How to Handle Difficult Behaviors in Adolescents: Many youth act like they don’t want help (they push us away) but it is our responsibility to make sure youth get help. All behavior has meaning, and youth tend to act when they are lonely, scared and upset. Our role is to help adolescents learn to love themselves, balanced with self-responsibility. Teaching coping skills and appropriate ways to express feelings is central to helping youth become responsible, self-reliant and resilient.