Behavioural Difficulties
Introduction
All young children occasionally exhibit naughty, rebellious, and impulsive behaviour, which is quite typical. However, some children exhibit exceptionally demanding habits that are out of character for their age group.
A pattern of disruptive behaviours that are harmful towards the child and those around them are categorised as behaviour difficulties. Disruptive behaviours that are unusual for the child’s age at the moment, persist over time, or are severe may be identified as a behaviour disorder. Since disruptive behaviour disorders involve acting out and showing unwanted behaviour towards others, they are sometimes called externalising disorders.
Symptoms
Someone who has behavioural difficulties may act out or display being emotionally upset in different ways, which may also vary between individuals. Some symptoms of behavioural difficulties in children include:
- Actions like kicking doors and walls, hitting their head against the wall, and throwing objects.
- Screaming, shouting, cursing, or using vulgar, or otherwise offensive words.
- Hitting, punching, biting, kicking, or pinching other family members in an aggressive or violent manner.
- Lying, manipulating, feigning guilt, making threats against other family members, and employing blackmail.
- Destroying property or items inside the home, such as furniture, vehicle tyres, TVs, and tablets.
- Aggressive behaviour towards teachers and fellow students.
- Misbehaviour in school including disrupting lessons, bunking school, and not staying in class.
Diagnosis
The most common disruptive behaviour disorders in children include:
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD),
- Conduct Disorder (CD) and
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
These three behavioural disorders share some common symptoms and a child or adolescent may have two disorders at the same time. For example, a child who exhibits the behaviours of CD may also have ADHD, anxiety, depression, and a difficult home life.
Impact
Children with behavioural issues frequently react inappropriately to circumstances. They may struggle to establish and maintain friendships with peers and adults. Additionally, they may find it difficult to participate in class and function in a traditional setting. Though it may not present outwardly due to compensatory behaviours, children who struggle with these issues frequently experience anxiety, fear, and misunderstanding.
A behavioural problem may have detrimental short and long-term implications on a person’s personal and professional life if it is not treated. People that act out may experience consequences like suspension or expulsion for fighting, bullying, or disputes with authorities.Children may need to change schools and feel isolated. For adults, it might come at the expense of their jobs and difficult marriages.
Treatment
Behavioural difficulties can be managed with the help of a professional by understanding the underlying causes, identifying triggers and contributing factors. Treatment will include:
- Talking about experiences that lead to anger and aggressive behavior
- Navigating childhood trauma that might contribute to aggressive behavior
- Developing adaptive ways of coping with difficult or overwhelming emotions
- Discussing alternate ways to navigate frustrating situations
- Learning to communicate one’s emotions in an appropriate, assertive, but non-aggressive manner
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