loss of belongings, financial strain/debt, & incompetency

These traumas can produce a significant impact on a person, shaping their soul. The good news is that trauma does not have to have a negative impact. While we like to focus on post-traumatic stress, more profoundly, we have post-traumatic growth. Read more about it here.

Individuals healing from mold illness or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome have the ability to turn their adversity into strength. And the first step is to not give the mold power over you.

A major topic in the mold community is the HLA-DR/DQ gene, which has been identified as a genetic predisposition to the multisusceptibility of various biotoxins. The core belief that has been developed on this piece of knowledge is that "1 in 4 people are susceptible to chronic illness if exposed to a biotoxin like mold, and this means that if I am that one person, I will be chronically ill and cannot heal". This is simply not true. The fault in this core belief is the conclusion following the data point.

While the science and evidence behind the HLA-DR/DQ are sound, there is an evidence-based reality that supersedes this: epigenetics. We express genes as a result of our internal environment. That is why many people can go years living in mold without developing a chronic illness, and a single stressful event or sickness triggers the gene to be expressed, resulting in the chronic illness.

This fear of "genetic fate" is a lie that is shaping core beliefs and impeding people's healing. Mold and other biotoxins are not powerful enough to keep you disabled. They may have a profound impact on the cause of illness, but ultimately, your body is designed to heal.

Healing from mold exposure takes significant mental & emotional strength and willpower to overcome. But it can also become the most transformative experience for a person. The question is: who holds the power in your healing?