Has anyone delt with ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder)? If so please give advice!

ERICA - posted on 06/14/2011

My 8 year old son has it he also is in therapy. I seem to have a lot of problem with the anger and aggression issue with him but they are saying now that ODD can turn into conduct disorder so I know how you are feeling the best thing I have found out to do is redirect. Also getting him involved in sports has also helped. He also has ADHD. I know that it is hard if you ever just need to vent or talk please feel free to talk to me not a lot of mom know what you are going thru but I do so I hope that I can help

Alahnna - posted on 04/15/2011

I'm going to be the 3rd one to suggest the book "The Explosive Child" by Dr. Ross W. Greene. It is really very helpful. My son is ADHD and ODD and pretty much everything is a struggle with him, although he has recently started on Strattera a few months ago and I have seen some improvements, we are still currently trying to find the right dose for him, so it may take a while longer since this med takes a while to work.

I personally have not found any diets that really help my son, but I do notice that the moon affects him quite a bit when it's close to full. Two to 3 days before it's completely full, he'll usually have a really BAD day, then have a great day the day of or after the full moon. It's kinda weird.

I try to keep my battles to ones that absolutely need to be fought ( like safety of himself and others) and for others, if he can show me he's thought things through and can give me a good reason he wants to do something, I will usually allow it, unless I have a good reason why he can't. We then collaborate to find a way to make us both happy. He' on;y 4 1/2, so it doesn't always go smoothly, but he does seem to slowly be getting better and when he can put his anger aside, he can problem solve very well.

My best advice would be to allow the child some input so they can feel like they have some control. The power struggle is a place you just don't want to be with a child who has ODD. You'll lose every time.

Candace - posted on 04/11/2011

Melissa- Hang in there! I have 5 children, 4 with ADHD, and 2 of those with a dual diagnosis of ODD. Upwards of 80% of kids with an ADHD diagnosis also have another diagnosis- everything from Tourettes to LD to ODD to Anxiety. Two things have greatly helped our family- 1) Ross Greene's writings-Lost at School, The Explosive child, and his website http://www.livesinthebalance.org. and 2) Tenex- an anti-hypertensive. We have had dramatic results, allowing us to teach skills like- collaborative problem-solving and meditation. Don't let the diagnosis freak you- it's a tough road but so rewarding as you see your hard work coming together for your child! Keep us posted!



Candace McLane, MA

http://www.powermomsunite.com

Sarah - posted on 04/07/2011

My 4 yr old son was just dianosised with ADHD and ODD. The doctor doesn't want to put him on meds yet due to his age. I'm looking for ways to help deal with him. Any ideas?

Mandy - posted on 11/11/2008

My 8 year old son was diagnoised with Adhd and Odd when he was 5. Everything is a battle. I haven't really found any technique that works so any advice would be helpful for me as well. I hope you get some helpful advice!!

Stacia - posted on 11/10/2008

Hi Melissa,



My husband and I have a 16 yr. old daughter who has ODD and ADD among other challanges.



From the time she was 2 yrs old we would have strugles and even some battles that would make a grown man cry.



We found that if we showed her that we were united in what we believed then it was easyer to talk with her.



Learning to listen to her wants, needs and even fears was a big ajustment after the years of fighting. Sometimes what she said was valid and things would be done her way other things we had to draw the line and say "we have heard what you have said but the answer is still no." This did not always set well but the tantrums were not as explosive.



Learing to forgive and tust each and every day ( usualy more than once a day) was one of our bigest battles, we still work on this one, Every day we try to start with a clean board.



Having consistant rules and routines helps keep the mind rested and the emotions less out of control.



Natural consequences work best.

Make a list of the rules with rewards and consequences.

Have them were all of the family can see them. this way you can point to the list and say well you did this so you have earned "blank" reward. or you did not do this so you will not get to do "blank".



One of our bigest chalanges with our daughter is getting her up in the morning. It does not mater if it is a school day or a weekend.

So if it is school day and she is late for school she will serve detention.



If it is on the weekend and I have made plans for us to go some where she will end up staying home with her dad. Natural consequences.



Our daughter is smart (National Jr. Honor Roll smart) but during her middle school year she decided not to do her work. She got straight D's and F's so her dad and I decided to have her held back. We had to fight to get this done. The principal and acadimic counciler told us that they were going to pass her because she did not flunk all of her classes.

So we had to go write a letter to the Super Intendent and He got with the principal and our daughter repeated her 8th grade year.

Did our daughter learn to do her work yes, does she have to be reminded what could happen if she falls behind in high school yes. But it does not happen near as much now as it did in the past.





We we also found a few books:

From Defiance to Cooperation by: John F. Taylor, PH.D.

The Eplosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PH.D.

Driven to Distraction by: Edwar M. Hallowell, M.D.



If you think your child is not getting the help he needs hunt for a DR. and Counciler who will listen and not be wishy washy with your child. ODD children need a councilers who will listen but not let a child hogwash around.

Our daughters counciler calls it walking in her oatmeal, she is not going to let our daughter get a way with stuff.



Last but not least. Find a group of people in your area that can help you.

Take care of yourself, if you are wore out and on the edge of melting down you will not be able to help your child.

Kids always seem to mind grandma and grandpa or aunts and uncles better than they do their parents so ask for help and take time for yourself.



I know this has been a long reply but I hope it has helped.

Candis - posted on 11/10/2008

When you find out please let me know. My 8 year old was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 6 and he is just starting to show signs of other isues. I'm still in the process of discovering what those isues are but I belive it's ODD. I'm a single mom and have 3 boys in total ... he's in the middle. I have him on meds because with out them he's more then any one can handle. But still he's very difficult to deal with. I've been trying to get everything re-evaluated with him but this time around it's been a lot slower then the first diagnoses. And well this time I'm feeling like the Dr. and counslers arnt listening to me or something.

I know that changing his diet would help out a great deal especially being on the meds it might mellow him out even more but how do you get them to eat the things they need to when thats one of the things they fight with you about. Even just getting him to take his pill in the morning is a battle. His logic is backwards and figures because he's on the meds he doesnt need the diet too. It's a win loose situation lol.

Amelia - posted on 11/09/2008

Hello Melissa~ I am so sorry to hear about this new development of ODD. I have never heard if it. I thought that Oppostion was part of the issue with ADHD. We have 1 with ADHD and 1 with dyslexia, the youngest yet to be diagnosed. Have you tried fish oils and garlic on a regular basis? Since we added the fish oils we have seen a huge change in sleep and AM attitude. Please keep me posted. I am interested to learn more. Good luck on the school diet, it is very difficult on the kids with ADHD, especially dairy.