Growing pains often occur in the back of the knees, or front of the thighs and calves. Pic Credit: Freepik
Sasha, a 9-year-old girl (not her real name), kept saying her tummy and legs hurt a lot. Her parents took her to the doctor, who did tests, but they found nothing wrong with her body. The doctor then suggested they talk to a mental health expert. Did you know mental health disorders do not always present in the form of psychological signs but can also manifest in the form of physical symptoms? These are known as psychosomatic disorders. It’s when your emotions are disbalanced and that impact is shown in the form of physical signs on the body.
In simpler terms, your emotions, stress, and mental state can actually affect your physical health. For example, if you’re constantly stressed or anxious, your body might respond with headaches, stomach aches, or even chest pain, without any clear physical cause. It’s like your thoughts sending secret messages to your body, making it act out in peculiar ways.
In recent years, doctors are raising concerns about notable increase in psychosomatic disorders and panic attacks among children. Dr. Diwakar Goutham N, Consultant – Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Psychology, Narayana Health City Bangalore shares, “Psychosomatic disorder is like the tip of the iceberg of a hidden distressing mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, stress disorder and psychological trauma. If all the medical tests rule out your persisting bodily symptoms like aches and pains, gastrointestinal symptoms, unexplained neurological symptoms etc. this could well be a sign of a mental health disorder. We know that psychosomatic symptoms are real symptoms and cause significant distress and dysfunction. Break the stigma and seek help from mental health professionals and reclaim your functionality.”
Why does this happen?
Dr Sachi Pandya, Psychologist and Art Based Therapy Practitioner, NHSRCC Mumbai explains, “Physical symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, chest discomfort, and fatigue can often stem from underlying emotional stress. Children encounter complex situations in their environment, such as family issues, peer pressure, or academic challenges which cause overwhelm and distress. They lack the vocabulary to express their emotions and also the skills to cope with stress. This emotional suffering often goes unnoticed, or is dismissed, or repressed by children due to the fear of judgment or fear of disappointing their parents. Over time, these suppressed emotions take a toll on their physical and mental well-being, sometimes manifesting as psychosomatic symptoms like chronic pain, fatigue, tummy pain syncope, and headaches. Identifying the root cause of such symptoms through thorough diagnostics is crucial. These symptoms are very real and cause much distress and finding right support to aid children’s emotional and mental health is crucial.”
This phenomenon not only raises concerns about the evolving landscape of childhood mental health but also brings attention to the urgent need for strategies to support the emotional well-being of our new generation.
