Teenager throws up social groups

[pam6768]

My 16 year old daughter since she was a little girl would throw up sometimes when she would go to sleepover or find herself in a group of playmates she was unfamiliar with.  Growing up it has changed to when she would go out with a group of kids she wasn't all really familiar with she would get a stomach ache and throw up, or an important event she would throw up.  Counseling and 100 mg zoloft is not working. Been on meds for 5 months.  Any ideas?

[benthic_man]

Pam, I went through the same thing in my early teens. I wasn't medicated for it, and developed coping mechanisms which I now recognize as useful for folks using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This branch of treatment has great applications for dealing with phobias and fears, and works with or without medication.
       I grew out of it; however, I also didn't involve my family and kept my social anxiety a secret. It may be worth considering relegating yourself to a supportive role and allowing your daughter to take charge of her own treatment in this case- so long as she doesn't completely become asocial, there may be great value in letting her set her own social agenda.

[pam6768]

Thanks so much for all the great advice.  She likes her counselor and I didn't say that her dad and his family have anxiety.  I am going to try her on buspar, or might I say, recommend this to her dr. as we are seeing her Monday for change.  We have already been tapering off her other medicine.  She does great in most events and goes out often.  She is very outgoing and says she never feels nervous, but I know she must be deep down sometimes for this to happen.  Even though it happens just a few times a year, it is awful.  She tries to keep herself out of some situations but she just wants to be a teenager and have fun.  It mainly is around large groups of kids that she isn't best friends with, but still friends, including boys.  Of course I was somewhat a hovering mom as she grew up, her dad wasn''t :), but realize this and give her plenty of freedom so she can become more independent.  I think with strong family history, she just has a disposition for it, and small things can set it off.  Thanks for all the welcome advice, will get on the tea idea.  She is taking vitamin B's to help also. thank you, thank you, thank you.

[j17c27]

SOme things to ease nausea and anxiety...before she goes out maybe make her some chamomile-mint tea.  Sometimes before I go to a party I get a little anxious because, I am a teenager, and many teenagers are judgemental and for some reason we feel like we have to impress everyone.  So before I go to a party or big outing where I know I will be with people im not so close with, I drink a nice cup of chamomile mint tea and sometimes bring it with me.  The chamomile helps ease anxiety and the peppermint eases nausea.  
Peppermint in itself is something that really helps nausea.  Even getting extract (or i dont know if theres such thing as peppermint extract..,one of my teachers at my high school told me about how she rubs peppermint on her temples and she can smell it faintly throughout the day and it eases nausea...shes very into alternative health).
On the other note definitely talk to her doctor or whoever perscribed her zoloft cause if it doesnt work, theres no use.  Try switching therapists.,,,sometimes people work better with certain people and worse with others.  She just needs to find comfort in it.  Good luck!

[RubyWitch]

Sorry.................the sentence above should have read, "PLEASE do not let her doctor TELL HER to simply stop taking the Zoloft."

GL

[RubyWitch]

It sounds like your daughter could be suffering from social anxiety. If she has been on the Zoloft for 5 months and has noticed no improvement, then it's time to think about trying something different, Has she also been in therapy this whole time as well?
Since this began when she was quite young and you mentioned sleepovers, makes me wonder if this may have it's roots in seperation anxiety. These are only my thoughts, I am not a doctor and am not offering a diagnosis of any sort.
I would suggest starting with a complete physical to rule out any and all gastro related problems. If that is not the problem, then getting her into regular therapy with someone who is trained to work with young people and possibly putting her on a mild benzo rather than an antidepressant may help her move past this. It sounds like you are giving her a lot of support and that is so important, she needs your understanding and trust now very badly.
Just one more word of caution...........if she does get into therapy and tells you she doesn't like her therapist, pull her out and find someone else, even if you have to try 6 befoe she finally feels good about someone...........if she doesn't like or trust the therapist, she will go nowhere and everybody is wasting their time and money.
PLEASE do not let her doctor to simply stop taking the Zoloft. She absolutely must taper slowly off of them. If he/she says otherwise, run away and find another doctor!
Let us know how things are going, OK? If you ever need to talk, we're here.
You're a very good mom, too many blow these issues off as "puberty" or silly teen-age stuff. Your daughter is lucky you believe in her.
Peace
Greenlydia