Stomach Issues & Nausea / Question
Published: May 20, 2009
Dear TeenHealthFX,
For a couple of months now I've gotten really bad stomachaches. I'm not sure if this is because of stress or what, but they seem to start before school and last until I've been home from school for a while. Sometimes I get nausea and very rarely I'll vomit. These stomachaches usually occur about twice or three times a week. I tend to get nervous easily. Do you think that this is IBS or just a nervous stomach? Thank you for answering my question. (I don't know if this matters, but I'm 14,female and overweight.)
Signed: Stomach Aches During School
Dear Stomach Aches During School,
There are many things that can be causing your stomach aches. There are underlying medical causes that could be the culprit, but there could also be underlying psychological causes that could lead to your stomach pains as well. Some medical causes might include irritable bowel syndrome (disorder of the intestines where the digestive system basically does not move as it should), drug allergies, food allergies, or gastroenteritis (irritation/inflammation of the stomach and intestines). Psychological causes could include an underlying anxiety or the experience of significant stress. Sometimes when we are having a particular emotional reaction, we end up with physical symptoms in our bodies. You state that your stomach aches seem particularly centered around your school day, so it is possible that there is something causing you anxiety about going to school that then plays itself out in stomach discomfort and pain.
FX thinks that it is important for you to start by meeting with a medical health care provider to find out whether there are any underlying medical causes of your stomach pain that need to be addressed. If not, your doctor may suggest that you meet with a mental health professional who can determine whether there is any anxiety disorder or other mental health issue that could be a contributing factor. Before you meet with a doctor or therapist, you may want to keep a diary of when you experience your stomach pains, what you have eaten, where you have been, and what mood you were in. This can help your doctor to determine whether your stomach pains are connected to particular foods, moods, or environmental stressors.
If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-6475 for an appointment or contact your local teen health center. You can also contact your insurance company for a list of in-network providers.
If you live in northern New Jersey and need help finding a therapist you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 973-247-1400. Outside of this area you can log onto the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website for referrals in your area. You can also contact your insurance company to get a list of in-network mental health providers or check with your school social worker or psychologist to get a list of referrals in your area.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Adolescents are more likely than young adults to become dependent on prescription medications.
