Pediatric Nerves and Anxiety: how can it be treated.

Dear Ask The Doctor: I have an 11 year old daughter that gets so nervous that she makes herself physical ill by gagging or vomiting. She has done this for about 5 years now. It seemed to get better with time but has again flared up. It can be something simple like going to a friends house that can cause it. Example: She went to a friends party and was in an auto accident now evertime the friend asks her to come she starts throwing up. Once she is there she is fine and having a good time but the older she gets the more embarassing it becomes for all involved with the vomiting and gagging. I have tried talking her through it, telling her to breath in her nose and out her mouth, yelling because I was told I was babying her to much, having her suck on life savers. What can I do to help her get over this? How can I tell her to calm down and show her it helps?

Dear Angie: I can understand your concern and worry. It seems that she may be having some form of anxiety disorder which is leading to these symptoms. You need to take her to the GP for a more indepth assessment and also she can be started on some densitization therapy with the help of a pyschologist and on anti anxiety medication which will help control and reduce the symptoms. All the best.