Help with Oppositional Defiant Disorder Treatment Options

by Worried Mom
(Trenton, MI)

Help with Oppositional Defiant Disorder Treatment for Teen

Hi,

I'm posting this in your bad parenting stories section because I feel bad about how I've treated my son who was recently diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder ODD. For the past two years, he's been as mean as a snake and exhausted by his constant defiance, I lowered myself to his level and was mean back. What I should have done instead of reacting to his behavior was act like a parent.

Now that my son has a diagnosis and we know that something is wrong and he's not just being mean to hurt me, I know I need to do whatever I can to help. Problem is I just got a new job and won't have health insurance for the first six months of my employment. I can't afford to pay for therapy without insurance and the insurance will only pay for 10 visits per year anyway, so I don't know if this will be enough. I've waited too along already to attend to this and want to get started with some sort of treatment for my son ASAP.

My question is: are their any other oppositional defiant disorder treatment options available other than standard therapy?

Also, word to the wise for other parents. If your child always seems angry, don't assume it's just a phase, take him to the doctor and have it checked out. Don't do what I did, bury your head in the sand and hope it will get better on its own. Then you'll just end up feeling bad that you didn't do something when deep down, you know you should have.