by PhoenixRising2009 » Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:28 pm
My 7 year old has ADHD and ODD. We discovered this during kindergarten. After a year and a half of trying behavioral therapy and various food diets, I put her on medication for the ADHD. This has helped her focus and curbed some of the "misbehavior" that comes along with ADHD. However, it does nothing for her ODD. I am blessed that her ODD is mild, generally limited to back talk and refusal to submit to directives or requests. She is not violent... but she is only 7 years old, still petite and light weight. But every school year, I have a conference with her teachers to explain ODD and what it means. She isn't trying to act out... she is simply stuck in a 'brain fog' where she knows she should do what she is being told/asked, but she simply CANNOT because she is in control. No matter the consequence, she cannot give in... her 'brain fog' simply won't allow her to think past the "I will not comply" and process the consequences. It can be so difficult, at home and at school. It's hard to explain this to others--- "My kid isn't misbehaving; she is experiencing an episode of ODD. I know how to handle it, and I'm not worried and you shouldn't be either."