Symptoms Of PANDAS

Obsessive And Compulsive Behaviors

If parents believe their child has developed a case of PANDAS following an infection, they may begin to exhibit obsessive and compulsive behaviors, which are common with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive behaviors usually involve persistent urges, obsessive thoughts, anxiety, and emotional distress. Examples include a fear of being contaminated, doubts about performing a simple action like turning off a light, thoughts pertaining to harming oneself or another individual, and a fear someone else is harming them.

Compulsive behaviors involve reacting to obsessive thoughts the patient believes they are unable to control. The affected individual could take several baths each day, count certain objects over and over, or follow a strict routine that can't be broken under any circumstance. It's also important to note psychological or emotional relief won't be felt when actually performing these actions. With a child affected by PANDAS, these behaviors will be sudden as opposed to the gradual nature that occurs with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

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Frequent Mood Changes

Mood changes are entirely normal, which is why it's important for parents to avoid thinking their child is suffering from PANDAS because of a single sudden mood change. However, it's when these mood changes are frequent and without explanation that it's possible. These frequent mood changes will oftentimes display themselves as irritability and moodiness alongside laughing or crying in situations where it's inappropriate to do so. If the affected individual regularly switches from being extremely sad to very happy, it's likely there's an underlying cause. The changes can also occur from minute to minute, which is a clear sign something is wrong. A few examples of frequent mood changes include wanting to suddenly harm themselves, being so excited that they find themselves unable to control their urges, and not being able to go to school or get out of bed because of the mood changes.

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