Is it - or isn't it ODD?

Have you ever encountered someone who simply cannot take direction from a teacher, a parent, a team member or even a Judge? If this same person hostile towards authority figures, is angry and vindictive towards others and cannot control thier emotions - they may be suffering from Oppositional Defiance Disorder. (ODD)

Oppositional Defiance Disorder usually presents in children and is a behavioural disorder.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, "Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is thought to be caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. " In many cases with treatment this disorder is resolved as the child gets older and usually within 3 years. Undiagnosed and untreated it may blossom.

Is ODD something one can carry into adulthood? Yes.

Over our lifetimes many of us have encountered individuals who in our view 'throw temper tantrums like a five year old'. The phrases "Grow up!" or "act your age, not your shoe size" is a pretty good indicator that almost everyone has seen someone act as defiant as a young child, foot stomped, lip out, arms crossed - who rebels against any authority.

"Adults with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) feel mad at the world, misunderstood, hemmed in, and pushed around. Their constant opposition to authority figures can make it difficult to keep jobs or maintain relationships and marriages. In other words, ODD interferes with patients’ personal and professional lives and it does so without rest." - Read more here: www.additudemag.com/screener-oppositional-defiant-disorder-symptoms-test-adults/

---

I often wonder when I see people who continually defy authority, insist that the rules are wrong - or being broken all the time - what their end game really is. Do they have a valid point, or are they simply feeling that it is unfair that they have to follow the rules when they think someone else is not.  They feel that the world has treated them unfairly and they need to rail against it.

In any argument or disagreement in life - both sides usually have valid points to make and quite often if both parties are listening they can come to some sort of agreement to solve the dispute or arrive at some kind of understanding. But when someone defies authority - they have already made a decision that there is no dispute - that they are in fact the person who is 'right'.

A person who is unable to view the world except through their own lens, who cannot accept the authority that others may have are generally not aware that they may be the problem.

Some of the behaviours adults with untreated ODD may exhibit are bullying, vindictive behaviour and blaming others for the consequences of their own actions. In addition to this is the inability to accept the delegated authority of others - or continually finding fault with others' decisions.

A recent example of this behaviour I came across, was when an individual because of poor behaviour was banned from attending a dog park with their dog.

Symptoms of Adult Defiance Disorder

Signs that an adult might have the condition include:

• Temper tantrums
• Blaming others for their own inappropriate behavior
• Irritable mood
• Use of unkind and hurtful words towards others
• Vindictive and malevolent intent in words and actions
• Physical aggression towards others and bullying

(From https://www.pacificsolstice.com/ 
Certified by the California State Department of Health Care Services - Certification Number: 300636BP

Instead of recognizing that what they had done was not socially acceptable, they became angry at those who had taken steps to stop their behaviour from affecting others.  Opting to take their dog to an area where off leash was not permitted - their dog while running of leash through the thicket in the woods - impaled itself and died.  The dog owner then blamed the mayor of the town for his dog's death.  Later they also blamed a police officer that was not even involved.  Not once did they realize how they themself had started the dominoes to fall.

Now it could be that this person was just angry at the world and had to find someone to blame for the death of their pet.  But if this behaviour was a pattern of blaming others, combined with not accepting the consequences of their own actions, and a vindictiveness aimed towards others - it might be indicators that they are suffering from ODD, or some other anti-social personality disorder.

Mental disorders in our society have always existed.  But in today's world, the ability of someone suffering from a mental disorder has the ability to find an audience - through the internet.  I often wonder if we as a society are able to distinguish inappropriate behaviour and find a way to curb it - so that the people exhibiting symptons can be stopped before they hurt others.

If it truly is ODD that a person is displaying - they need help from a professional.  If it isn't ODD - and simply bad behaviour, perhaps we need to call them out on it so that the problem does not get worse.