ODD Is Nonsense
By J.N.R Dutton
@jnrdutton (3452)
United States
July 30, 2019 4:36am CST
These days if a child misbehaves, some people will say he (or she) has "Oppositional Defiance Disorder" to me it sounds like a crock of crap term invented to negate the child's responsibility for their actions.
It also has the affect of allowing the PARENT to cop out of responsibility as well. I understand a child acts up at times, but when they do, the parents should not blame some fictional disorder.
They should man (and woman) up & be the parent.
Simple, strong DISCIPLINE as needed will go a long way toward curbing misbehavior.
I know, I know, that's taboo these days to many, but it's true.
3 people like this
3 responses
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
30 Jul 19
I agree that poor parenting, with a lack of discipline and, especially, conflicting messages about discipline and also excessive and unreasonable discipline, may often contribute to a child's defiant and disobedient behaviour. All children go through periods of defiance (and it is natural, and therefore right, that they should do so). Most children will grow out of their defiance by the age of 18 or so, usually because they find it very difficult to make any friends for long or to function in society properly with such an attitude.
Sometimes, however, the defiant and oppositional behaviour may become excessive and appear to take up so much of a child's attitude that they are clearly distressed. Then it is time to seek the help of an experienced and professional Child Psychiatrist and ONLY an experienced professional is qualified to put a name to the disorder: no lay person, however well-meaning, should be allowed to diagnose or use the term.
There is much, much more to the treatment than "simple, strong discipline"! One has to build an atmosphere of trust and love between the child and the parents and the parents must also show that they trust the child/young adult.
@jnrdutton (3452)
• United States
30 Jul 19
Discipline can mean many things, and I wasn't intending to imply it's ALL a parent needs to do, just for the record. I was just saying that discipline (as needed) goes A LONG WAY toward curbing misbehavior.
I simply stated what I know from experience. When I was growing up, there was plenty of love/trust in my house, but my parents knew when to put their foot down as well and not let me or my siblings behave like feral animals.
From what I have seen, too many parents these days are so busy only trying to be their child's friend.
So much that they neglect to be proper parents, and then later they are like "I don't understand what happened? Why is (insert child/teen's name here) so difficult?"
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
30 Jul 19
@jnrdutton I agree that a lot of it is down to bad parenting. Nevertheless, there is a 'disorder' which can be identified and named by professionals. As I said, it is an exacerbation of normal behaviour and it is often difficult for a layman to distinguish between what is 'normal' and when it becomes a 'disorder'. The terminology should, arguably, be used strictly in the doctor's notes and certainly not broadcast as "My son has ODD" or anything like that. It is certainly NOT a term which was invented to avoid the child's (or the parent's, for that matter) responsibility.
That, unfortunately, is often the way it is used by the parents, however!
For "Oh, he's a good boy, really, but he has ODD." read "Don't put him or us down. The child is sick and it's not his fault or ours."
.... THAT is where the crap lies, NOT in the doctor's diagnosis!
1 person likes this
@jnrdutton (3452)
• United States
30 Jul 19
Oh ok.
@owlwings I appreciate your knowledge on this issue, you seem quite well educated on it.
I have seen it used as a cop out A LOT, that's where my issue was. I appreciate you explaining the clinical usage vs. the layman's usage, that helped a lot.
1 person likes this
