Let’s Talk About Mental Health - logo Let’s Talk About Mental Health - handheld logo Eye

Previous
story
Next
story
In 2012, I started experiencing unwanted urges to do things that were not normal and sometimes potentially harmful. I was terrified because I didn't know what was wrong with me or why these thoughts were in my head. I saw a couple doctors and none of them knew what was wrong either. It wasn't until a positive strep test and a trip to a psychiatrist that I was diagnosed with Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder associated with Strep Infections (PANDAS). The main symptoms of PANDAS are OCD (which I was experiencing) and motor/vocal tics. Once I was diagnosed, I received an IVIG treatment in the hospital, however, there are some things I did as a result of the disorder when I was so sick that I don't remember them. PANDAS tends to get better as kids get older, and thankfully, that has proved true for me. I am now a college student studying psychology with the hopes to help kids with PANDAS in the future.