Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) can be a complex diagnosis, assuming it is a correct diagnosis and not (ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder); (OCD - Obcessive Compulsive Disorder); (ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder); and/or (ADODD - Attention Deficit Oppositional Defiant Disorder). All listed in the text entitled - Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Psychological/Psychiatric Disorders often referred to as the DSM V book.
The kinds of descriptive definitions boil down to a number of edicts, if you will. In defining the correct diagnosis, it helps to determine the causation, whether environmental, biological, biochemical or genetic predisposition or all of these factors. Next, duration..how long will I suffer from this condition once diagnosed? Schools of thought say medication and intense psychotherapy, either one or both. Does this cure the problem? NO
Can this be managed? YES Is this a life long ailment (mental health condition)? NOT NECESSARILY Is there a cure? UNDETERMINED...DEPENDS...
Wow!! Each kind of behavior is unique to each individual and cannot be profoundly grouped. You can have a room filled with men and women all suffering varying degrees of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or any one or more of the above named mental health conditions or all of them and no two or more individuals will experience the conditions exactly the same way. Why? We are all unique individuals with separate DNA molecules, different ways of viewing the world around us and different psychological and psychiatric make up. Stands to reason we are not all alike and therefore cannot all be placed in one category and expect the cure to apply to all. Not realistic and bad psychology all the way around. Would you not agree?
Here's the encapsulated answer to your question. YOU are unique all unto yourself and as such, an individualistic approach needs to be viewed. First, do you recognize you behave this way when you are experiencing the behavior? If so...the quick and dirty answer is..CHANGE IT!!! If your answer is..I do not know...then we need to identify when and how you exhibit the wrongful behavior and teach you a coping skill that will thwart and/or retard the symptoms that bring on this ODD.
How do you CHANGE IT? I teach a method called "COMPARTMENTALIZATION" - this coping skill is easy to learn and even easier to apply. What is it? It is a mental way of cognitively affixing a mental picture in your mind of a filing cabinet filled with drawers that lock. You find an event that triggers a bad response and you identify that trigger, put it in a file, place the file in a drawer, shut the drawer and lock it and never look back. Sound easy? Not really, the ability to visualize psychologically is a trained behavior and does not come easy for some and others, it is a slam dunk.
Conduct your own experiment with it. Think of something you hate or that annoys you and close your eyes. Okay, now take that experience and see if you can invision putting this feeling in a folder or compartment and sealing it in a locked cabinet. Once the cabinet is locked, you forget about it and move on. Sounds overly simple, doesn't it?
NO, I am not advocating you become a sociopath; but I am advocating that you bury the past, bury the bad behavior, instill a good behavior, adopt it, practice it, use it and eveytime you experience something you are doing that is not of a social norm; immediately, file it, place it in a drawer, shut the drawer and lock it. Bury it, forget it and move on... Can you do that? Try it and see...KEYS: Do not be abusive, Do not get enraged, Do not adopt bad habits, Do not dispair, Do not invite negative thoughts and most of all Do not engage in bad behaviors. HOW? Think positive, use the "COMPARTMENTALIZATION" technique, and CHANGE your views, behaviors and try greeting strangers positively and think about the responses.
Guys...select beautiful women to greet; Gals...select lovely men to greet...Works both ways and guess what? You just may enjoy it!!!
***RICK*** bigrickjr57@aol.com