Can Anxiety Cause Nausea in Children? A Look at Symptoms and Treatments

Parents are no strangers to children’s stomachaches. They always seem to pop up at the worst times: right before the championship game or the big family trip to Disney. 

But often, it's not just the stomach acting up. And your child probably isn’t faking the pain, either. Can anxiety cause children to be sick? Absolutely: Anxiety frequently causes nausea, especially in children who struggle to understand their nervousness.

Nausea and anxiety have long been bedmates. A 2002 Norwegian study discovered 41% of people with nausea had anxiety. (There’s some debate, however, about which way this link goes.) Many researchers link the phenomenon of anxious stomach upset to the gut-brain connection.

Why Does Anxiety Cause Nausea?

Your gut and your brain are always talking. Thinking about eating? Your stomach might prime itself for food, all thanks to the enteric nervous system, which helps maintain your gut biome.

Similarly, when you feel anxious, this can easily kickstart a sick, queasy sensation. There’s a reason throwing up in the wings is a common symptom of stage fright. The same goes for first-day-of-school tummy aches. 

Anxiety is far from a purely psychological experience. It can have a profound impact on your body. If you’ve ever had a panic attack or even a really bad bout of nerves, you’re probably familiar with the sensation. Anxiety triggers your fight-or-flight response, prepping your body to respond to perceived threats. 

An activated stress response can cause:

• An increased heart rate
• Rapid breathing
• Muscle tension
• Changes in your digestion

Nerve-induced nausea could be mild discomfort or full-blown vomiting. For kids, this can have a significant impact on well-being and functioning.

You might find that anxiety-induced nausea in children happens more often in the morning. That’s especially common for school-aged kids. In fact, it’s pretty common for people of all ages—starting your day can be scary!

Your child might be anxious about an exam or presentation at school that day. Or maybe they're nervous due to tension in their friend group. We'll cover some coping strategies later in this article. For example, talking about the upcoming day can help identify the reason they're feeling queasy.

Understanding Somatic Nausea

Somatic symptoms (like nausea) occur when mental experiences affect your physical body.

Mental health issues such as anxiety create complex emotional and physiological responses. When a child experiences nervousness, their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations become intertwined. Their body activates the stress response system, which triggers physiological changes that disrupt the digestive system.

The release of cortisol—a common stress hormone—can also have major effects on the digestive system. This can decrease gastric motility (how quickly food moves through the digestive system). Slowed-down digestion might also increase your likelihood of becoming nauseous.

What Anxiety Disorders Cause Nausea?

Anything that makes you anxious can lead to nausea. But if you’re dealing with a child with a tummy ache, pinpointing the cause may be difficult.

It could just be garden variety nerves. Starting at a new school is scary for just about anyone! Or it could be a more serious disorder that might call for therapy, medication, or other interventions.

Common anxiety disorders that may cause nausea include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): Children with GAD might experience excessive worry about all sorts of things. They may worry about school, family, or friends.
• Social anxiety disorder (SAD): This disorder is characterized by a serious fear of social situations. It causes intense worry about judgment or feeling embarrassed. SAD might be particularly triggered by an impending social event or interaction.
• Panic disorder: Recurrent panic attacks may indicate your child suffers from panic disorder. These attacks can involve a sudden, overwhelming feeling of fear or impending doom. They might involve physical symptoms such as lightheadedness, a fast heartbeat, or nausea and vomiting.
• Phobias: These intense, disproportionate fears center around specific objects or situations. For example, a specific phobia might be a crippling fear of dogs or a fear of the dark.
• Separation anxiety disorder: Separation anxiety disorder can cause excessive fear or distress when your child is separated from their primary caregiver. One example: Is your child frequently going to the nurse with stomach troubles, hoping to be reunited with you? They may be suffering from separation anxiety. 

Understanding the specific anxiety issues your child might be suffering from can be crucial to addressing the symptoms. But remember, anxiety doesn't always come with a specific disorder. And nausea doesn’t always mean anxiety.

If your child is experiencing nausea on a regular basis, see their pediatrician and consider a consultation with a licensed therapist.

Anxiety and Worry Symptoms in Children to Watch For

Is your child nauseous, but you aren’t sure whether the nausea is due to anxiety or a physical illness? There are several other signs to look out for—both biological and behavioral. (Since the first set of signs tends to overlap with physical illnesses, it’s always best to consult a doctor.)

