Right now
We are right here with you.
A flare is a period when symptoms spike, often suddenly, sometimes following a new infection. If this is your first flare, or your worst one yet, you are in the right place. What you are seeing is real, and there are things you can do right now, starting in the next hour. Take one step at a time.
It's the PANDAS, not your child
What is happening in the brain during a flare, and why the child you love is still there underneath it.
What to do today
Five concrete steps for the next 24 hours. Check each one off as you go.
What to tell your child
Age-appropriate language for explaining PANS or PANDAS to your child, from ages 5 through teens.
De-escalation in the moment
When an OCD spiral or rage episode is happening right now: what helps, and what to avoid.
Should we go to the ER?
Clear criteria for when to go, what to bring, and exactly what to say at intake.
Written by parents who have been through this. You are not navigating this alone.
Not medical advice. This content is for orientation only. Diagnosis requires a trained clinician. If your child is in acute distress, contact your provider or go to the nearest emergency room.