Distressed behaviour includes what would normally be considered physically aggressive behaviour, such as slapping, biting, spitting or hair pulling, but can also include other behaviours if they are having a negative impact on the person or their family.
There could be a number of reasons for it. These may include difficulty in processing information, unstructured time, sensory differences, a change in routine, transition between activities, or physical reasons like feeling unwell, tired or hungry. Not being able to communicate these difficulties can lead to anxiety, anger and frustration, and then to an outburst of distressed behaviour.
This page gives you an overview. For more information on distressed behaviour and how to respond to it, select from the menu above or the guide link below.
