Not Be Bullied over and over Again
Edited by Shelley, Eng, Laura1993
Bullying is a real problem among school-aged children, teenagers and sometimes even adults. It can have long-lasting, negative effects on a person's health, grades and overall well-being. Repeated bullying can lead to depression, anxiety, change in appetite, loss of interest in activities, an increase in school absences and many other personal problems. It not only affects the person being bullied, the bullies themselves and any bystanders that witness the bullying are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, drop out of school and experience mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Luckily, more people and organizations are coming together to support victims of bullying, and there are some things you can do to stop this unacceptable behavior when it occurs.
How to Stop Being Bullied
If you're a target of repeated verbal insults, embarrassment, intimidation, physical abuse or exclusion from groups, there are some things you can do to stop it when it occurs. If these things don't work, there are other measures you can take to ensure your safety, security and happiness.
- 1Be very assertive, and calmly and clearly tell the person to stop. Try to avoid showing your anger or sadness. Bullies feed off of your reaction, so it's best if you don't give them one at all.Tell the person to stop.
- 2Walk away.If the bully doesn't stop after you tell them to, or you don't feel comfortable confronting them, walk away.
- 3If you know you'll pass the bully in the hallway on your way to lunch or on your way to or from school, take an alternate route, if possible.Avoid the bully as much as possible.
- 4If you can, walk with a friend or eat lunch with a group. If you have to ride the same bus as the bully, sit near the front of the bus. It's always best to stay close to a teacher, since it's less likely that a bully will confront you with a teacher close by.Try not to be alone.
- 5Find an adult and confide in them.Find an adult that you trust, such as a teacher, school official or a parent, and let them know what's going on and how you feel. They can help you formulate a plan to prevent future bullying behavior.
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- 6While it might seem like a good idea at the time, hitting or bullying back just because you're angry rarely results in a good outcome. Oftentimes, this backfires and gets you in trouble at school or even with the law.Avoid fighting back.
- 7Carry yourself with confidence.Maintain good posture and confident, assertive stride. Bullies are more likely to look for an easy target, so don't be afraid to make eye contact and have faith in yourself.
- 8Always trust your gut when it comes to dealing with bullies. If you feel uncomfortable about a particular situation, do what you can to avoid it. If you're being threatened physically, run away and get help. Take note of exits when you enter a room, in case you need to get out of there in a hurry.Trust your instincts.
- 9Enroll in self-defense classes.Self-defense classes don't just teach you how to fight - they'll also teach you how to build up your self-confidence and self-control. You'll learn how to block a punch, get free when restrained and defend yourself from a group. These skills are quite valuable even if you're not physically bullied.
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How to Deal with Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is an increasingly common form of bullying via electronic communication, such as text messages, social media platforms and emails. This form of bullying typically uses fake profiles, videos pictures and rumors to humiliate, insult or otherwise harass an individual. While this often occurs along with other types of bullying, it can be particularly difficult, but not impossible, to control. Here are some things you can do to stop cyberbullying.
- 1Find out who's responsible for the bullying. It might be an ex friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, or it might be someone you don't know at all. If you feel comfortable enough, confront them in person, and ask them to stop. Speak calmly, discuss the matter and don't provoke an argument. If a calm discussion isn't possible, or if the bullying involves a larger group of people, this might not be the most effective method.Confront the bully and ask the person to stop.
- 2Avoid threatening the bully.As tempting as it might be, if you're being harassed with insults, avoid the urge to threaten or name-call back. This will only provoke the bully, and it can possibly get you into trouble.
- 3Record, save and take screenshots of as many incidents as you can. This will help you if you decide to report the behavior. Take note of the dates and times that the bullying occurred.Keep records of the bullying.
- 4Block the bully from communicating with you.After you've saved evidence of the bullying, delete the person or people from your contacts and block them from further communication with you on social networks, email and your phone.
- 5Limiting the amount of personal information you make available online can help reduce the occurrence of cyberbullying. Change your pictures, screen name or email address, if necessary, to prevent the bully from finding you.Change your privacy settings.
- 6Report cyberbullying to the online service providers.Read the terms and service agreements of social media sites, and if the bullying behavior meets the criteria for abuse of the service, report it to the site so they can take the appropriate action. This is where your evidence comes in handy.
What to Do If You Witness Bullying
If you notice someone else being bullied, you don't have to go along with it. There are actually a few things you can do to help.
- 1Bullies often feed off of the attention they get from bullying, so if you laugh, join in or otherwise encourage the bully, this will only lead to more bad behavior. Either don't respond to their remarks, or tell them that what they're doing isn't funny or entertaining.Don't laugh at or encourage the bullying behavior.
Tips, Tricks & Warnings
- If someone threatens to do harm against you, stalks, sexually harasses or takes photos or videos of you when you expect to have privacy, report it to the police.
- Accept that everyone is different, and that's OK. Always treat everyone with respect.
- If you're feeling sad, anxious, depressed, lonely or have thoughts of suicide, contact a mental health provider to get help. There are many resources outside of school officials and counselors that can help you get through this situation and move past it.
Questions and Answers
Why does a person who was bullied become a target for future bullying?
My daughter was bullied as a child and it has continued into adulthood. What makes her a target?. I have tried: She has tried counseling, medication and standing up for herself. I think it was caused by: Her step brother and sisters ignored her as a child
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