Experiencing PANS/PANDAS as a family is no doubt scary, disorienting, heartbreaking, and sometimes downright frustrating. To begin, your child suddenly has this onset of symptoms that you can’t understand — let alone explain.

Then, it takes months or maybe even years to find a doctor who understands PANS/PANDAS and can actually diagnose and treat your child. The treatment process is often a marathon, with surprises and challenges sprinkled throughout.

All the while, your child is exhibiting extreme behaviors like emotional outbursts, OCD and anxiety, along with neurological symptoms that leave you all perplexed and discouraged. They go through flares where the neuropsychological symptoms, and thus, “behavior” issues escalate, then calm down again.

And it’s not just something your one child is going through — it’s impacting your entire family, including your other children and perhaps even your marriage.

Does this sound familiar? Then we’re here for you.

Join us for this two-part series Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit for PANS/PANDAS Families in Crisis Mode.

These episodes are important conversations with three experts:

• Lindsey Forsyth, a mom of a child with PANS/PANDAS

• Angela Henry, a licensed clinical social worker based in South Bend, Indiana, who specializes in serving children, adolescents and families with OCD, Tics/Tourette’s Disorder, anxiety, and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors
• Dr. Margaret Jessop, a clinical psychologist who specializes in early childhood development and emotional difficulties in childhood.

These episodes discuss what is happening during a PANS/PANDAS flare to the child and how it’s impacting the entire family. We also cover different tools and strategies that you can implement IMMEDIATELY to help your family survive the flare as you wait for treatment. We also want to be sure you have this information from credible and professional sources to pass along information to the rest of the “village” intimately involved in supporting your children.

What you are experiencing is very real, it is very difficult, and you are not alone. It takes a lot of bravery to see the fog all around you and still spread your wings and fly.

Disclaimer: This podcast is not meant as a substitute for medical or mental health evaluation, treatment or diagnostics. The information is for general purposes, and it is not meant to be taken as professional advice. We care about you, we care about your child and your family. Professional advice should be sought before any action is taken in relation to information provided during this flarecast.

Surviving The Flares: An Emotional Toolkit for PANS/PANDAS Families in Crisis Mode was edited and produced by Tommie Lee. Thank you Tommie for your hard work in helping share this important information with families in need.