Three months ago, my husband and I were faced with an unexpected challenge that shook us to our cores: mold.
Dealing with mold was not only traumatic, it also robbed us of all our possessions, our health (mental and physical) and autonomy.
Mold exposure can be, and most certainly was for us, devastating. For us, it physically manifested in persistent fatigue, brain fog, tension headaches, and respiratory issues. Beyond the physical symptoms, the emotional toll it took on us was immense. Our home, once a sanctuary, was suddenly unsafe and uninhabitable.
I remember the day we stood in the driveway, realizing we couldn’t breathe inside our own house, and every single one of our items inside were infected; in that moment, I realized everything we had physically worked for, along with the security of having a place to sleep at night, was gone. In an instant. Gone.
It’s taken me three months of dedicated effort to process what happened and begin to rebuild myself, and my life.
Now, three months later, I’m finally able to sit down to write this. I can see how far I’ve come, not just in terms of physical recovery but in the profound emotional and mental healing that has unfolded and continues to unfold.
The Power of Breathwork in Healing and Recovery
Breathwork has been my #1 ally in the last couple of years.
It initially helped me release trauma and stuck emotions that had been stored in my body for years. This first Breathwork session was truly life changing. What I didn’t realize, though, was how crucial Breathwork would become as an everyday practice that has built a resilience and inner knowing greater than I ever could have imagined.
When we realized how serious the mold was, we were suddenly displaced from our home with only a few outfits and moved to an Airbnb. I continued to go to work (I’m a therapist so I had to show up for others no matter how I was feeling). And, though I don’t recommend being in crisis and holding space for others for a long period of time, I was pleasantly surprised at my ability to continue to do my work.
With all normalcy gone out the window, none of my cooking utensils, food, pantry, or clothes, I began to lean even more heavily on my Breathwork practice I’d been building for the last couple years.
Every day, I took at least 3-10 minutes to myself to connect to my breath. It helped soothe my anxiety and connect deeply with my emotions. It became a lifeline.
Through this practice I became attuned to my own body’s signals and honored what I needed at any given moment. Some days, this meant engaging in intense Breathwork sessions to release emotions, other days, it meant gentle, soothing breaths to ground myself.
Breathwork offered a pathway to begin to understand and integrate the stress and trauma I was experiencing in real time instead of letting it build up.
Integration Over Calm
One of the most important lessons I learned during this time is that healing isn’t always about staying calm. It’s about knowing what you need and when you need it.
There were days when I needed to cry, to let out the frustration, anger, confusion, and helplessness I felt. And that was okay. Breathwork gave me the space to experience these emotions fully and then gently guide me back to a state of balance.
In addition to Breathwork, I incorporated other habits I already used daily into my healing process. I continued to journal as a way to get my thoughts out. Movement, whether running, walking, or simply stretching, helped me connect with my body, ground myself, and move my energy. Meditation allowed me to cultivate a sense of inner peace amidst the chaos, to lean on others’ words when I couldn’t find my own.
Healing is a Personal Journey
Everyone’s healing journey is unique.
What worked for me might not work for someone else, and that’s perfectly fine. The combination of tools and practices you use may be different than what I experienced, though one thing I know is true: Your breath is your life energy, and you can use it to better understand yourself so you can trust you’ll know what you need at any given moment. You will become attuned to your own self and this is life changing, empowering.
If you’re going through something difficult, daily or extreme stress, loss, grief, a profound life event, or just don’t feel “quite right”, remember that healing takes time. It’s not a linear process, and there very well may be setbacks at times and that’s OK. Be gentle with yourself and honor your journey. Surround yourself with a support system, and take the time you need to heal in the way that works for you.
Moving Forward
As I move forward, I feel a renewed sense of strength and resilience. My voice is returning, my energy and light are shining brighter each day, and I continue to give myself the space I need to heal and integrate. The mold is gone, but the lessons it taught me remain. I am more attuned to my needs and better equipped to navigate life’s challenges.
Breathwork continues to be a cornerstone of my well-being, offering a constant reminder that healing is an ongoing process of integration and self-discovery. Sometimes you need the dark to find your light. Life is a constant ebb and flow, a balance. It may not always be easy to see or experience at first, but balance truly can be found in most situations.
If you find yourself in the midst of a struggle or a difficulty, know that you are not alone. Embrace the strategies and habits that help you process and integrate your emotions – oftentimes, this includes seeking outside support. We were never meant to do this alone. Trust that, in time, you will emerge stronger and more connected to yourself.
In conclusion…Healing isn’t just about staying calm; it’s about knowing what you need at any given moment and giving yourself permission to feel and process those needs. In this way, we can all find our way back to wholeness.
