Re: Ways to Deal with your Illness

[Guest guest]

Dr Zack, have you ever read the books by Joni Earckson Tada (sp?). She is

SO inspirational......not injured by molds or MCS, but she was BADLY injured

in a diving accident. She's can be an inspiration to us all. I've only

read one of her books, but would like to read more.

Take care, & God bless,

[] Ways to Deal with your Illness

> Dear Members,

> I have been following your posts and reading all of the discussions

> on this board for quite some time. I know that some my take offense

> at what I'm about to say, but I'm ready to take that chance.

> I am truly sorry for all of the serious medical conditions that

> everyone is facing. As you know, I am also suffering from life-

> threatening exposure to stachybotris, chaetomium,

> aflatoxins,satratoxins, and secondary exposure to Methamphetamines,

> Heroin and Cocaine. Not only did the house have these toxic Molds,

> but it had also been used as both a Crack House and Meth Lab. I

> nearly lost my life. In spite of it all, I am still here.

>

> One of the ways I have found to get myself better, besides diet and

> exercise, is to always have a positive atitude and not focus on my

> disability or illness. I hardly ever talk about it anymore to anyone,

> and I'm finding that the symptoms when they do occur are not as bad.

> That, coupled with a strong faith in God is what has kept me going.

> Recently, I have read many stories about people who have gone through

> numerous trials in their life as well as crippling and debilitating

> illnesses. One of the themes which constantly appeared throughout all

> of these people's stories was that they always kept a positive

> attitude and did not focus on their illnesses by constantly giving

> it " voice " . That is what helped them to beat the odds and remain

> alive.

> I have gotten to the point where I too have found that if I do not

> discuss or talk about my illness, but focus on the positive things in

> life( that I am alive) and withmy strong faith in God, I am and will

> be able to continue and survice and enjoy my life. As a former

> educator with over 20 years working with all ages- young children to

> adult learners, I always stressed in developing in them a positive

> mental attitude for success. I am now applying what I said to myself-

> and I am seeing results.

> Yanni

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Yanni,

I think that most of us think of the innocent children who are sick, as we

continue to give toxic mold a " voice " . If we ignore it just like the doctors and

government agencies, nobody will have a chance to get well, and everyone will

have the chance to slowly die of toxic mold poisoning. We want to prevent others

from suffering as we have.

-Kim

FAIR USE NOTICE:

[Guest guest]

Hey , I couldn't agree with you more!!! I may be obsessed with mold

but I'm better now! If I hadn't been obsessed with mold I would NEVER would

have found Dr. Shoemaker & left the toxic dump they call a school. All the

Drs. I was seeing told me mold couldn't possibly be causing my symptoms. I

thought I was dying and they told me it was stress, maybe a virus and finally

said to see a rheumatologist!! Well, my continued obsession paid off and I

will continue my obsession and try to educate others. God helped me because I

helped myself to run & never go back. This private religious school is still

open, teachers & kids are sick but they aren't helping themselves they're

still there!!!!

Sue

,

I understand your position. However, I am not in full agreement. I've seen

and known many people with severe, life-threatening illnesses who have used a

positive attitude and strong faith in God and have beat their problem. They

are still alive today, and functioning well.

To each his own, I guess. I wish you the best of luck.

Yanni

[] Re: Ways to Deal with your Illness

While I think it is simply wonderful to keep a positive attitude, it

won't get you out of Mold Hell and not talking about mold or

focusing on it doesn't result in your own education or that of

others.

Virtually everyone around me told me to " quit obsessing over mold "

and just " beat your illness using the power of the mind " .

I was also told to just put my fate in God's hands and trust that

things would turn out OK.

My response was " Isn't it said that God helps those who help

themselves? I'm not going to sit here and wait for whatever happens

if I keep getting worse and hope that God will step in "

And as far as my good friends, families and doctors assertions

of " mold obsession " , if I hadn't been so " obsessed " , I never would

have discovered the characteristics of mold plumes and mycotoxin

exposure which allowed me to devise an avoidance strategy which lets

me KICK ASS on a problem that used to kick MINE.

I like to tell people that having a BAD ATTITUDE and OBSESSIVE

NATURE is the very reason why I am out mountain climbing

while " happy smiley people " are still being beat to death by mold.

-

[Guest guest]

While I think it is simply wonderful to keep a positive attitude, it

won't get you out of Mold Hell and not talking about mold or

focusing on it doesn't result in your own education or that of

others.

Virtually everyone around me told me to " quit obsessing over mold "

and just " beat your illness using the power of the mind " .

I was also told to just put my fate in God's hands and trust that

things would turn out OK.

My response was " Isn't it said that God helps those who help

themselves? I'm not going to sit here and wait for whatever happens

if I keep getting worse and hope that God will step in "

And as far as my good friends, families and doctors assertions

of " mold obsession " , if I hadn't been so " obsessed " , I never would

have discovered the characteristics of mold plumes and mycotoxin

exposure which allowed me to devise an avoidance strategy which lets

me KICK ASS on a problem that used to kick MINE.

I like to tell people that having a BAD ATTITUDE and OBSESSIVE

NATURE is the very reason why I am out mountain climbing

while " happy smiley people " are still being beat to death by mold.

