1. Fatigue That Doesn’t Make Sense

Not just being tired—exhausted.

The kind of fatigue where no amount of sleep fixes it. Many people describe it as feeling like their energy is being drained daily, often hitting at the same time each afternoon.

2. Brain Fog

• Forgetting simple things

• Struggling to find words

• Feeling mentally “slow” or disconnected

I legitimately felt like I had early onset dementia. I would watch movies and forget what happened in them the next day, forget where I parked, and lose things frequently. To be fair, I’ve always struggled with this to a small degree, but it amplified it by 100. I used to be a writer, and now struggle to remember simple words. Ben also became forgetful after moving in.

3. Sinus Issues & Congestion

• Chronic stuffiness

• Post-nasal drip

• Frequent “colds” that never fully go away

This is one of the most common signs, especially if it improves when you leave your home. Ben dealt with this the most, and had a cold almost every other month after moving into the house.

4. Sleep Disruption

• Trouble falling asleep

• Waking up in the middle of the night, especially to pee!

• Restless, non-restorative sleep

Your body tries to eliminate mold toxins through your kidneys, which means frequent trips to the bathroom at night. Both Ben and myself (and our dog!) experienced this symptom. It resolved almost immediately after moving out. Some people also report waking up at the same time every night.

5. Mood Changes

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Irritability

• Feeling unlike yourself

• Mood swings

For some, this is one of the most confusing symptoms, especially if it comes on suddenly without a clear reason. This was specifically hard for me (Lindsey) as I had never experienced depressive symptoms before. It hit me hard and out of the blue.

The hardest part about this is physicians seem to chalk up a lot of symptoms to mental health, especially if you pop high on a depression questionaire during an office visit. Make sure to advocate for yourself and push back if you feel this isn’t the entire issue.

6. Hormonal & Thyroid Issues

Mold exposure has been linked (in some cases) to:

• Thyroid dysfunction

• Weight changes

• Hair loss

• Hormone imbalances (specifically high estrogen and low testosterone)

• Menstrual changes

• Anemia

• Loss of libido (if you’d suddenly much rather do taxes than have sex, it could be mold!)

• Irregular lab results that don’t fully make sense

This was a big piece of our personal story.

7. Skin & Sensory Changes

• Rashes or unexplained skin irritation

• Tingling or numbness (especially in hands/feet)

• Heightened sensitivity to temperature

Some people also report feeling unusually cold or having circulation changes. My big toes went numb, something none of my doctors could explain and definitely made me feel like I was losing it.

8. Frequent Illness

• Getting sick more often

• Taking longer to recover

• Respiratory symptoms

• Congestion/itchy eyes/nose

• Mild symptos that never seem to fully go away

If your immune system feels constantly “off,” it can be a clue.

9. Digestive Issues

Loss of appetite
Food sensitivities
Nausea or general discomfort

Even pets can show symptoms here—something we experienced firsthand.

The Hard Part

The most frustrating part of mold-related illness is that many of these symptoms are vague. When they first presented, it seems they are just explained away by:

• Stress

• Hormones

• Mental health

• “Just getting older”

• Having a uterus (sighhhhhh)

And often, standard tests come back normal.

That can leave people feeling dismissed, confused, or like they’re imagining things. I, for one, felt totally crazy. My test results were clearly off, but no one seemed to know why. I was written off repeatedly, and honestly, I don’t necessarily blame my providers. Who would have suspected something like mold?

A Pattern to Pay Attention To

One thing we hear again and again (and experienced ourselves):

Symptoms improve when you leave the environment… and return when you come back.

When we would go on extended vacations (our honeymoon, for example), our congestion would go away, fatigue would improve slightly, and we felt more “alive.” Once we returned home, it would set back in,

That pattern can be one of the biggest clues.

Why We’re Sharing This

We didn’t know any of this before it happened to us.

If someone had told us that a hidden issue in our home could affect our health this much, we probably wouldn’t have believed them. But now we know.

If sharing this helps even one person connect the dots a little sooner, or feel less alone in what they’re experiencing, it’s worth it.

We’re hoping this serves as a sign to advocate for your health and dig a little deeper if you are experiencing chronic illness issues and have signs of mold!

A Quick Note

We’re not experts—just people who have learned the hard way by living through it.

If you’re experiencing symptoms like these, it’s always best to work with a qualified medical professional and, if needed, a reputable mold inspector.