Oppositional Defiance is a relatively common mental health disorder–up to 16% of children and adolescents could qualify for a diagnosis of ODD. Still, many parents struggle to accept that this diagnosis does not lead to a dead end for them child. In fact, it provides many answers about their child’s stubborn behavior and difficulty adjusting to new settings. It is common for parents to question if they weren’t strict enough or if they allowed their daughter to “get her way” too much; however, it is not helpful to overanalyze the diagnosis as a “bad thing.” Boarding schools for girls with behavioral issues, like Asheville Academy, take a holistic perspective to understand how oppositional defiance affects teen’s emotional wellbeing, not just their behavior.
Oppositional Defiance Disorder Defined
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is characterized by patterns of hostile, defiant behavior towards parents and other authority figures. People with Oppositional Defiant Disorder are often rebellious and display insubordinate behavior. They can be stubborn, and often argue with authority figures. They have a difficult time controlling their anger and are prone to outbursts of anger. To fit the diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder, a person must have exhibited symptoms for at least six months.
The causes of Oppositional Defiant Disorder remain unknown, however parents of children and adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder often say that their child was far more demanding and rigid at an early age than the child’s siblings.
The Effects of Labeling Behavior
One unintended effect of putting the ODD label on a child, in my experience, is that it makes parents feel like something is intrinsically wrong with their child — and wrong with them as parents. The ODD diagnosis can also cloud the process of figuring out why a child is struggling and how to best address their behavioral issues.
A study conducted by Harvard University found that 92.4 percent of the population they surveyed who had lifetime oppositional defiant disorder also met criteria for at least one other lifetime disorder such as ADHD, anxiety disorders and conduct disorders. This means that oppositional defiant disorder often overlaps with underlying emotional issues that may be the root cause of behavioral issues.
How to Respond When Your Daughter is Described As Oppositionally Defiant
Let go of the negative label. Oppositional Defiance is diagnosed to better help providers understand a pattern of resistance towards authority and ways to build trust in relationships with people in power, such as adults. It is not meant to suggest that your child is troubled or disrespectful, but rather, encourages providers to focus on relationship dynamics not just behavior issues. While the term may feel emotionally heavy, it is not a negative judgment about your child
Look for evidence. What’s happening? At school? At home? Maybe your kid refuses to take direction from adults or has been aggressive toward their classmates. They may act differently depending on the setting and whether they are around people they are familiar with and trust. Children often generalize negative experiences with certain authority figures or peers they’ve been rejected by as they form an understanding of relationships. When parents take a moment to reflect on the situations or triggers that may be contributing to their child’s most concerning behavior, they’re usually able to identify something significant.
Analyze possible underlying issues. Behavior issues are usually related to emotional issues that children have trouble expressing effectively. There are usually legitimate reasons that they may act out in relationships, whether or not they are conscious of them. For example, a parent may realize that their child is at their most oppositional after a really hard day at school. At the core, this child experiences a deep level of anxiety and low self-esteem, and they’ve yet to develop the skills to cope with it. Other reasons may have less to do with a child’s internal experience and more to do with what’s happening around them that they can’t control.
Focus on their strengths. Rather than focusing on behavioral issues, children are more responsive to learning strategies to control their emotions. This approach acknowledges that they are in control of how they respond to stressful situations and feels more empowering. Whatever strategy you decide to employ, the key to success is being creative and treating the child from a positive, compassionate, and strengths-based standpoint.
Asheville Academy Can Help
Asheville Academy is an accredited Therapeutic Boarding School for middle school girls 10-14. Our students commonly struggle with anxiety, depression, ADHD, learning differences, attachment and other emotional and behavioral issues. Our program is structured to offer academic support, community service opportunities, and recreation which helps girls develop responsibility and healthier habits. This program is focused on emotion regulation and building confidence, communication skills, and social skills that will help students transition back into their home and school life.
Call 800-264-8709 for more information. We can help your family today!
