My daughter cries

I need help.  My 6 year old daughter has begun crying constantly at school and at the sitters.  I have been pulled away from work 4 out of 5 work days.  She says she doesn't know why she cries and lies about having illnesses.  She has been moody and very grumpy.  I have tried talking to her to find out whats going on, she won't talk to me. The teacher has no idea of what is going on because she said that she is happy in school.  She has been backtalking a lot and very angry acting at us.  We have done nothing to the best of my knowledge other than trying to understand.  Why would she cry so much?  She swears that she is happy and doesnt know why she does these things?  I am a bipolar depressant, can this depression be hereditary?  Help please.  Thank you in advance.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Machell,

Bipolar Disorder is a biologically-based mood disorder, and a child with a family history of bipolar illness is more likely to develop the condition than is a child without such a family history. Having said that, it is by no means clear that your daughter's current behavior is a manifestation of an underlying mood disorder. In fact, the acute onset of such symptoms as your daughter is displaying argues against this possibility.

My first thought is that she is ill. Have you had her checked for possible strep infection, ear infection, sinus infection, etc.? Such illnesses often promote labile moods in children, even when they are not complaining of specific symptoms.

If she is medically healthy, check into the possibility of some acute stressor in her environment, either at home or in school. Have there been changes in her environment? Has her daily schedule been altered in any significant way? Have there been illnesses or deaths of family members, relatives, friends, neighbors? Has anyone close to her recently moved or been separated from her? Such changes can result in instability of the sort you are describing.

At a management level, is it necessary for you to be called from work when these episodes occur? It might be better to let them run their course without you having to be summoned.