Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

When people think about ODD, they often think about typical rebellious teenagers. However, it’s also characterized by intense moods of anger and irritability. Tempers can rise quickly and over the littlest of things and include feelings of annoyance and resentment. Teens with ODD are usually very argumentative and defiant. They purposefully defy directions given by those who they see as authority figures—such as parents, teachers, and bosses. If they feel that they are being targeted by others, they will often seek revenge in some form even when it could really be punishing themselves in the process.

What causes ODD? According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “Lack of structure or parental supervision, inconsistent discipline practices, and exposure to abuse or community violence” may be contributing factors. As we’ve discussed on our blog post on Oppositional Defiant Disorder, children who have been adopted or have had divorced parents are high-risk for this disorder.

How Can Turn-About Ranch Help?

We’ve been in the teen treatment industry for decades, and we’ve worked with quite a few teenagers who’ve struggled with Oppositional Defiant Disorder. When a student has ODD, we work with them on trusting authority figures and teach them about the power of accountability. Our onsite therapist will also work with them on the underlying issues of their past that may have contributed to this disorder.