What Is Meant by Behaviours That Challenge?
Behaviours that challenge refer to a wide range of behaviours that people may display when their needs are not fully met. It encompasses a range of actions or responses that may be considered unconventional or challenging to manage within specific social contexts.
Sometimes, individuals with learning disabilities, Autism or complex care needs display behaviours that challenge. The phrase behaviours that challenge describes an activity that acts as a function for a person but causes challenges for healthcare services, family members, carers, and in some cases, the person themselves. When children, young people or adults with a learning disability engage in challenging behaviour, they may experience a series of escalating reductions in their quality of life.
Instead of labelling these behaviours as inherently harmful or problematic, adopting a more progressive approach that recognises the underlying causes and individual experiences that contribute to the behaviour is crucial.
By embracing a broader understanding, we can create a compassionate and inclusive environment that promotes empathy and effectively supports individuals in managing their challenges. It is essential to remember that challenging behaviour, if not given the proper care and support, has a profound negative impact on the individual and their family members and friends.
Common Triggers of Behaviour That Challenges
When we delve deeper into challenging behaviour, it becomes evident that it arises from various factors, including cognitive, emotional, or sensory differences. Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all mindset and referring to it as problem behaviour, it is essential to acknowledge that what may be challenging for one person may not be the same for another.
The underlying causes, such as unmet needs to environmental stressors, dynamically interact with personal experiences, emotions, and cognitive processes, allowing behavioural complexities to emerge. When the triggers become identified, it is easier for families and carers to develop a care plan to elicit positive behaviour using positive behaviour support (PBS) strategies and intervention methods that will lead to improved mental health and well-being.
Understanding challenging behaviour is crucial when it comes to learning how to manage challenging behaviour. Delving deeper, one uncovers the power dynamics, communication gaps, and sensory sensitivities that intertwine, contributing to the interplay of challenges.
Communication Difficulties
When a young person, for example, expresses their wants, emotions, or desires through behaviours that challenge, it can be difficult to understand the root cause of the behaviour. However, it’s important to look beyond behaviour and use positive behaviour support to understand what the individual is expressing.
These difficulties and behaviours occur and can show themselves in various ways, from linguistic limitations to challenges in reading social cues. Communication challenges can appear in anyone, but individuals with learning disabilities, Autism and complex care needs may experience more frequent challenges. Therefore, fostering a proactive approach such as positive behaviour support that encourages patience, empathy, and other positive forms of communication can produce increased positive behaviours.
By acknowledging it and actively seeking innovative strategies, we can cultivate an inclusive environment that empowers individuals to overcome communication barriers, enabling them to navigate the world with greater confidence and engagement.
Sensory Overload
Sensory overload is a complex interplay of intensified sensory stimuli leading to overwhelming responses that affect people’s own emotions. It can trigger sensations that can provoke intense reactions that can vary from agitation to emotional breakdowns.
Sensitive reactions can occur in anyone, but it is also common in people who experience:
- Behaviours that challenge
- Autism
- Learning disabilities
- ADHD
- PTSD
- Complex care needs
Moving away from sensory input sources, such as loud noises or strong smells, helps lessen unpleasant sensations and reduce challenging behaviour, in this case.
Changes in Routine or Environment
Changes in routine or environment can often lead to behaviour that challenges. Individuals with behaviour that challenges may respond unexpectedly when faced with new situations or disruptions to their established routines. It’s vital to understand that these behavioural adjustments are more likely to be a normal response to unexpected circumstances than a sign of intentional rebellion.
In such situations, it is crucial to approach behaviour that challenges with empathy and open-mindedness. Rather than resorting to strict discipline or restrictive measures, actively listening and understanding the underlying reasons for the behavioural changes is more effective. Creating a safe and non-judgmental space encourages open communication and fosters trust, enabling individuals to constructively express their concerns or discomfort.
Furthermore, a progressive approach and positive behaviour involve adapting and modifying the environment to meet the individual’s needs. Whether it’s adjusting the daily routine, creating visual schedules, or implementing sensory supports, these modifications can significantly alleviate behavioural challenges. Moreover, we promote independence and self-advocacy by involving individuals in decision-making processes and empowering them to have a voice in their own routines or environment.
Physical Discomfort or Pain
Physical discomfort or pain can significantly contribute to challenging behaviour in individuals. When a child, young person or adult experiences physical discomfort or pain, it can manifest in challenging behaviour as a means of communication or coping. For example, someone experiencing difficulty due to health challenges may act aggressively or have self-injurious behaviours. Recognising that challenging behaviour may be a response to underlying physical challenges is crucial, and addressing the individual’s physical well-being can help soothe their distress and reduce the challenging behaviour.
By observing and analysing behaviour patterns, carers and professionals can identify potential roots of physical discomfort. Healthcare professionals can address any underlying challenges, provide required care, ease discomfort, and reduce challenging behaviour by assessing their physical health adequately.
In addition to identifying and treating the root cause of physical discomfort, it is essential to implement proactive strategies and positive behaviour support to manage challenging behaviours. This involves creating a supportive environment that prioritises the individual’s physical well-being. For instance, ensuring a comfortable seating arrangement, providing regular breaks for movement and stretching, and using appropriate assistive devices can help relieve physical discomfort and reduce the occurrence of challenging behaviour.
Adopting a holistic approach that addresses the individual’s physical needs alongside their behavioural challenges can enhance their overall well-being and promote a better quality of life.
