For parents navigating the uncertainty of PANS/PANDAS, the journey can feel overwhelming. One day, your child is thriving—engaged, happy, and full of personality. Next, they are experiencing sudden mood swings, anxiety, OCD behaviors, tics, or learning regression. This transformation can be both surprising and unsettling, leaving families searching for answers.
At Safe Haven, we understand how stressful and frustrating this can be. While conventional medicine often focuses on antibiotics, steroids, and psychiatric medications to manage symptoms, these treatments don’t always get to the root cause or prevent relapses. PANS/PANDAS is a complex neuroimmune disorder, triggered by an interplay of infections, inflammation, and environmental stressors. Healing requires a holistic approach that restores balance to the immune system, supports brain function, and addresses environmental triggers—something we are deeply committed to helping families navigate.
PANS/PANDAS symptoms occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks the brain, leading to inflammation in the basal ganglia, which controls movement, emotions, and cognitive function. But why does this happen? Here are some of the main triggers:
The healing journey starts with understanding these triggers. By identifying and addressing each contributing factor, we work with your family to create a customized, holistic treatment plan.
At Safe Haven, our goal is to go beyond managing symptoms and help restore balance to the body. Here’s how we approach healing for children with PANS/PANDAS:
The connection between the gut and brain is profound. Over 70% of the immune system resides in the gut, which means imbalances in gut bacteria can fuel inflammation and autoimmunity. We focus on restoring that balance through:
When inflammation disrupts neurological function, symptoms like tics, anxiety, and OCD behaviors become more pronounced. To address this, we implement strategies such as:
Many children with PANS/PANDAS have underdeveloped motor and sensory systems, affecting balance, coordination, and focus. Rebuilding these pathways is crucial for long-term neurological function:
Neuroinflammation can cause fatigue, brain fog, and poor circulation. At Safe Haven, we support oxygen delivery and mitochondrial function to boost energy and promote recovery:
Stress can worsen inflammation and trigger flare-ups. We emphasize creating a calming environment to help reduce stress:
Healing from PANS/PANDAS is a process. There’s no quick fix, and some children experience immediate improvements, while others may require consistent care over months. Patience, persistence, and addressing every layer of dysfunction are key.
At Safe Haven, we believe in the possibility of healing. While the journey with PANS/PANDAS can feel like an uphill battle, there is hope. By removing triggers, reducing inflammation, strengthening brain pathways, and supporting energy production, your child can regain balance, cognitive function, and emotional regulation.
If your child is struggling with PANS/PANDAS, you are not alone. There’s a community of families, practitioners, and experts working together to support each other. Let’s take this journey toward healing, together.
This blog is adapted from insights shared by leading experts in the field of PANS/PANDAS/AE, particularly from the book Brain Under Attack. This book is an invaluable resource for understanding these disorders and is a must-read for parents and caregivers.
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