-

[Guest guest]

There seem to be 2 camps- Years ago , when frustration in a Dr

office lead me to let out a few demons, the Dr answered,That she was

just reading about personality, attitude and survival- that those

with a demanding, combative " negative " attitude seemed to have a

much better survival stats than those with a positive attitude. Yet

all we hear is how one has to keep a positive attitude. I think what

most people mean is- " be plesant and don't keep bothering us with

your depressing news. " Being plesant certainly has survival benefits-

it greases all our social contacts- but in my family in particular,

I have seen doggedly determined, unpleasant, realistic ,combative

behavior rewarded with healthy ageing into the 100's. And as for

obbsession with our illness, yes, it seems many people become

obsessed, and I am guilty. But when you are abandoned by most of the

medical establishment, insurance, friends, and have lost everything

you hold dear because of a science fiction illness that no one

understands who has not been through it, I think it behooves you to

be obsessed- for obsession is the only path to health- I have slowly

regained most of my health by great attention to every detail of

what makes me sick- and what leads to health- by reading on this

site about others experiences- and trying to learn from older

moldies the things that really work. Anger is the most powerfull of

motivators. I am angry at the CDC, the AMA, the EPA, the allergists,

the insurance CO- The contractors, the employers,the newspapers, and

anyone else who has contributed to this totally unnecessary illness-

because it was unnecessary for anyone on this site to become ill.

And I refuse to have a positive attitude about it. And I will become

healthy again in spite of it.

> Dear Members,

> I have been following your posts and reading all of the discussions

> on this board for quite some time. I know that some my take offense

> at what I'm about to say, but I'm ready to take that chance.

> I am truly sorry for all of the serious medical conditions that

> everyone is facing. As you know, I am also suffering from life-

> threatening exposure to stachybotris, chaetomium,

> aflatoxins,satratoxins, and secondary exposure to Methamphetamines,

> Heroin and Cocaine. Not only did the house have these toxic Molds,

> but it had also been used as both a Crack House and Meth Lab. I

> nearly lost my life. In spite of it all, I am still here.

>

> One of the ways I have found to get myself better, besides diet and

> exercise, is to always have a positive atitude and not focus on my

> disability or illness. I hardly ever talk about it anymore to

anyone,

> and I'm finding that the symptoms when they do occur are not as

bad.

> That, coupled with a strong faith in God is what has kept me going.

> Recently, I have read many stories about people who have gone

through

> numerous trials in their life as well as crippling and debilitating

> illnesses. One of the themes which constantly appeared throughout

all

> of these people's stories was that they always kept a positive

> attitude and did not focus on their illnesses by constantly giving

> it " voice " . That is what helped them to beat the odds and remain

> alive.

> I have gotten to the point where I too have found that if I do not

> discuss or talk about my illness, but focus on the positive things

in

> life( that I am alive) and withmy strong faith in God, I am and

will

> be able to continue and survice and enjoy my life. As a former

> educator with over 20 years working with all ages- young children

to

> adult learners, I always stressed in developing in them a positive

> mental attitude for success. I am now applying what I said to

myself-

> and I am seeing results.

> Yanni

>

[Guest guest]

, Amen! You said it all. Loni

carondeen <kdeanstudios@...> wrote:There seem to be 2 camps- Years ago

, when frustration in a Dr

office lead me to let out a few demons, the Dr answered,That she was

just reading about personality, attitude and survival- that those

with a demanding, combative " negative " attitude seemed to have a

much better survival stats than those with a positive attitude. Yet

all we hear is how one has to keep a positive attitude. I think what

most people mean is- " be plesant and don't keep bothering us with

your depressing news. " Being plesant certainly has survival benefits-

it greases all our social contacts- but in my family in particular,

I have seen doggedly determined, unpleasant, realistic ,combative

behavior rewarded with healthy ageing into the 100's. And as for

obbsession with our illness, yes, it seems many people become

obsessed, and I am guilty. But when you are abandoned by most of the

medical establishment, insurance, friends, and have lost everything

you hold dear because of a science fiction illness that no one

understands who has not been through it, I think it behooves you to

be obsessed- for obsession is the only path to health- I have slowly

regained most of my health by great attention to every detail of

what makes me sick- and what leads to health- by reading on this

site about others experiences- and trying to learn from older

moldies the things that really work. Anger is the most powerfull of

motivators. I am angry at the CDC, the AMA, the EPA, the allergists,

the insurance CO- The contractors, the employers,the newspapers, and

anyone else who has contributed to this totally unnecessary illness-

because it was unnecessary for anyone on this site to become ill.

And I refuse to have a positive attitude about it. And I will become

healthy again in spite of it.

> Dear Members,

> I have been following your posts and reading all of the discussions

> on this board for quite some time. I know that some my take offense

> at what I'm about to say, but I'm ready to take that chance.

> I am truly sorry for all of the serious medical conditions that

> everyone is facing. As you know, I am also suffering from life-

> threatening exposure to stachybotris, chaetomium,

> aflatoxins,satratoxins, and secondary exposure to Methamphetamines,

> Heroin and Cocaine. Not only did the house have these toxic Molds,

> but it had also been used as both a Crack House and Meth Lab. I

> nearly lost my life. In spite of it all, I am still here.

>

> One of the ways I have found to get myself better, besides diet and

> exercise, is to always have a positive atitude and not focus on my

> disability or illness. I hardly ever talk about it anymore to

anyone,

> and I'm finding that the symptoms when they do occur are not as

bad.

> That, coupled with a strong faith in God is what has kept me going.

> Recently, I have read many stories about people who have gone

through

> numerous trials in their life as well as crippling and debilitating

> illnesses. One of the themes which constantly appeared throughout

all

> of these people's stories was that they always kept a positive

> attitude and did not focus on their illnesses by constantly giving

> it " voice " . That is what helped them to beat the odds and remain

> alive.

