What Can Trigger Behaviours That Challenge and How to Prevent it?

What Is Meant by Behaviours That Challenge?

Behaviours that challenge is a term used to describe a set of actions and reactions that may be harmful to an individual portraying them, as well as those around them. People display challenging behaviour as a way of expressing their unmet needs, desires or feelings.

These behaviours might include:

Hurting others: behaviours such as hitting, biting, kicking, or shouting
Self-injurious behaviours: actions that cause harm to oneself, such as scratching or biting
Disruptive behaviours: behaviours that disrupt the functioning of individuals or their environment
Withdrawal behaviours: withdrawal from social interactions or isolating oneself from others

It’s crucial to remember that all individuals might portray challenging behaviours at some point. However, individuals with learning disabilities or Autism are more likely to portray these types of behaviours, and it’s essential to understand the triggers of challenging behaviour

Common Triggers of Behaviour That Challenges

Behind every behaviour that challenges, individuals are trying to communicate a specific thing or an unmet need.

It is also essential to understand that each individual is different and unique; therefore, what may be a trigger for one individual may not be for another. However, there are some common factors that can contribute to behaviours that challenge.

Communication Difficulties

Communication difficulties can significantly contribute to behaviours that challenge. When individuals struggle to express their needs, desires, or emotions effectively, they may resort to alternative methods of communication, which can manifest as challenging behaviours. These behaviours serve as a way for individuals to express their frustration, seek attention, or indicate their discomfort or dissatisfaction.

For individuals with limited verbal skills or challenges with speech, the inability to communicate their needs and wants clearly can lead to frustration and a sense of helplessness. Therefore, they may resort to specific harmful behaviours to express their needs.

Furthermore, some young people with learning difficulties may experience challenges in understanding and interpreting communication from others. Difficulties in comprehension can lead to misunderstandings, confusion, or feelings of being overwhelmed.

Sensory Overload

Sensory overload may be a trigger for behaviours that challenge in individuals who experience difficulties processing sensory information. When the sensory system becomes overwhelmed, it can lead to a state of heightened stress, anxiety, or discomfort, which may result in the display of challenging behaviours as a response.

For individuals with sensory processing challenges, excessive sensory input can disrupt their ability to filter, organise, and interpret incoming information effectively. This can create a sense of overload, where their nervous system becomes overwhelmed, leading to a fight-or-flight response. In an attempt to regain control or alleviate the distress, individuals may engage in behaviours that challenge them, such as aggression, self-harming, or withdrawal.

Changes in Routine or Environment

Changes in routine can be a major trigger of behaviour that challenges in individuals who rely on predictability and structure in their daily lives. For these individuals, any deviation from their established routines can cause feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, or frustration. The disruption of their familiar schedule and expectations can lead to a range of challenging behaviours as they struggle to manage the change.

When individuals face changes in routine, they may exhibit resistance, non-compliance, or refusal to engage in the new activities or follow the revised schedule. This behaviour can be an attempt to regain a sense of control or maintain a sense of familiarity and predictability.

Changes in Routine or Environment

Physical Discomfort or Pain

Physical discomfort or pain can be a significant trigger for behaviour that challenges. When individuals experience physical discomfort or pain, they may have difficulty communicating their sensations or seeking help, especially if they have limited verbal skills or challenges with their cognitive abilities. For instance, individuals with learning disabilities may struggle to communicate their pain. As a result, they may exhibit behaviours that challenge as a way to express their distress or attempt to alleviate their discomfort.

Unidentified or unaddressed physical discomfort or pain can manifest in various ways. Individuals may engage in self-injurious behaviours such as hitting, scratching, or biting themselves in an attempt to redirect their focus from the internal pain to an external sensation. Individuals may also display harmful behaviours towards others as a response to their discomfort. Additionally, individuals may exhibit withdrawal or isolation, seeking solitude to minimise external stimuli that may exacerbate their pain.

