Oppositional Defiant Disorder among Children and Teenagers

Defiance is not unusual for children and adolescents. Many children will argue, break rules, talk back, or disobey from time to time. They may do it to assert themselves, or to deliberately hurt or offend authorities, including you.

Like most parents, you may think defiant behavior is just a phase that your child is going to get over soon enough. This is true for 90 to 94 percent of children and teens. For 6 to 10 percent of children, however, defiant behavior may continue due to Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).

ODD: What Is It?

According to WebMD, “ODD is a condition in which a child displays an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, hostile, and annoying behavior toward people in authority.” Symptoms must be present more often than not for over six months to meet criteria for a diagnosis. This disruptive behavior usually appears early in life, and without treatment, it can persist into adulthood.

What can cause your child to develop ODD? There are biological, genetic, and environmental factors that may contribute to it. Biologically, imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain can alter its functions, such as under secretion of cortisol resulting in dysfunctional processes in the brain’s frontal lobes. Or, like depression and anxiety, the tendency to exhibit defiant behaviors can be genetically predisposed. Thus, children and teens who have ODD in their family are more likely to develop the disorder. Similarly, a child or teen raised in an environment of punitive treatment, stressful economic conditions, and dysfunctional interactions can be more susceptible to ODD.

Symptoms of ODD

In as much as all children can be occasionally bad-tempered, argumentative, or hostile, it is not easy to conclude that your child has ODD when they exhibit anger, or defiance. To be certain, it is most appropriate that you seek professional help. A trained eye can carefully assess your child’s symptoms to form the basis of a proper diagnosis.

Specifically, they will be looking for the symptoms that are included in the DSM:

  1. often loses temper
  2. often argues with adults
  3. often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults’ requests or rules
  4. often deliberately annoys people
  5. often blames others for their mistakes or misbehavior
  6. is often touchy or easily annoyed by others
  7. is often angry and resentful
  8. is often spiteful or vindictive

If your child exhibits more than one of these symptoms it may be wise to consult with a mental health professional.

Parenting a Child with an ODD Diagnosis: Your Own Challenges

Parenting a child diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder can be challenging. How will you properly raise a child who says “No” at every opportunity? How will you apply discipline when they are acting out most of the time and you find yourself feeling frustrated, tired, and angry as well? How will you make them understand what’s wrong when they don’t recognize the lines that they should not cross?

Your child may have no regard for authority and may not care whether their words and actions hurt you. In other words, you cannot use your usual parenting style with children who are defiant and oppositional. They can wear you down, frustrate you, and make you feel ineffective, unsuccessful, and overwhelmed. Despite all this, you can’t give up. Know that help is available and you aren’t alone. 

ODD Treatment

It can be easy to succumb to overwhelm when you are a parent of a child or teen with oppositional defiant disorder. Rather than blame yourself or feel guilty, ashamed, or afraid of what others may think, reach out for help. You can become a more empowered parent with the help of a counselor independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Sanford, NC.

If you are concerned that your child is exhibiting disruptive symptoms of ODD, don’t waste time, the condition and symptoms can get worse. There is always hope for your child. ODD can be managed, change is possible. Call CCS today to schedule your first appointment.

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