Oppositional Defiant Disorder ODD
Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a childhood disorder that is defined by a pattern of hostile, disobedient, and defiant behaviors directed at adults or other authority figures. ODD is also characterized by children displaying angry and irritable moods, as well as argumentative and vindictive behaviors. It should be noted, however, that children with ODD are leaders in the making. While many children follow traditions and rules, ODD children resist authority the more they are restricted. Many successful and famous individuals have expressed childhoods that include skipping or dropping out of school, arguing with authority figures, stubbornness and even jail time. What ODD children lack in temperament they make up for in creativity, strength, and determination especially in areas of interest to them. For parents of ODD kids, one of the hardest tasks faced can be accepting the child for who he is and to remember to change the behavior and not the child.