Episode 79 - Health Anxiety in Children: Why Waiting Isn't Doing Nothing with Dr Lynette Ewart

What should you say when your child comes to you convinced something is wrong with their body? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Lynette Ewart, a GP of 20 years. Many of you will know her from her social media, where she shares her work as a doctor alongside her strength training content as a personal trainer. Lynette has seen worry about ordinary bodily sensations grow in her consulting room over recent years. We talk about where that pressure on families comes from, starting with comments at the school gates and continuing through to social media, online searches and AI. We also discuss why a parent's reaction matters so much when a child or teenager comes to them with a symptom, and how health anxiety can turn into a cycle that's hard to break. Lynette shares some really grounding ideas for what to do instead. These include how to take a worry seriously without rushing to act on it, why keeping a note of symptoms over time can help, and what Professor Steve Peters' Chimp Model can teach us about the anxious part of the mind. The approach she recommends might sound simple, and she explains why it can make such a difference. You can find out more about Lynette here: https://www.prescriptionstrength.co.uk/