Unmet Needs or Desires

Unmet needs or desires can serve as triggers for behaviours that challenge. When individuals feel that their needs or desires are not being met, they may resort to certain behaviours to communicate dissatisfaction, seek attention, or fulfil those needs unconventionally.

Unmet needs can vary from basic physiological needs, such as hunger, thirst, or fatigue, to psychological and emotional needs, such as a need for autonomy, social interaction, or sensory stimulation. When individuals are unable to effectively communicate their needs or when their needs are not recognised or addressed, they may exhibit behaviours that challenge as a means of expressing their frustration, discomfort, or seeking assistance.

Emotional Triggers and Mental Health Factors

Emotional triggers are specific situations, events, or stimuli that evoke intense emotional responses in individuals, which may lead to behaviours that challenge. These triggers can vary widely and include feelings of frustration, anxiety, fear, or sadness.

When individuals encounter these triggers, they may struggle to regulate their emotions effectively, resulting in behaviours that challenge.

Anxiety or Stress

Anxiety or stress can be significant triggers for behaviours that challenge. When individuals experience high levels of anxiety or stress, they may struggle to cope with these emotions, leading to the manifestation of challenging behaviours.

Anxiety or stress can overwhelm individuals, affecting their ability to regulate their emotions and respond adaptively to their environment. They may exhibit behaviours such as restlessness, agitation, avoidance, or withdrawal as a result of their anxiety or stress.

Frustration and Anger

When individuals experience frustration, they encounter obstacles or barriers that prevent them from achieving their goals or desires. This can evoke a sense of powerlessness and a loss of control, triggering a range of emotional responses, including behaviours that challenge.

Anger is often accompanied by intense feelings that can also fuel a person’s behaviour that challenges.

Depression

When someone is experiencing depression, they often have challenges with a range of symptoms, including low mood, lack of motivation, and feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness. These symptoms can lead to a loss of interest in activities, social withdrawal, and difficulty functioning in daily life.

In some cases, individuals with depression may exhibit challenging behaviour as a way of expressing their distress.

Past Trauma

Past trauma can serve as a significant trigger for behaviour that challenges. Traumatic experiences can have a profound and lasting impact on a person’s mental health and emotional well-being. When unresolved, these traumas can manifest in various forms of behaviours that challenge.

The trauma can result from physical or emotional abuse, neglect, loss, or other distressing events that were deeply distressing and overwhelming for the individual.

Preventive Strategies for Behaviour that Challenges

Positive Behaviour Support is a proactive and evidence-based approach that focuses on preventing challenging behaviour and promoting positive behaviours. What’s more, Positive Behaviour Support aims to understand the underlying reasons for challenging behaviour and develop strategies to address them effectively rather than just manage challenging behaviour.

Reinforcing positive behaviour is a crucial aspect of PBS. By recognising and rewarding individuals for engaging in appropriate behaviours, they are motivated to continue those behaviours. Positive reinforcement can be in the form of verbal praise, tokens, privileges, or other rewards that are meaningful to the individual. This approach emphasises reinforcing positive behaviour instead of focusing on challenging behaviour.

Leaf Complex Care Uses Holistic Approach to Behaviours That Challenges

At Leaf Complex Care, our goal is to provide comprehensive and person-centred support that focuses on the unique needs and circumstances of each individual. We understand that challenging behaviours often stem from various factors, including past trauma, mental health conditions, sensory sensitivities, or communication difficulties. By taking a holistic approach, we aim to address the underlying causes of these behaviours and provide tailored support to promote positive outcomes.

Our approach involves conducting thorough assessments to gain a deep understanding of the individual’s background, experiences, and needs. We collaborate closely with the individual, their families, and a multidisciplinary team of professionals to develop personalised care plans. These plans encompass a range of interventions, including Positive Behaviour Support, counselling, skill-building activities, sensory integration techniques, and environmental modifications.

We deliver complex care services across the UK, and you can find our offices in Bristol, Slough, the Midlands and Somerset.

Contact us today for more information.