Vomiting caused by stress - what can be done to prevent?

[anorak]

DD1 always exhibits the same reaction to stress. She gets stomach cramps and cannot keep food down. She has missed so much school because of this, I'd really like to try and find some way of helping her manage stress so that her health doesn't suffer. It isn't any really avoidable stresses, just the usual everyday teen things (she's 15) - arguments, politics between school friends, pressure of coursework etc.

Any suggestions anyone? TIA

Poor thing. No advice, just sympathy.

anorak, does she have a weak stomach normally?

I have a terribly weak stomach following a nasty bout of bacterial dyssentry when I lived overseas and as soon as I am nervous or even slightly ill, my stomach starts churning. If I have to clean up vomit, I find that I'm starting to wretch. Here are a few tips that I find helpful...

1. Mints - I find that sucking extra strong mints can quell that nauseous feeling and if you have competitions with yourself ('how long can I suck this mint before it breaks in two') and concentrate on that, it can help.

2. Deep breathing - in through the nose and out through the mouth. Try to aim for counting to say 5 on the way in (slowly) and then 10 on the way out. At first, it's really hard to get this right but once you can do this, it really helps to relax (because it's the adrenalin from a rushing pulse that's making her feel sick and the slow breathing calms down the pulse). You can do relaxation classes that teach this apparently.

3.Reducing caffeine - this has a real impact because caffeine can be a big stress trigger so no coke, chocolate, coffee, tea.

Can't think of anything else at the moment but big sympathy to you and her. The most important thing I find is the deep breathing but it does take some practice. Otherwise, perhaps just a brief word to the GP just to check there's nothing physically wrong with her tummy that means she can throw up so easily.

great post fox...

i think yoga classes that focus on breathing will help with that deep breathing anorak
wishing her luck
x

thanks tickle

If you do see your GP, they can prescribe some anti-emetics (in fact, I think you can get some over the counter now) to help break the stress/vomit cycle. You may find this helpful in the short term - i.e. just to get her to go to school but I imagine it would only be a short term benefit and you'd have to do other things to see a long-term improvement. Poor you. Please let us know how it goes - it is an awful thing to happen.

Thanks everyone. She has had the anti-sickness medication before, when she had a particularly chronic spell. It didn't help all that much, she was still sick sometimes even when she was taking it.

She has been checked by the doctor in the past for physical causes and none were found. Observing patterns it is clearly linked to stressful triggers. I like the ideas offered so far and will get her to read this thread and see if anything appeals to her. Any more suggestions would be very welcome.

Flower remedies (Bach, Australian etc) are fantastic for this kind of thing - look up Indigo Essences on the internet!

I was going to suggest flower remedies too - Bach rescue remedy is particularly good for stress (alleviating it!). They are natural, for use by all ages and I've found this one particularly effective. Boots sell it or most health food type shops.
Maybe Yoga or even Tai Chi might help too? Great for relaxation and confidence building .

The bach remedy is an easy one to try first. I will get some asap.

Thank you all for these suggestions. Hopefully something will work - poor girl hasn't had anything to eat since the day before yesterday and she still wanted to get up and go to school this morning. I talked her out of it.

I haven't been to the shops Christie. But dh is away tonight in Dublin on business and I have asked him to pick some up tomorrow if he has time.

If he doesn't have time I might take you up on that offer - thanks. Not much opportunity to go into town at the moment as my nephews are coming to stay for the weekend and they arrive tomorrow morning.