Hypochondriac child, what to do?

[Ozgirl75]

My 12 year old is often complaining about minor “symptoms” - todays was “my ankle feels wet and there’s a lump” - there was no lump. We’ve also had other random twinges, ouches and bumps.
Funnily enough when he’s actually properly sick he’s very stoic and doesn’t make a fuss at all. He was fine with covid and he recently cut his head open quite badly and needed stitches and was calm and fine about it.
Thing is, I don’t want to dismiss everything as what if something is wrong? Equally i can’t take every single bump and twinge seriously and I want him to accept that we all have little aches and scrapes and it’s fine to dismiss them.
Any suggestions to anyone whose been through similar?

Start giving deliberate attention and comfort at other times, lay it on thick. DC learn quickly they get loads of sympathy, safety, comfort from us when unwell. My youngest was awful for this, I wish I'd realised sooner I was affirming the illness constantly as I loved looking after him. He's fine now as an adult!!

God yes you’re probably right. Even though I try not to make a big thing of it, it’s still more attention than when he’s pootling about by himself I suppose.