> I have gotten to the point where I too have found that if I do not

> discuss or talk about my illness, but focus on the positive things

in

> life( that I am alive) and withmy strong faith in God, I am and

will

> be able to continue and survice and enjoy my life. As a former

> educator with over 20 years working with all ages- young children

to

> adult learners, I always stressed in developing in them a positive

> mental attitude for success. I am now applying what I said to

myself-

> and I am seeing results.

> Yanni

>

FAIR USE NOTICE:

[Guest guest]

--- In , " carondeen " <kdeanstudios@v...>

wrote:

>

It is hard to be positive when you also have mcs the chemical asthma.

Especially when we are being poisoned by our own government and

corporations.

[Guest guest]

>Hi,

Thank you for your response to all of the griping and complaining.

I applaud you for your response and courage. I have found on this

site that we are all in various stages of this illness. I, too,

have passed through the worst of the illness and my faith in God has

been the constant factor. A lot of people on this site are in the

stage where they are not believed and are feeling so very lousy. It

is hard to remain positive when even the doctors don't know how to

help you.

You are right about the positive attitude. Sometimes that and the

faith that you will also get better is all you have to hang on to.

It certainly helps to maintain your relationships with others who do

not have this illness.

The ones of us who are on the road to recovery have to be a sounding

board and a source of encouragement to the others. We have to keep

praying for them and giving them enouragement and tips on how to

handle their situation.

At my stage now, I want to see regulations passed that will prevent

others from having to go through this. After the recent storms and

floods there are sure to be many more cases of toxic mold. As

a " survivor " I want to help them. Sounds like from your response

you do also.

Keep on keeping on.

> Dear Members,

> I have been following your posts and reading all of the discussions

> on this board for quite some time. I know that some my take offense

> at what I'm about to say, but I'm ready to take that chance.

> I am truly sorry for all of the serious medical conditions that

> everyone is facing. As you know, I am also suffering from life-

> threatening exposure to stachybotris, chaetomium,

> aflatoxins,satratoxins, and secondary exposure to Methamphetamines,

> Heroin and Cocaine. Not only did the house have these toxic Molds,

> but it had also been used as both a Crack House and Meth Lab. I

> nearly lost my life. In spite of it all, I am still here.

>

> One of the ways I have found to get myself better, besides diet and

> exercise, is to always have a positive atitude and not focus on my

> disability or illness. I hardly ever talk about it anymore to

anyone,

> and I'm finding that the symptoms when they do occur are not as

bad.

> That, coupled with a strong faith in God is what has kept me going.

> Recently, I have read many stories about people who have gone

through

> numerous trials in their life as well as crippling and debilitating

> illnesses. One of the themes which constantly appeared throughout

all

> of these people's stories was that they always kept a positive

> attitude and did not focus on their illnesses by constantly giving

> it " voice " . That is what helped them to beat the odds and remain

> alive.

> I have gotten to the point where I too have found that if I do not

> discuss or talk about my illness, but focus on the positive things

in

> life( that I am alive) and withmy strong faith in God, I am and

will

> be able to continue and survice and enjoy my life. As a former

> educator with over 20 years working with all ages- young children

to

> adult learners, I always stressed in developing in them a positive

> mental attitude for success. I am now applying what I said to

myself-

> and I am seeing results.

> Yanni

>

[Guest guest]

,

I understand your position. However, I am not in full agreement. I've seen and

known many people with severe, life-threatening illnesses who have used a

positive attitude and strong faith in God and have beat their problem. They are

still alive today, and functioning well.

To each his own, I guess. I wish you the best of luck.

Yanni

[] Re: Ways to Deal with your Illness

While I think it is simply wonderful to keep a positive attitude, it

won't get you out of Mold Hell and not talking about mold or

focusing on it doesn't result in your own education or that of

others.

Virtually everyone around me told me to " quit obsessing over mold "

and just " beat your illness using the power of the mind " .

I was also told to just put my fate in God's hands and trust that

things would turn out OK.

My response was " Isn't it said that God helps those who help

themselves? I'm not going to sit here and wait for whatever happens

if I keep getting worse and hope that God will step in "

And as far as my good friends, families and doctors assertions

of " mold obsession " , if I hadn't been so " obsessed " , I never would

have discovered the characteristics of mold plumes and mycotoxin

exposure which allowed me to devise an avoidance strategy which lets

me KICK ASS on a problem that used to kick MINE.

I like to tell people that having a BAD ATTITUDE and OBSESSIVE

NATURE is the very reason why I am out mountain climbing

while " happy smiley people " are still being beat to death by mold.

-

FAIR USE NOTICE:

[Guest guest]

Carondeen,

Anger leads to stress- and unnecessary stress put on our bodies causes severe

complications. I known from my own experience- when I focused on my illness and

constantly gave voice to it, I was a mean, angry person who no one wanted to be

around. However, when I realized that is what I had, learned that I had to deal

with it, and then turned my energy on being pro-active and doing everything I

could to get better, i.e. diet, exercise and a positive mental attitude and

strong belief in God, I have found I have many many many more good days than

bad.

I am not and will not let myself be a " victim " - I am and will be an overcomer

and survivor.

Good luck to you.

