My Story About Pans Pandas | Regulation First Parenting™ | E84

My Story About PANS/PANDAS: Hope, Healing, and Nervous System Regulation

When your child changes overnight—becoming anxious, angry, rigid, or emotionally explosive—it can feel terrifying and isolating. I know that feeling personally.

In this episode, I share my story about PANS/PANDAS, including my son Max’s journey through chronic Lyme disease, neuroinflammation, emotional dysregulation, and healing. I want parents to know this: even when things feel impossible, there is hope.

Healing is possible when we calm the brain first and support the nervous system consistently.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• how PANS/PANDAS symptoms can appear suddenly

• the connection between infections and Emotional Dysregulation in Children

• why healing requires a nervous-system-first approach

• practical supports that helped our family regulate and recover

The beginning of Max’s story

My son Max was bitten by a tick at just 22 months old, though we didn’t realize it at the time.

Soon after, everything changed.

He developed:

• emotional outbursts

• irritability and rage

• poor sleep

• restrictive eating

• anxiety and dysregulation

The child we knew suddenly seemed different overnight.

At the time, many people didn’t understand how tick-borne illness and inflammation could impact behavior, mood, learning, and regulation.

But behavior is communication—and Max’s nervous system was overwhelmed.

What we learned about PANS/PANDAS

PANS/PANDAS often looks like:

• Anxiety in Children

• ADHD and Emotional Dysregulation

• OCD symptoms

• school refusal

• sensory overload

• rage and aggression

• cognitive regression

The key difference is how suddenly symptoms appear.

Kids can lose previously mastered skills almost overnight because inflammation affects the brain directly.

It’s not bad parenting—it’s a dysregulated, inflamed brain.

Healing is a marathon, not a sprint

One of the biggest lessons I learned is this:

Healing doesn’t happen from one single treatment.

Recovery requires:

• calming the nervous system

• reducing inflammation

• behavioral and parenting support

• emotional regulation tools

• consistent routines and co-regulation

Supportive therapies may include:

👉 neurofeedback

👉 PEMF

👉 nutrition and supplements

👉 psychotherapy and parenting support

👉 nervous system regulation tools

Why nervous system regulation matters

Kids with PANS/PANDAS often live in chronic fight-flight-freeze mode.

That can create:

• Meltdowns in Children

• emotional flooding

• impulsivity

• sensory overload

• sleep disruption

• oppositional behaviors

That’s why Nervous System Regulation in Children must come before correction or behavior management.

When we regulate first, kids gain access to learning, coping, and connection.

What helped Max most

Several things made a meaningful difference in Max’s healing journey:

👉 removing inflammatory triggers like dairy

👉 consistent neurofeedback

👉 PEMF for calming the nervous system

👉 herbs and supplements

👉 homeschooling during flares

👉 structured routines and emotional support

Homeschooling reduced stress on the nervous system and allowed healing to happen more consistently.

Every child’s path is different—but regulation and nervous system support matter for all dysregulated kids.

The message parents need to hear

Parents often ask:

👉 “Is this behavior or is it PANS/PANDAS?”

The answer is: Behavior is communication.

Children with PANS/PANDAS are not choosing to struggle. Their brains and nervous systems are overwhelmed.

And parents need support too.

Supporting Parent Emotional Regulation helps create safety, stability, and co-regulation for healing kids.

Listen + Take the Next Step

If your child feels stuck in anxiety, rage, OCD, or emotional dysregulation, you are not alone.

Get your FREE Regulation Rescue Kit here:

👉 www.drroseann.com/newsletter

And if this episode helped you feel seen or hopeful, share it with another parent walking through PANS/PANDAS.

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge helps parents understand Emotional Dysregulation in Children and teaches practical Nervous System Regulation in Children and Co-Regulation Techniques through her Regulation First Parenting™ approach.

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