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Childhood Unfounded Physical Complaints

When is it a Problem?

• Your child is overly concerned about smallaches and pains.
• Your child avoids activities such as school because he or she reports being sick even though he/she does not have any obvious symptoms such as vomiting or temperature.
• Your child coomplains of headaches, stomach pains, etc, but there is no known medical cause.

Solution

• Make sure to discuss your child's sumptoms with a doctor.
• Model healthy behavior by not emphasizing any physical problems that you may be having.
• Don't ingnore his/her bumps and bruises or tell him/her they are a baby if he or she cries, but try not to overreact and become upset.
• Ask your child to rate the hurt, from one to ten so that he/she will learn not all hurts are a 10.
• Help your child discuss his/her feelings and fears. Your child could be using illmess to aboid an unpleasant situation or because he/she is upset about something.
• If your child continues to have difficulties which interfere in his/her daily life, seek help from amental health professional.

Credits: Center for Child and Families Services Inc.