| An out of control child or even worse, out of control | | | | none of their methods in dealing with their child have |
| children, can be a nightmare to parents. Despite all their | | | | brought relief. They feel guilty that their child behaves |
| best efforts and the use of many different parenting | | | | so badly, that they themselves are responsible for their |
| skills and techniques, the behaviour of an out of control | | | | child being this way, that their parenting skills are bad. |
| child likely will not improve. This causes numerous | | | | So, what causes Oppositional Defiant Disorder? |
| arguments within the family, and a great deal of | | | | Although the exact cause of ODD is not presently |
| embarrassment outside in public, when their behaviour | | | | known, it is believed to be a combination of biological, |
| turns nasty and disrespectful. So what can you do? | | | | genetic and environment factors, and there are some |
| Well, first of all, you have to realize that your child's | | | | studies that indicate that defects in certain areas of |
| behaviour may be a recognized medical problem, | | | | the brain, or damage to these areas can lead to this |
| called Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and if their | | | | serious condition. |
| behaviour has continued for more than six months, you | | | | ODD may occur in children of any age, and of course |
| should week the help of a recognized medical | | | | in adolescents. |
| professional. | | | | What is even more disturbing is that these children with |
| So what is Oppositional Defiant Disorder, thankfully | | | | ODD often have other mental issues like ADHD, |
| shortened to ODD? | | | | depression or learning disorders. |
| According to "ODD is a condition in which a child | | | | Furthermore, there are studies that indicate that it |
| displays an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, | | | | affect 20% of school-aged children, and that it is more |
| hostile and annoying behaviour toward people in | | | | common in boys than girls. |
| authority." (webmd.com/mental-health | | | | Obviously with these numbers you would hope that |
| oppositional-defiant-disorder). | | | | there is a solution, and although research has helped |
| This is not to say that when your two year old has | | | | some improve their behaviour, there still needs to be a |
| temper tantrums that this is a case of ODD. No, | | | | great deal more. |
| Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a behaviour problem | | | | So where does this leave the parents of an |
| that has been present for at least six months. The | | | | Oppositional Defiant Disorder child? Well, first of all, |
| temper tantrums and defiant behaviour of two year | | | | they must realize that their child does have a |
| olds is generally over in a shorter time than this (thank | | | | recognized mental disorder, and that it is not their poor |
| goodness), but the behaviour patterns are the same: | | | | parenting skills that has caused the problems. And |
| the throwing of temper tantrums repeatedly, the | | | | secondly, with this realization, and the support of the |
| arguing with adults continually, the refusing to do as | | | | medical community, there is help available to parents to |
| requested by parents or other adults, the outbursts of | | | | battle this. And of course, there are other techniques |
| anger and spite, the language deterioration of swearing | | | | of dealing with these children, since they do not |
| and using obscene language, very noticeable in teens | | | | respond appropriately to the more normal techniques |
| with this disorder, the saying of hurtful things, and the | | | | of dealing with poor and inappropriate behaviour. Get |
| blaming others for their mistakes. | | | | support from your medical community, both for |
| When all this continues for over six months, you can | | | | yourself and your child, as there is information available |
| understand why parents are at the end of their tether. | | | | to help you. |
| They are simply overwhelmed with frustration that | | | | |