Yanni

[] Re: Ways to Deal with your Illness

There seem to be 2 camps- Years ago , when frustration in a Dr

office lead me to let out a few demons, the Dr answered,That she was

just reading about personality, attitude and survival- that those

with a demanding, combative " negative " attitude seemed to have a

much better survival stats than those with a positive attitude. Yet

all we hear is how one has to keep a positive attitude. I think what

most people mean is- " be plesant and don't keep bothering us with

your depressing news. " Being plesant certainly has survival benefits-

it greases all our social contacts- but in my family in particular,

I have seen doggedly determined, unpleasant, realistic ,combative

behavior rewarded with healthy ageing into the 100's. And as for

obbsession with our illness, yes, it seems many people become

obsessed, and I am guilty. But when you are abandoned by most of the

medical establishment, insurance, friends, and have lost everything

you hold dear because of a science fiction illness that no one

understands who has not been through it, I think it behooves you to

be obsessed- for obsession is the only path to health- I have slowly

regained most of my health by great attention to every detail of

what makes me sick- and what leads to health- by reading on this

site about others experiences- and trying to learn from older

moldies the things that really work. Anger is the most powerfull of

motivators. I am angry at the CDC, the AMA, the EPA, the allergists,

the insurance CO- The contractors, the employers,the newspapers, and

anyone else who has contributed to this totally unnecessary illness-

because it was unnecessary for anyone on this site to become ill.

And I refuse to have a positive attitude about it. And I will become

healthy again in spite of it.

> Dear Members,

> I have been following your posts and reading all of the discussions

> on this board for quite some time. I know that some my take offense

> at what I'm about to say, but I'm ready to take that chance.

> I am truly sorry for all of the serious medical conditions that

> everyone is facing. As you know, I am also suffering from life-

> threatening exposure to stachybotris, chaetomium,

> aflatoxins,satratoxins, and secondary exposure to Methamphetamines,

> Heroin and Cocaine. Not only did the house have these toxic Molds,

> but it had also been used as both a Crack House and Meth Lab. I

> nearly lost my life. In spite of it all, I am still here.

>

> One of the ways I have found to get myself better, besides diet and

> exercise, is to always have a positive atitude and not focus on my

> disability or illness. I hardly ever talk about it anymore to

anyone,

> and I'm finding that the symptoms when they do occur are not as

bad.

> That, coupled with a strong faith in God is what has kept me going.

> Recently, I have read many stories about people who have gone

through

> numerous trials in their life as well as crippling and debilitating

> illnesses. One of the themes which constantly appeared throughout

all

> of these people's stories was that they always kept a positive

> attitude and did not focus on their illnesses by constantly giving

> it " voice " . That is what helped them to beat the odds and remain

> alive.

> I have gotten to the point where I too have found that if I do not

> discuss or talk about my illness, but focus on the positive things

in

> life( that I am alive) and withmy strong faith in God, I am and

will

> be able to continue and survice and enjoy my life. As a former

> educator with over 20 years working with all ages- young children

to

> adult learners, I always stressed in developing in them a positive

> mental attitude for success. I am now applying what I said to

myself-

> and I am seeing results.

> Yanni

>

FAIR USE NOTICE:

[Guest guest]

,

It is indeed. However, if we want to live, we have to come to that fact.

Yanni

[] Re: Ways to Deal with your Illness

>

It is hard to be positive when you also have mcs the chemical asthma.

Especially when we are being poisoned by our own government and

corporations.

FAIR USE NOTICE:

[Guest guest]

I think you really have to go with whatever works for you. For me, I don't read

anger as negativity. Anger is my power for change. It energizes me, and allows

me to accomplish things that a) very much need doing; and that I would not

otherwise be able to muster the strength to do, especially now. Time and again,

I have watched people suffer bad situations right up to the point where they

finally say, " Enough! " and when they finally get angry, they begin to take

responsibility for themselves and their situation and heal. I am no different.

Interestingly enough, boils and pustules are referred to as " angry " , just before

they drain and finally grant some relief.

Amongst the other uses for anger is the power of focus. Say what you will, but

for a brain-fogger, anything that can hold my attention and make me focus is

pretty cool. I may not remember names or numbers, but even on my very worst day,

I can tell you EXACTLY what I'm mad about! And that would be, 99.9% of the time

mold (so there's some numbers for ya). Being sick, being lied about, being lied

to, being ripped off and being disrespected, and seeing it happen to others who

don't deserve it any more than I do? I'm not havin' it. That. Simple. I'm. Not.

Havin'. It. My power for change is active, even if the rest of me is trying to

roll over and die.

G-d? (Who I call Grandfather in the old Native ways.) Oh sure-you-betcha! Pick

up the Talmud, Koran, or Old Testament. You'll find more than the old laws on

mold there. You also find a heap of G-d-directed warring on problems, and my

favorite quote, " If the ox is in the ditch, pull him out. " Now, I can't always

hoist that trash bag of empty medicine bottles, and I can't always make it down

the stairs to hang out with the healthy, but I know when the ox is in the ditch

and I know what has to happen there.

Move over to the New Testament, and you'll find a couple of other faves - the

story of the tax collectors in the temple, who got their butts kicked MOST

righteously for putting business where the spiritual belongs. And another

favorite quote (shortest in the book), " Jesus wept. " - right before becoming the

most powerful figure in western history. So, you know - anger, grief, love - all

of these things are available tools. Juice it up with a little power of

discernment, and woo-hoo! Biggg winner!

My point being not to debate or instruct on various " -ologies " , but only to

point out that it is entirely possible to be extremely angry but to carry out

its directives with great love. The result is invariably great power combined

with great strength - and if you have just enough discernment to direct your

anger and your love at the right tasks and targets, you become an amazing force.

