✨ Core Concept

Behavior, even behavior we don’t like, is often a person’s attempt to communicate a need, feeling, or request. Some people have communication challenges that make it harder to express needs in typical ways, so behavior becomes their message. 

✨ Common Reasons Challenging Behavior May Happen

A person may behave differently when they are:

• In pain, hungry, thirsty, or tired

• Afraid, anxious, or unsure what will happen next

• Experiencing medication side effects

• Lonely, missing family/friends, or feeling unhappy

• Trying to gain attention or control when they don’t feel heard 

🧠 Bottom Line

Reasons for behavior are as unique as individuals. Your job is to learn the person and pay attention to what may be happening in their life.