Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder, also called ODD, is a disorder where a child is marked as especially disobedient towards authority figures. Although many children are more prone to becoming defiant towards adults from time to time, it only becomes ODD when the problem is persistent and is causing enough trouble that the child has trouble functioning day-to-day.
Some symptoms include frequent and/or destructive temper tantrums, excessive amounts of arguing with adults, general defiance, deliberate attempts to break and bend rules, becoming easily annoyed, and a spiteful and overall angry attitude. A diagnoses is typically considered once other options have been ruled out – testing for ADHD, learning disabilities, and mood disorders.
There are steps you can take at home to help a child with ODD, but in most cases it is a good idea to seek help from professional counselors and therapists – many of which have a plethora of experience with children that are suffering from behavioral disorders. If your child is struggling at home, you can make an appointment with Carolina Partners today!