Is your troubled teen struggling with defiance more than a typical teenager? What is oppositional defiance disorder (ODD) in teens?
ODD is a condition in which a child displays an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, hostile, and annoying behavior toward people in authority. ODD behavior typically disrupts both their home and school life.
Many children and teens with ODD also have other behavioral problems, such as ADHD, learning disabilities, mood disorders (such as depression), and anxiety disorders. Some teens with ODD go on to develop a more serious behavior disorder called conduct disorder.
Is your teen:
-Quick to anger, rage or become explosive?
-Loses their temper frequently?
-Deliberately annoy others?
-Easily annoyed by others?
-Intentionally defy family rules? Break curfews?
–Blames others for their mistakes or behavior?
-Are they spiteful or vindictive?
These can be symptoms of ODD. A pattern of negative, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting at least 6 months which you experience several of the above behavior patterns.
Teens struggling with anger, rage, stress and anxiety due to ODD typically are not treated with medications. It is about finding ways to handle the negative feelings and impulsiveness as they start escalating.
Seeking help through local therapy and possibly anger and stress management classes can be beneficial. However as we know with most defiant teens will refuse to attend and will likely shut-down. This is not in all cases, but it is very common. ODD teens can be extremely stubborn.
This is why therapeutic boarding schools and residential therapy has been successful in treating these situations. They are able to help your teen face their issues among their peers that are having the same feelings. When they are placed outside of their environment it removes the pressures from home conflict and other issues that might be holding them back from opening up. Don’t be mistaken, the family is still very involved in the recovery process. It is about bring the family back together.
It’s rare that the one hour once a week with a therapist will make significant changes if you are dealing with a teen that has been struggling for over six months with these problems – however it’s important to exhaust all your local resources.
Read: 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.
Read: What Are the Goals of Boarding Schools.
Read: Help for Struggling Young Adults.
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If you’ve exhausted your local resources for your ODD teenager and they are still struggling, contact us to learn about the benefits of a therapeutic boarding school for teens with ODD.
