Can allergies cause stomach aches?

Can emotions cause stomach aches?

• I have had terrible stomach aches lately. They sometimes hurt to the point where I don't want to move. My school counselor thinks it's because of all of the emotions I've had in the past week. I've been angry with school and my teachers, because I greatly hate the school I go to and the classes I'm forced to take. I've been angry at the bullies who make fun of my sister because she has a lisp, and because I feel like I'm being a bad brother, because I push my sisters away when they need me, because I'd rather be alone. I've been sad, because I'm depressed, and I don't know how to tell my dad, and I've had thoughts of suicide in the past. My dad has leukemia, and that makes me sad, because I don't know if or when he'll die. I've been sad, because I self-harm, and I hide the scars, and I've had thoughts of suicide in the past. The school counselor, who I've been seeing A LOT says that my stomach aches are due to these emotions I'm feeling. Is it possible to get stomach aches due to emotions? If so, how is that possible? How can I remedy the intense stomach pain I'm feeling?

• Answer:

  You sound as though you are under a lot of stress kid, and that stress can be extremely unhealthy for adolescents. No teenager deserves to be under all of that stress. Once again, I'm sorry about all you're dealing with. Anyway, to answer your question, emotions can't cause stress, but these emotions trigger stress, and excessive stress, like what you are dealing with, can be extremely hard on your body, and can cause physical problems, such as nausea. I do not know exactly why stress causes this on the body, but it does. Here is what I found on goaskalice.com: "...it is generally recognized that psychological or emotional trauma or upsets can cause nausea and vomiting in some people. This symptoms have been reported to occur under highly stressful conditions such as loss of a job, death of a loved one, or anxiety about school or work."^1 So, it is pretty common to get stomach aches and abdominal pains when you are put under a lot of stress. Based on what you wrote, it sounds as though you have multiple causes of stress. Your dad has leukemia, your sister is being bullied, and you're under stress at school. Stress is extremely common under these situations. If it gets to the point where you can barely move, I would consult a doctor about that. It is probably bad if you are in so much pain that you cannot move. You should talk to your dad about this, and maybe he'll refer you to a doctor or a therapist who can help you cope with this stress, because this stress, like I said before, can be EXTREMELY dangerous to adolescents. Also, you need to tell your dad about your self-harming, your suicide thoughts and your depression. This may also be causing you stress, remember. Having it on your chest can be stressful to you. If you're having difficulty telling him, write him a note, or find some information online, print it out, and then highlight important facts about self-harming, suicide and depression. It's never easy to tell your dad that you're self-harming, but it has to be done. I wish you the best of luck kid. You sound like you need a mental health week. Consider taking some time off, because you definitely need it. Again, I wish you the best of luck, and I'm here to talk to you if you need any help. Good luck