Help for Emotional Dysregulation in Kids | Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge

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87: A 5-Pronged Approach to PANS/PANDAS Treatment?

Struggling to find answers for your child? Dr. Roseann will walk you through a 5-pronged approach to treatment for PANS/PANDAS, combining infection care, nervous system regulation, detox, immune support, and behavioral strategies rooted on Regulation First™ Parenting to support real healing.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

When your child is stuck in the terrifying storm of PANS or PANDAS, it can feel like nothing is working—and like you’re running out of time. You’re not alone. Today’s episode breaks down what kids truly need to get out of this horrible disease state and why a multi-layered, nervous-system-first approach is the key to real healing.

You’ll learn how antimicrobial treatments, immune supports, neurofeedback, detoxification, and behavioral therapies all fit together—and why calming the brain first is the foundation of recovery.

Why isn’t my child getting better with antimicrobials alone?

Parents often assume that once you “treat the infection,” their child will bounce back. But for many kids, that doesn’t happen—and that’s because antimicrobials are only one piece of the puzzle.

When the nervous system is in a chronic, hyper-stress state, the body can’t heal.

Key insights:

  • Antimicrobials matter, but they work best when paired with nervous system regulation.
  • Viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections—especially tick-borne—often require a rotating or “blast” approach.
  • Herbals can be powerful allies for difficult infections.
  • If toxins aren’t eliminated properly, symptoms flare instead of improving.

Parent Story
A mom shared that every time they added an antibiotic, her son worsened. Once detox and nervous system regulation were addressed, the same antimicrobial protocol suddenly became tolerable—and effective.

Takeaway: Your child can’t heal in fight-or-flight. Calm the brain first so the body can do its job.

How do immune treatments and detoxification help my child recover?

Many kids with PANS/PANDAS have overactive immune systems, not just infected ones. This means the immune system must be supported—not overstimulated—while detox pathways stay open.

What helps:

  • A skilled practitioner who knows how to balance immune support
  • Daily detox (binders, hydration, sweating, lymphatic support)
  • Ensuring that toxins from killing infections actually leave the body

When detox isn’t happening, behaviors worsen: irritability spikes, OCD intensifies, and emotional storms take over.

Yelling less and staying calm isn’t about being perfect—it’s about having the right tools.

Join the Dysregulation Insider VIP list and get your FREE Regulation Rescue Kit, designed to help you handle oppositional behaviors without losing it. Download it now at www.drroseann.com/newsletter

How does neurofeedback support a healing brain?

Infections love to disrupt brainwave functioning, leaving kids stuck in anxiety, OCD loops, tics, intrusive thoughts, or rage outbursts.

That’s where QEEG brain mapping becomes essential—it shows exactly which brain regions are overstimulated or underactivated.

Benefits of neurofeedback for PANS/PANDAS:

  • Helps the brain shift into a parasympathetic (calm) state
  • Corrects dysfunctional brainwave patterns
  • Reduces reactivity so antimicrobial and immune treatments work better
  • Shortens recovery time by improving regulation

Can PEMF help reduce inflammation and support detox?

Yes. We use Calm PEMF™, an FDA-approved device paired with neurofeedback, to help:

  • Reduce inflammation
  • Support detox
  • Improve sleep and recovery
  • Calm the autonomic nervous system

This gentle, non-invasive support helps the body process infections more efficiently.

Do behavioral therapies still matter during treatment?

Absolutely—but only when the brain is stable enough to access them.

What helps most:

  • Behavior therapy for skill-building
  • Psychotherapy for coping, stress tolerance, and emotional insight
  • Tools that reinforce safety, predictability, and co-regulation

These therapies don’t “fix” PANS/PANDAS, but they support emotional healing once the brain is calmer.

🗣️ “You can’t heal if the nervous system is stuck in a stress-activated state. Calm the brain first—and everything starts to shift.” — Dr. Roseann

Takeaway & What’s Next

Your child isn’t treatment-resistant—they’re dysregulated. True healing comes from a 5-pronged approach: antimicrobials, immune support, detoxification, nervous system regulation, and behavioral therapies. It’s gonna be OK. You’re doing the right thing by seeking real solutions.

For step-by-step guidance, join the BrainBehaviorReset™ Program.

FAQs

What is the best first step for PANS/PANDAS treatment?

Calm the nervous system—kids heal faster when the brain is regulated.

Can neurofeedback help PANS/PANDAS symptoms?

Yes. It restores brainwave functioning and improves regulation, reducing OCD, anxiety, and rage.

Why does my child flare during antimicrobials?

Often it’s detox overload. Supporting toxin elimination reduces symptom spikes.

Is PANS/PANDAS really treatment-resistant?

No. Most kids are misdiagnosed or undertreated with incomplete protocols.

Feel like you’ve tried everything and still don’t have answers?

The Solution Matcher helps you find the best starting point based on your child’s symptoms, behaviors, and history. It’s fast, free, and based on decades of clinical expertise.
Get your personalized plan now at www.drroseann.com/help

 

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Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge: Helping Families of Dysregulated Kids Thrive Through Regulation First Parenting™

 
Dr. Roseann believes every family deserves to move from chaos to connection—and that transformation begins with addressing emotional dysregulation in children at its true source: the nervous system.

As the creator of Regulation First Parenting™, she’s helping families of dysregulated kids discover a compassionate, brain-based path forward. Through The Dysregulated Kids™ Podcast (top 2% globally), she offers practical strategies that help parents understand their child’s brain and support lasting change.

Through The Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health and Dr. Roseann, LLC, she’s created resources like the BrainBehaviorReset® program, Neurotastic™ Brain Formulas, and the Regulation First Parenting™ framework—meeting families where they are and supporting them through challenges like ADHD, anxiety, OCD, PANS/PANDAS, and behavioral struggles.

Recognized by Forbes as “a thought leader in children’s mental health,” Dr. Roseann is changing how we understand emotional dysregulation in children—one family at a time.

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