Cat brings more than thirty years of experience making an impact in the lives of adolescents. Cat has developed multiple programs helping children, teens, and young adults in a variety of settings and with a diverse range of diagnoses. She has dedicated her career to behavioral health and is honored to be part of the passionate team at Asheville Academy. She recognizes how delicate this age is and is proud of the role she and her team play in helping girls grow and prosper.
Oppositional Defiance ni ugonjwa wa akili wa kawaida, na hadi asilimia 16 ya watoto na vijana wanaweza kuhitimu kwa ugonjwa wa ODD. Hata hivyo, wazazi wengi wanashindwa kukubali kwamba utambuzi huo haufanyi mtoto wao ashindwe kupata matibabu. Kwa kweli, inatoa majibu mengi kuhusu tabia ya mtoto wao yenye ukaidi na ugumu wa kuzoea mazingira mapya. Ni kawaida kwa wazazi kuhoji kama hawakuwa na nguvu ya kutosha au kama waliruhusu binti yao kupata njia yake sana; hata hivyo, si muhimu kuchanganua utambuzi kama kitu kibaya. Shule za bweni kwa wasichana wenye masuala ya tabia, kama vile Chuo cha Asheville, kuchukua mtazamo wa jumla kuelewa jinsi upinzani wa upinzani unaathiri ustawi wa kihisia wa vijana, sio tu tabia yao. Ugonjwa wa Upinzani (ODD) ni ugonjwa wa kupinga, ambao ni tabia ya uhasama, ya uhasama, na ya uhasama dhidi ya wazazi na watu wengine wenye mamlaka. Mara nyingi watu walio na ugonjwa wa kupinga-upinzani huwa waasi na huonyesha tabia ya kukataa kutii. Wanaweza kuwa wenye kukata tamaa, na mara nyingi hujadiliana na watu wenye mamlaka. Wana matatizo ya kudhibiti hasira zao na huwa na mwelekeo wa kukasirika. Ili kupatikana ugonjwa wa Oppositional Defiant Disorder, mtu lazima awe amekuwa na dalili kwa angalau miezi sita. Sababu za ugonjwa wa Oppositional Defiant Disorder bado hazijulikani, hata hivyo wazazi wa watoto na vijana wenye ugonjwa wa upinzani mara nyingi husema kwamba mtoto wao alikuwa na mahitaji zaidi na mgumu katika umri wa mapema kuliko ndugu na dada za mtoto. "Mfano wa ""mtazamo wa kutokuelewana"" ni kwamba, kwa mfano, ikiwa mtoto ana tabia ya kutokuwa na uhusiano wa karibu na wazazi wake, wazazi wanaweza kuwa na hisia kwamba kuna kitu kibaya na mtoto wao na pia kuwa na tabia mbaya kama wazazi." Uchunguzi wa ODD pia unaweza kuathiri mchakato wa kujua kwa nini mtoto anajitahidi na jinsi ya kushughulikia vizuri masuala yao ya tabia. Utafiti uliofanywa na Chuo Kikuu cha Harvard uligundua kwamba asilimia 92,4 ya watu waliochunguzwa ambao walikuwa na ugonjwa wa kupinga wa maisha pia walikutana na vigezo vya angalau ugonjwa mwingine wa maisha kama ADHD, matatizo ya wasiwasi na matatizo ya tabia. Hii inamaanisha kwamba ugonjwa wa upinzani mara nyingi huingiliana na masuala ya kihisia ambayo yanaweza kuwa chanzo cha masuala ya tabia. Jinsi ya Kujibu Wakati Binti Yako Anafafanuliwa Kuwa Mpinzani Mwenye Kupinga Acha Maelezo Mabaya Ukatili wa Upinzani ni ugonjwa unaosababishwa na upinzani wa upinzani ambao unasaidia watu kuelewa tabia ya upinzani kwa mamlaka na njia za kujenga uaminifu katika mahusiano na