Unmet Needs or Desires
When younger children, a young person or an adult show challenging behaviour, it often signifies an underlying need or desire that is not being met.
When attempting to understand and address such behaviour, it is crucial to recognise the underlying factors that contribute to behaviour. Self-injurious behaviour, for instance, may stem from unmet emotional needs or a desire for increased attention or social interaction. By offering consistent emotional support and creating a nurturing environment, we can help fulfil these needs more healthily, ultimately reducing challenging behaviour.
Carers or other professionals in the field can approach challenging behaviour in a way that acknowledges the unmet needs. Rather than solely focusing on correcting or suppressing the behaviour, it is crucial to offer support in a compassionate and understanding manner. Challenging behaviour often means a lack of communication, and carers can address the root causes and help the person develop healthier coping strategies. We can create an environment that promotes positive social attention and care through patience, empathy, and effective communication.
This is why understanding the link between unmet needs and challenging behaviour is vital in health and social care.
Emotional Triggers and Mental Health Factors
Understanding challenging behaviour, emotional triggers, and different mental health factors is of utmost importance, especially for individuals with learning disabilities or learning difficulties. Realising that behaviour often reflects mental health and underlying challenges, carers and other healthcare professionals can adopt a humanised approach that prioritises continuous support and empathy.
Acknowledging the impact of mental health challenges and health difficulties on a child’s behaviour and offering families the necessary resources and guidance to navigate these challenges is meaningful. By refraining from offensive language and focusing on understanding the root causes of certain behaviours, we create a safe space for children and adults to express themselves and develop new strategies for coping in a less challenging way.
Anxiety or Stress
In schools, teachers are pivotal in promoting positive mental health and supporting students with behaviour that challenges and learning disabilities. Teachers can offer support and foster an environment encouraging growth and well-being by approaching challenging behaviour with a calm voice and taking longer periods to engage with the child. In that way, they can help children experience less stress and anxiety.
Anxiety or stress can manifest in challenging behaviour, such as destructive behaviour. Rather than labelling individuals as troublesome or difficult, teachers, family members, friends, and carers should focus on understanding the distress they are experiencing. In certain situations, anxiety or stress may become overwhelming for individuals, leading them to behave in a challenging way.
By empowering individuals to express their anxieties and stressors, we can work together to identify healthier coping strategies led by empathetic and positive behaviours and promote positive mental well-being as a society.
Frustration and Anger
Redirecting focus towards healthier outlets and providing people with the proper tools to communicate their emotions effectively can be vital while facing frustration and anger.
By adopting a patient and compassionate approach, carers can help and support people in navigating their frustrations and anger, allowing them to feel heard and understood.
Depression
Depression can manifest in various ways, often leading to confusing or distressing behaviours. Recognising the negative impact of depression on challenging behaviour allows us to approach individuals with empathy and kindness. It is important to remember that their actions may be rooted in their emotional pain and daily struggles. Healthcare professionals can create spaces that nurture healing and recovery by avoiding judgment and offering proactive support.
Past Trauma
When an individual has experienced trauma in their life, it can profoundly impact their thoughts, emotions, and actions. Understanding the link between past trauma and challenging behaviour is a crucial step towards fostering empathy and providing the needed support since the triggers of the past trauma can quickly come and create new challenging behaviour.
With empathy, carers can respond with patience, actively listening to their stories and creating spaces where they feel safe to express their emotions. By offering support rather than judgment, they can help individuals reframe their narratives and embark on a healing journey towards emotional well-being and a brighter future.
Preventive Strategies for Behaviour that Challenges
Creating preventive strategies for behaviour that challenge requires knowledge that clear routines can help the process. By implementing well-defined and consistent schedules, carers empower individuals to anticipate and navigate their daily activities more efficiently.
These routines provide a sense of structure and predictability, which can help reduce anxiety and confusion. As clinicians and support providers, the significance of precise routines and proactive work towards creating an environment that adopts a sense of security and stability is their priority.
Empathy and compassion are at the core of enhancing communication and building meaningful relationships, and that is why clinicians prioritise effective communication channels, ensuring that individuals feel heard, valued, and supported.
Implementing Positive Behavior Support (PBS) techniques can be instrumental in preventing and addressing behaviour that challenges. At Unique Community Services, we adopt PBS proactive strategies, focusing on understanding the underlying causes and triggers of the challenging behaviour. By identifying and addressing these root causes, we develop tailored plans that promote positive behaviour and reduce the occurrence of challenging behaviour.
Utilising PBS techniques involves fostering a supportive environment that encourages personal growth and provides individuals with the tools they need to thrive. By implementing preventive strategies grounded in PBS, we can help individuals achieve their fullest potential while ensuring their well-being and enriched lives.
Unique Community Services Use Holistic Approach to Behaviours That Challenges
With empathy as our guide, at Unique Community Services, we adopt humanised and holistic approaches that combine Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and an outcome-based approach. By integrating these approaches and person-centred care, we create a supportive environment that promotes understanding, empowerment, and positive outcomes for individuals with behaviours that challenge.
Our committed and highly-trained clinicians support people with behaviour that challenges and establish strong bonds based on trust and respect. Through the supportive framework we create, let us guide your loved ones towards a more fulfilled life and greater independence.
Contact us today. We deliver our humanised services for individuals with behaviours that challenge across the UK, with running offices in Manchester and Bristol.
