Thursday March 12, 2026 | selective mutism | severe anxiety disorder | sensitive nervous system | mold and mildew old house

This is what I found from Copilot. I will not believe this until a doctor or mental health professional actually confirms it. If this true, I need and want to get the heck out of dodge! The problem is that I don't have enough money to dodge this house! And because my nervous system works differently, It may be creating more intense anxiety symptoms on top of selective mutism. Selective mutism is a severe anxiety disorder where a person who is normally able to speak, is unable to speak in specific situations or to specific people. I will say this over and over and over until people get it through their thick skulls! I do want to speak.

Also I need someone to shut up if they don't understand a severe anxiety disorder--selective mutism. Really all this is my fault for moving into this house. I should not have agreed to move in this house since I have an already existing anxiety disorder called selective mutism for 40+ years and a sensitive nervous system. If I could, I would have someone buy this house as is who buys old houses just to tear it down and build a mini mansion. I know I couldn't afford a mini mansion. I have an already existing anxiety disorder plus worsening anxiety from I don't know what is causing it. I want to leave this house more than anything and I can't work on myself and this sheer hell anxiety disorder called selective mutism if I am still in this house! I will move out of this house either with them or without them! I just hope that I am alive when I do leave this house!

I feel that I need to meditate twice daily if not meditating more plus my breathing exercises. 4, 6, 7 meditation works wonders. I feel the need to do that about every 5 or 10 minutes. I will just keep doing this as I will be in this house for a few more years until my dad says he is ready to move. :'( He will never be ready to move because he is so used to this house. Sometimes I think that my dad has ADHD and or mild autism and that is where I probably got it from. I think it's probably too late now since he is almost 82--my dad will be 82 next month on April 10. I really believe that if a parent has ADHD and or mild autism it is possible for a child to have mild autism. I am not sure I have ADHD, but as far as I know I don't have ADHD. I suppose it could be possible for me to have ADHD and mild autism. Still, I am not sure. ADHD is a talking a lot thing and autism is a loud noise thing? I do believe that there is something more than those two things.

"does mildew worsen already existing a severe anxiety disorder called selective mutism from 40+ years?

Here’s the clear, grounded, research‑supported answer, Pamela — and I’ll speak directly to your situation as an adult with a 40+ year history of severe anxiety and selective mutism, because your nervous system works differently from the general population.

🌟 Short answer:

Yes. Mildew can worsen an already severe anxiety disorder — including selective mutism — especially in someone with a long‑term, highly sensitive nervous system. While mildew is not considered highly toxic, it can irritate the body, activate the stress response, and intensify the freeze‑based anxiety patterns that selective mutism is built on.

🧠 Why mildew can worsen selective mutism–related anxiety

Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder, not a speech disorder. It’s driven by a freeze response in the nervous system — a shutdown that happens when the brain senses threat or overwhelm.

Mildew doesn’t cause selective mutism, but it adds stress to a system that is already overloaded, making shutdowns more likely.

Here’s how:

🌬️ 1. Mildew irritates the body → the body signals danger

Even “simple” mildew releases:

• Airborne spores

• Irritating particles

• Musty VOCs (volatile organic compounds)

These can cause:

• Throat or sinus irritation

• Head pressure

• Dizziness

• Fatigue

• A sense of “bad air”

For someone with a long history of anxiety, these sensations can mimic or trigger anxiety spikes, which then feed into selective mutism shutdown patterns.

🔥 2. Environmental stress increases anxiety disorders

Selective mutism is deeply tied to:

• Chronic anxiety

• Hypervigilance

• Sensory sensitivity

• Freeze responses

Research shows selective mutism often co‑occurs with other anxiety disorders (60–80%).

When your environment feels unsafe, musty, or unhealthy, your nervous system stays on high alert — making freeze episodes more likely.

🧩 3. Old houses amplify the effect

Older homes (like many in Beaumont, TX) often have:

• Poor ventilation

• Long‑standing moisture issues

• Hidden mildew in walls, closets, bathrooms

• Temperature and humidity swings

This means constant low‑level exposure, which is enough to worsen anxiety in someone with a long‑term anxiety disorder.

🧠 4. Selective mutism reacts strongly to environmental “danger cues”

Selective mutism is situational — it flares when the brain senses:

• Threat

• Overwhelm

• Uncertainty

• Sensory discomfort

• Loss of control

Mildew creates exactly those conditions:

• Musty smell = “something is wrong”

• Air quality changes = “unsafe environment”

• Physical irritation = “body in danger”

Your brain doesn’t distinguish between:

• “This is dangerous” and

• “This feels dangerous.”

So the freeze response becomes more likely.

👁️ Does mildew cause hallucinations?

No — mildew alone is not known to cause hallucinations. Hallucinations are associated with:

• Highly toxic molds

• Heavy, prolonged exposure

• Significant neurological vulnerability

Mildew is irritating, not neurotoxic.

But severe anxiety + poor air quality + chronic stress can cause:

• Misinterpretation of sensations

• Heightened fear

• Intrusive thoughts

• Derealization or “foggy” moments

These can feel frightening, but they are not hallucinations.

🌿 Bottom line

For someone with a 40+ year history of severe anxiety and selective mutism:

✔️ Mildew can absolutely worsen anxiety symptoms.

✔️ It can intensify freeze responses and shutdown patterns.

✔️ It can make selective mutism episodes more frequent or severe.

❌ It does not typically cause hallucinations.

Your reaction is valid, explainable, and consistent with how selective mutism and chronic anxiety interact with environmental stressors.

🧭 If you want, I can help you with:

• Signs that mildew is affecting your body

• How to tell mildew effects apart from anxiety

• Low‑cost ways to reduce exposure

• How to calm your nervous system when your environment is triggering it

• How selective mutism reacts to environmental stress

Just tell me what direction you want to go next."