Kate’s Story

Kate is a remarkable human being with big ambitions and an even bigger heart. She is a PhD candidate studying clinical psychology with the aim of helping PANDAS/PANS children and adolescents through their journey with the disorder. Learn more about Kate in her interview below!

I first experienced PANDAS symptoms when was 10 years old. 

What symptoms did you have, and which ones do you continue to experience? 

Throughout my PANDAS journey, I've always struggled with OCD. The types have varied over the years, but it was always OCD. Currently, I continue to experience OCD, but at a subclinical level. 

Explain how PANDAS/PANS has influenced your personality and overall life experience. How have these symptoms impacted your life? 

My experience with PANDAS was scary and life-altering, but it also gave me a passion for mental health. My symptoms and PANDAS journey has given me insecurities and frustrations, but also resiliency and a sense of purpose. 

What is the most valuable advice you can offer to others who are in the thick of their PANDAS/PANS symptoms? 

There is both light at the end of the tunnel and people who will walk through the dark tunnel with you until you get there. 

As someone who found NPYA and other PANDAS/PANS organizations on the other side of my journey with the disorder, I know that the road to recovery can be long and lonely. That is why I am so appreciative that organizations like the Alliance exist; so that other people who are still in the tunnel don't have to be there alone. 

What is your dream job and vision for your future? 

I am currently in graduate school pursuing my PhD in Clinical Psychology with the intention of becoming a Child and Adolescent Psychologist. My goal is to use this degree to work with PANDAS patients and their families in some capacity. 

Were there any particular moments or experiences that made you feel understood or supported during your journey? 

I completed a science fair project in 8th grade that examined the possibility of a predisposition to developing PANDAS based on personality types. The project was widely successful and even ended up helping a child get accurately diagnosed with PANDAS! 

What do you wish people understood about living with PANDAS/PANS that they might not see from the outside? 

I wish that people understood that symptoms are not weird or strange, but a part of a diagnosis. I have had friends who have called my OCD symptoms "funny" or "weird." I've found myself wishing that these people understood that these symptoms aren't controllable and come with mental and physical distress, frustration, and exhaustion. 

What do you want other kids or teens experiencing PANDAS/PANS to know about their journey? 

PANDAS/PANS is a part of your life experience, but it is not who YOU are. I know it can feel this way, especially when flares can be so debilitating, but there is so much more to a person than a diagnosis :) 

What’s your favorite hobby or activity to do when you’re feeling well? 

I love sports, the beach, doing crafts, and writing and playing music :)

Kate, from everyone at NPYA, we love and adore your story, passions, and aspirations to help others with PANDAS/PANS, so they can not only reach the light at the end of the tunnel, but grow from the journey through the darkness of that tunnel. We love you 💚