ABSTRACT
Many people would find trying to cope with a situation extremely challenging to their own peace of mind, and in each situation there will be very individual triggers for the behaviour others find challenging. Many home carers really struggle to cope with behaviour they find extremely difficult. This can challenge not only their peace of mind and home life, but it may also destroy their memories of their loved one, challenging their beliefs of what is acceptable behaviour and what they can reasonably cope with. Not all long-term mental health conditions, and conditions often referred to as 'learning difficulties' or 'learning disabilities', involve what may be called 'challenging behaviour'. Sometimes a fierce temper and a lack of patience is part of a person's genetic makeup, or perhaps emotional distress always occurs in certain situations. For anyone on the autistic spectrum, routine and regular patterns are especially important, and even the smallest change can bring an extreme reaction.
