Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
When your child keeps cycling through flares—one step forward, three steps back—it can feel terrifying, exhausting, and deeply discouraging. You’re not alone. So many parents tell me they feel like they’re living inside a storm that never stops.
In this episode, we explore why flares keep happening and what it really takes to break the cycle—by calming the brain, reducing inflammation, and supporting the body’s ability to heal. You’ll learn the exact layers we must address for long-term progress.
Why does my child keep having flare-ups even after treatment?
Flares often persist because the immune system and nervous system are still dysregulated, even when infections have been treated. When inflammation is active, the brain can’t calm down—fueling OCD, anxiety, rages, and cognitive fog.
Key drivers of recurring flares:
- Lingering infections or toxins
- Chronic stress
- Mold or environmental triggers
- Untreated inflammation
- Emotional trauma or nervous system dysregulation
Parent Story
A mom recently shared that every time her son got an infection under control, new symptoms appeared. Once we addressed his inflamed, dysregulated nervous system, the flare cycle finally slowed.
How do inflammation and brain dysregulation fuel OCD behaviors?
Inflammation triggers a process called molecular mimicry, causing the immune system to mistakenly attack brain tissue—especially areas like the basal ganglia, which governs movement, impulse control, and OCD loops.
When the brain is inflamed:
- OCD rituals intensify
- Kids feel “stuck” in their thoughts
- Emotional regulation shuts down
- Executive functioning collapses
Takeaway:
You can’t behavioral-therapy your way out of an inflamed brain.
Let’s calm the brain first—then the strategies finally work.
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
Why doesn’t OCD improve even when infections are treated?
Because OCD becomes a habit in the brain’s wiring. Even after the medical triggers are addressed, the brain still defaults to old compulsive patterns.
Healing requires two layers:
- Medical: Reduce inflammation, support detox, treat infections
- Neurological/Behavioral: Retrain the brain once it’s calm
Tools that help:
- Neurofeedback
- PEMF therapy
- Magnesium for calming
- Exposure and response prevention (ERP) after regulation
- Co-regulation with a regulated parent
Parent Story
One family shared that therapy didn’t “stick” until they focused first on calming the nervous system. Once the brain wasn’t in crisis mode, progress finally began.
What actually helps break the PANS/PANDAS flare cycle?
Long-term progress requires a layered, comprehensive plan that focuses on:
- Regulating the nervous system
- Reducing inflammation
- Supporting detox pathways
- Addressing behavioral habits in the right order
Foundational strategies:
- Daily magnesium and zinc
- Grounding + breathwork
- Neurofeedback or PEMF
- Anti-inflammatory nutrition
- Predictable routines
- Parent nervous system regulation (your calm becomes their calm)
Remember: This is a marathon, not a sprint. When families stay consistent and keep the brain calm, healing happens.
🗣️ “You can’t make real progress until the brain is out of crisis mode. Calm the nervous system first—then healing can finally happen.” — Dr. Roseann
Takeaway
Your child isn’t broken—their brain and body are inflamed and overwhelmed.
When we calm the nervous system, reduce inflammation, support detox, and address behaviors in the right order, everything changes. Healing is absolutely possible, and you’re not alone on this journey.
FAQs
What triggers a PANS/PANDAS flare?
Infections, mold, toxins, stress, and emotional overwhelm can all activate the immune system and trigger a flare.
Can OCD get worse during a flare?
Yes. Inflammation makes OCD behaviors more intense and harder to interrupt.
Why do treatments stop working?
If the nervous system is dysregulated, even great treatments can stall. Regulation must come first.
Can kids fully recover from PANS/PANDAS?
Many improve dramatically with a comprehensive, layered approach that calms the brain and heals the body.
What helps in early flare signs?
Immediate nervous system calming: breathwork, PEMF, magnesium, and reducing stress triggers.
Not sure where to start?
Take the guesswork out of helping your child. Use our free Solution Matcher to get a personalized plan based on your child’s unique needs—whether it’s ADHD, anxiety, mood issues, or emotional dysregulation. In just a few minutes, you’ll know exactly what support is right for your family.
Start here: www.drroseann.com/help
