Navigating Physiologically Induced Mental Health Symptoms

by Krista Kill, MA, INHC

The healing process from mold illness provokes a challenge to mental health in a
multifaceted way. Individuals healing from mold illness are not only faced with the mental health
implications that come with a state of chronic illness, but also navigate potential mycotoxin
induced mental health diagnoses, such as anxiety, depression, OCD and more. Therefore, there
can be both physiologic and situational mental health symptoms, provoked by mold and fungal
illness.

Mycotoxins & the HPA Axis

In understanding the physiological impact on mental health that mycotoxins can have, the connection between the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis (HPA axis) and inhaled mycotoxins, is an important starting point. There is a thin wall between the sinus cavities and the pineal and pituitary glands. In cases of mycotoxin illness, fungal colonies in the sinuses are extremely common. These fungal colonies release a steady omission of mycotoxins (microscopic mold spores), which vaporize past that thin barrier between the sinuses and the brain and begin to wreak havoc on the HPA axis. An additional pathway of mycotoxin stress on the brain is through intestinal permeability, which often leads to a compromised blood brain barrier, and mycotoxins traveling past the protective blood brain barrier, and into the tissue of the brain.

The HPA Axis & Immune System

The HPA axis is a vital hormone signaling system and regulates the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands in response to a stress signal. When the term “stress” is used, it is commonly thought of within the context of managing one’s emotional state. While this is true, in the context of physiology, stress can indicate any input, structurally, biochemically, emotionally, or energetically, that creates a state of imbalance within the body. Mold is a known stressor to the body, specifically the immune system. When this stress is put on the immune system, the body begins to involve the central nervous system and the neuroendocrine system, by means of the immune system’s release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The release of this pro-inflammatory cytokine elevates the release of norepinephrine. In response to the elevated norepinephrine, melatonin, and cortisol come on the scene, in an attempt to rebalance the effects of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). If the stressor isn’t removed, this symphony of cytokine and hormone signaling will turn into a vicious cycle, driving up chronic inflammation, and presenting symptomatically in a variety of ways.

How Does This Present in a Patient?

The stress hormones that are released belong to a category of neurotransmitters called catecholamines. These neurotransmitters respond to stress signals by provoking a sympathetic nervous system response, which is also known as a “fight, flight, freeze, or fawn” response. In addition to these catecholamines flooding the body, the “feel good” neurotransmitters of the body, such as dopamine and serotonin, are often depleted. When this state becomes dominant, and for some, chronic, mental health symptoms may arise, such as anxiety, panic, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, and even addictive tendencies or disordered eating behaviors.

In my own experience of healing from mold illness, many aspects of my mental health were impacted. At the lowest points of my healing journey, I battled panic attacks, depression, binge eating disorder, and a general apathy towards living. This perpetuated until I healed my external and internal environments from mold. One day, I visited my provider for a follow up, and when asked, I realized I hadn’t thought about being depressed in a few months after moving into my new, mold-free home. This was the first time in years I hadn’t felt depressed. Now, in the past few years of running my practice, I’ve seen how closely mycotoxins and mental health are related as well.

A Case Study Example

For some individuals, mold illness will masquerade as persistent mental health issues. When all of the therapy has been tried, antidepressants wear off, and dietary changes aren’t quite cutting it, I’ve seen clients come through my doors with these mental health conditions, all tied back to mold and fungal illness.

Recently, I had a client come to me, having experienced years of depression, fatigue, lack of focus, and a low-level state of anxiety she had adapted to over the past several years. This client’s initial intake and testing revealed imbalances in the HPA axis, due to inhaled mycotoxins, which colonized in her nasal passages.

After screening her home with EC3 plates and using them to guide a mold inspector in the right direction for remediation, a localized mold problem was detected and treated. After the problem in her home was properly cared for, and the client followed through with her recommendations, which included a CitriDrops nasal rinse bundle, and CellTropin, amongst other custom remedies to support her body, the client’s energy drastically increased, her mood and mental health stabilized, and her focus
improved.

Next Steps

If you’re dealing with symptoms of mold and fungal illness, getting a personalized approach for detoxification and healing, through 1:1 support with a provider that is knowledgeable in mold and fungal illness is essential for best outcomes.

Tools for Situational Mental Health Stress

One common fear that often arises, amongst the healing process from mold illness, is
re-exposure. For cases that have required complete mold avoidance during healing (myself being
one of them), a simple night out to dinner, an airplane ride, hotel stays, or a long car ride may be enough to set symptoms back for several days or weeks. This may create a feeling of anxiety, low mood and pessimistic thinking, or in some cases, even agoraphobia. Building confidence in your ability to overcome a re-exposure has been helpful in avoiding situational anxiety for both me and my clients, during periods of desensitization, after strict avoidance and detoxification has been implemented.

Through much trial and error, I’ve found several things to be helpful:

  1. Nasal irrigation: I suggest using the CitriDrops nasal rinse bundle (nasal spray before a potential exposure, and immediately rinsing, followed by another spray after a potential exposure) helps tremendously in quickly clearing out potentially inhaled mycotoxins. Bonus if you
    add a sprinkle of a binding agent into the saline rinse (MicroChitosan or BioActive Binder
    are great options).
  2. Oral binding agents: I suggest taking binders around a potential or known exposure. This can act like a catcher’s mitt for mycotoxins. My clients have done really well with taking these before
    and after a potential or known exposure.
  3. Consider bringing a personal air purifier: A portable air purifier, or an air purification
    lanyard, can help mitigate the toxins in the air in your immediate surrounding area. While it doesn’t completely “block out” mycotoxins, it can certainly help improve the quality of the inhaled air.
  4. Practice brain retraining: A significant piece of healing from any chronic condition is neuroplasticity. If the brain has been signaling the body to react in one way to inhaled mycotoxins for several months or years, it is more than likely in the habit of doing so. Retraining the brain to choose a different signaling response can be extremely helpful in creating a new neural pathway for change. Potential or known mold exposures are a great opportunity to do some brain retraining. Consider resources like Annie Hopper’s DNRS, Parts & Memory Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique, and BrainTap. If you’re not sure where to start with brain retraining, take a look at the membership (here) I’ve created to help empower you with the tools to create new neural pathways, while healing from chronic illness.
  5. Retraining the neuroendocrine system: Similar to brain retraining, focusing on gentle desensitization, through resources such as homeopathy, can be helpful in creating tolerance for everyday exposures. CellTropin is a great remedy for this, as it’s designed to desensitize the pituitary gland to the effects of mycotoxins, through homeopathy. Consider dosing CellTropin out around potential exposures.

Healing from mold illness is a journey. For some, it’s a longer process than for others, and it can weigh on one’s mental health, both physiologically, and situationally. It’s vital to remember that you’re not alone in your journey, and that things will get better. While your body has its own healing timeline, empowering yourself with resources for protection and healing, as well as adopting a positivity bias and creating new neural pathways, can be exponentially helpful in creating best outcomes while you’re healing.

Print