Are you concerned that your teen may be displaying symptoms of ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder)? ODD symptoms are often characterized by hostile, disobedient, defiant and negative behavior. These are most often exhibited towards authority figures and adults in general.
According to most Behavior Modification Specialists, your teen’s negative behavior needs to continue for six months or more for a proper diagnosis. ODD-related behavior occurs frequently. Generally, if your teen has ODD, he/she will exhibit four or more of the behaviors below:
- Being spiteful or vindictive
- Showing resentment or anger
- Easily annoyed or provoke by others
- Blaming others for bad behavior or mistakes
- Deliberately setting out to annoy others with behaviors
- Refusing to obey or openly defying adults
- Arguing and losing tempter with others, especially adults
Teens with ODD
Teens often test parents and authority figures. This is almost expected in most cases. However, ODD teens express negative and defiant behaviors persistently. They may become resistant to following directions, unwilling to give in, negotiate or compromise with others and outright stubborn.
Your teen’s need to be defiant may be expressed through persistent arguing, ignoring others, limit-testing and failure to accept blame. If your teen has ODD, symptoms will also include directing hostility towards peers and adults. She/he will also deliberately hurt and annoy others, usually more verbally than physically.
There have been cases reported where ODD manifested itself within the home-setting, but weren’t present within the community or at school. Symptoms of ODD tend to be more prominent when the teen interacts with people known very well. This is one reason why they’re not as apparent during exams performed by Behavior Modification Specialists.
Most sufferers of the disorder don’t consider themselves to be defiant, oppositional or argumentative. They simply believe that their behaviors are justified responses to unreasonable circumstances or demands.
What are Some Specific Symptoms of ODD in Teens?
In order for your teen to receive a proper diagnosis of ODD, the negative behaviors need to continue for no less than six months. Within that time period, your teen should be exhibiting at least four of the following symptoms of ODD:
- Throwing uncontrollable temper tantrums over and over again
- Defiantly arguing with authority figures and adults repeated
- Being non-compliant with rules, regulations and requests
- Annoying and upsetting others deliberately
- Easily and quickly annoyed and upset by others
- Continuously blaming others for their behaviors and mistakes
- Exhibiting angry and resentful outburst frequently
- Showing signs of being spiteful
- Concentrating on seeking revenge
- Shows signs of being vindictive and spiteful
- Swearing and constant use of obscene language
- Using hateful and cruel things when angry
- Loses temper quite often
- Often defiant, causing arguments with adults
- Annoys peers and adults on purpose frequently
Oftentimes, children and teens with Oppositional Defiant Disorder have other behavioral issues as well. Some of these may include anxiety disorder, learning disabilities, ADHD, depression or other mood disorders. If you suspect that your teen may be exhibiting Symptoms of ODD, contact HelpYourTeenNow.com to schedule an evaluation.
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