What Are Challenging Behaviours?

It’s normal for young people to push boundaries at times. Most of the time, this is part of growing up, and it doesn’t mean anything is wrong. Eventually, you’ll probably outgrow this phase.

But for some young people, challenging behaviour sticks around longer. It becomes a pattern that’s hard to break. When this happens, it’s not just about being rebellious or messing around—it could be a sign that you’re dealing with something difficult, like stress, trauma, or hidden problems.

If the behaviour is really severe and keeps happening, it might be a sign of something called conduct disorder, which is a mental health condition. Conduct disorder can make it harder for you to function and can cause distress for you and the people around you.

What Might Challenging Behaviour Look Like?

Some signs of challenging behaviour include:

• Arguing a lot, feeling angry or uncooperative, or getting irritated easily
• Having frequent tantrums or angry outbursts
• Being aggressive, provoking or bullying others
• Being defiant all the time and refusing to follow rules
• Blaming others for things that go wrong
• Regularly lying
• Acting cruel or not showing empathy toward others
• Struggling with rules or boundaries at school
• Finding it hard to focus or concentrate
• Doing risky things without thinking about the consequences
• As you get older, getting involved in antisocial behaviour
• Being at risk of self-harm or even suicide

If you’re showing some of these behaviours, it might be your way of trying to cope with difficult emotions or experiences. It’s important for the adults around you, like your teachers or parents, to understand what might be going on underneath the surface and to help you find better ways to manage your feelings.