Hating authority...is bad?

Yeah, Cade here. So, opposing authority is a mental disorder? 'Cause I really don't think so. I hate authority, because authority has never done anything good for me. I hate the government, because it's corrupt.

I probably shouldn't get into politics, because that could offend some people. But, again, I don't think it's bad to dislike authority, when authority deserves to be disliked.

ODD is more than hating authority, Cade. Youcould have a look at the Wikipedia page for more information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition ... t_disorder

CalligraphyJack wrote:I hate authority, because authority has never done anything good for me. I hate the government, because it's corrupt.

Do you hate road laws that restrict you to only driving on one side of the road? What about hating people who insist you pay for something in a shop before taking it? Do you hate me, since I'm a site admin. And therefore in some sense in "authority"? [I hope not. ]

(The following is all just my personal opinion.)

I honestly perceive that this disorder is a tool created to help doctors avoid giving troubled children diagnosis that could potentially haunt the children into adulthood.

The page Ada linked says that only 4 of the following signs need to be present:
1. Actively refuses to comply with majority's requests or consensus-supported rules.
2. Performs actions deliberately to annoy others.
3. Angry and resentful of others.
4. Argues often.
5. Blames others for his or her own mistakes.
6. Frequently loses temper.
7. Spiteful or seeks revenge.
8. Touchy or easily annoyed.

I can think of so many different things that could be causing those symptoms, some of which have nothing to do with disorders at all.

But if the child is really struggling to adapt to social/structured life/environments and such, something very tame like ODD could get the child into therapy, where the real problems might be able to surface. Then later it can said that the ODD was treated with "behavioral therapy." (And most people who ever find about it would probably react the way many of us do: Oh, Bobby was just very ornery as a kid and had behavior therapy, cool story, bro.

I think this gives children a chance in the psychotherapy department before a doctor goes "must be ADHD, give your kid these pharma drugs."

Sure stuff like this could easily get abused in Big Brother type ways if we as citizens allow it. But sometimes stuff like this, when we see that it seems rather vague and flimsy, is the sort of thing professionals are trying to use to give kids a chance at psychotherapy before rushing them to Big Pharma.

Another benefit is that those behaviors can often be signs of abuse or other sources of severe distress. Where the CPS would have its hands tied (they can't and shouldn't bust the door over every little suspected thing, after all), this mild diagnosis of ODD can get a child with dedicated time with the school counselor or some other professional, who can make sure "Bobby" is okay without sounding off alarms (or giving Bobby pills).

I believe it is meant well and can serve a good purpose, and it is our responsibility as citizens to make sure the government never misuses it.

I take care of 2 fraternal female 9 year old twins and one 12 year old girl...they are all siblings. One of the twins (the youngest in delivery time of minutes) has a very oppositional nature to her which is very disruptive, annoying, and at times-violent and dangerous. For example while she was pestering her twin sister, she began punching her, then when the other twin defended herself, the instigating twin went to grab a knife out of the cutlery holder. I happened to be in the kitchen (thank goodness) and I stepped between her and the knives. I then hid the knives from her, and she spent 15 minutes trying to tear the kitchen apart trying to find them. She then lied and told her dad that she was "merely trying to cut an orange". She screams constantly and every action that her sisters do that she finds the slightest bit annoying, she yells at them to stop and physically goes and punches or kicks them to make them stop what they are doing. The latest incident was her swinging around 2-2lb. dumbbells and periodically throwing them to the wooden floor. I warned her and then grabbed the dumbbells out of her hand. She tried to physically come after me, and for a moment I had to restrain one of her arms. I refused to let her have them and she screamed and cried...but then eventually she capitulated and gave up. I noticed it was at that moment of "breaking" her that she then became more reasonable and clear. Unfortunately her father is very wishy washy and is never home (he is a dentist=hence my employment taking care of his children). I tried to talk to her while she was in her moment of clarity, and said that she needs to talk to someone, anyone to tell them what is bothering her inside. She is the child of recent divorce and recent death (the beloved grandmother/ nanny died). I believe she has a very extreme form of what you call ODD. But in essence, she just needs to A. Be told firmly NO, and restrained if necessary and B. Be redirected to positive behaviors after her tantrum attempts fail. But I want to emphasize this is no normal behavioral problem or tantrum. She is nasty, mean, disruptive, in a foul mood, defiant, and physically violent on a daily basis. I'm doing what I can to help her and the family, but I work a full time job and cannot be there forever. The father is oblivious and doesn't want to believe his child is troubled.