Treatment of psychosomatic disorders in children and adolescents does not follow a single recipe. Because symptoms result from an interplay of body, emotions, and environment, the treatment approach must also be multifaceted — tailored to the child, family, and circumstances.
The first and most important step is for the child and parents to understand what is happening. When a family receives a clear explanation — that the symptoms are real, that they arise from an oversensitive stress response, and that they are not a sign of serious illness — a first shift often already occurs. Understanding reduces fear, and fear is often one of the greatest drivers of symptoms.
Quality sleep, regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and sensible screen use form the foundation on which everything else rests. These factors directly influence the functioning of the nervous system and resilience to stress.
Healthy LifestyleChildren and adolescents are taught to recognise stress triggers and to develop ways of responding to them differently — through breathing, relaxation, gradual exposure, and planning a daily rhythm.
About StressWhen symptoms persist or are very pronounced, professional psychological support is often helpful. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is the best-researched approach for psychosomatic disorders — it helps the child recognise patterns of thinking and behaviour that maintain symptoms, and gradually change them. For younger children, parents are often included in the therapy as well.
For disorders affecting movement or physical functioning (e.g. functional neurological disorders), physiotherapy is an important part of treatment. The body relearns proper functioning through gradual exercises. The physiotherapist does not "treat a disease" but helps the child rebuild confidence in their own body.
The child does not recover alone. It is essential that the environment — parents, teachers, school counsellors, coaches, music teachers — works in a coordinated way. This means school adjustments when needed, open communication within the family, and reducing pressures that exceed the child's capacities. Sometimes it is enough that the adults around the child understand what is happening and respond with patience rather than worry.
Medication is not the first choice of treatment for psychosomatic disorders, but may be useful in individual cases as a complement — for example, when a child has pronounced anxiety or depressive mood that makes participation in therapy and everyday life difficult. This decision is always made by the physician in agreement with the family.
Some children need only a good explanation and adjustments in everyday life; others require more intensive support. Treatment is not a competition and is no cause for concern if it takes longer than expected. What matters most is that the child feels they are not alone, that they are believed, and that together we find a way forward.
