Help with 10year old DD crying alot and generally unsettled

[silentnightplease]

Not sure if there is an answer to this -just looking for a bit of sympathy and advice.

My DD is just 10 and is generally a happy girl. A touch sensitive and a bit of a worrier but all round happy and has lots of friends.

However, for the last 4 or 5 days she has been very tearful. Last night she sobbed in my arms for half and hour. She has no idea why she feels like this and says she just feels sad. She is ususally really good at openening up and will tell me if something is bothering her. I have been through the usual wories, no falling out with friends, not in trouble at school and she loves her teacher.

She did have a few problems with maths a few weeks ago but this seems to have settled and she says it's fine.

I am thinking it could be one or more of the following;

Hormones - she has started to feel her boobs changing.

Viral - she has had sore throat and ear ache on and off for about 3 weeks but been to doctor and no infection.

Christmas - she loves it and gets excited, I wonder if the build up is all too overwhelming (although I thought she might have grown out of it a bit by 10)

Tired - maybe it's just an end of term thing and she's tired. She has worked really hard at school this term and all of her work has improved enormously. She doesn't do an awful lot of clubs/activities but she has been learning to play guitar.

Anyway, sorry it's long. It could be all of the above or none of them. If I thought it was possible I would say she is displaying some of the symptoms of depression. Is that possible?! God, that would really upset me. It breaks my heart to see her so distraught and not be able to help her. Any help would be much appreciated, or failing that, please tell me it will get better!

[VinegarTitsTheSeasonToBeJolly]

Aw bless her, poor thing its may just be the run up to christmas has got to much for her, plus the miserable weather(could she have a touch of SAD?) and the recession (dc hear about these things and worry too)

I remember my ds1 used to get so excited and overwhelmed by christmas that he would vomit most mornings, he could never stomach breakfast

[NotQuiteCockney]

It could be several or all of the above.

I'd reinforce with her that it's ok to be upset, and that you're happy to cuddle and comfort her.

[TheCrackFox]

Sorry, don't have a DD but the one thing that sprung to mind was, gulp, hormones? And, yes the run up to Christmas and generally miserable news on TV might not be helping.

Do you have any time for a bit of one to one time with her? Might cheer her up a bit having mum all to herself for the afternoon.

[cory]

Could well be all of them combined. I think it would take more than 4 or 5 days to diagnose real depression. Anyone can feel miserable for a short space of time without being clinically depressed.

Dd hit puberty at this time. Nothing to panic about; she adjusted well. But they do get emotional.

[IAteTheWholeSelectionBox]

Whatever is the matter, try outdoor exercise and regular snacks of carbs. I remember being like this at times when I was around that age, and it was definitely hormones in my case. My mum suggested the snacks thing and it makes a big difference for some reason. I still munch on crackers when I have PMT!

[silentnightplease]

Thanks for the reassurance. Vinegar - she was asking me the other day if the credit crunch would affect us? Fox, luckily, I have the afternoon off today and DS is going out with a friend so I will pick her up from school and see if she fancies going to a cafe or something. Or maybe we will just snuggle up and have a chat. Whatever she wants. I am leaning towards hormones. I wasn't expecting them so soon!!!!

[silentnightplease]

Thanks for all your advice.

Dash - what you said really struck me, I think I am in danger of making too much of it. I received no comfort or affection from my Mum so I do lean towards over compensating with my DCs. (Stock phrase in our house in response to tears was, stop crying and don't be silly!)

As it happens, she has started with a terrible D&V bug this morning so I think this may have been brewing for a while and may be a partial explanation. She told me today that her legs have been feeling wobbly for a week!

Apart from that making her miserable, she seems a bit happier. She told me this morning I was the best Mum ever and thanked me for letting her cry!!! I hope a break from school and a lovely christmas at home with us and GPs will be just what she needs - and hopefully the bug will be gone in time for Christmas!