Put together with a group of people who understand those principles, and you

become an amazingly forceful army. We used to have a message on our answering

machine that was our own version of the Serenity Prayer - " If we aren't here,

accepting the things we cannot change, we're probably out somewhere changing the

things we cannot accept. Long as you're on the line anyway, please ask God to

give us the wisdom to know the difference. Sometimes, we get confused about that

part. " So as you see, some parts of me remain unchanged by this illness. This is

NOT the first obstacle I have had to overcome in my

life, and I doubt it'll be the last. I understand my purpose, and I am carrying

it out. That's pretty good, for a chronically fatigued brain-fogger. If I'm

angry, then I can still be of service. And if I can still be of service, then

I'm not dead yet. (And if you're a Monty Python fan, then saying, " But I'm not

dead yet, " has a certain uhhh...cheery?...feel to it.)

I CANNOT accept that this illness will be allowed to rule me forever. I CANNOT

accept that it will be allowed to do this to others through my acquiescence. I

CANNOT accept that cold cash is an acceptable exchange for an innocent person's

life. And if I'm wrong in that, then G-d can smite my silly butt for all He's

worth right here and now. (But of course, that hasn't happened and I'm still

here, soooo...you know. I can kinda tell He's good with that.)

So that's really my healthy stuff. I hang on to it for all I'm worth because

it's about the only thing the mold didn't get to. OTOH, even JC got a little

freaked when he spent a little too long in the leper colony, so I do understand

where you're coming from. ; ) IIRC, he didn't give up working with lepers. He

just took a little break from it and hung out with his non-leperous friends for

a little while.

So. Great Anger and Great Love to Ya. A day without 'em would be...ohhh, like a

day without mold-related illness, eh?

Serena

www.freeboards.net/index.php?mforum=sickgovernmentb

---------------------------------

FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

[Guest guest]

> To each his own, I guess. I wish you the best of luck.

> Yanni

Absolutely. People should seek out what they feel is right for them.

I guess the thing I resented from the psychologizers who told me

that my problems were " All In Your Head " was the assertion that this

illness was a character flaw which could be corrected

by " appropriate thoughts " and that any failure to recover was due to

my personal failure to think those thoughts and believe the correct

things.

When I climbed out of Living Hell and went back to climbing

mountains as a result of extreme avoidance protocols, some of these

people actually had the unmitigated gall to say how happy they were

to see that I had decided to take their advice and be a happy

thinker.

" See how happy you are now? You're attitude is SO much better!

Don't you feel much improved now that your attitude is directed

toward being active and healthy? "

After choking, spitting and fuming for a few seconds, I'd say " Are

you COMPLETELY CRAZY? If my attitude is any better, it's because

I'm FEELING better you fool. If anything, the reasons for my

negativity are established beyond doubt!, and my recovery DESPITE my

lack of a positive happy attitude shows that mold just plain doesn't

care if people have a good atitude or bad. I guarantee you - my

attitude is WORSE, MORE negative and OBSESSIVE than ever. I'm proud

of it, and intend to keep it that way "

If anybody wants solid evidence that concerted wishful thinking,

even when conducted simultaneously by millions of people, doesn't

interfere much with reality - consider that if such powerful

thoughts could actually make things happen, Halle Berry would never

be able to appear dressed up for the s - for the moment she hit

the stage, her clothing would magically disappear as if ripped off

by countless unseen hands.

Am I right?

-

[Guest guest]

,

I'm not saying that " wishful thinking " as you put it will make everything

better. We still have to do our part, i.e diet, exercise. And with those comes

the added element of positive mental attitude- knowing that we will beat this.

Yanni

[] Re: Ways to Deal with your Illness

> To each his own, I guess. I wish you the best of luck.

> Yanni

Absolutely. People should seek out what they feel is right for them.

I guess the thing I resented from the psychologizers who told me

that my problems were " All In Your Head " was the assertion that this

illness was a character flaw which could be corrected

by " appropriate thoughts " and that any failure to recover was due to

my personal failure to think those thoughts and believe the correct

things.

When I climbed out of Living Hell and went back to climbing

mountains as a result of extreme avoidance protocols, some of these

people actually had the unmitigated gall to say how happy they were

to see that I had decided to take their advice and be a happy

thinker.

" See how happy you are now? You're attitude is SO much better!

Don't you feel much improved now that your attitude is directed

toward being active and healthy? "

After choking, spitting and fuming for a few seconds, I'd say " Are

you COMPLETELY CRAZY? If my attitude is any better, it's because

I'm FEELING better you fool. If anything, the reasons for my

negativity are established beyond doubt!, and my recovery DESPITE my

lack of a positive happy attitude shows that mold just plain doesn't

care if people have a good atitude or bad. I guarantee you - my

attitude is WORSE, MORE negative and OBSESSIVE than ever. I'm proud

of it, and intend to keep it that way "

If anybody wants solid evidence that concerted wishful thinking,

even when conducted simultaneously by millions of people, doesn't

interfere much with reality - consider that if such powerful

thoughts could actually make things happen, Halle Berry would never

be able to appear dressed up for the s - for the moment she hit

the stage, her clothing would magically disappear as if ripped off

by countless unseen hands.

Am I right?

