Key points
- Somatising is when people feel their emotional distress or mental stress as physical symptoms. It is common in children and young people.
- Children who somatise may pay lots of attention to their symptoms and worry that they are signs of a medical condition.
- There are many possible symptoms of somatising; each child’s experience is different.
- You should speak to a health professional if your child’s somatising symptoms are upsetting or disruptive, or if they do not go away with time.
- Medically unexplained symptoms are the symptoms of somatising; they are not usually caused by a medical condition.
- If your child is somatising or has medically unexplained symptoms, always try to support and reassure them.
What is somatising?
Somatising is when the body’s response to emotions like stress or anxiety trigger physical symptoms. It is common in children and young people. For example, your child may get a headache when they are very nervous.
Children who somatise may worry and pay lots of attention to their symptoms. They may believe their symptoms are harmful or signs of a medical condition.
Many children will somatise less over time – especially with support and care. However, some may have symptoms that last longer, impacting their lives and activities like school.
Signs and symptoms of somatising in children and young people
If your child somatises, they may:
- get upset about how their body feels and pay a lot of attention to functions like their heart rate, breathing, and pain
- worry that a medical condition is causing their physical symptoms and sensations
- want doctors to work out what is going on and treat their symptoms
- think that doctors have missed an underlying medical condition
- Downplay, deny or struggle to describe past or current stress.
Some physical symptoms of somatising are:
- Stomach aches
- Headaches or migraines
- Pain all over or in some parts of the body
- Breathing troubles like shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations (awareness of the heart beating)
- Tiredness
- Dizziness or fainting
- Muscle weakness or tension
- Joint pain
- Numbness and tingling
- Non-epileptic seizures
- Changes to vision and/or hearing
- Feeling a ‘lump in the throat.’
What causes somatising?
Somatising is usually caused by a mix of psychological (mind), biological (body) and social (environment and relationship) factors.
- Psychological: Internal feelings such as stress, worry and anxiety. Some common causes of stress in children are moving grades at school, bullying and family conflict or changes like divorce.
- Biological: Internal bodily changes during times of stress or danger, such as increasing heart rate and slowing digestion.
- Social: External influences such as problems with their friends or stigma from their family.
These three factors can also influence each other. For example, imagine your child is worried about starting school tomorrow. Thinking about school may make them feel faint with a headache (biological) and cause them to worry that they are sick and should not go to school (psychological). They may also be scared that they will not know anyone at school who can help them if they are sick (social).
What are medically unexplained symptoms?
Medically unexplained symptoms are when physical symptoms happen, but assessment cannot find any medical cause. Sometimes, health professionals may use the term when a known medical condition does not explain the full impact or severity of symptoms.
Physical symptoms of somatising are usually medically unexplained symptoms. For example, if your child gets headaches when they are stressed and a doctor has not found a medical condition that explains why, they are likely somatising, and the headache is a medically unexplained symptom.
Even though medically unexplained symptoms are not caused by a medical condition, they feel just as real. Your child is not making them up or choosing to experience them. The symptoms may affect many aspects of your child’s life, from their schooling to sports, play or other social activities.
Assessing medically unexplained symptoms
Your child’s doctors will run tests to help them work out what is happening to your child; they may even involve other health professionals in the process. If they have not found a medical cause, or if your child’s symptoms do not fit with a medical cause, doctors will likely talk to you about somatising and medically unexplained symptoms. They may tell you that your child’s symptoms are caused by their emotional distress or mental stress.
It can be hard to hear that your child’s symptoms are not caused by a medical condition and they do not need any more tests. You may worry that doctors have missed an underlying problem. However, doing a lot of tests or repeating tests may harm your child physically and emotionally. They may cause your child pain or anxiety, worsening their symptoms and slowing their recovery.
Treatment for somatising and medically unexplained symptoms
Most children who somatise or have medically unexplained symptoms get better with the right mix of treatments and support. The best approach is to follow a custom treatment plan shaped around their physical and mental health needs.
The main goals of treatment are to:
- help your child's symptoms get better with time
- improve your child's wellbeing
- help your child return to normal activities, such as going to school and reconnecting with friends.
Your child’s doctor might ask other health professionals to see your young person, as part of a care team. This care team will look after your child's physical and mental health treatment plans, monitor if they are working, and adjust them as needed.
It is normal for your child to still have symptoms during treatment.
Supporting your child
Here are some things you can do to support your child:
- Take care of yourself as you help your child recover; it can take time and require a lot of patience.
- Consider if something in your child's life may be causing them stress.
- A mental health professional, such as a psychologist or school support officer, can help you and your child understand their symptoms and manage their recovery.
- Set up healthy routines with your child, focusing on sleep, exercise and nutrition.
- Let your child know their symptoms are real, and you understand they are not faking or making them up.
- When you notice your child is struggling with physical symptoms, distract them with activities like games or breathing exercises.
- Support your child to talk about their emotions and encourage them to share when they feel stressed or anxious.
- It may help to explain that it is common for people to feel things in their bodies when they have big emotions, like an upset stomach if they are nervous.
- Encourage your child to attend school as they get better, so they can build their confidence, social skills and academic knowledge.
- Work with their educators to build the supports they need.
Common questions about somatising and medically unexplained symptoms
Is somatising a mental health condition?
Somatising is not a mental health diagnosis itself. Think of it like your child’s body is trying to tell them something by turning their emotions and stress into physical symptoms.
If your child’s somatising symptoms last a long time and are very disruptive, a doctor may diagnose them with a mental health condition such as somatic symptom disorder (SSD).
I think my child has started somatising. What should I do to support them?
If you think your child is somatising, the best thing you can do is support them. Assure your child that you know their symptoms are real and encourage them to share their feelings with you. It is also a good idea to look at what is happening in their lives. Are they going through big changes or facing any stressful situations? If you think your child is stressed or anxious, you should speak with their doctor or a psychologist.
Can I ask for a second opinion from another health professional?
You always have the right to ask for a second opinion about your child’s health. Their care should never be affected by this request. It is best to start by speaking with another health professional at the same hospital or clinic, as they will have your child’s medical history.
Where possible, avoid seeing too many separate health professionals who do not communicate. This can lead to different diagnoses, confusion, and mixed messages which can ultimately make things worse for your child.
Will pain-relief medicine help my child’s medically unexplained symptoms?
Strong pain-relief medicines are not usually useful for medically unexplained symptoms – they can sometimes even worsen them. This is because medically unexplained symptoms are not caused by medical conditions and therefore do not respond to medicine the same way. It is best to speak with your child’s doctor for medicine advice.
There are other things you can do to help manage your child’s pain, such as teaching them relaxation and mindful techniques.
For more information
Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Mental Health department, with input from the Melbourne Children’s Campus Mental Health Strategy team. We acknowledge the input of the Lived Experience Advisors, and RCH consumers and carers.
Reviewed February 2026
Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.