Although it can occur in both adults and children, nausea is a common occurrence with non-physical causes. Nausea is frequently brought on by psychological variables, anxiety, or emotional stress. Psychosomatic refers to this link between the mind and body in which mental or emotional problems show up as physical symptoms.
Children who experience anxiety or fear, particularly when confronted with stressful circumstances like starting school or social pressures, may experience nausea. When stress or unresolved emotions overwhelm them, adults can also feel like this. Resolving the physical and emotional aspects of nausea can be facilitated by an understanding of its psychosomatic causes.
| Psychosomatic Cause | Description |
| Anxiety | Nausea can arise when stress or fear causes tension in the stomach, common in both children and adults facing stressful situations. |
| Suppressed Emotions | Repressing strong feelings like anger or sadness can lead to physical symptoms like nausea, as the body reacts to emotional distress. |
| Overwhelm | Feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities or life changes may trigger nausea, particularly in adults, but also in children dealing with new experiences. |
| Fear of Failure | The fear of not meeting expectations, especially in school or work, can cause stomach upset as the body responds to this mental pressure. |
| Unresolved Conflict | Nausea may develop when a person is stuck in unresolved personal or relational conflict, manifesting as physical discomfort. |
General information
One symptom that is linked to the development of an unpleasant feeling in the mouth, throat, and epigastric area is nausea. It may be lethargic and induce the feeling of being sick to the stomach.
Severe nausea is referred to as spontaneous. Periodic nausea is the term used to describe this unpleasant feeling that occurs occasionally to both adults and children.
In medicine, the symptom is referred to as constant nausea if it is noticed on a regular basis. Weakness, lightheadedness, rapid breathing, and vomiting are some of its symptoms. Occasionally, there may be a drop in blood pressure, an increase in perspiration, pale skin, dark circles under the eyes, and a chilling sensation.
The central nervous system, which causes an abnormal activation of the brain’s vomiting center, is the cause of nausea itself. This may be a normal sign of poisoning or another stomach or intestinal ailment. However, nausea won’t be the only feeling. It is worth taking into consideration the so-called psychosomatic symptom, or as doctors refer to it, nervous nausea, if there are no other symptoms present, just nausea.
It should be mentioned that a person can experience nausea just by thinking about it, regardless of their age. This is because the vomiting center is triggered whenever someone remembers how sick they were—for instance, when they had poisoning or were ill. Aerophagia (air entering the stomach, for example, with very frequent breathing – "athlete-runner syndrome") can cause nausea to develop. Excessive muscle tension, including in the stomach and esophagus, can occur during severe stress, which can trigger nausea and vomiting to recur.
It is important to discuss nausea in relation to pregnant women’s toxicosis separately. Its primary cause is thought to be psychogenic.
Sometimes, psychosomatic causes—where emotional stress, anxiety, or unresolved psychological issues manifest physically—can be connected to nausea in both children and adults. This implies that even in the absence of a physical ailment, a person’s body may react to feelings of overwhelm by exhibiting symptoms like nausea. Comprehending these associations can aid in tackling the underlying emotional stimulants and discovering efficacious approaches to handle the symptoms.
Reasons
Psychosomatics regarding nausea as a physiological manifestation of inner disgust. Often adults talk about this feeling, assuring that they are literally “sick of something or someone”. There is nothing strange in the fact that nausea appears quite noticeable, not figurative, because as we know, a person has a pretty good reflex memory. We can feel disgust towards anything – towards unpleasant information, towards a certain person or group of people, towards our own appearance, work, towards the need to do something despite the desire to do nothing. In fact, a person violently rejects something, and this makes him “sick”. Rejection occurs at all levels, and first of all – at the psychological level.
Both in adults and children, nausea can be a sign of disapproval. Children who experience frequent or persistent nausea clearly demonstrate this. It is not advisable to search for questionable medical diagnoses in them, such as "neurogenic nausea" or "neurogenic stomach."
It is important to investigate the underlying causes of the symptom in the child’s family. Frequently, this is how kids express their disapproval of parental scandals, a tense home life, or their parents’ steadfast desire to turn their kid into a professional athlete or pianist even though the child doesn’t have those desires.
Adults who experience nausea frequently tend to be highly suspicious and nervous individuals. They experience intense internal tension on the eve of a significant event for themselves, which causes them to mentally replay potential (often unpleasant) scenarios over and over again. This can result in the development of an unpleasant symptom.
According to psychologists, adults who experience nausea on a regular or sporadic basis are typically very insecure, timid, and indecisive, painfully perceiving reality with all of its challenges and potential outcomes. Neurogenic nausea is almost never experienced by those who bravely make decisions in various circumstances and walk through life with confidence.
Opinion of researchers
Author and psychologist Louise Hay pointed out that nausea is rooted in fear, which prevents a person from being able to look ahead with composure, makes it difficult for them to make prompt, thoughtful decisions, and makes it simpler for them to reject new information and ideas. The gag reflex kicks in when rejection is sustained.
Liz Burbo, a researcher from Canada, notes that a strong sense of impending danger and threat always precedes nausea. Any person can view any situation or person as threatening. It should be noted that we assign emotional meaning to events; they cannot be good or bad in and of themselves.
The more parents draw their future first-grader’sattentionto the fact that a significant phase of his life is starting and that everything will now be different, the more the child feels that school poses a threat to his regular life. This is the progression of psychosomatic nausea preceding school.
Similar unpleasant symptoms manifest in teenagers at 13, 14, 17, but prior to exams or significant competitions.
According to Liz Burbo, nausea affects those who are more accustomed to dramatizing than others. They view everything through the lens of their own personal drama, so their perception of things and people is not totally real.
According to this researcher, nausea during pregnancy is also associated with fears. A woman, sometimes not even knowing about pregnancy, can experience nausea in the early stages. The reason is that for many years she has been internally afraid of pregnancy and childbirth. A woman in position, who already knows that she is expecting a child, can find it difficult to accept the fact that her life is changing, it will no longer be the same. Late toxicosis with nausea is typical for women who cannot accept that their figure has deteriorated, that they have gained weight. This is also influenced by the fear that they may fall out of love, not be accepted in their new appearance.
According to psychotherapist Valery Sinelnikov, this type of symptom typically indicates that the sufferer wants to be free of something, but is unable to do so for a variety of personal reasons. He harbors a lot of fears deep down, the most prominent ones being fear of rejection, fear of the future, and fear for his safety.
We can more effectively address the underlying causes of nausea in both adults and children when we comprehend the relationship between the mind and body. Emotional strain, anxiety, and unresolved emotions can frequently materialize as physical symptoms like nausea, so it’s not always about physical illness.
Psychosomatic nausea can be lessened or even avoided by recognizing triggers and offering emotional support. Establishing a safe space, encouraging open communication, and imparting stress-reduction skills can all have a significant impact.
To rule out medical conditions, it is imperative that you consult a healthcare professional if your nausea persists. But long-term comfort and health depend just as much on monitoring emotional well-being.