watu wenye nguvu, kama vile watu wazima. Hii haimaanishi kwamba mtoto wako ana matatizo au haonyeshi heshima, lakini badala yake, huwatia moyo watoa huduma kuzingatia nguvu za uhusiano na sio tu masuala ya tabia. Ingawa huenda neno hilo likawa lenye kuumiza hisia, si uamuzi mbaya kuhusu mtoto wako. Ni nini kinachotokea? Je, ni shuleni? Je, ni nyumbani? Labda mtoto wako anakataa kufuata maagizo ya watu wazima au amekuwa mkali kwa wanadarasa wenzake. Wanaweza kutenda kwa njia tofauti ikitegemea mazingira na ikiwa wako karibu na watu wanaowajua na kuwatumaini. Watoto mara nyingi kujumlisha uzoefu hasi na baadhi ya takwimu mamlaka au wenzao wamekuwa kukataliwa na kama wao kuunda uelewa wa mahusiano. Wakati wazazi kuchukua muda wa kutafakari juu ya hali au triggers ambayo inaweza kuwa na mchango kwa tabia ya mtoto wao zaidi kuhusu, wao ni kawaida uwezo wa kutambua kitu muhimu. Chunguza mambo yanayoweza kusababisha tatizo hilo. Kwa kawaida matatizo ya tabia huhusiana na matatizo ya kihisia-moyo ambayo watoto hupata matatizo ya kueleza kwa njia yenye matokeo. Kwa kawaida kuna sababu halali ambazo huenda wakafanya mambo mabaya katika mahusiano, iwe wanajua au la. Kwa mfano, mzazi anaweza kutambua kwamba mtoto wake ni mkali sana baada ya siku ngumu sana shuleni. Kimsingi, mtoto huyu hupata kiwango kirefu cha wasiwasi na kujithamini chini, na bado hawajaendeleza ujuzi wa kukabiliana nayo. Sababu nyingine zinaweza kuwa na uhusiano mdogo na uzoefu wa ndani wa mtoto na zaidi na kile kinachotokea karibu nao ambao hawawezi kudhibiti. Zingatia mambo yao yenye nguvu. Badala ya kukazia fikira masuala ya tabia, watoto hujifunza mbinu za kudhibiti hisia zao. Njia hii inathibitisha kuwa wana udhibiti wa jinsi wanavyoitikia hali za mkazo na wanahisi kuwa na nguvu zaidi. Chochote mkakati unachokamua kutumia, ufunguo wa mafanikio ni kuwa mbunifu na kumtendea mtoto kwa mtazamo mzuri, wenye huruma, na unaotegemea nguvu. Asheville Academy ni shule ya bweni ya matibabu ya shule ya sekondari ya wasichana wa shule ya sekondari ya 10-14. Wanafunzi wetu kwa kawaida wanashindana na wasiwasi, unyogovu, ADHD, tofauti za kujifunza, kiungo na masuala mengine ya kihisia na tabia. Programu yetu imepangwa kutoa msaada wa kitaaluma, fursa za huduma ya jamii, na burudani ambayo husaidia wasichana kuendeleza uwajibikaji na tabia nzuri. Programu hii inazingatia udhibiti wa hisia na kujenga ujasiri, ujuzi wa mawasiliano, na ujuzi wa kijamii ambao utasaidia wanafunzi kurudi kwenye maisha yao ya nyumbani na shule. Piga simu 800-264-8709 kwa maelezo zaidi. Tunaweza kusaidia familia yako leo! Cat huleta zaidi ya miaka thelathini ya uzoefu wa kufanya athari katika maisha ya vijana. Cat amebuni programu nyingi za kuwasaidia watoto, matineja, na watu wazima wachanga katika mazingira mbalimbali na na aina mbalimbali za utambuzi. Yeye ni mtaalamu wa afya ya tabia na anafurahi kuwa sehemu ya timu ya Asheville. Anafahamu jinsi umri huu ulivyo dhaifu na anajivunia jukumu ambalo yeye na timu yake hucheza katika kusaidia wasichana kukua na kusitawi.