Living With A Child With Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Praise Good Behavior

Parents of children with oppositional defiant disorder quickly get to the end of their rope when dealing with the issue. Reacting to negative behavior is easy. What is difficult is paying attention to their behaviors to react to the positive behavior. Positive action should lead to quick feedback. One of the surest ways to deliver this positive feedback is through praise.

Think of it as filling a bucket. The first praise will enter the empty bucket and may not mean much. When you get angry or react negatively, it will remove the praise from the bucket and begin to fill it with negative feelings and emotion. Avoid this by playing down the bad behavior and playing up the good. Fill the bucket with positive praise and eventually it will spill over.

Next, discover why it is essential for every parent to indulge in a bit of self-care.

Taking Care Of Yourself & Others

While a parent’s main priority will always be their children, with a majority of their attention focused on the child with ODD, it is vital that both parents also take care of themselves and their mental and physical wellbeing. Remember to take some time for yourself, as you deserve it and need a break sometimes too. Managing a child with ODD takes a tremendous amount of time, energy, and effort, as any parent of these bright, energetic children know, therefore it’s worth it to invest in yourself sometimes too. Indulge in your favorite hobby or try a new activity such as writing, painting, dancing, yoga, playing a sport, running, hiking -- essentially, any activity that destresses you, eases your mind and helps you feel rejuvenated.

If there are other children in the house, it can also be highly beneficial to spend some quality personal time with them as well, away from the rest of the family, to strengthen your bond and ensure you have special moments with them as well. The same can be said about your spouse. Try going for a date night once a month to not only give each other a break, but to keep your relationship healthy and strong without all the constant worrying and stress that comes with living with a child with ODD.

Keep reading to discover why it may be necessary to reach out for help.