How many times has your teen argued with you about the established family rules or refused to comply with your request to take out the garbage, cut the grass, clear the table or clean their room? Arguing with a teen can be exhausting!

Do you wonder if your kid’s behavior is normal teenage rebellion or is it more? Are you concerned about your teen’s defiance? Is it a phase that will pass?

If you see a pattern on noncompliance, hostility and disregard for authority, your teen may have Oppositional Defiant Disorder or ODD. Mental health authorities agree that ODD exists when the following types of behaviors exist at home, in school and in public settings and are interfering with normal daily life.

These behaviors include:

 

So what do you do?

  • Choose your battles. Sometimes to get a perspective ask yourself, “Will it matter in 2- years?”
  • Work with your teen to set appropriate limits and consequences. Getting your teen involved in making the rules makes enforcing the rules easier.
  • Model appropriate behavior; you know “Do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t work
  • Try to focus on when your teen shows appropriate behavior and acknowledge it
  • Seek professional help; treatment is available and sometimes we cannot do it alone

 

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppositional_defiant_disorder