What a Week: Technology, Mold, Recovery, and What’s Ahead

This past week has been one for the books, trying to remain positive but this has been dreadful in ways I didn’t know life could still manage to surprise me. Technology, which I usually find easy, has officially defeated me. Spending years in field tech support and all things digital, I know I’m no stranger to keeping up with the latest advancements. I’m testing AI tools, tinkering with apps, and trying to stay ahead of tech trends so I don’t atrophy my brain. Yet, somehow, Facebook of all things has managed to pull me down in ways I didn’t think possible.

Currently, I’m semi-logged into my account. I can see my feed on my phone but not on my computer, it will not let me log in there. I can see I have messages but I can’t actually access them, making the experience equal parts teasing and torturous. It’s baffling how a platform can be both a tool of connection and a total mental health sinkhole. To be honest, Facebook has now eclipsed even my most stressful job as the single most frustrating experience of my life.

MOVING ON TO TOXIC MOLD

But that’s just one piece of this chaotic puzzle. Life, as always, has been relentless. Mold, which we’ve been battling for years now, continues to wreak havoc on our lives. We’ve known about the problem for a while, the test results confirming the presence of mycotoxins last year didn’t exactly come as a surprise. My Neuroquant equally as frustrating. What has surprised us is coming to terms with just how much this invisible enemy has taken from us, our health, our sense of safety, and frankly, our peace of mind. Defeated. Depleted.

Mold: Years of Battling an Invisible Enemy

The absolute switch from “it’s possible” to the absolute realization of mold’s true toll began last January when we finally uncovered a thick, fuzzy coating of black mold under the kitchen floor. It was horrifying, but we thought removing it and starting remediation would mark the beginning of the end of this nightmare. After all, the bathroom, the bedroom, and the crawlspace were all already done with marginal levels of mildew remediated, this is the last piece surely we thought. Almost a year later, our house is still in shambles. The kitchen and bedroom are still in disarray and the feeling of the physical manifestation of all the exhaustion leading up to this point has settled deep into our bones.

Mold isn’t just about ruined floors or walls, it infiltrates every aspect of your life. It impacts physical health with symptoms like chronic fatigue, respiratory issues, and persistent brain fog. Worse, it takes a profound toll on mental health, contributing to anxiety, irritability, and depression.

Despite removing the worst of the visible mold, it feels like we’re still fighting an uphill battle. The mycotoxins that linger, the ongoing remediation process, and the uncertainty about when or if this will ever truly end have left us drained mentally, and emotionally, physically, and financially – always, always more money. This journey has forced us to reckon with the gravity of environmental toxins and their far-reaching effects on our bodies and minds.

I promise to share our detailed mycotoxin test results in my next post, giving a clearer picture of what we’re up against and offering insights for anyone else struggling with similar challenges.

Trauma, Recovery, and the Complex Journey to Healing

As if the physical and environmental struggles weren’t enough, this battle has also brought up deeper issues tied to trauma and recovery. Mold exposure’s impact on mental health feels especially cruel when layered onto existing challenges like trauma, CPTSD, and addiction recovery.

Attachment styles formed in childhood shape how we respond to these types of chronic stressors. For me, recovery has been as much about untangling these patterns as it has been about finding practical ways to heal. It’s a balancing act between addressing the immediate physical symptoms and working through the emotional scars that inevitably resurface during such difficult times.

PEPTIDES, THE NEW FRONTIER

In our recovery journey, we’ve begun exploring the use of peptides like BPC-157, Cerebrolysin, NAD,  and Selank/Semax nasal spray. These peptides are promising tools in the fight for healing:

• BPC-157 is known for its regenerative properties, helping to repair physical and neurological damage caused by chronic stress and toxins.
• Cerebrolysin supports cognitive function, memory, and mental clarity, which is crucial when dealing with mold-induced brain fog and emotional dysregulation.
• Selank nasal spray offers potential benefits for reducing anxiety and improving resilience to stress, making it a useful addition to our recovery toolbox.

While the science on peptides is still evolving, we’re cautiously optimistic about how they might help us recover both physically and emotionally. I’ll be sharing more about our experiences with these treatments in future posts.

Exciting News: Protecting the Heart of Loving the Spectrum

On a more positive note, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve officially filed for the trademark for Loving the Spectrum and the copyright for the infinity symbol I use. This blog has been my heart and soul for over 20 years, and the idea of losing it — of losing this — is simply too painful to contemplate.

Even though I’m broker than broke, I knew I had to take this step. Sometimes, you have to invest in protecting what matters most, no matter the cost. This blog and its message mean the world to me, and I’m so grateful for everyone who has supported me through this journey.

What’s Coming Next

This post barely scratches the surface of what’s been going on. I’ve got so much more to share:

☑️ Our Mold Journey: An in-depth look at the mycotoxin test results, the remediation process, and the devastating impact mold has had on our health and home.
☑️ Attachment Styles and Recovery: Exploring how early attachment patterns influence addiction and healing.
☑️ Peptides and Healing: A closer look at how peptides like BPC-157, Cerebrolysin, and Selank are supporting trauma recovery and repairing the damage done by chronic stress.
☑️ Facebook Frustrations: A reflective piece on the mental health impacts of technology, especially when he technology we rely on for connections, fails us (not just literally).

Each of these topics deserves its own space, and I can’t wait to dive deeper in the coming weeks. For now, I’m taking things one step at a time, acknowledging the frustrations, and focusing on the small wins that remind me progress is still happening, even if it’s slow.

If you’re navigating your own battles, whether with mold, recovery, or just the overwhelming chaos of life, I hope this post offers a little solidarity. You’re not alone. And while the road might be long, every step forward counts. Keep pushing, it’s never really over, we might change direction but it. is. never. really. over.

Exposure to mold and its byproducts, particularly mycotoxins, has been linked to various neurological and mental health issues. Here are some studies and resources that support these claims:

1. Neurological Symptoms Associated with Mold Exposure:
   • A 2020 study suggested a link between mold exposure and the onset or worsening of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a condition that tends to follow severe health concerns.
     Healthline
2. Mental Health Impacts:
   • The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences notes that prolonged mold exposure is associated with increased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in both children and adults.
     NIH Environmental Health Sciences
3. Cognitive Impairment:
   • Case studies suggest that mold exposure may promote cognitive impairment in a vulnerable subset of people, likely mediated by pathogenic neuroinflammation.
     Alzheimer’s Disease Discovery Foundation
4. Behavioral Changes:
   • Research has linked mold exposure to a range of behavioral problems, including increased irritability, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating.
     Neurolaunch
5. Neurotoxic Effects of Mycotoxins:
   • Mycotoxins produced by indoor molds can lead to neuroinflammatory responses and damage to the nervous system, resulting in cognitive and behavioral impairments.
     Austin MD Clinic
6. General Health Effects of Mold Exposure:
   • Exposure to molds can cause human disease through several well-defined mechanisms, including allergic reactions and respiratory issues.
     Jaci Online

These studies highlight the significant impact that mold exposure can have on neurological function and mental health, underscoring the importance of addressing mold issues promptly to protect overall well-being.