Does anyone have "first-hand" information re: oppositional defiant disorder in kids?

Question

I can't help but believe that children "learn what they live" and this is just a "new age label" (O.D.D.) given to excuse "misguided" children. Just another "high-tech" word to help rationalize an upcoming society with a lack of values and morals and untaught coping skills.

Answer 1

ODD is a real diagnosis recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. Although any diagnosis based on attitudes and behavior may possibly be misapplied or overdiagnosed, ODD has been proven to exist and there are very severe cases of it. The criteria for diagnosing ODD are

Negative, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting at least 6 months and in which at least 4 of these characteristics exist:

Person often loses temper; often argues with adults; often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests or rules; deliberately annoys people; blames others for own mistakes or behaviors; touchy or easily annoyed; angry and resentful; or spiteful or vindictive.

Obviously some people can be some or all of these things at one time or another; what makes the diagnosis of ODD is the persistence of the symptoms and the impairment the symptoms cause in the person's life.

Answer 2

I strongly disagree. I do not know anyone who rationalizes this behavior. It is simply a way of adding a name to the problem. Try reading about it, here is a link: http://www.4troubledteens.com/toughlove.html

Some kids feel like they should have more rights than others, and that they should be able to do what they want, with no coincidence, no matter how they were brought up. Some may think it is a socioeconomic issue ( I can't afford this, so I will steal it instead), while others believe it to be a chemical imbalance. Sometimes, it really does not matter how you were raised, or where you live ( as you will read about on the website).

Answer 3

*Raises hand*

/Actually/ 1st hand: I have suffered from what we called "oppositional behaviour personality disorder" since, well, for as long as I can remember.

Here's the scoop from back-stage: it's as though I'm protecting something ... and I've learned how nasty folk can be. And heck "nice" people are usually so busy they're not really paying attention. Soooooo if I even /begin/ to cooperate it's like a slippery slope and in no time at all, before I know it, I'll have lost ... uhhhhh ... ?what?

And that's the thing: if I /really/ knew what I was protecting it wouldn't manifest as compulsive neurotic behaviour ... if I knew clearly then I could just plain cope, like a "normal" person. In a way that's sane, healthy, wholesome ... beneficial to myself and not harmful to others.

As it is? "Step off!" is my motto far too often.

In some good texts you might find something in the sections on motivation and punishmend ... "just sufficient" is the phrase that comes to mind. (Gawd, maybe it's basically a bonding problem? Without that basic trust /any/ authority is arbitrary and should be resisted ... /all/ authority. *yoiks*)

Answer 4

Very first-hand. My 8 year old daughter was diagnosed with it, at age 7. I'm having to leave my family because of it. She beats on me! She whopped me in the face a few months ago & broke my tooth! I have been covered in bruises for most of her life! No discipline in the world works! We have values in our home, & she breaks them. We have very high morals, & she breaks them. She is saved & baptised, and if you don't accept Jesus, she will whop you! She tells me that I have to obey her. I refuse! I will not just give in to her temper tantrums. Most of the time, she is very sweet. But, if she doesn't get her way, watch out! She throws punches! She buts her head into people & leaves huge bruises! She kicks & bites & screams! She will wrap cords around her sister's neck, get a stick & swing it, throw objects at people, spit, and all sorts of stuff I don't have time to type out here. She is a fighter!