How Mold Toxicity Can Trigger Behavior Outbursts—And What You Can Do About It
Have you ever noticed your child having severe behavior outbursts after being exposed to mold? Unfortunately, this is something we see all too often. Many kids we test have significant mold toxicity, which triggers brain inflammation, leading to dysregulation and extreme emotional reactions.
One child we worked with was experiencing 30-minute-long meltdowns—screaming, yelling, completely overwhelmed. However, after implementing a specific approach during his first intensive, he was able to regulate himself in just five minutes. So, what did we do?
1. Calming Brain Inflammation
Inflammation in the brain can severely impact a child’s ability to regulate emotions and behavior. To help this child, we used laser therapy to reduce neural inflammation.
Red lasers: Helped calm overall brain inflammation.
Violet lasers: Provided an antimicrobial effect, helping to lower the body’s overall infection load.
By reducing inflammation, we created an environment where his brain could begin to heal and function more effectively.
2. Rehabilitating Brain Function
When the brain is inflamed, the mitochondria—our cells’ energy powerhouses—can become uncoupled, meaning different brain regions stop communicating efficiently. This leads to dysregulation, particularly in areas responsible for behavior and emotional control.
For this child, his midline cerebellum was affected. This part of the brain plays a crucial role in coordinating:
Behavioral regulation
Core stability
Balance and movement integration
To help strengthen and re-regulate his brain, we incorporated:
Core stability exercises
Balance training
Laser therapy targeting affected brain areas
By stimulating these regions, we helped restore proper communication between different brain centers, improving his ability to self-regulate.
3. Activating the Vagus Nerve
The vagus nerve is a key player in the body’s ability to calm itself. When it’s not functioning properly, kids struggle to transition from a heightened emotional state back to a calm one.
To improve vagus nerve function, we incorporated vagal nerve stimulation—helping this child’s nervous system learn how to self-soothe and regulate stress more efficiently.
4. Addressing Root Causes
Beyond immediate brain rehab, we also looked at long-term lifestyle changes to decrease inflammation and support healing:
Eliminating inflammatory foods that contribute to immune system overload
Removing environmental toxins, including mold exposure
Supporting the immune system so the body can function the way it was designed to
By addressing these root causes, we were able to dramatically improve this child’s behavior and emotional regulation.
The Path to Healing
If your child has experienced mold toxicity that triggered PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) or another inflammatory response, know that recovery is possible. The key steps are:
Driving down inflammation
Rehabbing weak areas of the brain
Reducing environmental and dietary toxicities
By taking a comprehensive approach—calming inflammation, strengthening the brain, and removing toxic stressors—you can help your child regain balance and emotional regulation.
If your child is struggling with unexplained emotional outbursts, it may be worth investigating mold toxicity as a potential trigger. With the right interventions, healing is possible!