-

FAIR USE NOTICE:

[Guest guest]

Yanni, I'm a Christian, was diagnosed with SLE (Lupus) 20 years ago, lost 4

children I was carrying due to Lupus, 4 1/2 years ago our home was damaged,

became very ill from the mold, hospitalized with bi-lateral pleural

effusions which became chronic, then became severe multiple chemical

sensitive reacting to just about everything.

Have/had many people praying for me, a wonderful church home, my attitude is

positive now, I have no anger towards anyone regarding my illnesses, my

outlook is that I have a challenge in life rather than bitterness, denial or

finding some sort of escape from my illnesses. I agree with you that angry,

bitter, hostile people only injure themselves and we have no excuse to lash

out at others constantly nor live with such powerful emotions in us. Yet,

there is a balance Yanni, even the God commands us in the Bible: " be angry

but sin not " . There is a place for anger, anger can be positive but it must

be controlled!

Something else to consider is that many affected by toxic mold will become

depressed, some severely depressed due to nervous system damage and they

cannot have a positive outlook no matter how much they would like.

Some can't even compose an email Yanni they are so injured. Some don't have

the finances you do; they cannot afford to leave their government provided

housing, they don't have the funds to see qualified health care

professionals, they don't have the funds to purchase organic foods and the

foods they need to help their bodies heal, supplements and other protocols.

They are too ill to exercise as you do. They are being constantly exposed.

They are in despair.

We also know that everyone is affected differently by mold/mycotoxins and

chemicals and they will have nervous system damage that will alter their

personalities; sometimes very quickly and dramatically depending upon type

and severity of exposure. We must not expect these people to alter their

nervous system damage with their own " mind power " or faith. Read the Bible

Yanni, even the great Apostle stated he " despaired unto death " at one

point, read the Psalms which are such a comfort to me and millions of others

showing that yes we are Christians however we still have our emotions and

times of fear, pain, despair, loneliness, lack of hope, always crying out to

God for help and also to other people for help and assistance.

I have know many that are Christians, had very strong faith as you state

with life threatening illnesses and they died! Or they are still suffering

with their illnesses. Death is a guarantee for all of us at some point.

So, we cannot make a blanket statement as you did that God is some insurance

policy that will fix all our ills if we just believe enough. We can't just

name and claim our health. And since you speak of God and being a

Christian, you also know that Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our

faith; that doesn't come from us. How often during severe illness and pain

did I pray: " Lord I believe, help my unbelief " .

I don't ignore my illness, sensitivities and reactions. I use common sense

to avoid as much as possible and when exposed without prior warning I will

do whatever necessary to assist my body. I'm an herbalist, I've used herbs,

specific diet, lifestyle changes and supplements to bring me from horrendous

pain and inability to function to where I am today. I can type an email, I

can climb my roof, I can caulk my own windows and doors to seal them, my

Lupus is in remission, etc however I must constantly be aware of my

compromised body and be on guard! I cannot be outside during the hot sun

with my Lupus, I cannot expose myself to toxic mold and tell myself the mold

will not affect me or be so presumptions to belief God will not allow the

toxic mold to affect me.

I tell others why I cannot visit their moldy homes, or why I cannot attend a

gardening course in a very mold-toxic school building, why I cannot go to

certainly places because of the mold in there; yes I'm forever talking about

my mold and MCS illness because I want to educate others, to warn them of

their unsafe living conditions, I teach people how to do home maintenance to

avoid if at all possible water leaks, I teach them how to have a non-toxic

home using safer cleaning products, non-toxic toiletries, no pesticides, I

ever teach them how to care and feed their pets safer and healthier. I

speak out. God has given me a passion to speak out, to warn, to educate

others. Because of my illness I have that passion, that zeal to share with

others, to cry out at times to them, to educate and warn. We must!

Your original email was positive, it's what you are practicing now, however

you must know being a well educated person we, this world and everything in

it is multi-faceted, always changing, and we cannot put ourselves into a

bubble experiencing no pain, no ill health, no emotions, just as you stated:

" One of the ways I have found to get myself better, besides diet and

exercise, is to always have a positive attitude and not focus on my

disability or illness. I hardly ever talk about it anymore to anyone, "

Well, we need to talk about it, in a positive, pro-active manner not with

debilitating anger, but with respect to the toxins, respect to the immense

problem this country and the world faces and no one has an answer to solve

the problem, we need to educate those that have just become ill, we need to

teach people (all people) how to improve their diets and lifestyles, how to

(if they are financially and physically able) clean their homes and have a

healthy home......it's such an immense multi-faceted issue that no one can

expect of others what you have created for yourself without much assistance

from others and the finances. I do not feel we should not as you said

" hardly ever talk about it anymore to anyone " ; who will be the voice, who

will warn, who will educate, who will make a difference; if we deny there is

a problem the problem continues and takes over soon to destroy as do toxic

molds and toxic chemicals and toxic emotions.

Thank you for sharing how you are living now and thank you for allowing me

to express my thoughts on the subject,

Rosie

[] Re: Ways to Deal with your Illness

>

>

> While I think it is simply wonderful to keep a positive attitude, it

> won't get you out of Mold Hell and not talking about mold or

> focusing on it doesn't result in your own education or that of

> others.

>

> Virtually everyone around me told me to " quit obsessing over mold "

> and just " beat your illness using the power of the mind " .

>

> I was also told to just put my fate in God's hands and trust that

> things would turn out OK.

