Do kids with ADHD complain of “stomach aches” when overwhelmed?

Yes, very often. Children frequently express stress through their bodies. The gut and brain are closely connected, and anxiety or emotional overload can show up as stomach pain, especially before school or transitions. If stomach aches are predictable around stressful situations and resolve afterward, that pattern suggests a stress component. Of course, medical causes should always be ruled out if symptoms are persistent or severe. Helping children build emotional vocabulary and coping tools can reduce these somatic complaints. When regulation improves, physical complaints often decrease too. Their body is communicating something real, even if the cause is emotional.