10 Year Old - Anxiety?

I totally can sympathize with him and Nattalie O. I was/am the exact same way. My whole family is nervous so we all know how it is to have stomach trouble. We all have to take an acid reducer which I started taking when I was 11. I took Zantac when it was prescription. When you're anxious, you produce more acid. I still struggle with anxiety, panic attacks, but make myself go out or talk to someone or whatever. I would never wish what I've gone through on anyone. For me, counseling didn't work. Look up biofeedback on the internet, I would get help now, because it will carry on through his entire life and keep him from doing things he might have wanted to do. Hope this helps

My daughter was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder at age 10... but she had other symptoms too and actually had a nervous breakdown in 5th grade.

Only a doctor can tell you if it's something like SAD .... it could be he's just shy. And there's no magic pill for either, but if you know what you're working with you can use more appropriate actions to deal with it.

I would try play therapy, it really helps.

Talk to your school counselor, see if they can help or have any suggestions.

There is art therapy too. I know it is for kids who are older than 6, so that would work.

Try a stress ball, you can get them at the athletic/sporting goods store. That might help if you have him take it along with him to the uncomfortable place/outing, whatever is causing the anxiety. You could squeeze the stress ball and release some tension.

I've heard martial arts is really good for kids. You might try Tae Kwon Do or Karate, that might really help his confidence also.

He may be using the stomach aches as an excuse for not wanting to go. Get to the root of the problem and see why he doesn't want to go. Maybe there has been an incident or something happen at one of the outings.

Boy Scouts or Camp Fire would be great for him also to have a group where he can work on self confidence, working together with others, learning skills, interacting with others,etc...

Good Luck, C.

My niece was having a lot of stomach aches, as well, about a year or so ago and some other anxiety problems. She was diagnosed with OCD about 6 months ago. They took her to a therapist and discovered this. Many children who have this don't show the symptoms until 8-10 years old because they try to hide it. Luckily it came out in the therapy sessions, so now my sister knows how to address it. Of course, with OCD comes a lot of anxiety. She still gets the stomach aches, I believe, but at least they know what's causing it. I'm certainly not saying that this is what your nephew has, I'm just relating my experience with a 10-year-old girl with frequent stomach aches.

There are several good books on childhood anxiety, and I know that larger cities often have play groups and courses at psychologists offices that specialize in helping kids with social and generalized anxiety disorders. My oldest child has anxiety, and I and my sister-in-law both take meds for anxiety, so my son gets it from both sides! Talking with your child helps so much, and I know that several counselors can help a child identify his or her fears.

Yes sounds like anxiety. I think my son had this. Along with that we changed our eating habits. We cut out all tomato based foods, pizza,etc. Just limit them to once a week. My dr. said those foods are h*** o* the tummy at this age and to reduce his acid intake. Juices were a no no. But he would get sick right before a test, football game, so our guess was that it was his nerves. Just talk him through and let him know that he is not alone, and we all go through it. Our son knew he would have to complete whatever he started, and once he got through it he knew he could do it, even if he felt a little sick. Good luck.

I had this as a child. My stomach ached literally every day driving to school. I was terrified of school and that same anxiety keeps me today from pursuing dreams I'd like to. I'm just too terrified, and mostly of other peoples opinions.
Unfortunately it never went away throughout school. Sometimes in high school if I knew we were going to have to stand up in front of the class to talk or do a speech, I'd skip the class and hide out in the bathroom the whole time. It was terrible!!
I didn't even care what kind of trouble I'd get in, as long as I didn't have to stand up in front of everyone.....and the funny thing is, is I'm the most outgoing at home out of all of my sisters. I'm always the most goofy but put in front of uncomfortable situations, I just crumble.
My mom put me on Paxil in high school but I never felt it helped. I'm not really sure if there's any magic pill you could try for him to see if it helps but I wish something would have helped me more because it seems it only got worse for me until I was finished with school. I just pray my children don't have the same fears I did in school because it can really be very difficult on a person.
I'd definitely look into what you can to get him help....child counselor or social groups, etc.

Good luck and hope everything works out for him!