> My response was " Isn't it said that God helps those who help

> themselves? I'm not going to sit here and wait for whatever happens

> if I keep getting worse and hope that God will step in "

>

> And as far as my good friends, families and doctors assertions

> of " mold obsession " , if I hadn't been so " obsessed " , I never would

> have discovered the characteristics of mold plumes and mycotoxin

> exposure which allowed me to devise an avoidance strategy which lets

> me KICK ASS on a problem that used to kick MINE.

> I like to tell people that having a BAD ATTITUDE and OBSESSIVE

> NATURE is the very reason why I am out mountain climbing

> while " happy smiley people " are still being beat to death by mold.

> -

>

[Guest guest]

GOOD EMAIL, ROSIE.

VICTORIA

[] Re: Ways to Deal with your Illness

>>

>>

>> While I think it is simply wonderful to keep a positive attitude, it

>> won't get you out of Mold Hell and not talking about mold or

>> focusing on it doesn't result in your own education or that of

>> others.

>>

>> Virtually everyone around me told me to " quit obsessing over mold "

>> and just " beat your illness using the power of the mind " .

>>

>> I was also told to just put my fate in God's hands and trust that

>> things would turn out OK.

>> My response was " Isn't it said that God helps those who help

>> themselves? I'm not going to sit here and wait for whatever happens

>> if I keep getting worse and hope that God will step in "

>>

>> And as far as my good friends, families and doctors assertions

>> of " mold obsession " , if I hadn't been so " obsessed " , I never would

>> have discovered the characteristics of mold plumes and mycotoxin

>> exposure which allowed me to devise an avoidance strategy which lets

>> me KICK ASS on a problem that used to kick MINE.

>> I like to tell people that having a BAD ATTITUDE and OBSESSIVE

>> NATURE is the very reason why I am out mountain climbing

>> while " happy smiley people " are still being beat to death by mold.

>> -

>>

>

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

lol, erik--that sounds like my family & friends. i've also been told i'm

" obsessed " by molds, etc. well, yes i am.....but wouldn't THEY be, if they

almost never walked again, because of a moldy/damaged workplace?

i'll NEVER climb mountains, erik, & i'll NEVER ride a bicycle again, & i'll

NEVER be able to dance again.......(at least not till stem cell

transplantation is approved in the good 'ol USA).

but i'll also NEVER shut my mouth about the place that made me ( & others!)

sooooooooo very sick, & the same place that demyelinated my spinal cord.

the place nearly killed me..... & the place DID kill others. for me to shut

up & be quiet would be criminal, to my way of thinking.

in the meanwhile, what they're still doing is criminal--by allowing people

to be exposed to that VERY sick environment. i'll never again walk, crawl,

or be carried into that building.

take care, erik, & all of you on this group, & may God help us all.

victoria

[] Re: Ways to Deal with your Illness

> While I think it is simply wonderful to keep a positive attitude, it

> won't get you out of Mold Hell and not talking about mold or

> focusing on it doesn't result in your own education or that of

> others.

>

> Virtually everyone around me told me to " quit obsessing over mold "

> and just " beat your illness using the power of the mind " .

>

> I was also told to just put my fate in God's hands and trust that

> things would turn out OK.

> My response was " Isn't it said that God helps those who help

> themselves? I'm not going to sit here and wait for whatever happens

> if I keep getting worse and hope that God will step in "

>

> And as far as my good friends, families and doctors assertions

> of " mold obsession " , if I hadn't been so " obsessed " , I never would

> have discovered the characteristics of mold plumes and mycotoxin

> exposure which allowed me to devise an avoidance strategy which lets

> me KICK ASS on a problem that used to kick MINE.

> I like to tell people that having a BAD ATTITUDE and OBSESSIVE

> NATURE is the very reason why I am out mountain climbing

> while " happy smiley people " are still being beat to death by mold.

> -

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

" Dr. Yanni Zack " wrote:

>

> ,

> I'm not saying that " wishful thinking " as you put it will make

everything better. We still have to do our part, i.e diet, exercise.

And with those comes the added element of positive mental attitude-

knowing that we will beat this.

> Yanni

You're right, of course.

We just need to be wary of those who " take it too far " and have the

belief that if negative attitudes have negative effects, then a

failure to recover is due to an insufficiency of " Happythink " and

lack of positive character attributes.

This is insulting beyond belief to someone who is just expressing

very normal thoughts that their life is being stolen by something

beyond their control.

As we have seen, while Happiness is surely better than Unhappiness,

Mold doesn't much care about what anybody thinks.

-

[Guest guest]

--- In , " Dr. Yanni Zack " <drzack@a...>

wrote:

>

> ,

> It is indeed. However, if we want to live, we have to come to that

fact.

I live my life a cheerful, happy, I don't bother anyone with my

illness. I take walks when I can, I would go to the pool and have a

strong swim in the summer, I dance and have a good sex life. I

even think about God alot and pray alot. But that does not mean that

I am not devestated what my government let happen to me and my

family. I would have been better off if my landlord would have shot

me. I begged for my life. Called every agency, senator, governor,

congressman, attorney general you name it to protect myself and my

family and I will continue to do so. I kind of think of it as God

would want me to send the message that these people in power are

hurting us. Sometimes I just think of it as this must be my purpose

to try to help others know about how dangerous mold is and people

have a right to know that their products that they buy and put on

their children and their own bodies have very dangerous chemicals in

them. I am not an activist just very tired of being induced into

illess everyday. I can be fine and bang severe asthma because the

man downstairs took a shower. Very hard to tolerate several times a

day. Everyone's story is different but I was treated like a criminal

when I became ill. If you have cancer, people give love and

compassion. That is not always the case with this illness, so I do

have a broken heart. But I still get up everyday and forge onward.

