219: My Kid is a Hypochondriac. What Can I Do?

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting

Dr. Lisa Damour/Reena Ninan

Kids & Family, Mental Health, Parenting, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 720 Ratings

🗓️ 13 May 2025

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Is your child constantly worried about their health, thinking that every minor ache or pain could be a potential medical crisis? Dr. Lisa and Reena dive deep into the world of illness anxiety disorder (aka "hypochondria"), revealing why teens obsess over health symptoms and how parents can compassionately support their anxious kids. Learn expert strategies to distinguish between real medical concerns and anxiety-driven health fears, understand the psychological roots of health obsessions, and discover practical tools to help your child break free from constant worry. From social media's impact on body image to the hidden emotional triggers behind health anxieties, this episode is a must-listen for parents navigating the complex landscape of teen mental health. We want to hear from you! Share in the comments: Has your child ever struggled with health anxiety, and how did you handle it? Online illness anxiety course with downloadable workbook. ________________ “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting” is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Check out our Ask Lisa Podcast Playlists. Binge specific topics like Raising Sons, Staying Connected to Your Teen: https://www.youtube.com/@asklisapodcast/playlists ________________ Episode Keywords: hypochondria, illness anxiety disorder, health anxiety, body image, teenage stress, medical fears Show Keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence

Transcript

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0:00.0	Tell me a parenting issue everyone struggles with, with tweens and teens, but no one talks about.
0:06.9	Rina, I think a lot of people feel like they just don't know how to connect to their kid anymore.
0:12.3	I'm Rina Ninen and welcome to Ask Lisa, the Psychology of Parenting Podcast.
0:18.7	And I'm Dr. Lisa D'Amour.
0:20.3	We bring you science-back strategies for managing anxiety, discipline, intense emotions, and more.
0:26.6	We decode tough parenting challenges with tips that you can use right now.
0:32.0	So subscribe to Ask Lisa, the Psychology of Parenting Podcast, and join our YouTube community today.
0:37.8	We're here to help you untangle family life.
0:43.2	Episode 219, My Kid is a hypochondriac. What can I do?
1:01.4	It's the time of the school year when it's like every concert and exams and projects.
1:04.7	And I feel like it all just whirls into one, right?
1:05.9	We're entering that period.
1:06.4	It does.
1:08.6	It was right on the brink of May.
1:09.9	Do you know what they call May in schools?
1:10.2	No.
1:10.7	What do they call? A hundred days of May. You've said on the brink of May. Do you know what they call May in schools? No. What do they call?
1:12.7	A hundred days of May.
1:16.0	You've said this for yes. I remember. I forget. It goes on and on. And there's every darn thing. And like you want to be there for all of it.
1:21.6	And you kind of don't want to be there for all of it. You've nailed it. You've completely nailed it. You're so proud. And there's other
1:28.5	stuff that could be done too. Yeah. Yeah. And you're already thinking graduation and there's so
1:32.7	much going on also for high school of parents. Lisa, I want to get into this letter about when
	...

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