Mold Exposure and Anxiety or OCD
When mold or biological growth occurs from water damaged buildings, contaminated foods, or other sources in our environment the effect that it has on our health can be profound. Fungi (molds) are found in nature and play a role in a vital ecosystem, but when they become overly concentrated in undesired areas their toxic byproducts called mycotoxins and the immune response to the spores themselves can create a complex symptom picture. Given the variety of molds and the respective mycotoxins they produce the symptom presentation can be varied, but anxiety is a common element.
Ways to Test for Mold Exposure:
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- Mycotoxin Testing - Urine testing to measure for the toxins produced by mold. Whether we are exposed to molds from an external source (e.g. water damaged building or foods) or if they are colonized within our body (e.g. fungal nasal or gut infections) the mycotoxins they produce are detoxified from our body in our urine. A positive finding identifies that an exposure is occurring.
- Organic Acid Testing - Some molds also produce organic acids that can help further identify the source of exposure.
- Building Testing - Several testing methods are available to test for mold exposure in a building or other space.
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Why does mold cause anxiety?
Fungi can create an immune response, much like an infection or allergy would. That immune response can create an inflammatory cascade that causes neurological dysregulation or trigger a neurological autoimmune reaction (e.g. PANS). Additionally, many of the mycotoxins themselves are neurotoxic and can cause errant reactions as well as inflammation. When the neurological system is inflamed or dysregulated anxiety or worsened OCD is not uncommon.