CAN TOXINS AND MOULDS CAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS?
Exposure To Toxicity:
Several metals, chemicals and moulds in our environment can be associated with psychiatric diagnoses and symptoms including dementia, depression, anxiety, confusion, memory loss, poor concentration, insomnia. Likely places of exposure to toxic substances, includes the home, at school, in the workplace, in food and water, and so on… Even our neighbourhoods may be toxic, with some research showing that residential proximity to industrial activity can have a negative impact on mental health.
Toxigenic Moulds: Produces Toxins
We’re all familiar with mould. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on to survive. Molds can reproduce in any moist place. They can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods and other surfaces. You may have wiped it off your bathroom sink, found it in damp places, on an old leather coat in the back of your closet, or seen it in your shower. But there’s another type of mould that lurks behind the walls, in air ducts, and in crawl spaces that can wreak havoc with your brain health. This type of black mould (Stachybotrys) is actually a toxin that releases toxic gas and spores into the air. When the toxins are inhaled or enter your body through your skin’s pores, the toxic gases can disrupt healthy brain function and impact behaviour.
Improper Diagnosis And Treatment
If you visit a healthcare professional with symptoms of depression, apathy or memory loss, chances are they will never ask you about your exposure to toxins e.g. If you’ve had a water leak at home, if you’re house has been recently painted, or renovated, if you’re a painter/decorator, if you live in a polluted industrial area, if you’re a hairdresser, if you use chemicals for work etc.
Unfortunately, rarely will anyone look at your brain to check for signs of toxicity, or even consider that your symptoms might be due to exposure to toxins and moulds. Most likely you will be prescribed medication without a toxicity test or further investigation. Because of this, mould toxicity and other types of brain toxicity remain under - diagnosed.
The medical community has been slow to acknowledge the association between exposure to toxins, chemicals and moulds as a cause for psychiatric, mental illness symptoms. Sadly, when people with undetected exposure to mould or other toxins are misdiagnosed, treatments often don’t work, and in some cases, they can make symptoms worse. Without the appropriate treatment and with continued exposure to the toxins, your brain can be subjected to further injury. This can eventually lead to a worsening of your symptoms and can impact other areas of your life, including your career and relationships. If you are experiencing psychiatric symptoms and you aren’t responding to treatment, it’s worth investigating if exposure to toxins, chemicals and moulds may be the root cause.
- Fuels
- Asbestos
- Paint thinner
- Carbon monoxide
- Cleaning products
- Pesticides and herbicides
- Nail polish remover & perfumes
- Mercury, lead, and other heavy metals
- Drugs and alcohol
- General anaesthesia
- Chemotherapy
Exposure to toxic mould and other toxins can produce a variety of neuropsychological issues, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Memory problems
- Brain fog
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Sleep disorders
- Exhaustion
- Psychological distress
- Changes in touch or sensation
- Headaches
- Vertigo
- Coordination problems
- Digestive issues
- Numbness
- Pins and Needles feeling.
It is important to be vigilant to look for physical cues related to mental health issues. However, individual vigilance can go only so far: prevention of many exposures requires society-level policy changes. We need to work as a society — through public policy, regulation and enforcement — to remove toxic substances from consumer products, buildings, workplaces, water, soil and air to prevent unwanted health outcomes.