Child Gut Health Case Study: Turning Anxiety, Gut Symptoms and Diet Around in 4 Months
I was recommended to a concerned mother of a 12-year-old boy who was experiencing severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
These symptoms were affecting so much of his life: his ability to attend school comfortably, be away from home, sleep well and eat a normal diet.
Working with children requires a very sensitive approach. You have to be mindful of the parent’s anxiety, approachable to both the child and the parent, and able to explain your thoughts really simply. Any dietary recommendations also need to feel super easy for a child to accept.
For confidentiality, I’ll call him Anthony.
Anthony had been experiencing abdominal symptoms for over five years. He had bloating, cramping, wind and loose stools that occurred several times a day.
Imagine being at school and experiencing those symptoms.
Imagine not being able to articulate this to a teacher or friends because of fear, embarrassment or ridicule.
It is easy to see how quickly digestive symptoms can start to affect a child’s confidence, anxiety and everyday life.
How Gut Symptoms Were Affecting His Daily Life
Anthony’s gut symptoms were not happening in isolation.
They contributed to high stress, poor sleep and difficulty switching off at night. He was not waking feeling rested, and his anxiety became particularly noticeable around going to school, being at school and spending time away from home with friends.
His anxiety reduced considerably when he was in the safe environment of home.
Because he was so nervous of eating, he would only eat crisps at school and a banana before school.
This was not providing the fuel he needed to concentrate at school, or the energy to do what he loved most: playing football.
What Had Already Been Tried
His mother had already started a gluten-free diet, although his coeliac test was negative, as well as a dairy-free diet.
A York intolerance test had highlighted that he had high reactivity to cow’s milk, but clearly this was not the main cause of his symptoms because, even with both gluten and dairy removed, his symptoms persisted.
This is something I see frequently.
Foods can play a role, of course, but removing more and more foods does not always resolve the underlying issue. Sometimes we need to look more deeply at the digestive system, the gut microbiome, the nervous system and the way the gut and brain are communicating with each other.
The Gut-Brain Axis in Children
Increasingly, I notice with both adults and children the bi-directional impact of the gut-brain axis.
Gut symptoms can create anxiety but stress can also create gut symptoms.
This can become a difficult cycle, especially for children who may not have the words or confidence to explain what they are experiencing.
To help establish whether there was a more direct influence of the gut microbiome on Anthony’s symptoms, I recommended a child-appropriate stool test.
This test assesses the entire gut microbiome, looking at the abundance and types of beneficial bacteria, as well as the levels and types of opportunistic bacteria compared to the child’s age group.
The First Steps We Took
While we waited for the stool test results, I recommended a fabulous stress-relieving technique called EFT, also known as tapping.
I’ve completed the foundation training in EFT, and I frequently explain the benefits and technique to my clients. It has also been shown to be highly effective with children.
I also explained the three stages of digestion and how the initial 20% of digestive secretions start before food even enters the mouth.
Anthony rushed his meals, so he needed to understand the relevance of slowing this right down.
I recommended a Bach Flower Remedy for sleep, especially designed for children, to help him unwind and switch off before bed.
I also made only a small tweak to his diet initially.
We spoke about the need for protein, which is required for the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin, often thought of as the calm chemical, and how this could be achieved in his daily diet.
I recommended a nutritious gluten-free bakery rather than ultra-processed supermarket gluten-free bread. I also gently suggested a slow increase in vegetables at dinner, as his fibre intake was very low.
Alongside this, I introduced a child gut supplement that I find delivers positive results in supporting the gut barrier and microbiome.
What the Stool Test Showed
The stool test results always show something we can focus on, but in Anthony’s case there was nothing outstanding to suggest that a severe microbiome imbalance or pathogen overgrowth was driving the symptoms.
We tweaked the supplements slightly to include a prebiotic powder to feed strains of beneficial bacteria.
Stool testing is always beneficial.
Either it highlights the need to correct imbalances, or it provides reassurance that there isn’t anything sinister going on.
And reassurance can be incredibly important when symptoms have been ongoing for a long time.
What Changed Over 4 Months?
Anthony continued to make great progress.
He eliminated fizzy drinks. He was eating a good range of protein foods, including eggs, chicken, salmon and goat’s cheese.
He was happily going to school and going to friends’ houses.
His sleep was very good, and he was no longer having difficulty going to sleep. He was not waking tired, and his energy levels were very high.
He was introducing more foods at school, and at his final appointment his mother said he was eating everything normally.
Dairy continued to be a problem, as it often is (as we are the only mammals to consume dairy after infancy – we start to lack the enzyme to digest lactose), but he had started to eat gluten foods again, as well as a wide variety of vegetables.
Most importantly, he was living more normally again.
Going to school, seeing friends, eating more confidently, sleeping better and having the energy to enjoy football.
Thinking Beyond the Initial Symptoms
It was a delight to help Anthony.
Thinking outside the box and using my naturopathic training to look beyond the initial symptoms was key to this case.
With children, it is so important to work gently, practically and compassionately. The aim is never to overwhelm them or the parent, but to make each step feel achievable.
In Anthony’s case, we looked at the gut, the diet, the nervous system, sleep, stress, digestion and the microbiome.
By bringing those pieces together, we were able to support both his digestive symptoms and the anxiety that had built around them.
Understandably, his mother was delighted too.
Anthony’s Mother’s Experience
“Our 12-year-old son had been struggling with stomach cramps and digestive issues, which gradually led to anxiety about going to school and going out in general.
It was difficult to see how much it was affecting him.
Caroline took the time to really understand his symptoms and arranged comprehensive testing.
Caroline is knowledgeable, caring, and thorough. We always felt listened to and supported, and we’re very grateful for all of her help.
We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for support with digestive or gut health issues.”
Final Thought
If your child is struggling with ongoing digestive symptoms, anxiety around eating, school worries or a very restricted diet, I want to reassure you that you are not alone.
Children may not always be able to explain clearly what they are feeling, but gut symptoms can affect so much more than digestion.
They can affect confidence, sleep, energy, concentration, social life and the simple freedom to enjoy being a child.
A naturopathic approach allows us to look at the whole picture and consider what support the body may need to restore balance.
If this story feels familiar, you are very welcome to book a free 20-minute discovery call.
We can talk through what has been happening and whether this approach may be suitable for your child.
Caroline x
FAQs
Can gut symptoms cause anxiety in children?
Gut symptoms can contribute to anxiety in children, especially if they experience bloating, cramping, urgency or loose stools at school or away from home. Stress and anxiety can also worsen gut symptoms, creating a difficult cycle.
What is the gut-brain axis?
The gut-brain axis is the two-way communication between the gut and the brain. This means the gut can influence mood and anxiety, while stress and anxiety can also influence digestion.
Can a naturopathic approach help children with digestive symptoms?
A naturopathic approach looks at the whole child, including digestion, diet, sleep, stress, the microbiome and lifestyle. The aim is to understand what may be contributing to symptoms and support the body gently.
What is a child stool test?
A child stool test can assess the gut microbiome, including beneficial bacteria and opportunistic bacteria. It can provide useful insight into the gut environment and help guide personalised support.
Can diet affect a child’s energy and concentration?
Yes, diet can play an important role in energy and concentration. Children need enough protein, fibre and nourishing foods to support stable energy, brain function and physical activity.
What happens on a free discovery call?
A free discovery call is a chance to talk through your child’s symptoms, concerns and goals. It helps you understand whether Caroline’s naturopathic approach may be suitable.
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