Is it Anxiety or a Stomach Ache? Navigating the Mind-Gut Connection with Dr. Cat Naclerio cover art

Is it Anxiety or a Stomach Ache? Navigating the Mind-Gut Connection with Dr. Cat Naclerio

Is it Anxiety or a Stomach Ache? Navigating the Mind-Gut Connection with Dr. Cat Naclerio

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 “Mommy, my tummy hurts.” It’s the phrase that can derail a morning and send a parent’s stress levels through the roof. When medical tests come back "normal" but your child is still in pain, where do you turn?In this episode of Kids These Days, Dr. Courtney sits down with Dr. Cat Naclerio, a pediatric psychologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Digestive Health Institute. They pull back the curtain on the GI issues to explain the fascinating science of the brain-gut axis. Dr. Cat explains why our brains and guts are essentially "text messaging" each other all day and why a "sensitive" gut is a very real medical reality—even when nothing shows up on an X-ray.In this episode, we discuss:The "Text Message" Metaphor: How the brain and gut communicate through the nervous system.Medical Red Flags: When to see a specialist vs. when to focus on stress management (fever, weight loss, and other signs).The "Normal Test" Reframe: Why "everything is normal" is actually good news, not an indication that the pain is "in their head."The Trap of Pain Check-Ins: Why asking "How is your stomach now?" can accidentally make the pain worse.The Path Back to School: Why returning to routine is a clinical necessity for healing functional abdominal pain.Nervous System Resets: Practical tools like diaphragmatic "Belly Breathing" and how to teach them to kids and teens.Whether you’re navigating chronic nausea, constipation, or the "school morning stomach ache," this episode provides a roadmap for moving from "fixing the pain" to "restoring the life."About Our Guest: Dr. Cat Naclerio is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a pediatric psychologist in the Digestive Health Institute at Children's Hospital Colorado. She specializes in evidence-based behavioral skills to strengthen the mind–gut connection.Links & Resources:App Recommendation (Teens): Breathe2Relax for guided diaphragmatic breathing.App Recommendation (Kids): Sesame Street: Breathe, Think, Do for younger children.Newsletter: Sign up for the Kids These Days Newsletter.Work with Us: If you are seeking a consultation for your child’s GI-related anxiety, book a complimentary 15-minute call with Integrated Behavioral Health.Instagram: Follow @integratedbh for more "Inside-Out" parenting insights.Legal Disclaimer: While this podcast may provide information that is educational in nature, it is not intended to be a health care service, psychotherapy, or the practice of psychology. This podcast’s main purpose is to provide educational insights for all stages of child and family development. We will not provide diagnoses or specific recommendations for your family. At no point is a therapeutic relationship established by way of your unilateral participation by listening to these episodes, and we cannot provide advice or privileges associated with a therapeutic relationship. We recommend that anyone who is seeking a therapeutic relationship reach out to Integrated Behavioral Health at info@integratedbhs.com to begin the interview process of becoming a client or receiving a referral. If at any point in your listening or engaging with the content of this podcast, you experience an emergency, please immediately call 911 or go to your local emergency room.
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