| For many families, one of the unfortunate situations | | | | of trust that a child has for the adults in their life has a |
| that occurs in their children is the development of | | | | greater chance of surviving and becoming stronger |
| some kind of behavioral disorder that affects not only | | | | due to the trust the parent has previously held for the |
| the child, but the family unit as a whole. Far too often, | | | | child. In this way, the family will be overcoming the |
| these disorders go undiagnosed and, as a result, | | | | problem together which will, in turn, bring them closer |
| untreated as well, since many parents do not | | | | rather than tearing them further apart. This is why it is |
| associate the problem behavior with a mental | | | | of vital importance that the parent be part of their |
| imbalance but, rather, as some sort of phase or | | | | child's life enough so that if the symptoms of ODD |
| purposeful behavior to test the limits of their authority. | | | | become prevalent, they can get their child the help |
| Unfortunately, for everyone involved, this is the worst | | | | they need. Behaviors to look for include the increase |
| reaction anyone in a family with someone suffering | | | | of frequency and severity of anger, defiance, |
| from a behavioral disorder can have. It often leads to | | | | sensitivity to others, vindictiveness, spite, arguments, |
| increased resentment and anger, vindictive and | | | | and loss of temper, to name a few. |
| abusive behavior, and a child left fearful and mistrusting | | | | If any of the above symptoms are present for 6 |
| of adults with no real comprehension as to the | | | | months or longer, the odds are very high that your child |
| reasons why. This is all too often the case for children | | | | is suffering from oppositional defiant disorder and you |
| who are suffering from oppositional defiant disorder, or | | | | should seek help for them immediately. If, however, the |
| ODD for short. | | | | signs are missed and the ODD goes untreated, |
| The good news, though, is that if the behaviors | | | | approximately 52% of children afflicted with this |
| associated with oppositional defiant disorder are | | | | disease continue to show this angry behavior up to |
| addressed properly and quickly, rather than with more | | | | three years later, and approximately half of those will |
| anger and punishment, the chances of recovery for | | | | go on to develop a more significant behavior disorder |
| the child who is suffering are very high. Too, by | | | | further down the road. However, this can be avoided |
| seeking help at the onset of ODD behaviors, the bond | | | | with the proper treatment. |