Why Being Diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder is not the end of the world!
Oppositional Defiant Disorder ( also known as O.D.D.) is a general term used to describe children who have problems with emotional control. The term was not established until 1988 and even now there is some controversy over its use because oppositional tendencies are a very natural part of the toddler, preschool years. Tempter tantrums, episodes of screaming rage are part of the preschooler's experience. By five or six, a child usually grows out of the tantrum stage. What makes these oppositional tendencies a disorder is the child's inability to move beyond the tantrums. It's as though he is stuck in the defiant stage of the two to three year old child. What causes Oppositional Defiance Disorder? One theory is chemical imbalance in the brain. ODD has been linked to abnormal amounts of special chemicals called neurotransmitters which help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. When these chemicals are out of balance or dysfunctional, communication in the brain is jeopardized which may account for explosive behavior. Another theory is that Oppositional Defiance Disorder can be caused by environmental factors such as negative family interactions or reactions to food allergens. The most recent theory suggests that hyperactive and explosive behavior is caused by a delay in brain maturation. The most comprehensive study of this theory to date is done by Dr. Ross W. Greene of Harvard Medical School. He and several colleagues have found the presence of delayed cognitive skills among children who are challenged behaviorally --specifically in emotional regulation, language processing, social information processing--all of which come under the executive functioning of the brain. Executive skills are governed by the frontal and prefrontal regions of the brain. These skills include organization and planning, the ability to separate the self from the problem and thinking flexibly enough to find a solution to the impasse. Anger treatment would involve working with the child on these delayed cognitive skills. Through physical exercise,brain exercise and lifestyle changes, you can literally rewire the circuitry of the child's brain so that he becomes more conscious of his behavior and more in control of his emotions. What does this Delay Mean in Terms of the Child's Functioning? It means he has difficulty negotiating his way through various changes in the school or home setting. A normal child can come in from recess, sit down and begin quiet study without issues. For a child with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, this change in setting can be a different ball game entirely. His mind is unable to process the shift which explains why many children with oppositional defiant disorder have trouble making transitions from the rules and expectations of one activity to the rules and expectations of another. The same situation happens at home when he is asked to shift from watching TV or playing outside and getting ready for bed. Explosive episodes happen very often at bedtime when these children have to shift gears and they are unable to do so. To compound this situation, many oppositional and defiant children are compromised in their language skills. They cannot articulate the sense of anxiety they feel. Language is our negotiating skill; it is how we make sense of our situation, how we arrive at solutions to problems. If the child is delayed in his language skills, he is further stumped in his ability to negotiate a solution. Dr. Ross W. Greene, describes the situation as a "brain lock."The child gets locked into a response, which in this case can be an explosive tantrum; he experiences tremendous difficulty getting himself unlocked from it. Brain lock is a good explanation of what actually happens when a defiant child loses control of his emotions.
Why Punishing an O.D.D. Child for his Outburst Makes No Sense You can see why it makes no sense to punish an exploding child. His explosion is not intentional or preplanned; it is caused by the delayed development of the executive functions of the prefrontal cortex. He needs to be told that throwing a tantrum is unacceptable.He needs to be told that being oppositional and rude does not help his cause. What he does not need is punishment or being told that he is "bad." What he does need is that we help him find alternate, more acceptable responses to his defiance and anger. What he does need is that we help him develop those areas in the brain that are delayed. Help is the Art of Changing the Brain Every experience produces neurological changes in the brain. Neurons that are not used fade away; neurons that are stimulated again and again become habitual patterns. In his book,The Art of Changing the Brain ,educator James Zull claims that the best teaching occurs when students are allowed to work with their natural inclinations. The more we tell students what they don't know, how poorly they have performed, the more they cannot learn and the more they perform poorly. Why? Negative reinforcement tells them they are not good enough. The more we say,"What's wrong with you? Why can't you sit still?"the more we reinforce the neuronal networks that say he is wrong and cannot sit still. James Zull suggests that we try to understand the existing neural networks in the child and build on them. Moreover, he insists that we stop reinforcing neuronal networks that aren't useful. What does this mean for those of us trying to help a child diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder? a) Stop telling him he is a misfit. b)Teach this child a new set of responses. c)Build on his good behavior; catch him at his best and remind him of these instances.
If you want to find out more about what you can do to help an oppositional child, the answer is right before you.
Through brain exercises, physical exercise, diet and lifestyle changes, we have been able to turn our grandson around.
If left untreated, Oppositional Defiant Disorder sometimes becomes Conduct Disorder before or during the teenage years. Professional help is needed here to differentiate ODD from both Bipolar Disorder and Conduct Disorder so that the appropriate form of treatment can be administered. Are you losing sleep over the battles at home with your defiant child? Are you worried if your child will ever get beyond the label--Oppositional Defiant Disorder? It is tough to keep an even keel even at the best of times.Whatever you do, don't give up on him or her. There are ways to handle this--ODD: The War at Home--with knowledge, faith and a large dose of love. You see, ODD is a label and you will all get beyond it. There have been others who have walked this path and their guidance will help light your way.
Disclaimer: The above information is meant only to inform and should never displace professional consultation.
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