Lyme Disease:

Lyme Disease is caused by at least 20 species of Borrelia bacteria, usually transmitted by tick bites. Known as “The Great Imitator,” its symptoms mimic many illnesses. The spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi can affect any organ, including the brain, muscles, joints, and heart. Lyme is often misdiagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, or psychiatric disorders, delaying proper treatment. It occurs across the U.S., especially in the East, Midwest, and West Coast, and on every continent except Antarctica. Tiny nymph ticks pose the greatest risk as their bites go unnoticed, and longer attachment increases infection chances. Ticks may also carry other pathogens like Bartonella and Babesia.

If Complications of Lyme disease are serious, yet awareness remains low. Diagnosing tick-borne illness is challenging due to varying lab accuracy and costs. The CDC captures only 10% of cases, and risk maps often misrepresent infected tick numbers, as many areas lack thorough testing. Lyme disease is a silent epidemic with widespread impact. Alec’s Place urges attention to this overlooked crisis, echoing Dr. Kenneth Liegner: “The mainstream handling of Chronic Lyme Disease will be seen as one of the most shameful episodes in medical history.”

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Early vs. Late Lyme Disease Symptoms: What to Watch For!

    • Expanding red rash (erythema migrans), often bull’s-eye shaped

    • Flu-like illness with fever, chills, fatigue, and body aches

    • Headache and neck stiffness

    • Swollen lymph nodes near the bite site

    • Joint or muscle pain that may shift location

    • Sensitivity to light or sound

    • Sleep disturbance and brain fog

    • Tingling, numbness, or burning sensations

    • Mood changes such as anxiety or irritability

    • Sore throat or mild cough

    • Severe, migrating joint pain or swelling (often in knees)

    • Neurological issues: neuropathy, tremors, seizures, or paralysis

    • Cognitive dysfunction (“Lyme brain”), memory loss, word-finding trouble

    • Chronic fatigue and post-exertional malaise

    • Sleep disturbances and unrefreshing sleep

    • Mood disorders: depression, anxiety, panic attacks, or irritability

    • Sensory hypersensitivity to light, sound, touch, or smell

    • Autonomic dysfunction (POTS, dizziness, temperature instability)

    • Heart rhythm disturbances (Lyme carditis, palpitations)

    • Visual or auditory changes (blurred vision, tinnitus)

    • Immune dysregulation leading to PANS, autoimmune or inflammatory syndromes

    • Relapsing or cyclical symptom flares triggered by stress or infection

    • Severe, migrating joint pain with or without visible swelling

    • Encephalopathy: confusion, disorientation, short-term memory loss

    • Encephalomyelitis: inflammation of brain and spinal cord causing weakness or paralysis

    • Peripheral neuropathy: burning, tingling, numbness, or electric-shock sensations

    • Cranial nerve palsies (facial paralysis, vision or hearing loss)

    • Seizures or abnormal muscle movements

    • Profound fatigue and loss of stamina

    • Cognitive decline, word-finding difficulty, slowed processing speed

    • Severe sleep disturbance or circadian rhythm disruption

    • Psychiatric manifestations: depression, panic, OCD, hallucinations, or psychosis

    • Autonomic instability (POTS, blood pressure swings, temperature dysregulation)

    • Sensory hypersensitivity to light, sound, vibration, or motion

    • Heart rhythm abnormalities and shortness of breath from neurocardiac effects

    • Immune-mediated complications such as PANS or autoimmune encephalitis

    • Relapsing symptom cycles triggered by infection, stress, or immune activation

  • Late Stage Borreliosis and Substance Abuse

    Could Addiction be rooted in untreated vector borne infection?

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  • Peer-Reviewed Evidence of Persistence of Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and Tick-Borne Diseases

    The following is a list of over 700 peer-reviewed articles that support the evidence of persistence of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. It is organized into different categories—general, neuropsychiatric, dementia and congenital transmission

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  • Article: Survival strategies of Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme disease

    To survive long-term, infectious microbes must fight, escape, or hide. Persistent pathogens avoid the immune system by suppressing it, hiding inside cells, changing their surface, or entering protected areas. This review looks at these strategies in Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

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  • Lyme Disease and Mental Health: Understanding the Psychological Impact of Vector-Borne Diseases

    What if mental illness is actually the manifestation of metabolic disturbance from bacterial vector pathogenes?

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  • Case Report: A One Health Zoonotic Vector Borne Infectious Disease Family Outbreak Investigation

    This study highlights the value of a One Health approach in infectious disease outbreaks. When the son showed neuropsychiatric symptoms, we examined the entire family and pets—all exposed to fleas, ticks, rescued dogs, and other animals.

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