Hi , my name is Katrena.

I started displaying symptoms very young, but things didn’t get really severe until around age 12. I had intense paranoia and other cognitive issues I didn’t understand. That’s when I was put into the system, and at just 12 years old I was prescribed Depakote, Fluoxetine, Lexapro, Zoloft, Paxil, Gabapentin, Effexor, Xanax, and Inderal all recommended through my pediatrician.

This led to me not attending class, hiding in bathrooms, failing grades, making threats of suicide, and even police searching for me and finding me hiding in bushes.

I started punching walls and doors, breaking furniture, shattering door frames, throwing things, scratching, hitting, and kicking.

That turned into years of darkness, polydrugging, and going in and out of hospitals. I went through a lot of cold-turkey withdrawals that never fully resolved, so I was constantly forced to reinstate medications just to function.

At one point, my life was close to ending. I could barely even talk anymore. I got off everything again, and started trying to heal on my own herbs, supplements, carnivore diet, even Iboga. But what happened a few months after getting off was devastating.

Desperate for answers, I started digging deeper and noticed connections to Lyme disease and mold toxicity.

I had mold testing done, which came back positive for:

* Ochratoxin A – 3.56 ppb

* Gliotoxin – 2.10 ppb

These are linked to immune suppression and exposure to certain molds like Aspergillus, which can contribute to MCAS.

My Lyme testing also came back positive for:

Bartonella, Borrelia, Babesia, and Tularemia pointing to tick-borne illness and co-infections, which align with dysautonomia.

Now I experience severe neurological symptoms, memory blackouts, nervous system dysfunction, and episodes of POTS/dysautonomia. I also have severe MCAS to the point where I can’t go anywhere or take almost anything without triggering reactions. My body is constantly under attack.

For the past four years, I’ve pushed myself every single day trying to heal on my own. I’ve stayed disciplined. I’ve done everything I can mentally and physically. But I can’t overcome the constant reactions enough to follow a full detox protocol safely, and I’ve been trying to guide myself through all of this.

I’ve reached a point where I cannot do this alone anymore.

I was told by a functional medicine doctor that he sees dozens of cases like mine involving psych med withdrawal injury, but at the core is a dysregulated immune response to biotoxins.

He explained that with Lyme and co-infections, the immune system becomes so overwhelmed that it can’t properly clear Lyme and because of that, it also can’t clear mold. It creates a cascade of dysfunction throughout the body and can trigger MCAS. He said he sees this daily as a specialist in Lyme, mold, CIRS, and MCAS.

He also explained that proper testing and treatment is extensive. Insurance did not cover a single test, and it can take up to two years to fully address the infections and restore the body correctly.

I’ve been trying to handle this for four years. I’ve been able to afford small pieces here and there diet changes, small detox steps but never enough to do full lab testing or work consistently with a practitioner who can safely guide the entire process.

I also now understand that I need to be out of mold exposure while trying to heal my body.

My immediate goal is to work with a Lyme and mold-literate practitioner so I can finally begin healing the right way.

This isn’t just about symptoms it’s about finally having a real chance to heal.

I’ve never known what it feels like to have a fully healthy brain, and I often wonder what that would even feel like. If I’m even truly on the “spectrum”. That I might be able to live a life not in fear and in fight or flight 24/7.

To feel what it’s like to live free and at peace

I have been sober and off all substance and medications 3 years 9 months now 1,364 days to be exact.

Thank you so much for reading