When "Just a Phase" Isn't the Whole Story: A Parent's Guide to Understanding Pediatric Mental Health

Every parent has heard the phrase, "It's just a phase." But what if there's something more profound happening beneath the surface of your child's behavioral changes and mental health struggles?

The Invisible Struggle of Pediatric Mental Health

Imagine watching your once-happy, carefree child transform before your eyes. Suddenly, they're struggling with:

  • Intense anxiety
  • Unexplained mood swings or rages
  • Behavioral regressions like bedwetting or poor handwriting
  • Mysterious physical symptoms like eye twitching or twirling their hair

These aren't just "bad days" or typical childhood challenges. For 1 in 200 children, these could be signs of a misunderstood medical condition called PANS/PANDAS.

What Most Doctors Aren't Telling You Abo...

Continue Reading...

Why Is My Child Always Sick? Understanding the Root Causes Beyond Symptoms

The Never-Ending Cycle of Illness for Children

Runny noses, persistent coughs, ear infections that seem to return just as soon as they disappear—does this sound familiar? Many parents feel helpless as their child moves from one illness to the next, barely getting a break in between. You might wonder, Is this normal, or is something deeper going on?

The truth is, frequent illness isn’t just about exposure to germs. It’s a sign that the immune system isn’t functioning at its best. Instead of simply treating symptoms with another round of antibiotics or over-the-counter meds, Functional Medicine looks deeper—asking why your child keeps getting sick in the first place.

Children's Immune System: More Than Just Fighting Germs

Your child’s imm...

Continue Reading...

Could your "Difficult" Child be Misdiagnosed? Understanding PANS/PANDAS.

 

In this video, Dr. Zendi Moldenhauer, Chief Medical Officer, and Lori DiBartolo, Nurse Practitioner discuss Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS/PANDAS) - the symptoms, treatment options, and how you can help raise awareness of this serious condition. 

 

Imagine this: one day, your child is thriving, full of energy and joy. The next, they’re overcome by sudden, debilitating anxiety, obsessive behaviors, or emotional outbursts. As a parent or caregiver, this kind of abrupt change is nothing short of heartbreaking—and confusing. 

What if the behaviors you’re seeing aren’t what they seem? For some children, these dramatic shifts may be linked to an immune system reaction, often overlooked or misunderstood. Conditions like P...

Continue Reading...
Close

50% Complete

Verify Your Email Address

We use a two step opt-in process to make sure we have the right email address for you and our messages don't end up in your junk mail folder. Please check your email (junk folder too this first time) and click the link to confirm.