Ever wonder why your child’s “mystery” stomach aches keep coming back even when every test comes back normal?Dr. Ali Navidi is a GI psychologist who specializes in the gut-brain connection in kids. He’s on a mission to change how we understand and treat chronic belly pain, nausea, IBS, and other gut issues that don’t always have an obvious medical cause.
In this episode, we break down what every parent should know about the gut-brain axis. How the “little brain” in the gut talks to the “big brain” in the head and how stress, anxiety, and past experiences can turn real stomach sensations into ongoing pain cycles.
We cover:
Gut-brain connection in kids and why stomach pain is real, even with normal test results
How parenting responses and visceral hypersensitivity affect chronic belly pain
Why this often goes undiagnosed and how anxiety plays a role
Proven treatments for gut-brain disorders, from targeted CBT to clinical hypnosis
To connect with Dr. Ali Navidi follow him on Instagram @gipsychusa, check out all his resources at Gipsychology.com and schedule a free consultation here: www.GIPsychology.com/free-consultation/
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00:00 - Welcome to the PedsDocTalk podcast
02:16 - Meet Dr. Ali Navidi, GI psychologist
03:35 - Why GI psychology was created
05:45 - How gut-brain issues show up in kids
06:21 - Explaining the gut-brain axis for parents
08:15 - What is functional abdominal pain?
10:14 - Why kids’ pain is real, not “all in their head”
13:00 - Why kids feel anxiety in their stomachs
14:00 - PTSD of the gut explained
16:11 - Stress, IBS, and real-life examples
18:13 - Visceral hypersensitivity: why pain feels worse
19:43 - How parents’ reactions shape pain cycles
22:39 - Teaching kids coping skills early
27:26 - IBS, vomiting, and gut-brain examples
30:12 - How to respond when your child has pain
33:18 - Treatments that actually help (CBT & hypnosis)
36:34 - Final advice for parents: kids don’t need to “just live with it”
38:38 - Where to find help with GI psychology
40:00 - Closing thoughts and takeaways
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