Physiological Signs Associated With Anxiety-Induced Nausea

Wondering how to know if nausea is from anxiety? These physical manifestations of nausea often come side-by-side with anxiety in children.

• Pale complexion: Your child’s face may seem pale and ashen.
• Increased sweating: Heightened anxiety can cause sweating, even when the room is cold.
• Fast heartbeat: Anxiety triggers the stress response. This can cause an elevated heart rate.
• Shallow breathing: An increase in stress levels may cause rapid breathing patterns.

Behavioral Signs Associated With Anxiety-Induced Nausea

If your kid exhibits these signs, it might be an important clue that their stomach aches because they’re anxious, stressed, nervous, or scared—not necessarily because they’re ill. 

• Avoidance: Your child avoids a playground, daycare, or sports practice whenever possible. It’s possible a situation or location caused them anxiety in the past. They’re now seeking to steer clear of that stressor.
• Irritability: Does your child seem testier than usual? When paired with nausea, mood swings, and heightened irritability can point toward anxiety.
• Trouble concentrating: Thinking can be hard when you’re stressed out! Anxiety—plus the nausea that accompanies it—makes it hard for kids to focus on tasks or pay attention in school or at home.
• Withdrawal or isolation: There’s nothing wrong with being independent. But if a former social butterfly is withdrawing socially, they may be experiencing anxiety.

How to Reduce Anxiety-Induced Nausea

If your child is experiencing anxiety-induced nausea, you may want to jump in and remove whatever is causing the pain. This is a natural reaction as a parent. But your child can't avoid anxiety triggers forever. It's best to teach them to handle their nerves in a healthy way.

First, there's one big thing you can do as a parent: Create a calm, supportive environment. Here are some strategies to consider when trying to help reduce anxiety-induced nausea.

• Encourage open communication: Create a safe space for your child. Allow them to express feelings and concerns without judgment. Simply determining the issue that's making them anxious can help a child begin to feel better.
• Provide reassurance: Make sure children know that their feelings are valid. You’re there to support them. Offer words of comfort, letting them know that anxiety is common and manageable.
• Lean into predictability and routine: A consistent daily routine can provide stability and predictability. Knowing what to expect every day can help manage anxiety in kids.

What Is the 3-3-3 Rule For Anxiety in Children?

The 3-3-3 rule is an example of a grounding technique. It can help children focus on the present instead of spiraling further into their anxious thoughts.

To practice the 3-3-3 rule for anxiety in children, ask your child to:

• Name three objects they can see
• Name three sounds they can hear
• Move three different parts of their bodies

Here are some additional techniques kids can practice:

• Deep breathing: Encourage your child to take slow, deep breaths through their nose. Hold for a few seconds. Finally, exhale slowly through the mouth.
• Progressive muscle relaxation: Systematically tense and relaxed muscle groups. Start at the forehead and go to the tips of the toes.
• Mindfulness and meditation: Meditation promotes present-moment awareness. It can help reduce stress and make your child feel more calm.

It’s also important to help your kids develop coping methods for dealing with anxious feelings. When children manage their nerves, this can help relax the body and decrease associated nausea. Try looking for kid-friendly mindfulness apps or YouTube channels.

When to See A Professional For Anxiety Nausea in Children

Sometimes, no matter what you try, the anxiety and nausea doesn’t stop. If kids experience vomiting, they might also develop a fear of vomiting. So the next time they feel nauseous, they're really just anxious about the possibility of vomiting again. And the vicious cycle continues.

Childhood anxiety and nausea can be a very real and difficult issue to deal with. If it persists, or if it's significantly impacting your child’s day-to-day functioning, it’s time to seek professional help.

A healthcare professional like your child’s pediatrician can evaluate their overall symptoms. They’ll look for any physical explanations for the persistent nausea. They can provide input on psychological concerns, too.

Your physician may also recommend therapy with a licensed mental health professional. Evidence-based practices like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help treat anxiety disorders.

These approaches will help your child identify and challenge their intrusive negative thoughts. They'll learn coping skills to help manage their anxiety-related symptoms—including nausea.

Learning to tell if a child’s nausea is due to anxiety can also help you recognize when it's time to seek help. Fortunately, there are proven treatments available to manage the condition.

Looking for help to reduce anxiety-induced nausea in your child? Start with a free consultation from a licensed Handspring Health therapist today.

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