Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP

Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP Dr. Nancy O’Hara's functional medicine practice integrates the care of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and various chronic illnesses.

04/02/2026

Do not try to shortcut mold remediation! It is well worth the money to get remediated properly. The biggest mistakes I see are partial remediation, skipping the fine-particle cleanup, and not retesting afterward.

I know this is an expensive and overwhelming undertaking, but finding the right supports, you can do it affordably. The most important part is to do the next best thing and not give up!

If you think mold might be affecting your family, check out episodes 3 & 38 on my podcast. There’s a ton of valuable info that may help you! Search “Demystifying PANS/PANDAS” on your favorite app or use the link in my bio.

04/01/2026

One of the most common things I hear from parents in my practice is:

“Everything has to go to my child. I don’t have time—or permission—to take care of myself.”

And I understand that instinct completely. When your child is in crisis, it can feel impossible to justify anything that isn’t directly about their care.

But what Aiden’s mom shares in this clip is something we have to say out loud more often:

Caregivers can’t pour from an empty cup.
And with PANS/PANDAS, the “empty” doesn’t happen all at once—it happens slowly… until one day you realize the engine is completely drained.

Self-care isn’t indulgence. It’s maintenance.
It’s how you reset your nervous system so you can stay steady when your child can’t.

Sometimes that looks like acupuncture.
Sometimes it’s therapy, a walk, a support group, a quiet hour, or simply asking for help.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s sustainability.
Because this is a marathon, not a sprint—and you matter in the story of healing, too.

If you haven’t listened yet, this full conversation is in Episode #53 of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS. Aiden and his mom share insights that can shift how we support both kids and caregivers.

03/31/2026

When you ask a child what they want most, you might expect a big answer.

But in this clip, Aiden’s “perfect day” is beautifully simple:
finish schoolwork… and play.

That’s what PANS can steal from a child—
not just behavior, but ease, freedom, and the ability to move through a normal day without their brain working against them.

And it’s also what this episode is about: helping adults understand that the child isn’t choosing chaos. They’re trying to cope with a brain and nervous system under strain.

Aiden chose to share his story because he wants one thing:
more understanding… and more compassion… for the next child someone labels as “difficult.”

I hope we honor that.

If you haven’t watched/listened yet, I encourage you to—this episode has the power to change how you see these kids. Link in bio!

I’m joining Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge for The Regulated Child Summit™.She’s a brain-behavior expert and founder of the G...
03/30/2026

I’m joining Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge for The Regulated Child Summit™.

She’s a brain-behavior expert and founder of the Global Institute of Children’s Mental Health. She’s also a mom of two neurodivergent boys who truly understands what it feels like to watch your child struggle and wonder what you’re missing.

And if parenting has started to feel like constant damage control, this is for you.

Parenting is not supposed to feel like you are putting out fires all day.
And yet some days it does.

Small things explode. Transitions derail everything. You stay calm, then firmer, then calm again… and still end up drained.

Here is the shift most families are missing:

Most “behavior problems” are actually nervous system problems.

When a child feels overwhelmed internally, even small frustrations can feel threatening. That is why consequences backfire. That is why lectures do not land. That is why the same conflicts repeat.

You are not failing. You may just be fighting the symptom instead of supporting the cause.

Inside this free 4-week experience, Dr. Roseann and 30 experts, like myself, will share practical regulation tools that reduce escalation and strengthen connection in real life.

If regulation is the missing piece, this is your opportunity to learn it.

Save your free seat before week 1 begins on April 13:

https://go.drroseann.com/the-regulated-child-summit-offer?am_id=nancyohara3767

03/26/2026

This is the misunderstanding that hurts families the most:

When people can’t see the illness, they assume it’s a character problem.

In this episode, we talk about the reality that PANS involves brain inflammation — and inflammation in the brain can change behavior, emotion, impulse control, and perception… even in a child who is kind, loving, and trying their best.

Aiden also describes something we hear often:
Teachers or adults who never knew the “before” version of the child may think the flare is who they are.

But families know:
This isn’t their personality. It’s their physiology.

When we shift from punishment to understanding, the entire approach changes:

- safety improves

- stimulation can be reduced

- expectations become realistic

- recovery becomes more possible

🎧 If this resonates, I encourage you to listen to the full episode:
Episode 53 of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS — “Inside a PANS Flare: A Child Explains What It Feels Like.”

03/25/2026

Episode is live — and it’s one of the most important conversations we’ve had about what PANS actually feels like from the inside.

Aiden answers a question I wish more people would ask:

“What do people get wrong about PANS/PANDAS?”

His response is powerful:

When you’re in it, it can look like you’re not trying — but the reality is that it can feel like your brain can’t fully control your body, even when you desperately want it to.

Many children describe this as feeling trapped, panicked, or “not themselves.”

Some even say what Aiden shared here — that they just want to be out of their body.

That is not defiance... That is distress.

🎧 Episode 53 of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast is available now on your favorite podcast platform! (Link in bio)

If you know a parent, teacher, or clinician who needs a clearer understanding of these behaviors, please share this episode with them Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, wherever you get your podcasts.

03/24/2026

One of the hardest parts of PANS is that the child is still there… but the ability to self-regulate can feel out of reach.

