Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) causes a person to need to rebel against authority figures regularly and act in antagonistic manners. Oppositional defiant disorder symptoms in children make them target parents, teachers, and others who they do not want to listen to or follow their instructions. Left untreated, the child turns into an adult who exhibits the same troubling actions and attitudes.
Montare Behavioral Health in Tucson understands that oppositional defiant disorder can be difficult to diagnose. Our staff of licensed and skilled therapists can detect ODD in adults and provide effective treatment for them. We offer structured care in our residential facility so that each person receives round-the-clock care suited to their exact needs. We offer hope to those who have this challenging mental illness and those who love them.
What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?
Oppositional defiant disorder is an illness that causes a person to exhibit defiant and rebellious words and actions against people with real or imagined authority. The individual feels the need to be disobedient and angrily reacts to someone trying to tell them what to do. In children, oppositional defiant disorder symptoms usually occur during interactions with their parents, teachers, and other authority figures.
People with ODD believe they are always in the right and have difficulty respecting those in charge. They often have poor communication skills and dig in their heels when challenged by others to change how they speak or act.
A study showed that 92.4% of people with ODD also had at least one other mental health disorder. This includes anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and impulse control disorders. Many of them also had an addiction to drugs or alcohol.
Is ODD Hereditary?
ODD can be hereditary but that is not always the case. Someone who has a close relative who deals with the disorder has an increased likelihood of developing it. However, having ODD in the family tree does not guarantee a person will have it.
Causes of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
For some people, having a family member with ODD can mean it’s genetic and they will develop it, too. For many, having faulty brain chemistry can influence the development of oppositional defiant disorder. How well the person’s neurotransmitters work can factor into having this disorder. An individual’s environment can also lend itself to having ODD. This includes children who grew up experiencing violence, neglect, and other harmful behaviors. Being a victim of or witnessing traumatic events is sometimes the basis for developing ODD.
Can Adults Have Oppositional Defiant Disorder?
An adult with ODD usually developed the disorder as a child but did not receive treatment for it. Parents sometimes mistake their children’s illness for stubbornness or typical youthful rebelliousness and do not take them to be evaluated. This causes the child to grow into an adult who still has ODD. They often rebel against college professors, bosses, and others they feel the urge to defy.
Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder symptoms in adults and children are similar in terms of the anger and displacement they feel. Who they target may be different, but the attitude and frustration are the same.
Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children
Kids who have oppositional defiant disorder may initially just be seen as being difficult or hard to discipline. The symptoms of this disorder include:
- Acting aggressively
- Argumentative
- Difficulty getting along with family members and friends
- Regularly refusing to cooperate with or follow instructions from parents, teachers, and other authority figures
- Trouble forming close relationships
- Ignoring rules in the house
- Getting into trouble at school
- Not taking responsibility for their behavior
- Anxiety
- Isolation
Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Adults
Adults can be diagnosed with ODD, but it likely developed when they were children and went untreated. Most of the symptoms are the same, but the targets may change. Adults with oppositional defiant disorder rebel against college faculty, bosses, co-workers, romantic partners, and more. Even with having more power as an adult, they still feel frustrated and as if they must usurp other people’s authority to feel valued.
How is ODD Treated for Adults and Children?
Adults who have oppositional defiant disorder usually attend one-on-one therapy appointments. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy help the individual recognize how their thoughts and feelings are tied to their behaviors. From there, they learn to accept themselves as they are while striving to improve their symptoms.
A child with ODD will attend individual therapy sessions designed to help them make healthier choices in how they behave. Their parents will attend family therapy and become involved in the treatment process. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy provides the insight of a therapist who observes how the parents and child interact. This leads to the family learning more effective ways to communicate and handle the behaviors of ODD.
Contact Montare Tucson About Our ODD Treatment for Adults
Do you recognize yourself in reading about oppositional defiant disorder symptoms? If you have carried this illness over from childhood into your adult years, we can help. Montare Behavioral Health of Tucson offers a cozy home environment for our residents so you feel comfortable staying with us while receiving effective treatment. We offer a variety of types of therapy that help you identify, address, and alter symptoms of ODD. With the assistance of our therapists, you learn how to stop seeing the world as something to be challenged. Life becomes less dramatic and you can relax more often.
Contact us now for more information about our treatment program. Our friendly admissions staff can answer any questions you have.
