All You Need to Know

• What is the link between behaviour and mental health?

  Our behaviour is the way we conduct ourselves, especially towards other people. It's also our response to things that happen around us.

  There are lots of unwritten rules about how people are expected to behave. These can change with different cultures and in different countries. We take cues from the those around us to act appropriately. Sometimes there are customs or social rules which can be confusing, especially for those with autism, neurodiversity or learning disability.

  Our behaviour can also be a good indicator of how our mental health is doing. If you notice lots of small changes or a rapid change of behaviour from yourself or your friends, it's worth talking to a friend or trusted adult about your concerns.

• When should I be worried about my behaviour?

  When your behaviour begins to impact your daily life and your relationships, or you have sudden major changes in your personality, particularly not related to an obvious event.

  Challenging behaviour can include:

  • Having angry outbursts
  • Refusing boundaries, routines and reasonable requests
  • Being impulsive and taking risks
  • Blaming others
  • Refusing to talk
  • Kicking, hitting or damaging things at home.

  Mental health changes can be hard to notice in yourself. So, if you see a friend experiencing lots of small changes to their personality or behaviour, causing them problems with their ability to go to school or work, or relate to others, then it is a good idea to speak to a trusted adult about your concerns.

• What can affect my behaviour?

  Your behaviour can be affected by your body and development, along with your lifestyle and choices that you make.

  During puberty and your adolescent years your brain is coping with changing levels of hormones, along with your brain development.

  Some activities can affect the way your brain develops as you are growing up. In excess, they can also alter your behaviour. For example:

  • Excessive alcohol, or binge drinking
  • Using illegal drugs or abusing legal drugs
  • Lack of sleep
  • Disordered eating.

• Tell me about borderline personality disorder (BPD)

  Our personality is a collection of elements which make us who we are. It influences how we think, feel and behave.

  A person with a personality disorder doesn't have a wrong or bad personality, rather it means that they may have had negative experiences which have clouded how they see themselves and relate to others.

  There might be emotional difficulties which means they:

  • Struggle to keep friendships
  • Feel unable to cope
  • Struggle to control their reactions 
  • Feel low in mood.

  Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a term used when you have very changeable emotions, like intense mood swings.

  You might notice you:

  • Feel alone and abandoned
  • Wonder if anyone cares about you
  • Find it hard to maintain relationships
  • Take risks with things like drugs, money, sex or your work/studies 
  • Show impulsive or reckless behaviour
  • Self-harm or having suicidal feelings or thoughts
  • Struggle with intense anger
  • Hear voices or other unusual experiences.

  If you are worried you may have BPD, it's important to make an appointment to speak to your GP.

  Young Minds advice & information about BPD 

• What is oppositional defiant disorder?

  Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a behaviour disorder where you might show a pattern of being angry, defiant and challenging to people who are in authority. This could include parents or carers, teachers and the police. 

  Examples of behaviours include:

  • Excessive arguments with adults
  • Refusing to comply with adult requests and rules
  • Deliberate attempts to upset people
  • Blaming others for your mistakes
  • Rude and hateful comments when upset
  • Seeking revenge.

  It's not unusual in your teenage and young adult years to have mood swings or outbursts of anger. However, if you feel like your behaviour is affecting your daily life, your activities with your family and your life at school, then it may be worth talking to your GP or a trusted adult to get some support. 

  Many teens and young adults with ODD have other behavioural conditions like ADHD, learning disabilities or mood & anxiety disorders. So it's important to reach out if you are struggling and your GP will be able to refer you on to specialist help.

  Tips on getting help from mental health services

• Is my behaviour linked to negative experiences in my childhood?

  If you have been exposed to repeated negative events in your life, there can be long-term effects of these experiences. This can often be called complex trauma or developmental trauma. These events are highly upsetting and can affect your behaviour.

  Examples of complex trauma include: 

  • Bullying 
  • Domestic violence or abuse 
  • Neglect or abandonment.

  You might have developed ways of coping to keep yourself safe and help you function day-to-day. These may include:

  • Hiding your emotions to not show fear
  • Being more aware of potential threats in your environment
  • Feeling overly sensitive to the moods of others, particularly adults and how they may behave. 

  These ways of coping are useful when you need to stay safe from a physical or emotional threat. However, once you are in a safe, secure environment and no longer at risk, these coping strategies become unhelpful. This is when you often need support to let go of these ways of coping