In this clip, Aiden shares an analogy that stopped me in my tracks:

He describes himself in the trunk of a car — while anger, repetition, and overwhelm sit closer to the front, making the decisions.

Not because he wants them to… but because during a flare, it can feel like he can’t reach the driver’s seat.

This is exactly why “just try harder” and “make better choices” so often miss the mark.

When the brain is inflamed and under stress, the usual pause between thought → action can disappear.

Tomorrow’s episode is one I hope every parent, teacher, and clinician hears — because Aiden puts words to what many kids can’t explain.

🎧 Episode 53 of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS drops tomorrow wherever you get your podcasts!

I’m honored to be speaking at the ILADS European Scientific Conference this spring in London.If you work with patients w...
03/23/2026

I’m honored to be speaking at the ILADS European Scientific Conference this spring in London.

If you work with patients who present with complex, multi-system illness—where symptoms span neurological, immune, inflammatory, and psychiatric domains—you know how quickly these cases can outgrow a “single-system” approach.

This conference is one of the few settings where clinicians can step back, connect with colleagues who see these patterns every day, and explore:

How the field is thinking about tick-borne disease and co-infections in 2026

What’s evolving in diagnostic reasoning and treatment strategy

And how to better support patients with layered, overlapping presentations that don’t fit neatly into one specialty

My lecture is entitled, What Am I Missing in Treating Vector-Borne Disease? Could It Be Cerebral Folate Deficiency? SO join us!

Beyond the education, it’s also a valuable opportunity to network with physician leaders and researchers from around the world—and bring practical ideas back to your clinic right away.

👉 Registration details are in the link in my bio.

03/19/2026

So often, families who come into my practice are carrying an invisible mental load:

Which medication is right? Which supplement is right? Which diet is right?
And when you’re parenting a child with PANS/PANDAS, that constant decision-making can become exhausting.

In this clip, I’m reflecting on something Stephen Saint-Onge brings into the conversation so beautifully:

Sometimes support doesn’t have to be another protocol.
Sometimes it can be a lifestyle shift that brings a little joy back into the day — without spending money.

A few gentle reminders if you’re in that “overwhelmed” season:

Your home doesn’t need to be a “dream house” to be a healing space

Small changes in light, layout, and comfort cues can shift the emotional tone of a room

Creating a supportive environment can help caregivers feel more grounded, too

Joy matters — not as a luxury, but as part of resilience

Even if you’re in a starter home, a condo, or an apartment: it’s still your space. And small choices can help it feel more calm, more regulated, and more like a place you can exhale.

🎧 If you’d like the full conversation, listen to Episode #52 of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS: “Is Your Home Affecting Your Child’s Brain?”

Soft invitation: it’s a practical, hopeful episode — and you may leave with one small change you want to try this week.

03/18/2026

When we talk about supporting children with PANS/PANDAS, we often focus (appropriately) on infections, inflammation, immune regulation, and treatment planning.

But there’s another layer that matters more than many families realize: the environment your child has to process every day.

In this clip, Stephen Saint-Onge makes an important point: many of our kids are already living with intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and internal “mental clutter.” When their room, desk, or workspace is also visually chaotic, it can add to that overload.

At the same time, we have to be thoughtful. For some children, too much change can feel destabilizing — familiarity can create a sense of control when so much else feels unpredictable.

So the goal isn’t to “redo everything.” It’s to find the balance:

Reduce visual noise where you can

Keep a few key items or arrangements the same so your child feels grounded

Create one small “calm zone” that supports regulation

Small shifts can make a meaningful difference — especially for sensitive nervous systems.

🎧 If this resonates, the full conversation is in Episode #52 of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS: “Is Your Home Affecting Your Child’s Brain?”

A soft invitation to listen — it’s full of practical, low-cost ideas you can try right away.

I’m honored to be part of Strength in Stages — a supportive, education-focused program created for caregivers navigating...
03/17/2026

I’m honored to be part of Strength in Stages — a supportive, education-focused program created for caregivers navigating PANS/PANDAS.

If you’re parenting a child (or young adult) with PANS/PANDAS, you already know how isolating and overwhelming this journey can feel. My hope is that this series helps you feel more informed, more supported, and less alone — with practical guidance you can carry into everyday life.

Strength in Stages includes 4 virtual sessions:

March 16, 2026 – What Are PANS/PANDAS and Treatment Options (with me)
March 30, 2026 – Understanding & Managing Caregiver Trauma Associated with PANS/PANDAS (Sheilah Gauch, M.Ed, LICSW)
April 13, 2026 – Regulation & Resilience: Supporting the Caregiver (Melissa Glynn-Hyman, LICSW)
April 27, 2026 – Supporting Your Child with PANS/PANDAS at School & Home (Sheilah Gauch, M.Ed, LICSW)

Webinar access links will be emailed to registered participants before each session.

If finances are a barrier, please don’t let that stop you — you can reach out confidentially to Barbie@lookfoundation.org.

👉 Register via the link in bio.

Great to see so many aspiring doctors and practitioners at medmaps.org!
03/16/2026

Great to see so many aspiring doctors and practitioners at medmaps.org!

Address

3 Hollyhock Lane
Wilton, CT
06897

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category