Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) Support Group

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) an ongoing pattern of disobedient, hostile, and defiant behavior toward authority figures that goes beyond the bounds of normal childhood behavior. When a child cannot seem to control his anger or frustration, even over what seems to be trivial or simple to others, the child will often react in violent or negative ways to his own...

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ODDity 06/13/2017

Every summer, we've started my son in summer camp.

Two summers in a row, he has been kicked out of summer camp.

The first summer, after he was kicked out we had a friend's college aged kid babysit.

The second summer, after he was kicked out of a different camp we enrolled him in a summer program through his tae kwon do academy (and he did very well).

This summer, he got sent home from a 3rd camp for the first time - though they've already spoken with us about his behaviour and his drain on the shared resources.

He was diagnosed with ADHD/ODD and we've got him on ADHD meds - which helped a LOT for the last couple of months of school.

The problem is novel situations - I think. It SEEMS to me that he gets so anxious about fitting in, making friends, having fun, all of the stuff that gives kids anxieties, that his response is to melt down.

He HIT someone. We haven't had a problem with physical violence since last summer.

I am depressed and anxious, and I don't want to make it worse for him by carrying this home with me - and I don't know what to do to help him. It's really a TIME thing, he's always ok when he settles in. Unfortunately, time is at a premium for summer camp.

3billen 06/15/2017

Hi ODDity, Have you checked ALL the side effects of his meds? A lot of them, in fact, I think all of them have nasty side effects. Some can make a child even more anxious as it does to my son. I'm tryng to find ways to lessen his dosage. I'm glad he's doing well in his martial arts course--it's a good, physical outlet. I wish I could get my son out of the house. He's face is always on the tablet or tv and doesn't like the crowds. My son has also hit someone at school. He can't seem to control his angry very well. He would simply explode. I always worry about his future. About how in hell he would survive i society. It worries me sick. I understand where you're coming from. Thank you for sharing your feelings.

ODDity 06/15/2017

3billen - thanks for replying. I know this is potentially a side effect of his meds (Aderall xr - lowest dose) - but he started his meds in April, and this is the 3rd year in a row we're dealing with this. Including having made it through most of the second half of 1st grade (school year before this one) without hitting/violence and regressing at the beginning of summer camp. Pretty confident that this preexists his meds (and it's actually a little better in that he's MOSTLY confining his hostility to verbal expression & not physical). I am SURE that it's anxiety - he's this way about all new situations (though he doesn't come across as nervous - his fight or flight is pretty much 90% fight). It's an on-going struggle - if the previous 2 years are anything to go by, he'll get kicked out of camp altogether by 4th of July, spend a couple of weeks really wrecked about that because he really does like to go/be with other kids, then he'll be a mostly even keeled sweetie for the rest of the summer.
The transition I'm really dreading is the start of the school year - he had the same teacher from 1/2 way through 1st grade to all the way through 2nd, and she was awesome. Next year we have luck of the draw, and the first 6 - 8 weeks are going to be a nightmare.
Thanks so much for responding - knowing I'm not alone doesn't make my material situation better but it does lift my spirits to know that others understand.

NeedHopeNow 08/31/2017

DanaM- I would love to know more about this whole food based nutrition. We are up for trying anything that might help!

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