Can Black Mold Affect Your Mental Health?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Mold toxicity can manifest in different ways in people. It’s more commonly linked to physical problems, such as difficulty breathing, fatigue, and headaches, but

research shows that it can present itself in a psychiatric way, too

. This includes brain fog, depression, anxiety, problems concentrating, and insomnia.

Can mold make depression worse?

About 40% of the residents lived in visibly damp, moldy households, and

overall their risk for depression averaged 34–44% higher than that for residents of mold-free dwellings

, with moderate exposure associated with the highest increase in risk.

Can black mold cause psychosis?

Two patients had evidence of allergy to mold allergens, whereas

1 patient exhibited mold-induced psychosis best described as toxic agoraphobia

. Seventeen patients displayed a symptom complex that could be postulated to be caused by a transient mold-induced aeroirritation.

Can mold cause mental issues?


Psychiatric symptoms that are potentially caused by exposure to toxic mold include memory, focus, and word recall issues, confusion, insomnia, chronic fatigue, depression, and anxiety

. The way signs of mold toxicity manifests varies from person to person and depend on the length of exposure.

Can black mold cause neurological symptoms?


Some of the neurologic symptoms of toxic mold include weakness, light sensitivity, sinus problems, blurred vision, concentration and memory issues, tremors and a general feeling of numbness

.

How can you tell if you have black mold poisoning?

The most common black mold symptoms and health effects are associated with a respiratory response.

Chronic coughing and sneezing, irritation to the eyes, mucus membranes of the nose and throat, rashes, chronic fatigue and persistent headaches

can all be symptomatic of black mold exposure or black mold poisoning.

What are the signs of mold toxicity?

  • sinus and nasal congestion.
  • nasal irritation.
  • itchy, watery eyes.
  • red eyes.
  • blurry vision.
  • wheezing.
  • trouble breathing.
  • coughing.

Can mold make you delusional?


Toxic moulds can cause severe psychosis and hallucinations

, researchers say.

How long does it take to get sick from mold exposure?

These symptoms usually first appear

2 to 9 hours after exposure

and last for 1 to 3 days. Other affected persons have progressive shortness of breath and cough, as well as weight loss. Work-relatedness may only become apparent over long holidays if symptoms resolve and then recur on return to work.

Can black mold affect memory?


There is no evidence that black mold causes symptoms such as fatigue, memory loss

, an inability to focus, or a headache. These symptoms have been referred to as “toxic mold syndrome” but are largely due to media hype.

Can black mold cause brain tumors?


There is no evidence linking indoor exposure to black mold or any other type of mold with cancer

. Mold is associated with other health problems, though.

Can mold behind drywall affect you?

Although mold spores are not corrosive,

they can cause extensive damage to your drywall

. They can cause stains and rot which may have to be replaced if you want to completely get rid of the mold. Mold spores can also become airborne and spread to other areas of your home such as carpets, and furniture.

Can you stay in a house with black mold?

Because of the risks that come with mold exposure,

it can be unsafe to sleep in a house with mold

, particularly in the affected areas because you put yourself at risk of mold allergies. This becomes especially concerning if you are sensitive to the mold.

How long does it take to detox from mold?

Indolent, chronic infections or exposures may take months to properly treat holistically and naturally but it can be done! Healing detox reactions should only last

2 weeks to a month

at the longest, at which point, the patient breaks through and their body begins to positively react to treatment.

Can mold cause neurological symptoms?

Human exposure to molds, mycotoxins, and water-damaged buildings

can cause neurologic and neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms

.

How do you detox your body from mold?

Sweating. Some people recommend

sweating, or using a sauna

, to support the process of mold detoxification. No research confirms that sweating can specifically help address the effects of mold. But a 2020 review suggests sweating does play an important role in your body’s natural detoxification process.

Can mold cause mental confusion?

Mold is also known to cause asthma and life-threatening primary and secondary infections in immune-compromised patients that have been exposed.

Toxic mold exposure has also been linked to more serious, long-term effects like memory loss, insomnia, anxiety, depression, trouble concentrating, and confusion

.

Does black mold cause anxiety?


People who suffer from toxic-mold based illnesses may endure depression, anxiety, lack of focus, and brain fog, with some reporting insomnia

. These cognitive and psychiatric symptoms may be present with or without the physical symptoms of mold exposure which can include difficulty breathing, fatigue, and headache.

What is fuzzy brain?

What is brain fog? While it’s not a medical term, brain fog describes

a feeling that you don’t have full mental clarity

—maybe you’re having trouble remembering something or difficulty focusing on a thought or idea.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.