[Guest guest]

>

> Since I'm relatively new to mold illnesses - I wonder who Dr.

Shoemaker is

> (and where). I live in north Florida. Also, why is CSM effective?

>

Dr Shoemaker, Pokomoke MD, go to " cronic nuerotoxins.com "

CSM binds biotoxins in the gut for excretion.

[Guest guest]

correction: www.chronicneurotoxins.com

victoria

[] Re: Ways to Deal with your Illness

>

>>

>> Since I'm relatively new to mold illnesses - I wonder who Dr.

> Shoemaker is

>> (and where). I live in north Florida. Also, why is CSM effective?

>>

> Dr Shoemaker, Pokomoke MD, go to " cronic nuerotoxins.com "

> CSM binds biotoxins in the gut for excretion.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

There must be a way to make this stop. We need some powerful people like Ed

McMahn that had a mold issue to try to get regulations on this. I fear for the

next generation. Loni in Arizona

Kim <kimallen@...> wrote:Hi Yanni,

I think that most of us think of the innocent children who are sick, as we

continue to give toxic mold a " voice " . If we ignore it just like the doctors and

government agencies, nobody will have a chance to get well, and everyone will

have the chance to slowly die of toxic mold poisoning. We want to prevent others

from suffering as we have.

-Kim

FAIR USE NOTICE:

[Guest guest]

The only way to make this all stop is to educate everyone!!! We all have to

continue to write, call your local politicians, call your local newspapers

to do a story about your illness. Copy the brochure off

_www.schoolformoldhelp.org_ (http://www.schoolformoldhelp.org) and take it to

schools, Drs.

offices, libraries, & grocery stores. Most all stores have bulletin board that

will

allow you to post information. Order the car magnets from the sick bldg.

group site, they really get people's attention.

We have to keep fighting and informing people about the debilitating illness

caused by toxic mold!

Sue

There must be a way to make this stop. We need some powerful people like Ed

McMahn that had a mold issue to try to get regulations on this. I fear for the

next generation. Loni in Arizona

Kim <kimallen@...> wrote:Hi Yanni,

I think that most of us think of the innocent children who are sick, as we

continue to give toxic mold a " voice " . If we ignore it just like the doctors

and government agencies, nobody will have a chance to get well, and everyone

will have the chance to slowly die of toxic mold poisoning. We want to prevent

others from suffering as we have.

-Kim

[Guest guest]

Thank you Carl!! You are so right about everything. Like everyone else I

spent a lot of time going from Dr. to Dr. trying to find answers to everything

that was going wrong with a perfectly health person.I was told it was

stress and possibly unhappiness in my job. I was a teacher and absolutely

loved

my job!!! My sore joints, muscle aches & twitches, fatigue, sinus infections,

bronchitis, memory loss, vision problems, slurred speech,confusion and much

more had nothing to do with my job!! They would order tests & just scratch

their heads when everything came back negative.

I spent months doing my own research which led to Sick Bldg. Syndrome and

toxic mold. Excited , I returned to my Drs. with my information thinking they

would understand & would find a way to help me. But no, they just looked

at me like I had three heads and said that there was no way mold could cause

my symptoms!! But they had NO IDEA what was wrong and just said I had a

virus that would eventually go away. If I hadn't continued my own research, &

found Dr. Shoemaker, I would probably be dead or wishing I was.

Our health care professionals only think inside their little boxes and don't

want to leave their comfort zones. There are SO many people out there who

are sick and dying and our Drs. don't seem to want to take the time or make

the effort to help. Now that I know all about my illness I have returned to

my Drs. wiith copies of Mold Warriors and lots of other info. They tell me

they don't have time to read it or it isn't their specialty. It is very

frustrating! A few have taken a small interest so I'll continue to talk to

anyone

who will listen. How long can the medical community and others continue to

ignore this illness?

Sue

Sue,

I agree! And that education of everyone should include the ones

responsible for the exposures, whether manufacturers, building

owners, remediators, consultants, product users or those that won't

stop the water that grows the mold.

[Guest guest]

Sue,

I agree! And that education of everyone should include the ones

responsible for the exposures, whether manufacturers, building

owners, remediators, consultants, product users or those that won't

stop the water that grows the mold.

I had a conversation a couple of years ago with a chemical

manufacturer. He had just given a presentation on how safe his

company's products were. He kept emphasizing how the public should

take responsibility to educate themselves about appropriate product

selection and use rather than sue when they were harmed.

I told him afterwards that I agreed that we have to take personal

responsibility. And then I added that the only way we can do that is

to make informed decisions. Was his company willing to release all

information about their product so we would be informed? He replied

they wouldn't release any that jeapordized their trade secrets. So I

asked, " Then how can we make an informed choice? Aren't you now

making us dependant on you, which would include the right to sue

you? "

He didn't have an answer.

If doctors and public health can't find a solution, they should

clearly say that something is wrong but they don't know what, instead

of telling us there's nothing wrong and its all in our head. Blame is

not part of the hypocratic oath.

And even if it is all in our head, don't they still have a moral and

professional obligation to help rather than to abandon? The

hypocratic oath shouldn't stop with the diagnosis of psychosomatic or

at the limit of their expertise. So I don't understand how docs and

public health officials can justify to themselves their continuation

of our harm.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> The only way to make this all stop is to educate everyone!!! We all

> have to continue to write, call your local politicians, call your

> local newspapers to do a story about your illness.