Your Vacation Might be Helping With Mold Recovery
If you’re dragging through your days and fantasizing about a vacation, I get it. You might need a mini-vacation! I’m Dr. Jill Crista, mold expert, educator, and author of Break the Mold, and I’ve seen this pattern play out again and again: people feel better when they leave their moldy home—and they don’t realize mold is the problem until they step away.
Today, we’re going to explore how a simple vacation might be your body’s way of saying, “Hey, something in here is hurting me.” Let’s talk about how to tune in, get curious, and take back your health.
Why Vacations Might Signal Mold Issues
So many people have told me, “We thought that we felt better on vacation because we were away from the stress of work, but really it was because we left our sick building.” I’ve seen this pattern too.
When someone gets away and suddenly their energy comes back, their headaches lift, or their brain fog clears, even just a little, it’s often a huge clue. Here’s why vacations matter:
- Mold Exposure Pause: Every time they would leave they would feel better. Then when they come home, they would get all their stuff again. A break from a moldy space reduces toxin load.
- Beyond Stress Relief: Feeling better isn’t just from escaping the stress of work or family routines—it could be your body’s response to a mold-free environment.
- Sick and Tired Isn’t Normal: We deserve vibrant, healthy, whistle-while-you-work kind of energy. Mold might be stealing that.
Unsure if mold’s the culprit? Try my Mold Questionnaire. It’s one of the foundational tools in the 9 Things to Know While You’re Still in Mold course, and it helps you connect the dots quickly.
How to Test Your Space with a Mini-Vacation
Take a vacay from your space! This remains the best way to know if you’re still in mold, more predictive than any lab test. Especially when you do it right. Here’s how:
- Plan 3–7 Days Away: The longer the better, ideally during a normal work week to avoid the “vacation effect” of relaxed routines.
- Keep Normal Routines: Stick to your routine as much as possible, same foods, same schedule, same work if you can.
- Choose a Safe Space: Avoid potentially moldy vacation spots; research clean accommodations.
Already feeling stuck in a moldy rental or building you can’t leave yet? That’s where my course really shines.
What Your Body’s Telling You
If you feel even a smidge better that’s a sign. What if you feel worse? That can happen too, and that’s just as important. Any change is significant. You shouldn’t feel any different home or away. Here’s how I help my patients interpret what’s happening:
- Feeling Better? Even a slight improvement in energy, clarity, or symptoms suggests mold could be your culprit.
- Feeling Worse? That can happen! It’s called mold unmasking. The body goes into detox mode and it doesn’t have detox support. A sudden worsening can mean your body’s dumping toxins, especially if you’re not using detox support yet.
- Feel the same? Healthy people who live in healthy homes don’t feel any different when they leave. No shift may mean your space is safe, or you’re in another moldy spot.
If you feel worse, go to another space and see how you feel. Inside 9 Things to Know While You’re Still in Mold, I guide you through how to start breaking the mold the right way.
Tips for Navigating Mold While Still Exposed
If it’s your space making you sick, call the building experts. Even if you can’t move, you’re not stuck.There’s a lot you can do to protect your body and feel better now. Here’s what I recommend:
- Take the Questionnaire: Check out my questionnaire. If it shows possible or probable mold, act fast.
- Hire Pros: Don’t have your doctor try to navigate checking out your building. Get a mold inspector.
- Reduce Exposure at Home: Use air purifiers or seal off moldy areas, and follow other practical steps I lay out in the course.
- Support the Gut Wall: I created MycoXpel to give your detox organs the nutrients they need, especially helpful when you’re still exposed.
- Track Symptoms: Journal how you feel away from home to confirm mold’s role, a powerful clue-finder. Especially if your symptoms improve in one location and worsen in another.
You’re Ready to Take Back Your Health!
If you’ve been feeling better on vacation, even just a tiny bit—that’s worth paying attention to. Your body might be whispering, “It’s mold.” You don’t have to guess anymore. My course gives you the roadmap to test, reduce exposure, and support your body while you figure things out.
Pair it with detox tools, and you’re on your way to reclaim that whistle-while-you-work energy! Your body was designed to heal. You’re not crazy. You’re not lazy. You’re just responding to something real. And I’m here to help.
Want more tools and hope along the way? Join my newsletter for mold recovery tips, encouragement, and clinical insights I’ve gathered from walking this path with thousands of people just like you.
Let’s take it one doable step at a time.
This content is health information and not intended as personal medical advice. Viewing will not establish a doctor-patient relationship. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or medical condition. The information discussed is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider. Reliance on information provided by Dr. Jill Crista, employees, or others appearing at the invitation of Dr. Crista is solely at your own risk.